Showbiz News, Gossip, Weekend TV Schedule! Masked Singer Reveals First Guest

Weekend Showbiz Update, Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19, 2020

SATURDAY TV:

ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME (ABC, NBC, CBS, CW and more, streaming on  Amazon, Facebook, and YouTube) — Presented by Global Citizen and the World Health Organization and curated by Lady Gaga, this 2-hour special will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert. Stars set to appear (remotely) include: Elton John, Billie Eilish, Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, David Beckham, Eddie Vedder, FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kerry Washington, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Maluma, Paul McCartney, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan and Stevie Wonder.

… Additional stars set to participate include: Alicia Keys, Amy Poehler, Awkwafina, Camila Cabello, Celine Dion, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Lupita Nyong’o, Matthew McConaughey, Oprah Winfrey, Pharrell Williams, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, Usher and Victoria Beckham.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (11:30p ET, NBC) — Repeat.

SUNDAY TV:

AMERICAN IDOL (8p ET, ABC) — New. A deeper look into the lives of the top 21 contestants, including never-before-seen performances.

GOD FRIENDED ME (8p ET, CBS) — New. Miles weighs the consequences of carrying out the God Account’s wishes when his new friend suggestion alleges Miles ruined his life.

NCIS: LOS ANGELES (9p ET, CBS) — New. NCIS helps a former NCIS tech operator search for her missing ex-partner, when they fear he might be working with the gun runners.

THE WALL (8p ET, NBC) — New.

ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST (9p ET, NBC) — New. Zoey surprisingly finds herself getting into major conflict with Simon, Max, Mo and even Howie.

PREMIERE: THE LAST DANCE (9p ET, ESPN) — Originally set to premiere in June, this 10-part docuseries about Michael Jordan and his final season with the Chicago Bulls will air in two-hour installments over the next five Sundays. The Last Dance features never-before-seen footage from the ’97-98 Bulls season and interviews with Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson, and many more. ESPN will air the uncensored version, while ESPN2 will air a family friendly bleeped version of the curse words.

NCIS: NEW ORLEANS (10p ET, CBS) — New. The team investigates the death of a Naval microbiologist whose hobby as a “myth buster” resulted in his death.

GOOD GIRLS (10p ET, NBC) — New. Beth decides to find a solution to her Rio problem once and for all after he backs her into a corner.

Showbiz News and Gossip from BasinLife.com

ALEX TREBEK IS RELEASING HIS MEMOIR THE DAY BEFORE HIS 80th BIRTHDAY 
Alex Trebek’s memoir will be available on July 21, the day before the Jeopardy! host celebrates his 80th birthday. The title of his memoir is The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life.

GORDON RAMSAY IS FIRST CONFIRMED GUEST FOR THE MASKED SINGER: AFTER THE MASK 
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay will be among the first guests on the premiere of Fox’s The Masked Singer: After the Mask, which launches on April 22.

That’s because Ramsay will also be seen earlier that evening as a guest panelist on that night’s edition of The Masked Singer, joining regular panelists Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Robin Thicke and Ken Jeong. As part of his appearance, each of the disguised celebrity singers will bring out a signature dish to present to Ramsay and the show’s other panelists — which will also serve as a clue to their real identity.

Sir Paul McCartney performs in concert during his One on One tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on July 26, 2017 in Tinley Park, Illinois. / AFP PHOTO / Kamil Krzaczynski (Photo credit should read KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

PAUL MCCARTNEY’S HANDWRITTEN LYRICS TO HEY JUDE SELL FOR $910,000 
Paul McCartney wrote Hey Jude for five-year-old Julian Lennon after visiting him and his mom, Cynthia Lennon, after John left them for Yoko. Released independent of an album, and never included on one, Hey Jude spent 7 weeks at number 1 in the fall of 1968. Fifty two years later, McCartney’s handwritten lyrics have sold for $910,000.

THE AMAZING RACE SEASON 32 FINALLY GETS A PREMIERE DATE 
Season 32 of The Amazing Race, which was filmed at the end of 2018, will finally air a year and a half later, debuting with two-hour premiere on May 20.

AMERICAN IDOL WILL CONTINUE WITH FIRST EVER AT-HOME REMOTE EDITIONS 
For American Idol, the show must go on. After taking time to consider a variety of options as social distancing guidelines went into effect across the country, the show plans to move forward with remote episodes that are filmed at home.

These new episodes, which will begin airing on Sunday, April 26, will replace the live shows that were scheduled to follow the other rounds of the competition. Ordinarily these live shows are filmed on stage in front of an audience and a panel of judges. Those shows will replaced by an entirely remote show.

… This new version of the show will feature performances from the remaining 20 contestants, who will be performing from their homes across the country. Judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will also be filming the show from their homes, as will host Ryan Seacrest.

BRIAN DENNEHY DIES AT 81 
Actor Brian Dennehy died Wednesday of natural causes. The veteran actor guest starred on a number of 1970s TV shows before landing a recurring role on Dynasty in 1981. Dennehy was a five-time Emmy nominee who won a Golden Globe playing Willy Loman in the 2000 TV movie Death of a Salesman. In recent years, Dennehy had parts on Public Morals, Hap and Leonard and most recently on The Blacklist as Elizabeth Keen’s grandfather.

… His big breakout movie role was as Sheriff Teasle in Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo action flick, First Blood. He’d go on to star in several films in the ’80s and ’90s, including Silverado, Cocoon, Best Seller, and Presumed Innocent. Brian’s most notable comedy role came in 1995, when he played Big Tom Callahan in the classic Chris Farley movie Tommy Boy.

GORDON RAMSAY IS FIRST CONFIRMED GUEST FOR THE MASKED SINGER: AFTER THE MASK 
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay will be among the first guests on the premiere of Fox’s The Masked Singer: After the Mask, which launches on April 22.

That’s because Ramsay will also be seen earlier that evening as a guest panelist on that night’s edition of The Masked Singer, joining regular panelists Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Robin Thicke and Ken Jeong. As part of his appearance, each of the disguised celebrity singers will bring out a signature dish to present to Ramsay and the show’s other panelists — which will also serve as a clue to their real identity.

PEACOCK WILL PROCEED WITH ITS SOFT LAUNCH TODAY 
Comcast has launched an “early preview” of its new Peacock streaming service.   It’s on now. The service will launch with 15,000 hours of movies and TV shows, from Parks & Recreation to Two and a Half Men. Peacock’s national rollout is set for July 15.

JON BON JOVI’S HOUSE IS FOR SALE FOR $20 MILLION 
Jon Bon Jovi’s six-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate in Middletown, New Jersey, is on the market for $20 million. It’s the kind of place you could social distance with the family for many months: the mansion sits on 15 acres and touches 450 feet of the Navesink River. It comes with a grand marble fireplace and a heated swimming pool.

MOVIE THEATERS INCLUDED IN PLAN TO REOPEN US ECONOMY 
The Trump White House on Thursday announced a three-phase plan to reopen the U.S. economy that includes the relaunch of movie theaters in the second phase.

… In Phase One of the Opening Up America Again plan, all vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place, social and physical distancing should still be practiced in public, non-essential travel should be minimized, and teleworking should continue to occur where possible.

Phase Two, which can only begin after a community shows no evidence of rebound or surge in new cases, would allow “large venues,” including “sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship” to operate under “moderate physical distancing protocols.” Schools and organized youth activities can reopen, bars can operate with “diminished standing-room occupancy,” gyms can reopen with “strict physical distancing and sanitation protocols,” and elective surgeries can resume.

… Phase Three allows for visits to senior care facilities and hospitals, gyms to reopen with “standard sanitation protocols” and bars to operate with “increased standing room occupancy, where applicable.” The aforementioned large venues — sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues and places of worship — will be able to operate with “limited physical distancing protocols.”

… The decision on whether to open up businesses again ultimately falls to each state’s governor.

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE MAY END UP AS 2020’s TOP GROSSING FILM 
Bad Boys For Life may end up grossing more money at the box office than any other film of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic effect on both the lives of people around the world and the global economy. In March, most movie theaters began locking doors to the public in an effort to help mitigate the spread of the virus. This box office shutdown has gone hand-in-hand with the delay of dozens of major films, many being pushed back as far as 2022.

As one of the only major films to be released in theaters this year so far, Bad Boys For Life is on the track to be the biggest movie at the box office with its haul of $419 million. With its second-place ranking, Sonic the Hedgehog brought in $306 million.

… Everything could change if the world gets good news in the coming months. A rapid and substantial decline in COVID-19 cases could see a reduction in social distancing requirements, meaning businesses may begin to reopen and allow life to resume some sense of normalcy. In that case, it’s possible theater chains could open their doors for some of the big films set to be released later in the year, possibly leading to the action blockbuster losing its current crown.

HGTV ORDERS REMOTELY FILMED HOME RENOVATION SHOW 
HGTV is launching a coronavirus quarantine-inspired show called Design at Your Door, where “desperate homeowners” will film themselves doing home renovation as experts give them advice remotely.

DISNEY RELEASED A VIDEO RIDE-THROUGH OF BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD 
In case you missed it, there are about a million videos floating around out there that capture the experience of going on some of the most iconic rides at the Disney Parks around the world. That’s all well and good, but this week, Disney released an official video of its own so you can take a virtual ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. • VIDEO

… If you’re not familiar, the ride takes passengers on a train ride through hills and mountains. Also, fun fact: The town you’re riding through is called “Tumbleweed.” Because it’s Disney, the video is also full of magical anecdotes. As you take your virtual ride on the clickety, clackety train, you’ll be treated to all sort of fun facts that appear on the screen.

STEPHEN KING SHARES NETFLIX RECOMMENDATIONS 
No matter how long the coronavirus-induced quarantines last, we’ll never run out of things to watch. Should you have already completed your personal watch list though, fear not, as internationally acclaimed horror and thriller writer Stephen King has you covered.

… By looking at his Twitter, someone has compiled King’s Netflix recommendations over the past couple of years. These include the zombie series Black Summer; the serial killer series Mindhunter; and the supernatural Hotel Beau Sejour.

… He also recommends Calibre, Cam, Dracula, Fauda, Le Mante, Money Heist, The Stranger and Pine Gap.

ANDY RICHTER TO HOST A LIVE WEEKLY ANIMATION DOMINATION RECAP SHOW 
Conan sidekick Andy Richter will host a new show called Anidom Beyond Show on social broadcasting platform Caffeine starting Sunday night. The hourlong program will feature interviews with the cast and crew of Fox animated series The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Bless the Harts, Duncanville and more. Viewers will be able to interact live with Richter.

JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN HAS A NEW SHOW COMING TO AMC 
You may know him as the villain who killed some of your all-time favorite characters on The Walking Dead, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan is actually a pretty nice guy in real life. After his role as as Negan on AMC’s hit show, the network has announced that he’s looking to bring smiles and laughter in a brand new series.

… Friday, April 17 will see the launch of Friday Night in with the Morgans, a new half-hour show centered around Morgan and his wife, actress Hilarie Burton Morgan, as they reach out to other celebrities and discuss their lives together. AMC states that the show will be designed around bringing happiness to viewers during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that’s ravaging the world and forcing everyone to stay indoors practicing social distancing.

… The show will be filmed at the Morgan family residence, Mischief Farm, in upstate New York, a spot already made popular by Burton Morgan’s book The Rural Diaries and their famous odd couple pairing of an emu and donkey known as Jack and Diane.

THE WITCHER ACTOR REVEALS HE’S FULLY RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 
Game of Thrones alum Kristopher Hivju had recently joined the cast of The Witcher to play a role in the second season of the fantasy show, but unfortunately he and his wife both tested positive for the COVID-19 and quarantined themselves at home to fight the virus.

… Hivju is known for portraying Jon Snow’s biggest brother-in-arms, Tormund Giantsbane. But the actor recently found a new fantasy home in the upcoming chapter of Netflix’s The Witcher. Hivju was one of the major celebrities to contract the disease in the early days of the outbreak in Europe and North America.

Shortly after, Netflix did what every other studio and distributor had done by shutting down production on the second season.

… On Instagram Hivju wrote: “Hi! We are fully recovered and in good health after I was infected by the Coronavirus, and most likely my wife…”

GOD FRIENDED ME CANCELED AFTER TWO SEASONS ON CBS 
CBS is pruning its friends list. The network has canceled God Friended Me after two seasons. The drama has lower ratings this season and isn’t being watched by DVR and on-demand users all that much.

… The two-hour series finale is scheduled for Sunday, April 26.

TIGER KING GETS THE COMIC BOOK TREATMENT 
Tiger King, the compelling true crime series set in the world of private zoos and their eccentric owners, is getting the comic book treatment. Tidalwave Productions said on Tuesday it has added the story to its Infamous series of pop culture comic books after the Netflix television series became a worldwide phenomenon.

… Tiger King was watched by around 34 million viewers in the first 10 days after it was released on Netflix on March 20.

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