Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Jada Pinkett Smith and Willow Smith of “Red Table Talk” (Photo by Stan Evans)
Jada Pinkett Smith has launched a weekly Facebook Watch show called “Red Table Talk” with her daughter Willow Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris. The series premiere on May 7, 2018 will be followed by new episodes on Mondays. In the show’s first episode, titled “Motherhood,” Will Smith’s first wife Sheree Fletcher, sits down with Pinkett Smith (Will Smith’s second wife) to discuss their blended family together in public for the first time, according to a Facebook press release. Banfield-Norris also “shares her personal story about giving birth to Jada at age 17, the same age her granddaughter Willow is today.”
Jada has starred in movies such as “Girls Trip” (2017) and “Set It Off” (1996). She met Smith when she auditioned for a guest role on his sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Jada and Will Smith have been married since 1997. Their son Jaden was born in 1998. Will Smith and Fletcher (formerly known as Sheree Zampino) were married in 1992 (the same year that their son Trey was born), and were divorced in 2005. Fletcher and her second ex-husband, former NFL player Terrell Fletcher, were married from 2007 to 2014.
Willow made her acting debut in 2007’s “I Am Legend,” starring her father. She then began a music career, for which she is best known for the platinum-selling single “Whip My Hair,” which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2010. Her second album, “The 1st,” was released in October 2017.
Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Jada Pinkett Smith and Willow Smith of “Red Table Talk” (Photo by Stan Evans)
Willow Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris of “Red Table Talk” (Photo by Stan Evans)
Willow Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris of “Red Table Talk” (Photo by Stan Evans)
The following is a press release from the Cannes Film Festival:
Seen as the second competition of the Official Selection, this year’s Un Certain Regard features 18 films, 6 of which are also vying for the Caméra d’or, awarded for first films.
Chaired by actor Benicio Del Toro, the jury of 3 women and 2 men will reveal the prizewinners on Friday 18 May, during the Closing Ceremony. The new film by Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, Donbass, will be the Opening film, and will be screened on Wednesday 9 May in the Debussy Theatre.
After presenting her 2003 short film Like Twenty Impossibles at Cannes under the aegis of the Cinéfondation, Annemarie Jacir’s feature debut Salt of this Sea premiered at Un Certain Regard 2008. One of the leading filmmakers from the Arab world, she has written, directed and produced over sixteen films. Her three features to date were selected as Palestine’s entry for the Oscars. With a commitment to teaching, training and hiring locally, Annemarie Jacir also curates films, actively promoting independent cinema in the region. Founder of Philistine Films, a production house with offices in Palestine and Jordan, she collaborates regularly with fellow filmmakers. She teaches screenwriting and works as a freelance editor and consultant. Her most recent film Wajib (2017) won 18 international awards including Best Film in Mar Del Plata, Dubai, Amiens, and Kerala.
Kantemir Balagov was born in 1991 in Nalchik, capital of the autonomous Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. He undertook studies in Economy then Law and directed several web mini-series shot on a still camera before discovering that Alexandre Sokurov had opened a film school in his hometown. At the end of their interview, Sokurov placed him directly in the third year study group. He directed several short films, then armed with his first feature script, he was able to raise the money, with Sokurov’s help, to direct Closeness, which premiered at Un Certain Regard 2017, where he won a FIPRESCI prize. His next film will be about women who fought as soldiers trying to rejoin civil society after the Second World War.
Virginie Ledoyen began her career appearing in television commercials from age 3. At 13, she was chosen by Philomène Esposito to play the lead in the feature film Mima. Then she appeared with Marcello Mastoianni and Michel Piccoli in Christian de Chalonge’s Le Voleur d’enfants. Her meeting with Olivier Assayas was decisive, as his Cold Water confirmed her vocation to be an actress. She went on to be directed by Claude Chabrol, Benoît Jacquot, Edward Yang and Pierre Jolivet, among others. In 2000, she worked with Leonardo DiCaprio and Guillaume Canet in Danny Boyle’s The Beach. She then appeared in François Ozon’s 8 Women, for which the ensemble cast was awarded a Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution at Berlin 2002. She went on to work with such directors as Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Koldo Serra and Robert Guédiguian. She recently appeared in Axelle Laffont’s MILF and will be seen later this year in Antoine Blossier’s Rémi sans famille.
American Executive director of the Telluride Film Festival
Julie Huntsinger is the Executive Director of the Telluride Film Festival, held each Labor Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado, USA. The former producer began her career in the film business in 1993 when she worked for Francis Ford Coppola’s film studio American Zoetrope in San Francisco. She has produced films all over the world and joined Telluride co-founder Tom Luddy as co-director in 2006. Prior to her work in film, Huntsinger studied French literature and Art History at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed the Mass Media Institute’s programme in Broadcast Journalism at Stanford University.
The 2018 Caméra d’or Jury
As the president Ursula Meier told us, “A first film is the place of all possibilities, of all audacity, of all risk-taking, of all madness”. So the 19 films competing for the Caméra d’or should break all boundaries to win over the Jury, composed of 7 members, 4 of whom are women.
The Jury will hand down its verdict at the Closing Ceremony of the Festival de Cannes, on Saturday May 19. The winning film will succed to last year’s Jury choice, Jeune Femme (Montparnasse Bienvenüe) by Léonor Serraille, presented in the Official Selection – Un Certain Regard.
The following is a press release from Dick Clark Productions and NBC:
Dick Clark Productions and NBC announced today that music legend Janet Jackson will be honored with the prestigious ICON Award at the “2018 Billboard Music Awards,” and will deliver a highly-anticipated performance that will be her first on television in nine years.
Hosted by “The Voice” coach Kelly Clarkson, the “2018 Billboard Music Awards” will broadcast live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC. The three-hour telecast will feature performances from this year’s hottest musical acts, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthy moments that celebrate 60 years of the Billboard Hot 100.
Janet Jackson Billboard chart facts include:
As a leading voice in music, Jackson has earned more than 100 No. 1s on Billboard’s charts in her career, spending more than 300 weeks at No. 1.
She has 19 No. 1s on the Dance Club Songs charts.
Jackson is one of only four artists to have a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 in each of the last four decades.
She was the first woman to debut in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (with “Scream,” her duet with brother Michael), and the only artist with seven Top five Hot 100 hits from one album (“Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814”).
She owns a record of 18 consecutive Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 and is also the only artist to have three different albums each contain at least five Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 (“Control,” “Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814” and “janet”).
Previous recipients of the ICON Award include Cher, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Prince and Stevie Wonder.Janet Jackson is one of the most influential entertainers of the modern era. She has won six Grammy® Awards, a Golden Globe Award, earned two Emmy nominations, a nomination for an Academy Award as well as dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She has received accolades as an actress as well, including the NAACP Best Supporting Actor award. Jackson is a published author, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of the biggest-selling artists in popular music history. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her music and artistry has opened doors through which other top artists have followed, many acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions. For more information please visit janetjackson.com.
Janet Jackson’s BBMA Giphy stickers are now available! These stickers can be found within Instagram Stories by clicking the GIF button and searching for “BBMAs.”
Nominations for the “2018 Billboard Music Awards” were announced last month on NBC’s “Today” and on a livestream from Billboard’s New York office. Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran tie for the most nominations this year with 15 each.
Voting for the two fan voted categories – Billboard Chart Achievement Award and Top Social Artist – will open on Monday, May 14 and additional details will be available soon.
“Billboard Music Awards” nominees and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the reporting period of April 8, 2017 through March 31, 2018. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of artists, songs and albums, and are the ultimate measure of success in music.
For the latest Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) news, exclusive content and more, be sure to follow the BBMAs on social media and join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #BBMAs. Facebook:FB.com/TheBBMAs Twitter:@BBMAs Instagram: bbmas Snapchat: thebbmas
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” is produced by dick clark productions. Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman, Kelly Clarkson and Robert Deaton are executive producers.
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” are sponsored by T-Mobile.
About Billboard Billboard is the world’s largest voice in music, built on the most complete and well-respected database of charts across all music genres. The Billboard charts define success in music. From the iconic Billboard magazine to Billboard.com, the ultimate consumer-facing destination for millions of passionate music fans, to the industry’s most elite conference series and influencer events including the Power 100 and Women in Music – the Billboard brand has unmatched authority among fans, artists and the industry alike. Billboard has a social media footprint of 16.4 million social followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and creates more than 200M cross-platform video views per month. Billboard magazine has published major news-generating covers recently including Travis Scott, Zayn, Lorde, Marshmello, Demi Lovato, Cardi B, Selena Gomez, Eminem, DJ Khaled, Charlie Puth, and an open letter to Congress signed by 180+ of the music industry’s biggest stars and executives. In December 2017, the Billboard Women in Music ceremony, which honored Selena Gomez as Woman of the Year, was live-streamed globally on Twitter. In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group acquired SpinMedia’s storied music assets Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum, establishing the world’s largest music brand by digital traffic, social reach, and audience share. The combined entity of music and entertainment properties now reaches 47 million unique visitors and one in every three U.S. millennials.
About dick clark productions
dick clark productions (dcp) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes “So You Think You Can Dance” from 19 Entertainment and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with over 60 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. dcp is a division of Valence Media, a diversified media company with divisions and strategic investments in premium television, wide release film, specialty film, live events and digital media. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.
GREY GOOSE vodka announces the launch of OFF SCRIPT, a new eight-part digital series hosted by Academy Award winner, Jamie Foxx. Set in a custom built and luxury fitted trailer, the series follows Foxx as he goes “off script” to have one-on-one conversations with A-list talent, including Jeremy Renner, Vince Vaughn, Denzel Washington, Gabrielle Union and many more. In each episode, Foxx and his guest will have a free flowing and spontaneous conversation about their lives and the iconic films that shaped their careers.
“I’m so excited to be joining the amazing OFF SCRIPT production team. I can’t wait to dive into interesting conversations about film with some of my most respected peers in the entertainment industry,” said Jamie Foxx. “What I love most about this series is that viewers are going to walk away feeling inspired by the personal stories from our guests and the movies that influenced them.”
OFF SCRIPT provides a rare peek into the captivating lives and brilliant imaginations of some of the biggest names in film. Through Foxx’s perceptive interview style, viewers will come away with an intimate understanding of their favorite actor’s creative breakthroughs and influences.
“Jamie Foxx is one of the film industry’s brightest stars with infectious charisma and charm that will capture the hearts of everyone who watches OFF SCRIPT.” said Yann Marois, Senior Vice President of GREY GOOSE vodka. “GREY GOOSE has a long history of supporting film and bringing great stories to life, and we look forward to continuing this exciting new storytelling avenue with Jamie.”
OFF SCRIPT represents the next step in a continually growing trend of iconic brands as creators. GREY GOOSE first entered this arena with the hit series “Iconoclasts,” launched in partnership with Sundance Channel. With OFF SCRIPT, GREY GOOSE is assuming a true production role with full ownership over the creation and execution of the series. A natural extension of the brand’s longstanding dedication to supporting iconic film, OFF SCRIPT is an innovative digital series that will meet consumers where they consume content. The series will spark culturally relevant conversations that galvanize audiences through subjects that are universally relatable.
The show is produced by GREY GOOSE (Iconoclasts), in partnership with JASH, a Group Nine Company (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Show with David Letterman), and The Sunshine Company(Gucci Chime for Change, Balmain Wonderlabs). OFF SCRIPT is digitally distributed exclusively across Oath platforms including HuffPost, Yahoo Entertainment and AOL.com, and across social platforms by Group Nine (Thrillist/NowThis). Viewers can also see the OFF SCRIPT series on www.greygooseoffscript.com. Group Nine Media acquired JASH in November 2017. Foxx is represented by CAA, LBI Entertainment, and Ziffren Brittenham.
ABBA Fever is re-igniting in 2018. The four members ABBA (the biggest-selling music act from Sweden) have reunited for a new song: “I Still Have Faith in You,” which will debut in a worldwide TV special “ABBA: Thank You for the Music, An All-Star Tribute” that will air in December 2018 on a date to be announced. NBC has the U.S. telecast of the concert.
ABBA formed 1972, with the group’s name being an acronym of the members’s first names: Agnetha Fältskog (vocals), Björn Ulvaeus (guitar), Anni-Frid Lyngstad (vocals) and Benny Andersson (keyboards). At the height of ABBA’s success, Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus were married to each other, and Lyngstad and Andersson were married to each other, but both couples would eventually get divorced. ABBA had an unbroken strong of hits until the group’s breakup in 1982, including “Waterloo,” “Dancing Queen,” “Fernando,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Mamma Mia,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You” and “Winner Takes It All.”
Since ABBA’s breakup, the music has been kept alive through tribute bands and the stage musical “Mamma Mia!,” which became a 2008 Universal Pictures movie starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård and Christine Baranski. “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (the sequel to 2008’s “Mamma Mia!”) reunites the “Mamma Mia!” movie’s cast for more ABBA music, and will include new cast member Cher. “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” is set for release in cinemas on July 20, 2018. (NBC and Universal Pictures are both owned by NBCUniversal.)
The following is a press release by NBC about the ABBA special:
Paying homage to one of the most influential groups of all time, NBC is celebrating Sweden’s most popular export with “ABBA: Thank You for the Music, An All-Star Tribute.” The two-hour special, set to air in December, will showcase specially invited artists performing classic songs made famous by ABBA, including “Dancing Queen”, “Mamma Mia”, The Winner Takes It All” and “Take A Chance On Me”.
The once-in-a-lifetime event will be broadcast around the world to a global audience. BBC Worldwide will handle the international distribution.
One of the bestselling music groups of all time with album and single sales of 385 million, the four members of ABBA – Agnetha Faltskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Anderson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – will be debuting their first new song in 35 years, written by Andersson and Ulvaeus. It is set to be performed by virtual ABBA, a state-of-the-art digital representation of the band in 1979 but voiced and recorded by ABBA today.
Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Anni-Frid said: “The decision to go ahead with the exciting ABBA avatar tour project had an unexpected consequence. We all four felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the recording studio. So we did. And it was like time had stood still and that we only had been away on a short holiday. An extremely joyful experience! It resulted in two new songs and one of them “I Still Have Faith In You” will be performed by our digital selves in a TV special produced by NBC and the BBC aimed for broadcasting in December. We may have come of age, but the song is new. And it feels good”.
The telecast will be produced and directed by Johan Renck and executive produced by Simon Fuller, with Es Devlin on board as set designer.
“There is a lot of music in the DNA of NBC and we are so proud that the iconic members of ABBA and world-class producer Simon Fuller chose us to bring this incredible tribute special to the world,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.
Added Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Reality Group, NBC Entertainment, “This network is also thrilled to be the home of brand new ABBA music for the first time in decades. It’s a gift.”
Simon Fuller said: “It has been such a pleasure to work with ABBA. To see their unique talent, passion and attention to every detail has been enlightening and a true honor. In this global TV event we will be able to celebrate the music of ABBA and see other incredible artists perform their wonderful songs. I still can’t believe we will also be showcasing a new song, the first in over 35 years, which is set to ignite a whole new timeless journey in their incredible career.”
Johan Renck said: “As an adult, to find a new relation and perspective to the music that formed your childhood is a formidable thing, I feel tremendously fortunate to engage in this journey with a group that played such an integral part of my upbringing. We can’t wait to make this event come to life.”
ABOUT ABBA
The ABBA story began in the 1960s when Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson first met in Sweden and became songwriting partners. By 1969, they had met Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and, after musical collaboration on each other’s solo and duo acts, they began their career together as ABBA, achieving superstardom with their breakthrough hit “Waterloo,” winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, charting at No. 1 across Europe and reaching the Top 10 in the U.S.
In the years that followed, ABBA became successful around the world, releasing eight studio albums, two live albums, seven compilation albums, four tours and 73 singles. To date they have sold 380 million albums and singles worldwide. They became the first music group from a non-English speaking country to top the charts in English-speaking countries and their distinctive ’70s-style costumes became synonymous with their unique look and sound.
Topping the charts globally from 1974-82, many of ABBA’s songs have become timeless classics internationally. ABBA placed 20 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 with 14 making the Top 40 and 10 soaring to the Top 20. “Dancing Queen” became a No. 1 hit in 1977 in the U.S. while “Take a Chance on Me,” “Waterloo” and “The Winner Takes It All” peaked at No. 3, No. 6 and No. 8, respectively. In the U.K., ABBA had nine No. 1 singles, including “Dancing Queen” and “Super Trouper,” 19 Top 10 hits and 26 in the Top 40s. Collectively, their singles retained entries in the U.K. Top 75 chart for a total of 260 weeks. They were named Vocal Group of the Year by the American Guild of Variety Artists in 1981 and won nine Bravo Otto Awards between 1974-82. In 2010, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Barry and Robin Gibb.
In 1999, ABBA’s songs were the inspiration for the West End and Broadway hit musical “Mamma Mia!” and the film that followed, “Mamma Mia!” became a box office smash, and became the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008. The 2018 seque,l “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters and Dominic Cooper, is set for global release in July.
ABOUT SIMON FULLER
Simon Fuller is an entrepreneur, artist manager, film and television producer, best known as the creator of “American Idol.” Fuller is also the executive producer of hit shows and films including “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Q’Viva,” “Spiceworld The Movie” and “My Generation,” starring Sir Michael Caine. An influential figure in British popular culture, Fuller first came to prominence managing the pop group Spice Girls though he has since guided a range of talent that includes David and Victoria Beckham, Annie Lennox, Steven Tyler, Lewis Hamilton, Andy Murray, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Lisa Marie Presley and others. In 2008, Fuller was certified as the most successful British music manager of all time by Billboard magazine. Fuller received the 2,441st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. Today his business interests extend across the world and include high-value ventures in content production, branded goods and innovative ventures in music, leisure and technology. Fuller’s XIX Entertainment is represented by Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz PC.
ABOUT JOHAN RENCK
Johan Renck is one of the most respected and sought after directors of television series, commercials and music videos of today. You will have seen his name as a director of your favorite TV shows such as “Breaking Bad,” “The Walking Dead,” “Vikings,” “Bloodline” and “Last Panthers.” Renck is currently helming “Chernobyl,” the much-anticipated HBO miniseries featuring Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson. Renck worked closely with David Bowie before his death and directed both the videos for “Blackstar” and “Lazarus.” His previous music videos include artists such as Beyoncé, Madonna, Lana Del Ray, New Order and Kylie Minogue, among others. Renck’s commercials currently include a long-standing partnership with Chanel, Paco Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier, Cartier and Calvin Klein, to name a few.
ABOUT ES DEVLIN
Artist and stage designer Es Devlin OBE has made stage sculptures in collaboration with U2, Beyoncé, Kanye West, The Weeknd and Adele as well as stage designs for The Met Opera, The Royal Opera House and La Scala. She has created solo art installations at Miami Art Basel and V&A Museum, London and designed the London Olympic Closing Ceremony. Most recent work includes a huge sculptural portrait of The Weeknd for his recent Coachella performance and a large scale projection mapped ovoid model of Manhattan now showing at the new XI Gallery in Chelsea.
Devlin was the designer for Adele’s 2015 “Live in New York City” special on NBC and was profiled in the first season of the Netflix docu-series “Abstract: The Art of Design.”
Her Universe Star Wars collection (Photo courtesy of Her Universe)
The following is a press release from Her Universe:
Now fangirls can create their favorite light side or dark side inspired beauty look to complement their Her Universe fashions with the first-ever classic Star Wars beauty collection from Her Universe in collaboration with Hot Topic.
The assortment includes new Star Wars-inspired eye shadow and highlighter palette named Hyperspace, Lightsaber-themed make-up brushes (coming soon to Hot Topic) and Lightsaber-themed Lip Gloss (coming soon), bath bombs, a dark side fragrance, and, for those scruffy looking nerf herders, a Chewbacca grooming kit for men. “When I first launched Her Universe in 2010, I shared with the fans that it was a dream of mine to make Star Wars beauty products,” said Her Universe Founder Ashley Eckstein. “Almost 8 years later, I am finally making good on that promise! To see my idea of a Lightsaber Lip Gloss set come to life is literally my fangirl dream come true!” The Star Wars beauty collection from Her Universe in collaboration with Hot Topic is available now in Hot Topic stores and online at hottopic.com and heruniverse.com.
The following is a press release from Fashion Footwear Association of New York:
The Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) is excited to announce that Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, television personality and footwear designer, Katy Perry, will serve as the 2018 PSA Ambassador for the 25th Anniversary of “FFANY Shoes on Sale.” QVC has been a proud sponsor for the last 24 years, providing support and awareness across all ecommerce and multi-platform engines.
Katy Perry has continuously offered her support of women battling breast cancer. As a beloved and creative member of the footwear industry with a strong voice for style and substance, Perry is the ideal PSA Ambassador. Perry’s footwear line, Katy Perry Collections, is inspired by her travels, humor and extraordinary imagination. Perry designs each of the collections to reflect her distinct personality. FFANY is honored to partner with Perry for this landmark of the 25th Anniversary and to help move one step closer to a breast-cancer-free world.
“I’m proud to be able to partner Katy Perry Collections with FFANY and QVC in the fight against breast cancer,” said Katy Perry. “This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart, especially because my aunt passed away from it in 1986. I have always been proud to support the cause and am grateful to have yet another platform to help find a cure.”
Over the past 24 years, “FFANY Shoes on Sale,” which joined forces with QVC in 1995, has generated $55 million to help bring us closer than ever to finding a cure for breast cancer. Once again, the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce that grants will be distributed to nine leading cancer institutions in the United States. This star-studded event attended by industry notables and celebrities will recognize the generosity of footwear donors and designers, to benefit the researchers who are committed to finding a cure.
“FFANY is honored to have Katy Perry as our 2018 PSA Ambassador,” said Ron Fromm, President and CEO of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York. “She is a champion for strength, endurance, compassion and has a deep commitment to building a better community – qualities that have great resonance with the battle against breast cancer and the quest for a cure.”
The gala will be held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York on Thursday, October 11, 2018. The nearly 10,000 square foot main ballroom was host to the 2017 QVC Presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale” gala as the first event in the newly renovated space.
The Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation was created to support ongoing research and education programs in the fight against breast cancer and is supported by members of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY). Donated footwear is sold on all QVC platforms during the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation’s annual charity benefit, QVC Presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale.” Funds are distributed to leading breast cancer research and education institutions across the United States.
Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman in “Black Panther” (Photo courtesy of Disney/Marvel Studios)
MTV today announced the categories and nominees for the 2018 “MTV Movie & TV Awards,” hosted by Tiffany Haddish, that celebrate the actors, stories and moments that drove pop culture in the last year. The show will once again feature non-gendered categories – a change that marked an industry-first historic shift. Airing on Monday, June 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT from the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles, additional categories and honors will be announced at a later date. The press credentials website will open next week.
“Black Panther,” one of the top 10 highest-grossing movies of all time worldwide, leads with seven nominations and marks the first time the film is being recognized at an awards show. It received nods in categories including Best Movie, presented by Toyota, and Best On-Screen Team, while Chadwick Boseman, the title character, was nominated for Best Performance in a Movie and Best Hero. Additionally, Letitia Wright was nominated in the Scene Stealer category for her role as “Shuri” and Michael B. Jordan was nominated in the Best Villain category for his portrayal of “N’Jadaka/Erik Killmonger.”
“Stranger Things” scored a total of six nominations, including Best Show and Best On-Screen Team. Millie Bobby Brown was nominated for Best Performancein a Show for her portrayal of “Eleven” and Dacre Montgomery scored a nomination for his role as “Billy Hargrove” in the Scene Stealer category.
Emmy® Award-winning producer and director Joel Gallen will executive produce and direct the 2018 “Movie & TV Awards,” returning to the show which he helped create at MTV and produced for 14 years. Throughout Gallen’s career, he helmed a vast array of iconic shows in the live event and variety space. Currently, he is the director and executive producer for Comedy Central’s “Roast Battle” and has executive produced and directed 13 “Comedy Central Roasts” including the upcoming Bruce Willis Roast. He also directed and produced MTV’s 2010 “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” in collaboration with George Clooney and Wyclef Jean. Additionally, he directed and produced 17 “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” induction ceremonies, executive produced blockbuster film “Zoolander” and directed the hit comedy film “Not Another Teen Movie.”
NOMINEES FOR THE 2018 “MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS”
BEST MOVIE (Presented by Toyota)
Avengers: Infinity War (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Black Panther (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Girls Trip (Universal Pictures)
IT (New Line Cinema)
Wonder Woman (Warner Bros. Pictures)
BEST SHOW 13 Reasons Why (Netflix)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
grown-ish (Freeform)
Riverdale (The CW)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther
Timothée Chalamet – Call Me by Your Name
Ansel Elgort – Baby Driver
Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHOW Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger Things
Darren Criss – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Katherine Langford – 13 Reasons Why
Issa Rae – Insecure
Maisie Williams – Game of Thrones
BEST HERO Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther) – Black Panther
Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) – Game of Thrones
Gal Gadot (Diana Prince/Wonder Woman) – Wonder Woman
Grant Gustin (Barry Allen/The Flash) – The Flash
Daisy Ridley (Rey) – Star Wars: The Last Jedi
BEST VILLAIN Josh Brolin (Thanos) – Avengers: Infinity War
Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) – Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Michael B. Jordan (N’Jadaka/Erik Killmonger) – Black Panther
Aubrey Plaza (Lenny Busker) – Legion
Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise) – IT
BEST KISS Jane the Virgin – Gina Rodriguez (Jane) and Justin Baldoni (Rafael)
Love, Simon – Nick Robinson (Simon) and Keiynan Lonsdale (Bram)
Ready Player One – Olivia Cooke (Sam) and Tye Sheridan (Wade)
Riverdale – KJ Apa (Archie) and Camila Mendes (Veronica)
Stranger Things – Finn Wolfhard (Mike) and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven)
MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE Talitha Bateman (Janice) – Annabelle: Creation
Emily Blunt (Evelyn Abbott) – A Quiet Place
Sophia Lillis (Beverly Marsh) – IT
Cristin Milioti (Nanette Cole) – Black Mirror
Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) – Stranger Things
BEST ON-SCREEN TEAM Black Panther – Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/ Black Panther), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri)
IT – Finn Wolfhard (Richie), Sophia Lillis (Beverly), Jaeden Lieberher (Bill), Jack Dylan Grazer (Eddie), Wyatt Oleff (Stanley), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Ben), Chosen Jacobs (Mike)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – Dwayne Johnson (Smolder), Kevin Hart (Mouse), Jack Black (Shelly), Karen Gillan (Ruby), Nick Jonas (Seaplane)
Ready Player One – Tye Sheridan (Wade), Olivia Cooke (Samantha), Philip Zhao (Sho), Win Morisaki (Daito), Lena Waithe (Aech)
Stranger Things – Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), Sadie Sink (Max)
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE Jack Black – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Tiffany Haddish – Girls Trip
Dan Levy – Schitt’s Creek
Kate McKinnon – SNL
Amy Schumer – I Feel Pretty
BEST FIGHT Atomic Blonde – Charlize Theron (Lorraine) vs. Daniel Hargrave (Sniper), Greg Rementer (Spotter)
Avengers: Infinity War – Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch) vs. Carrie Coon (Proxima Midnight)
Black Panther – Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) vs. Winston Duke (M’Baku)
Thor: Ragnarok – Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) vs. Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
Wonder Woman – Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) vs. German Soldiers
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story
Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated
Gaga: Five Foot Two
Jay-Z’s “Footnotes for 4:44”
The Defiant Ones
BEST REALITY SERIES / FRANCHISE Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Love & Hip Hop
Real Housewives
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Vanderpump Rules
NOMINATION COUNT BY MOVIE Black Panther: 7
IT: 4
Girls Trip: 3
Avengers: Infinity War: 3
Wonder Woman: 3
Star Wars: The Last Jedi: 3
Ready Player One: 2
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle: 2
Thor: Ragnarok: 2
Annabelle Creation: 1
A Quiet Place: 1
Atomic Blonde: 1
Baby Driver: 1
Call Me by Your Name: 1
I Feel Pretty: 1
Lady Bird: 1
Love, Simon: 1
NOMINATION COUNT BY SHOW Stranger Things: 6
Riverdale: 3
Game of Thrones: 3
13 Reasons Why: 2
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story: 1
Black Mirror: 1
The Flash: 1
grown-ish: 1
Insecure: 1
Jane the Virgin: 1
Legion: 1
Schitt’s Creek: 1
SNL: 1
NOMINATION COUNT BY STUDIO Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures: 15
Warner Bros. Pictures: 5
New Line Cinema: 5
Universal Pictures: 4
Columbia Pictures: 2
A24: 1
Fox 2000: 1
Paramount Pictures: 1
Sony Pictures Classics: 1
STX Entertainment: 1
TriStar Productions: 1
NOMINATION COUNT BY NETWORK/PLATFORM Netflix: 10
HBO: 5
The CW: 5
Bravo: 2
FX: 2
VH1: 2
Live Nation Productions: 2
Apple Music: 1
E!: 1
Freeform: 1
NBC: 1
Pop: 1
YouTube Red: 1
Tidal: 1
Joel Gallen/Tenth Planet Productions will serve as Executive Producer with MTV’s Amy Doyle, Garrett English and Wendy Plaut for the 2018 “MTV Movie & TV Awards.” Rick Austin will also serve as Executive Producer. Vanessa Whitewolf serves as Co-Executive Producer. Melanie Block is Executive in Charge of Production. Amani Duncan is Executive in Charge of Music.
Official sponsors of the 2018 “MTV Movie & TV Awards” include MTN DEW®, Taco Bell®, Toyota and truth®.
For additional information visit MTVAwards.mtv.com and follow @MTVAwards and @MTV on social media, or use the official hashtag #MTVAwards.
Fans can begin voting immediately at MTVAwards.MTV.com. In addition, fans can also vote for “Best Movie,” presented by Toyota, via Direct Message Twitter Bot.
About MTV: MTV is a global youth culture brand inspired by music.
Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capitol Concerts)
The following is a press release from Capital Concerts:
On the 150th anniversary of Memorial Day, PBS’ multi award-winning NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT returns live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise. The 29th annual broadcast of the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs live on PBS Sunday, May 27, 2018, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.
A 29-year tradition unlike anything else on television, America’s national night of remembrance takes us back to the real meaning of the holiday through personal stories interwoven with musical performances. This year’s program features the following stories:
The show will recognize the story of two buddies – Joe Annello and Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura – dear friends now for 68 years, who helped each other survive deadly combat during the Korean War, endured the unimaginable as POWs, and became American heroes – one receiving the Silver Star and the other the Medal of Honor. This national moment of remembrance will recognize our Korean War veterans with performances by Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-nominated actor John Corbett (MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING) and star of CHICAGO MED Brian Tee.
Women have served our nation in times of war and peace since our country’s founding – even before they were officially allowed to enlist. To mark the 70th anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, the concert will pay tribute to the contributions of women in our military throughout history, including the story of Silver Star recipient Leigh Ann Hester, the 1st woman to receive the Silver Star for combat. The segment will conclude by honoring women representing generations of service since WWII from the 5 branches of the military on stage. Academy Award®, Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress Allison Janney (I, TONYA, MOM, THE WEST WING) and Tony-nominated actress and star of TV’s FALLING WATER,THE WEST WING and LOADED, Mary McCormack will participate in this segment.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Khe Sanh, one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War. The show will feature the story of Bill Rider, who was part of the battalion known as “The Walking Dead.” Bill’s story will focus on his return home to fight a different war…that of post-traumatic stress. As part of his healing process, Bill found a way to pay it forward by dedicating his life to helping generations of service men and women who have experienced the trauma of war. Bill’s story will be told by Academy Award-nominated actor Graham Greene (DANCES WITH WOLVES, WIND RIVER).
2018 marks the 150th anniversary of Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day and first commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery.
The all-star line-up also features distinguished American leader General Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.)and musical performances by actor and country singer Charles Esten (NASHVILLE); Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo (THE COLOR PURPLE); three-time Grammy Award-nominee singer/songwriter Leona Lewis; Tony-nominee and star of NBC’s hit TV show SMASH, Broadway and TV’s Megan Hilty; acclaimed tenor and Broadway star Alfie Boe (LES MISÉRABLES); and Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band, marking 15 years and over 400 concerts entertaining our troops, veterans and military families; in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.
Also participating in the event are the U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus and Army Voices, The Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.
The concert will also be live-streamed on PBS, You Tube, Facebook and www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert and available as Video on Demand, May 28 to June 10, 2018.
The program is a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C. Executive producer Michael Colbert has assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television’s most prestigious entertainment awards shows including the GRAMMY AWARDS, COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, TONY AWARDS, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, and more.
About Capital Concerts Capital Concerts is the nation’s leading producer of live patriotic television shows, including PBS’s highest-rated performance specials: NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT and A CAPITOL FOURTH, the premier celebrations of America’s most important holidays broadcast from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. For more than 35 years, these two award-winning productions have become national traditions, bringing us together as one family of Americans to celebrate our freedom and democratic ideals and to pay tribute to those who defend them. The holiday specials have been honored with over 80 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Golden Cine Award, and the Writer’s Guild of America Award.
Underwriters The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT is made possible by grants from the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, General Dynamics, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.
Turner’s TBS and Conan O’Brien announced an expanded partnership spanning television, digital, social and live events that will enable the late night icon to capitalize and interact with his multi-generational fan base across platforms. After 25 years on television and having amassed a deeply passionate and engaged fan base through the nightly show, travel specials, digital content, live events and fan interactions, Team Coco and TBS will take Conan’s enduring brand of comedy to his fans wherever they are. The expansion of Team Coco will be advanced by Billy Parks who has been named to the newly created position of Chief Brand Officer for the joint venture.
The longest tenured host in late night television will continue to evolve and reinvent the genre with major shifts to both his late night show and the creation and expansion of a joint Team Coco enterprise with TBS. CONAN will continue to air four nights a week on TBS, and in 2019 will unveil a new, less structured 30-minute format that will have guests and a variety of segments drawn from the newly expanded Team Coco portfolio.
“Since I inherited my Late Night show in 1993, TV has changed exponentially. I’d like to think I have evolved with many of these changes, but now it’s time to take the next leap. A half-hour show will give me the time to do a higher percentage of the comedy in, and out, of the studio that I love and that seems to resonate in this new digital world,” O’Brien said about the changes. “It’s still going to be me hosting a very silly show, but I want segments on my half-hour program to link to digital content, deepening the experience for my younger fans, and confusing my older ones.”
Team Coco’s initial 360-degree expansion efforts will include an array of talent deals with stand-up comedians driven by live touring and original digital material. Kicking-off in late 2018, O’Brien and his curated team of comics will hit the road on a multi-city tour hosted by O’Brien himself. As the late night show that features the most standup comedians on television, CONAN and TBS will introduce the newest and brightest comedic talent worldwide on multiple platforms.
Team Coco will continue to develop industry-leading branded linear and digital content, further strengthening the relationships between O’Brien’s comedic brand and advertising partners as new talent comes into the fold. The multi-platform hit franchise Clueless Gamer, which has been home to dozens of integrated partners, will serve as the model for how Team Coco can deliver brand relevance and impact for a growing list of branded partners.
“Conan has always been a fearless performer and now, at the top of his form, I’m excited he’s taking a gutsy step forward with us into new arenas,” said Kevin Reilly, president of TBS and TNT and chief creative officer of Turner Entertainment.
Billy Parks, a seasoned and well-respected creative executive will be vital to the growth of Team Coco’s new initiatives, working closely with longtime CONAN Executive Producer Jeff Ross. Parks most recently served as Executive Vice President of Creative and Content Strategy at Otter Media.
“This natural evolution of the show and expansion of the brand gives us a unique opportunity to reach fans in ways we never could have dreamed of when we started this show 25 years ago. Billy Parks will be an integral part of our continued success and advancement in creating exciting opportunities across all platforms,” added Jeff Ross.
Parks stated, “Not only does Conan have an epic history of working on one of the most prestigious and long running shows in comedy, the way he and his team have evolved the show over the past five years to create touch points that weave linear, digital and live for fans and brands is impressive. I am excited to be a part of the team as TBS and Team Coco double down on being funny everywhere. ”
CONAN will continue to take the show internationally in the vein of past shows such as Cuba, Mexico, Haiti and Israel, through his critically acclaimed CONAN Without Borders series. These hour-long specials have attracted passionate international audiences across multiple platforms and will continue to be an important part of the show’s portfolio. Additionally, in celebration of his 25 years on late night, Team Coco will be making O’Brien’s entire catalogue from Late Night with Conan O’Brien on NBC and CONAN on TBS available digitally.
“Starting out on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, through Late Night and my work with TBS, one of the great joys of my life has been collaborating with brilliantly funny people. This new venture with TBS will give me a platform to nurture exciting young talent and find the right place for their gifts in a crowded and chaotic landscape,” O’Brien remarked about the new venture. “My goal is to be ‘Red Lobster,’ only instead of affordable seafood we make comedy, and every customer gets a bib. I wish I had thought this through.”
CONAN airs Monday-Thursday at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) on TBS. The show is produced by Conaco LLC, with Jeff Ross serving as executive producer.
