Variety Promotes Brent Lang to Executive Editor

Stacia Philips Deshishku has been promoted to the newly created post of executive editor and senior vice president at ABC News.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Stacia Philips Deshishku, an ABC News veteran who has supervised audio content and was a former deputy Washington Bureau chief for the Disney-backed news outlet, has been named executive editor and senior vice president position. She reports to Kim Godwin, president of ABC News.Philips Deshishku will essentially work as the second-in-command of ABC News editorial efforts, working closely with senior producers at “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” “The View,” “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” “20/20,” “Tamron Hall” and “Nightline,” as well as ABC News’ booking unit.Prior to joining ABC,  the executive managed newsgathering around  some of the biggest domestic and international stories while serving as CNN’s director of coverage.

Naman Ramachandran Entrepreneur Karnesh Ssharma is launching Clean OTT, a streaming service focusing on female-oriented original content, in the first quarter of 2023.Female actors, directors and producers will be at the heart of the service, which aims to move away from the male gaze that plagues Indian content and to create a sustainable platform for female professionals to further their career in the entertainment industry, while also removing age barriers.The content will include originally curated and produced works by Clean and pre-selected projects that meet the Clean OTT messaging framework by other producers from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.Ssharma is also a co-founder of Clean Slate Filmz (Netflix’s “Bulbbul,” Amazon’s “Paatal Lok”). The Clean OTT library will feature work from directors, scriptwriters, actors, and producers associated with Clean Slate Filmz, as well as providing opportunities to emerging talent.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaPatti LuPone tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. The theater legend will sit out her ongoing role in the current Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” while she recovers from the virus. She is expected to return to the production on Tuesday, March 8, a spokesperson for the show said.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“Kimberly Akimbo,” one of the hottest tickets of the theatrical season will transfer to Broadway this fall following an acclaimed run at the Atlantic Theatre Company. The musical about a New Jersey girl who has an aging disease that makes her appear to be decades older than her teenage years will begin previews on October 12 and officially open on November 10.

Former Loose Women panelist Saira Khan has been making the most of her children’s half-term holidays by jetting off on a family holiday to Florida. Saira, 51, has given fans a glimpse into her fun-filled holiday on Instagram, where she has shared a series of travel-related updates with her 103,000 followers. The Apprentice star, whose daughter recently donated 12 inches of hair to charity, shares children Zac and Amara with husband Steve.

Tyler Perry’s iconic, gun-slinging grandma, Mabel «Madea» Earlene Simmons!Just when fans thought Perry stepped out of the wig and housecoat for the last time in 2019, Madea's back, in , and she may be here to stay.“Listen, I thought it was over this last time,” Perry told ET’s Kevin Frazier at the film’s premiere on Tuesday. “So, I’ve decided not to say anything. Just let it be.”Perry promised that he «officially hung up» the character with 2019’s.

EXCLUSIVE: Revelations Entertainment’s Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary have boarded Kamilla Blanche’s upcoming documentary 2 Richards! The African Company as EPs.

Vanessa Bryant was one of the many celebrities in Cleveland this weekend for NBA All-Star weekend. The late Kobe Bryant was honored at the game at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, and Vanessa presented a special award in honor of her late husband and their daughter Gianna Byrant. During halftime, Michael Jordan who was like a brother to Kobe, shared a special moment with Vanessa, as they smiled, chatted, and shared a sweet hug.

Terry Flores Variety won 26 National Art and Entertainment Journalism Awards, including entertainment publication for its 115th anniversary issue “Gamechangers” and two journalist of the year awards: senior vice president Tim Gray for print and deputy music editor Jem Aswad for online.The venerable entertainment publication received 98 nominations.The awards, presented by the Los Angeles Press Club for work created from July 2020 through June 2021, were handed out virtually Feb. 17 after an in-person event scheduled for Feb.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaBrenda Deiss, a former NASA secretary who became an unexpected movie star with her role as a tough-talking matriarch in “Red Rocket,” died Monday in Clear Lake, Tex., from complications following a stroke she suffered in January. She was 60. A spokesperson for “Red Rocket” confirmed Deiss’ death to Variety.Deiss came to acting late in life.

Vanessa Bryant’s love for her husband will live on forever. The 39-year-old paid tribute to her late husband, Kobe Bryant, on Valentine’s Day, posting a photo of them to Instagram and reminding the world that the Lakers legend is her “forever Valentine.” “Happy Valentine’s Day, Baby,” she wrote in her caption.

Honoring her family. Vanessa Bryant appeared in an ad that advertised the Super Bowl’s return to Los Angeles while remembering her late husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna.

Vanessa Bryant showed off her hometown pride in the latest Super Bowl commercial. During the spot, that premiered Sunday, ahead of the big game, the Los Angeles native, celebrated the city that her late husband, Kobe Bryant, called home and played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years, until his retirement in 2016.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTony Pace, an advertising industry veteran who parlayed top jobs at two of Madison Avenue’s biggest agencies into a role at a major restaurant chain where he prodded TV networks to test new ways of weaving products into programming, has died. He was 64 years old and was in a snowmobile accident Feb.