'Gilligan's Island' star Dawn Wells dies, COVID-19 cited
FILE - In this 1965 file photo, Dawn Wells, center, poses with fellow cast members of "Gilligan's Island," Bob Denver and Alan Hale Jr., in Los Angeles. Wells, who played the wholesome Mary Ann on the 1960s sitcom "Gilligan's Island," has died. Her publicist says Wells died early Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in Los Angeles, of causes related to COVID-19. “There is so much more to Dawn Wells” than the “Gilligan's Island” character that brought her fame, Boll said in a statement. Then came “Gilligan's Island,” a goofy, good-natured comedy that aired from 1964-67 that became an unlikely but indelible part of popular culture.
NBC sets November return for 'This Is Us,' 'Chicago' dramas
LOS ANGELES An optimistic NBC said Thursday it will bring This Is Us and other scripted series back in November despite the TV industry's coronavirus-caused production shutdown that's only beginning to ease. Broadcast TV's usual robust September start to the new season has already bowed to the pandemic, with NBC and other networks relying heavily on reality and acquired series that month. This Is Us, the family drama starring Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia, will kick off its fifth season on Nov. 10, the network said. That will be followed by the Nov. 11 return of the Chicago drama franchise: Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med.The Mariska Hargitay-led Law & Order: SVU will start its record-building 22nd season on Nov. 12, followed by The Blacklist," starring James Spader and Megan Boone, on Nov. 13. Connecting, a new comedy about friends using video chats to remain bonded despite pandemic isolation, will debut Oct. 1.
Actress Naya Rivera, who rose to fame in 'Glee,' dies at 33
NEW YORK Naya Rivera, a singer and actress who played a gay cheerleader on the hit TV musical comedy Glee, was found dead Monday in a Southern California lake. What a force you were, wrote Glee co-star Jane Lynch on Twitter. She is survived by her parents, Yolanda and George; a younger brother, Mychal; a sister, Nickayla; and her 4-year-old son. Naya Rivera was a fierce talent with so much more to do and this is such a terrible tragedy. In the preface to her autobiography, Rivera wrote that motherhood had changed her life and given it perspective.
Jane Lynch, Cyndi Lauper developing 'Golden Girls'-inspired show for Netflix
It's time to thank Jane Lynch and Cyndi Lauper for being a friend. Lynch won an Emmy Sunday night at the Creative Arts Emmys for her guest role in "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and revealed that she and Lauper (who must be friends) are developing a show together for Netflx, and it will be comparable to the classic show "The Golden Girls," according to Variety. Im almost 60 and shes 65, and were looking for our next act, without ever having had husbands of children, Lynch said of the show. And there will be two other people who havent been cast yet. But its kind of a 'Golden Girls' for today.This sounds wildly fun, and if they want to make every "Golden Girls" fan dreams come true, we'll see Betty White pop up in this.
Taylor Swift headlining Amazon Prime Day concert
Amazon Music has announced its first ever Prime Day Concert to be headlined by Taylor Swift. The event will stream live on Prime Video at 9 p.m. ET on July 10, exclusively for Prime members. "Hosted by award-winning actress Jane Lynch ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Glee"), the Prime Day Concert presented by Amazon Music will be available to Prime members to stream on-demand after the live show for a limited time on Prime Video, which will include select songs from each performance." Amazon Prime Day is a big deal for shoppers and this year they will have 48 hours to try and rack up the best deals from the online retailer.