Tag: Entertainment-Variety

The 2026 edition of the SXSW Film & TV Festival opened with a bang on Thursday: Boots Riley’s larger-than-life sci-fi comedy “I Love Boosters” served as the opening night film, bringing a starry ensemble led by Keke Palmer to Austin’s Paramount Theater.

It was certainly the right note to kick off the week. The crowd was raucous with laughter throughout all of the film’s witty dialogue and visual gags, and cheered as the characters realized their goals on screen. “I Love Boosters” follows a trio of boosters (Palmer, Naomi Ackie and Taylour Paige) — aka professional shoplifters — who steal from clothing stores owned by an evil genius billionaire (Demi Moore) as a way to fight her exploitative business dealings. Paige’s character jokingly refers to their operation as “Fashion Forward Filanthropy” — misspelling intentional. “People want to be involved with the world and art and feel like they’re in that conversation,” Riley said onstage, explaining the boosters’ special brand of political creativity.

Afterwards, Riley and the cast celebrated their premiere at the Variety Cover Party presented by Neon, where Palmer took the stage and sang two songs from the “I Love Boosters” soundtrack.

Given that “I Love Boosters” uses the fashion industry as the backdrop for its story about working class women coming together, the cast and crew attended the party decked out in unique pieces. Supporting star Eiza González spoke with Variety on the red carpet alongside Eric Andre, who makes a cameo in the film, to break down their looks.

Boots Riley donned his signature tall hat as part of a black-and-white ensemble. (Palmer wore a stylish hat in homage to her director while posing for the cover of Variety.) Supporting stars Naomi Ackie and Poppy Liu came to the party wearing textured gowns in bright red and lime green, respectively.

Palmer was wearing turquoise as a reference to the favorite color of her character, Corvette. She spoke to Variety about loving the fact that she’s constantly meme’d on the internet — and discussed “I Love Boosters” at length in her cover interview.

Back at the premiere, Riley reiterated the political message behind “I Love Boosters” and earnestly asked the audience to encourage others to watch when it debuts in theaters soon.

“This movie, there’s silliness in it, but it’s also a very important movie to be out there right now, because I think we all need to figure out ways that we can change what’s happening. Ways that we can fight fascism and change the structure of the world around us. So tell people about this movie. I need it to be spread out there far and wide,” he said.

Speaking about the film’s distributor, he added, “And you might think because it’s Neon and they’re the shit that we got it covered. We don’t. We need all of you to be telling people to get there on May 22 because we need this kind of movie to do well.”

Rafe Spall (“Trying, “The English”), Oscar nominee Bérénice Bejo (“The Artist”), “Sherlock” co-creator and showrunner Steven Moffat and “Skins” co-creator Bryan Elsley head shows at the 2026 Series Mania Buyers Upfront, an invitation-only event unspooling on March 23 at Series Mania, Europe’s biggest TV festival.   

Spall plays opposite Jenna Coleman (“Doctor Who,” “The Jetty”) and Katherine Kelly (“Happy Valley”) in Moffat’s “Number 10,” one of the big highlights of this year’s Upfront. Bejo stars in “Alice,” for HBO Max and French public broadcaster France Televisions, which promises a finely produced period portrait of Alice Guy, one of cinema’s great French pioneers, pretty well erased from history for most of a century. Elsley returns with legal drama “Counsels,” produced for BBC One. 

The Buyers Upfront 10 series lineup was announced Friday by Laurence Herszberg, Series Mania founder and general director.

Though it would have to be compared with other key Series Mania industry sections, hints at trends in projects being brought in general onto the international market.

For want of U.S. financing, as players see to bulwark budgets and tap English-language projects, international markets are tapping into Australia. “Gnomes,” for instance, is commissioned by Stan in Australia and picked up by Germany’s ZDF Neo.

International is getting ever more genre, not just crime but horror. “Gnomes” is described as “Gremlins” Meets “Hot Fuzz,” by creator Joel Kohn. “

And the co-production scene is still developing. “Lost and Found” marks Singapore’s first scripted collaboration with Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

Producers are gaining broadcaster backing as they aim to capture a younger crowd. Elsey’s “Counsels,” marking a newer and younger-gen way into legal drama, is also backed by ZDFNeo, currently ZDF’s younger adult channel. Mixing real world settings in Singapore and Japan and a virtual world, “Lost and Found” backed by NHK and Mediacorp Singapore, targets Gen Z audiences. 

The Buyers Choice Award, selected by a six-person jury of key buyers, will be presented during an Awards Ceremony on March 24. It kicks off with a Beta Brunch. 

“We’re thrilled to bring back the Buyers Upfront following last year’s successful launch,” said Francesco Capurro, director of Series Mania Forum, noting that more than 100 top buyers from around the world have already signed up for the Upront which he described as a “highly curated slate of premium series.” 

“We’re confident the initiative will help distributors accelerate international sales,” he added. “With the Buyers Upfront, we continue to strengthen our position as the must-attend spring event for the scripted community, from creation to global distribution.

A closer look at the Upfront titles, chosen for their artistic merit and broad audience appeal:

“Alice”

Format: 6×45′

Country: France, Belgique, Canada

Year of production: 2025

Genre: Drama, Other

International Sales: Wild Bunch TV

Production company: Wild Bunch/Ligne de Front (France); Panache Productions & La Compagnie Cinématographique (Belgium); Sphere Media (Canada)

Synopsis: “From France to the U.S., the incredible journey of Alice Guy, a pioneer and the first female fiction filmmaker in cinema history. The series explores the extraordinary life of Alice Guy—a woman who was an artist, entrepreneur, wife and mother. It delves into her struggles, her thwarted loves, and her quest for freedom and recognition.”

Starring Béjo, produced by Wild Bunch TV and Palermo Production, on the biggest plays at the Upfront, moving from Belle Epoque Paris to New York and early Hollywood, portraying real-life fiction cinema visionary Alice Guy, erased from history. Real recognition has only come this century. Thibaut Evrard (“No Man’s Land”), Oscar Lesage (“The Count of Monte-Cristo”) and Irene Jacob (“3 Colors Red”) co-star.

“Blind,”

Format: 6×58

Country: Switzerland

Year of production: 2025

Genre: Thriller, Other

International Sales: OneGate Media

Production company: Zodiac Pictures

Logline: A blind bartender apparently witnesses a kidnapping no one believes. Until he teams up with a daring journalist and a newly promoted detective. They venture into dark parallel worlds and risk their lives for the truth.

Created by Plino Bachmann (“One Way to Moscow”), directed byChristian Johannes Koch (“Spigot”), Barbara Kulcsar (“Zwiespalt”) and fronted by Lia von Blarer (“Eldorado KaDeWe”) and Sven Schelker (“Davos 2017”) and based on the best-selling book series by Christine Brand, which have sold over 500,000 copies. “This series, like Brand’s novels, is truly ‘made in Switzerland’ – and packed with twists and turns, intriguing characters and psychological depth,” says Zodiak Pictures producer Jessica Hefti. “At the heart of this series is the character of Nathaniel and his visual impairment, adding a unique and powerful element to the story.”

“Counsels”

Format: 8×60′

Country: U.K.

Year of production: 2025

Genre: Drama

International Sales: All3Media International

Production company: Balloon Entertainment, ZDF Neo, BBC,  BBC Scotland

Synopsis: “Five young lawyers trained together at an elite law school in Glasgow. Six years later, they’ve spread out across the legal profession. This legal environment is ground level, stylish and sexy, weaving the personal stories of the main characters with propulsive defence and prosecution. Business relationships, friendships and love affairs will be tested to destruction as these young and ambitious lawyers and friends lock horns.” 

From “Skins” co-creator Bryan Elsley and Gillian McCormack, a Glasgow-set BBC legal drama, part of the Beeb’s biggest recent single recent investment in drama in Scotland, and part of All3Media Intl’s sales slate at last month’s London TV Screenings.  

“The Dark Book: The Secret of the Egerias” (working title)

Format: 6×45′

Country: Spain

Year of production: 2026

Genre: Thriller

International Sales: Studio TF1

Production group: Studio TF1

Synopsis: “Unai, a former top criminal profiler, left the police after his daughter was kidnapped and now lives quietly as a professor in Vitoria. “His life is turned upside down when two rare book owners are murdered and he receives an enigmatic call: his mother, Ithaca, presumed dead for forty years, is alive. To save her, he must find a legendary medieval book, one that could expose secret societies of obsessive collectors, and ultimately reveal the truth about his own family.”

“Gnomes” 

Format: 6×30′

Country: Australia

Year of production: 2025

Genre: Comedy, Other

International Sales: Happy Accidents

Production company: Total Fiction, Screen Invaders, Happy Accidents

Synopsis: “Set in a fading small-town on the eve of their first annual Gnome-a-Palooza festival, Senior Sergeant Arnold Kipps is reunited with his ex-partner from the force (and ex-love) Senior Constable Ellie McKay, who has returned to shut down his beloved station. But when the town’s gnome population is brought to life by an ancient evil, the pair must lead a motley crew of locals in a desperate fight to save their home from the coming gnome-apocalypse.”

Fronted by Asa Butterfield (“Sex Education”) and Megan Smart (“Class of 07,” “Black Snow” Season 2), “a delightfully deranged new horror-rom-com about second chances and a group of unlikely heroes who are forced to step up and save their town,” creator Joel Kohn tells Variety. Australian comedy writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven are penning the scripts; Matthias Hoene (“Theodosia,” “Cockneys vs Zombies”) set to direct the pilot. A buzz title a late 2024’s Content London Drama Pitch Competition, scoring second place. 

“In Vitro” 

Format: 6×45′

Country: Spain

Year of production: 2026

Genre: Drama, Comedy

International Sales: Beta Film

Production company: Moiré Films, Rodar y Rodar, and Bullfrog Pictures, in co-production with 3Cat, with the participation of HBO Max

Synopsis: “A heartwarming, innovative, and witty look at how babies are made: When 37-year-old microbiologist Blanca takes on a job at a fertility clinic, she is forced not only to get to the bottom of the needs and risks of her clients, but her own, as well.” 

Bruna Cusi (“Merlí”) plays Blanca, SXSW and Goya winner David Verdaguer (“Jokes & Cigarettes”) also stars in the latest from Rodar y Rodar, behind “The Orphanage,” “The Body” and “The Photographer of Mauthausen.”

“Lost and Found”

Format: 6×48′

Country: Japan, Singapore

Year of production: 2025

Genre: Drama

International Sales: Empire of Arkadia

Production company: Empire of Arkadia and Mocha Chai Laboratories (Singapore), TV Man Union (Japan)

Synopsis: “Young gamer Richie (played by Shawn Thia) travels to Tokyo in search of his online girlfriend only to discover that she has mysteriously vanished. In his quest to find her, he teams up with his new-found friend, Japanese gamer Yuka (played by Anna Yamada). Together, they embark on a journey into the unknown and unwittingly become embroiled in the underbelly of this metropolis – world of scams, trafficking, and illegal workers.”

Toplining Asian hearthrobs Anna Yamada, Shawn Thia and Nijiro Murakami, and set to bow on Japan’s NHK on March 18.

“We’re often asked whether we considered the story first or the cross-border collaboration The truth is that the current harsh globally realities organically made this project happen, as young people everywhere face such complex futures,” says creator-producer Fotini Paraskakis.

Number 10

Format: 6×60′

Country: U.K.

Year of production: 2026

Genre: Drama

International Sales: ITV Studios

Production company: Hartswood Films

Synopsis: 

“There’s a Prime Minister in the attic, a coffee bar in the basement, and a wallpapered labyrinth of romance, crisis and heartbreak in-between….We’ll never know which party is in power, because once the whole world hits the fan it barely matters.”

Produced by Hartswood Films for Channel 4, starring Jenna Coleman, Rafe Spall, and Katherine Kelly, and described by Channel 4’s Gwawr Lloyd, as a “bold, brilliant and witty new drama.”

“R91”

Format: 6×52′

Country: France

Year of production: 2026

Genre: Thriller, Action

International Sales: SND Groupe M6

Production company: Next Episode

Synopsis: Mediterranean Sea. “France’s nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (an R91) has just set sail on a strategic mission. When a crew member is found dead and another goes missing, military investigator Paul Fischer is rushed aboard. With second-in-command Helena Duval, they must hunt for the truth before the killer strikes again. In a floating fortress of 2,000 souls, suspicion spreads and a murder investigation turns into a global security crisis.

Set on France’s first nuclear-powered surface vessel, from Next Episode, launched in 2020 by UGC and ex-Empreinte Digitale exec Henri Debeurme, and behind Netflix romcom “Christmas Flow,” NBCU action thriller “J’ai Tué Mon Mari” and La Rochelle winner “Septième Ciel.”

“The Traitor Within”

Format: 4×45′

Country: Norway

Year of production: 2026

Genre: Drama, Thriller

International Sales: Fremantle

Production company: Miso Film Norge

Synopsis:  “A gripping WWII thriller based on the true story of Norway’s most notorious Nazi collaborator and the man sent to kill him. In occupied Norway, two young men choose opposing paths. Salesman Henry Rinnan becomes the Gestapo’s deadliest agent, dismantling the resistance through lies, betrayal and murder. Resistance fighter Odd Sørli is tasked with assassinating Rinnan, triggering a relentless cat-and-mouse pursuit.”

The latest from Norway’s part of Scandinavia’s Miso Film, a Fremantle company, also with offices in Copenhagen and Stockholm and behind iconic event Nordic series such as “The Rain,” “1864” and “Faithless.”

Beta Film has picked up international distribution rights for Spanish series “In Vitro” ahead of Series Mania. 

It follows a 37-year-old biologist Blanca, who takes on a job at a fertility clinic. She is forced not only to get to the bottom of the needs and risks of her clients, but her own as well. 

Created by Marc Crehuet and Alejandra Guimerà, it’s directed by Crehuet (“Welcome to the Family, “Greenpower”) and described as a “heartwarming, innovative and witty look at how babies are made.” 

Bruna Cusí (“Merli,” “All We Cannot See,” “Facil”) plays Blanca, increasingly confronted with ethical dilemmas that test her principles and beliefs, not the least of which being: Is it right to satisfy the desire to have children, no matter what? 

At the clinic, her protagonist also meets Héctor: an outstanding, but all too rational embryologist whose brutal frankness often scares clients away. The clinic’s boss Andreu hopes Blanca’s empathetic nature will outweigh Héctor’s harshness. But sometimes, her idealism gets in the way of business, too. 

David Verdaguer (“Perfect Life,” “Away”), Diana Gomez (“Valeria,” “Money Heist”), Maria Pujalte (“Cland,” Toy Boy”) also star. 

“In Vitro” is produced by Moiré Films and Rodar y Rodar in co-production with Bullfrog Pictures in association with 3Cat and HBO Max Spain.

The dramedy is among the ten selected series of Series Mania’s exclusive showcase “Buyers Upfront”. 

Beta’s line-up at the fest also includes their first K-Drama “Snow White Must Die”, Icelandic romantic drama “Everybody Loves Horses”, the French thriller series “A Guilty Affair” and the German medical movie cycle “Simply Elli”, as well as the London TV Screenings highlights “Gomorrah – The Origins”, “Maxima”, “Patience “and “Barton Vet”.

“‘In Vitro’ stood out from the moment when producers Alejandra Guimerá and Marina Padró presented it to us. It’s the unique blend between great, witty storytelling, a female lead to root for from the get-go, and a subject matter of truly global import – and all of this backed by, and based on, the personal experiences of the husband-and-wife creator team,” said Peter Lohner, VP Acquisitions Hispanic & International. 

“From the script phase when we boarded the project to the final image, ‘In Vitro’ has delivered on its early promise. We’re honored and looking forward to bringing ‘In Vitro’ to the world.”

If you could break down the documentary form to a simple formula, it might read something like “Time + Access.” Those are the advantages enjoyed by Alyse Walsh and Jackie Jesko’s “Baby/Girls,” which diligently unearths tales of teen pregnancy in rural Arkansas after the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Across two years and multiple subjects in a Christian maternity home, it casts a spotlight on both cultural and personal complications that, despite the film’s meandering focus, make for stirring dramatic topics at the outset — if you can ignore its occasional use of garish generative AI.

Following new mothers and pregnant teenagers, some as young as 14, “Baby/Girls” charts the fragile dynamic between cultural taboos and teenage pregnancy. All the while, its apparent north star is the idea that its subjects are, first and foremost, children, a fact of which we’re reminded through their playful, often naïve interactions. The camera, while keenly observant, maintains a mannered distance within the confines of Compassion House, a caring facility where some teens are sent by their families, and others are ordered by local courts while strapped with ankle monitors too large for their legs. Walsh and Jesko seldom turn their attention away from their young subjects, but they allow them the room and liberty to speak, and to express not only what they feel, but the many things they do not know (or wish they would have known), including and especially that adequate sex education that might have helped them make different decisions.

To say that “Baby/Girls” is a pro-choice documentary is almost politically reductive, at least in the binary sense the phrase is often deployed. None of the young girls or the women running the home (some former teen moms themselves) seem to have wished they could have had abortions. But within minutes of letting them speak to the camera, it becomes clear how severely limiting their circumstances have been, robbing them of the choices to determine their own paths. These are stories not just of lacking contraception, but of cycles of poverty and neglect. Some subjects want to be mothers, other don’t, and some eventually experience the intense post-partum depression that can come with wanting to live a normal teenage life while having to care for a newborn. Each story is rendered in lifelike hues, with the sunlight and widespread rural greenery offering a sense of secret possibility where none might truly exist, like some kind of hope far off in the distance. However, the more we learn about each subject, and the more they face the reality of the world, this begins to seem like an impossible wish.

However, while singular moments are presented with clarity, the film often squanders its emotional momentum. The story, at a distance, features the utmost potential for emotional intensity, but the closer the filmmakers get to weaving an overarching tapestry, the more the individual stories run together in terms of tone and spirit. Despite running a mere 94 minutes, the film’s multiple threads are presented in a manner so outstretched their totality becomes dulled, as the inherent allure of the saga at large gradually wanes in energy. These are, at their core, deeply moving stories of women made to suffer quietly across multiple generations, thanks to a cultural war that was lost long before the Dobbs decision; the adults who explain this to the camera have lucid political outlooks, just as the movie does. But beyond its initial introductions to each subject, “Baby/Girls” rarely probes its own purview, or allows its perspective (or that of its subjects) to evolve in meaningful ways as time goes back. Rarely is the footage cut together in a way that creates a meaningful arc for the audience. Perhaps the directors’ unobtrusive approach to interviewing — while ethically forthright — is what prevents the film from being too dramatically rigorous, and its subjects from introspecting too heavily.

There’s one exception to be found, in a teenage subject, Grace, who seems excited to be a mom until the financial and emotional realities of motherhood come crashing down on her. However, when she arrives at this hurdle, the movie tends to cut away from her, and instead tries to locate its drama elsewhere, as if in an attempt to mechanically switch around moments of interest nabbed from other subplots. As the girls leave Compassion House and resume their lives, it’s as though the movie can’t keep up with them, so it struggles to bring its narrative home.

It certainly doesn’t help that the natural beauty of these images — the melancholy of vibrant teens forced into difficult circumstances, and the adorable babies we meet, who are genuinely loved — finds itself punctuated by digital ugliness. The film employs photographs of subjects’ friends and families to sketch the contours of their lives, but these are touched up with generative A.I. tools, which give the people in them macabre, warped features in bizarre and obvious ways.

It’s hard to tell the degree to which these images are even real; if the documentary form is cinema at its most truthful, then this is an unnecessary corruption of reality, one that fractures the trust between audience and storyteller, such as when the Netflix true crime documentary “What Jessica Did” was found to contain AI generated photographs. As aesthetic flourishes go, this is not the key defining feature of “Baby/Girls,” but for a film with such weight and immediacy surrounding the personal and political, it’s a strange shot in the foot. Capturing these subjects in so delicate a manner is vital in an age of encroaching theocracy, but a film that both takes ethical shortcuts and bypasses vital third-act reflections (yielding a number of rushed emotional conclusions) is unlikely to make a lasting impact. That these subjects are placed before a camera is certainly important, but that’s only the first step to ensuring their stories are told, and preserved, with the requisite care. Time and access may be vital components, but filmmaking is more than a math equation.

This lifeguard tower is getting crowded. Social media star, gymnast and now actress Livvy Dunn has joined the ever-growing cast of Fox’s “Baywatch” reboot, the network announced Thursday.

Dunn will be a recurring star, playing Grace, “a highly enthusiastic junior lifeguard.” She joins a cast that includes Stephen Amell, Shay Mitchell, Jessica Belkin, Hassie Harrison, Thaddeus LaGrone, Brooks Nader, Noah Beck, Shay Mitchell and David Chokachi.

A former LSU gymnast, Livvy became the highest-earning female college athlete and eventually became a social media star, boasting more than 15 million followers across platforms. Livvy has also been seein on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and works in fashion and media, among other outlets.

In the new “Baywatch,” scheduled to premiere on Fox during the 2026-2027 TV season, Amell plays Hobie Buchannon, the son of original “Baywatch” lead character Mitch Buchannon (played in the OG by David Hasslehoff), while Mitchell is Trina, Belkin is Charlie Vale, Chokachi reprises his role from the original series, Cody Madison, LaBrone will play Brad, Harrison is Nat, Nader is Selene and Beck is Luke. Fox and producer Fremantle also recently held a day-long casting call to find additional players for the new show.

Here’s part of the logline for the revival: “The wild child Hobie Buchannon we all loved from the original series is now a Baywatch captain, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch. Hobie’s world is turned upside down when Charlie, the daughter he never knew, shows up on his doorstep, eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy and become a Baywatch lifeguard alongside her dad. OG heartthrob Cody Madison now runs The Shoreline, the unofficially official Baywatch bar-and-grill, and still puts on the red trunks for the occasional shift saving lives. He’s a mentor to and a friend, providing a second home for his fellow lifeguards… and always offering free wings after a big save.”

“Baywatch” was picked up for the 2026-2027 broadcast season by Fox back in September 2025 with a 12-episode order. Matt Nix is the showrunner and an executive producer on the reboot along with McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz. McG will also direct the series premiere episode.

The series is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle. Fox Entertainment Global holds domestic distribution rights and Fremantle manages international sales.

Dunn is repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and The Team.

Pioneering U.S. casting director Bonnie Timmermann — known for changing the face of Hollywood film and television by imposing diversity and discovering a multitude of talents — will be honored by Italy’s Biografilm Festival, the unique event billed as a cinematic celebration of human lives.

In the mid 1980s, Timmermann broke new ground with the diverse range of actors she cast in the Michael Mann-directed TV series “Miami Vice” and later worked with Mann on “Manhunter,” “Heat” and “The Insider.” Her long long list of casting credits also includes “Trading Places,” “The Karate Kid,” “Dirty Dancing,” “Bull Durham,” “Armageddon,” “Black Hawk Down” and, more recently, the Derek Cianfrance-directed “Roofman.”

In a joint statement, Biografilm Festival artistic directors Chiara Liberti and Massimo Benvegnù called Timmermann “a visionary talent scout,” noting that she discovered stars such as Natalie Portman, Kate Winslet, Scarlett Johansson, Bruce Willis, Steve Buscemi, Viggo Mortensen, Benicio Del Toro and Mark Ruffalo.

“For over 40 years, Bonnie Timmermann has been the one taking a leap of faith. She saw the icons of today when they were still unknowns in a rehearsal room, long before the world knew their names,” they said.

“By awarding Bonnie the Celebration of Lives Award, we are not just honoring an extraordinary career; we are celebrating the intuition, the courage and the profound human connection that lies in the casting process, which often turns a script into an unforgettable film,” the Biografilm fest chiefs added.

They also noted that the Biografilm award for Timmermann arrives “at a historic turning point for the industry,” as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially introduces the new competitive category for best achievement in casting, the culmination of a campaign for recognition that has taken decades. 

To mark the occasion, the fest will host a screening of the 2022 documentary “Bonnie,” directed by Simon Wallon, in which Timmermann reflects on her profession amid footage of global superstars during their very first auditions.

Previous recipients of the Celebration of Lives Award award include Werner Herzog, Francis Ford Coppola, Radu Jude and Olivier Assayas.

The 22nd edition of the Biografilm Festival will run in Bologna June 5-15.

Radio personality, comedian and author Rickey Smiley is expanding his partnership with media company Urban One.

The centerpieces of the pact are a five-year extension of the nationally syndicated “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” distributed to over 89 affiliate stations across the U.S., and “Rickey Smiley on the Spot,” an original video podcast series launching March 24 on the company’s Urban One Podcast Network.

The expanded deal is part of Urban One’s “video-first” pivot. “Rickey Smiley on the Spot,” building on his successful morning show, blends his signature wit with meaningful explorations of life, faith, and family. The video podcast will allow both Smiley and his guests “to let their guard down for “all real talk,” per Urban One. The initial guest lineup includes Da Brat, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Tye Tribbett and Tiny Harris.

Each episode of “Rickey Smiley on the Spot” will run about 35 minutes. The show is launching through the Urban One Podcast Network and will be available on all major audio platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Pandora.

“I am so excited to continue my partnership with Urban One and Reach Media,” Smiley said in a statement. “I’m eternally grateful to Ms. Hughes, Alfred Liggins, Deon Levingston and Colby Colb for believing in me all these years. I could not do any of this without the most amazing team of talented people I am blessed to work with every day who keep it real, keep it fresh and keep our fans informed and laughing every day. The future is bright with the best yet to come.”

Deon Levingston, co-president of Urban One’s Audio Division, said: “Rickey is a cornerstone of the Urban One brand, and we are thrilled to expand his footprint with a show that captures his natural comedic rhythm in such an intimate way. By expanding on Rickey’s popularity with our listeners and creating a new programming opportunity, we are providing a platform that not only uplifts Black voices but also creates a premium, culturally resonant environment for our listeners and brand partners alike.”

“Rickey Smiley on the Spot” is executive produced by Smiley and Tiffany Ryland, with Tonya Clackum and Taylor Green serving as producers. The podcast is distributed through the Urban One Podcast Network, led by senior director of podcast operations Dre Smith.

The new deal between Smiley and Urban One was brokered by Paul Anderson of Workhouse Media. Smiley is repped by Levity and UTA.

Urban One is diversified media company primarily targeting Black Americans and urban audiences in the U.S., claiming to reach 80 million unique consumers monthly. Its assets include TV One and CLEO TV, collectively available in 40 million households, Radio One, with 74 broadcast stations in 13 top African American markets; and Reach Media, with 312 affiliates over 94 markets and home to nationally syndicated shows including “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” “The D.L. Hughley Show,” “Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell” and “The Morning Hustle.”

Amazon MX Player, India’s free streaming service with over 250 million monthly viewers, has unveiled its most ambitious content lineup to date, announcing more than 150 new and returning titles for 2026 spanning drama, action, reality and its homegrown microdrama format.

Leading the scripted charge is “Made In India: The Titan Story,” an ambition-and-legacy drama featuring Naseeruddin Shah and Jim Sarbh. The marquee titles also include “Sankalp,” a socio-political thriller examining power and leadership that stars Nana Patekar, Sanjay Kapoor, Neeraj Kabi and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.

Kapoor also appears in “Ab Hoga Hisaab,” a justice-and-retribution thriller alongside Shaheer Sheikh and Mouni Roy. Further rounding out the dramatic lineup are the administrative drama “The Bureaucrat” starring Amol Parashar; action entertainer “Kaptaan” with Saqib Saleem; survival thriller “Vimal Khanna” featuring Sunny Hindhuja; cop drama “Waiting Hai” with Divyenndu Sharma and Bhuvan Arora; and crime drama “Clean Up Crew,” which stars Ravi Kishan, Amey Wagh and Vishal Jethwa.

The new slate follows on the heels of recent originals including the legal courtroom drama “Amar Vishwas,” starring Rajeev Khandelwal, Aamir Ali, Ravi Behl and Barkha Bisht, and “Psycho Saiyaan,” a romantic thriller with Tejasswi Prakash and Ravi Kishan that generated strong viewership.

On the returning seasons front, the platform is bringing back crime saga “Raktanchal” for a third season alongside youth-skewing titles “Campus Beats” Season 6, “Campus Diaries” Season 2, “Heartbeats” Season 2 and “Who’s Your Gynac” Season 2.

In unscripted, flagship reality competition “Rise & Fall” returns for a second season following a strong debut run. Fitness reality series “Battleground” also returns for Season 2, with Shikhar Dhawan reprising his role as lead mentor. The recently wrapped “Bharat Ke Super Founders,” fronted by Suniel Shetty, saw winning startups receive funding of INR100 crore ($10.8 million)

A central plank of the 2026 strategy is the further build-out of MX Fatafat, the platform’s mobile-first microdrama vertical, alongside the expansion of MX Vdesi – its library of localized content from Korea, China and Turkey – and a curated anime slate available in the Japanese and Hindi languages.

“Amazon MX Player is seeing strong momentum as more audiences embrace free, premium streaming,” said Karan Bedi, head of Amazon MX Player. “With our growing premium content slate and scale, we are uniquely positioned to drive the shift from linear television to streaming for millions of viewers across India.”

Amogh Dusad, head of content, said the platform’s emphasis is on building “a diverse and inclusive content ecosystem that reflects the many voices, cultures, and experiences of audiences across the country.”

Girish Prabhu, head of Amazon Ads India, framed the slate in commercial terms, noting the reach of 250 million users creates opportunities for brands to connect with viewers through content “powered by shopping and streaming signals” that generate measurable outcomes.

All titles will be available to stream free of charge on Amazon MX Player across mobile, connected TVs, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, Jio TV and Airtel Xtreme.

Where can you find an Oscar-winning actress chatting up one of the world’s biggest pop stars?

Well, during Oscars week in Los Angeles, that’s pretty much anywhere — but there’s no place quite like Diane von Furstenberg’s annual luncheon celebrating the year’s female Oscar nominees.

This year’s garden party was particularly star-studded, with the likes of “Marty Supreme” star Gwyneth Paltrow (the aforementioned Oscar winner) catching up with Katy Perry, only to be interrupted by producer and philanthropist Nicole Avant Sarandos, then Demi Moore and finally Tracee Ellis Ross. Within minutes — and with the addition of posh jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer to the huddle — some of the industry’s most high-profile entertainers and entrepreneurs had assembled on the well-manicured lawn.

Oh, and while this A-list group caught up with one another, von Furstenberg stood just around the corner posing with legendary actress and activist Jane Fonda.

A lineup of talent like this — plus Anita Hill, Quinta Brunson, Tig Notaro, Fran Drescher, Lisa Ann Walter, Grace van Patten, Sabrina Impacciatore, Rachel Zoe, Elaine Welteroth, Rita Wilson, Diane Warren, Luna Blaise, Maggie Baird, Rozzi and “Sinners” Oscar nominees Ruth E. Carter and Autumn Durald Arkapaw — really gives new meaning to the term “power lunch.”

For the last 13 years, von Furstenberg has hosted the celebration at her Beverly Hills mansion. This year, she noted, all of the nominees got a gold sticker upon arrival to wear as a badge of honor. It was a last-minute idea, but a key one.

“It’s very important that you know who everybody is, because then you make new friends,” von Furstenberg said, taking the microphone as the crowd sat down for lunch, curated by chef Jane Coxwell. “You are all in the same industry, an industry that is not necessarily pro-women.”

That reality makes events like this one particularly key, the fashion designer explained, with Fonda — wearing her new signature “Resist” t-shirt — seated at her right hand. (Fonda was a co-host at this year’s luncheon alongside Moore, Avant Sarandos and Ross, and an audience with her was equally as coveted as a selfie with fellow attendee Paris Hilton.)

“[I thought] being kind was always being stupid, but lately I discovered the power of [it],” she said. “Kindness is like a currency, and it compounds like money.”

And women are uniquely positioned to make that currency count.

“Women always have the solutions, but women always have the power of seduction. And seduction is not only about showing your legs — although if you have good ones, you can,” von Furstenberg quipped, as the crowd chuckled. “It is about making other people believe that your ideas and your solutions are theirs. And right now, we have to use all the tools,” she continued. “Because right now is a time that we need strength, we need belief, we need values, and the best way to pass on the message is by kindness.”

Scroll below for an inside look at the star-studded event.

 

SPOILER ALERT: Details follow for Season 14, Episode 9  of “The Masked Singer,” “Care Bears Night,” which aired March 11 on Fox.

Well, some of the crowd are on the pitch. They think it’s all over. Well, it is now! Former soccer player-turned-Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas was the latest celebrity to be unmasked on Season 14 of the Fox singing reality competition, as High Voltage.

Among the panelists, no one got it right — although Robin Thicke was closest, with another Fox Sports analyst covering another kind of football, Tom Brady. Ken Jeong  guessed Travis Kelce. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg went with Julian Edelman. Rita Ora thought it was Jason Sudeikis.

Lalas ended his run by performing “Bad Day,” by Daniel Powter. His previous songs included “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” by Tears for Fears; “Miles On It,” Kane Brown and Marshmello; and “Paranoid,” by Black Sabbath

Here’s what Lalas, as High Voltage, said in his first appearance of this season: “When I first began my career, the idea of blending in was my biggest fear. I was always more interested in being a leader in my field. Sometimes you gotta get a little crazy to draw a lot of attention. So I listened to my gut and billions took notice. Suddenly, people were plugged in. I’ve been called a patriot, a revolutionary, changing the fabric of American culture. And my Masked Singer mission is taking home that trophy.”

In his second appearance, he added: “I had my own band of brothers. We went through everything together. The practice, the victories and the defeats. But, I knew if I wanted higher stakes in the game, I’d have to do more than play it. So, I cut the cord. And went out on my own. It could have been a huge disaster. But, I crushed it. I run businesses, bands, podcasts, anything to stay current.”

Contestants Pangolin, Pugcasso, High Voltage and Crane opened the show by singing “Walking on Sunshine,” by Katrina and the Waves.

On this week’s episode, the bottom two were Pangolin and High Voltage (who was also in the bottom two last week). They battled by both performing their own versions of “I’m So Excited,” by the Pointer Sisters. Pangolin was saved, leaving High Voltage to be unmasked as Lalas.

Before he was unmasked, High Voltage gave one more clue: Cleats. “The right shoes can carry you through any game in life.”

With High Voltage gone, that leaves Pangolin, Galaxy Girl, Stingray, Cat Witch, Pugcasso and Crane left in the competition.

Alexi Lalas (High Voltage) joins Jack Wagner (Eggplant), Heidi Montag (Snow Cone), Billy Ray Cyrus (Owl), Teddi Mellencamp (Calla Lily), Claudia Oshry (Queen Corgi), Taraji P. Henson (Scarab), Tone Loc (Handyman), Tiffany Haddish (Le Who Who), Todd and Julie Chrisley (Croissants) and David “Big Papi” Ortiz (Googly Eyes) as the celebrities unmasked so far on “The Masked Singer” Season 14.

Back for Season 14 are host Nick Cannon, alongside panelists McCarthy Wahlberg, Jeong, Ora and Thicke.

New this season is “America’s Insider,” in which singer, dancer and social media personality Kylie Cantrall will share behind-the-scenes hints and clues for viewers. The twist: Cantrall is in costume as Cat Witch, but will only unmask for viewers — so the audience knows who she is, but the panelists don’t.

“The Masked Singer” Season 14 themed episodes include a tribute to “Star Trek,” the ‘90s comedy “Clueless,” the comic franchise “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and the blockbuster “Twilight Saga” films. Also Fox’s new “Fear Factor” reboot will feature host Johnny Knoxville in a “Fear Factor: House of Fear Night,” and an “Ozzfest Night” honors late rocker Ozzy Osbourne, including a special tribute by “Masked Singer” alum Kelly Osbourne (Season 2’s Ladybug) saluting her father’s musical influence.

The 18 Masked contestants in Season 14 include Eggplant, Pugcasso, Queen Corgi, the Croissants, Owl, 14 Karat Carrot, Snow Cone, Galaxy Girl, High Voltage, Googly Eyes, Scarab, Handyman, Crane, Le Who Who, Pangolin, Stingray, Cat Witch and Calla Lily.

Per the show, the Season 14 contestants have sold a combined 94 million records, received 47 Teen Choice Award nominations, 12 Emmy nominations, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one Tony Award win and one Academy Award nomination.

Here were the performances on Wednesday’s episode.

Pangolin

Song: “What A Feeling (Flashdance)” by Irene Cara

Clue: About Christina Perri: “Our girls nights together have truly been some of the most meaningful and fun of my career.”

Panel guesses: Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Nettles, Sara Bareilles, Vanessa Carlton

Previous songs: “Ironic,” by Alanis Morrisette; “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” by Ozzy Osbourne

Previous panel guesses: Sara Bareilles, Christina Perri, Katy Perry, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch

Pangolin voiceover: “It’s Care Bears night and I am loving being here. But the Jenny, the way you’re guessing, it’s going to take you 1,000 years to get me. So, spoiler alert, I’ve got a friend here to bring you to your senses. Check out this colossal clue.” (Christina Perri: “You’ve got it all wrong. She’s not me, and I’m not her. But Pangolin and I do love a girls night out together and I can’t wait for the next one.”)

High Voltage

Song: “Bad Day,” by Daniel Powter

Clue: Cowboy on a horse. “I love me a little country. I know how to make an entrance. And I’ve been feeling 22 for a long time now.”

Panel guesses: Dax Shepard, Travis Kelce, John Rich

Previous songs: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” by Tears for Fears; “Miles On It,” Kane Brown and Marshmello; “Paranoid,” by Black Sabbath

Previous panel guesses: Conan O’Brien, Julian Edelman, Jimmy Fallon, John Stamos, Billie Joe Armstrong, John Rzeznik, Tim Allen

High Voltage voiceover: “Are we talking about feelings tonight? Well, I feel super charged. But panel, you’re still completely in the dark. So here’s something to shock you. And I’m talking to you, Rita. Because spoiler alert, the biggest clue has been right in your face the whole time. Don’t be grumpy, I’m just stating the obvious.”

Pugcasso

Song: “Dreams,” by the Cranberries

Clue: Olympic torch. “Being a part of the Olympics, it changed my life forever. I never imagined I’d have the whole world’s attention.”

Panel guesses: Gavin DeGraw, Jason Mraz, Pat Monahan

Previous songs: “Ordinary,” by Alex Warren; “Fake Plastic Trees,” by Radiohead; “Too Much,” by Spice Girls

Previous panel guesses: Dan Reynolds, Darren Criss, Ryan Tedder, Jack Johnson, Rob Thomas, Pat Monahan of Train; Vance Joy; Charlie Puth

Pugcasso voiceover: “Just like those Care Bears, I have all the feelings from making it this far. But Ken, I’m tired of watching you throw paint at the wall. I mean, you’re the sports guy. So, spoiler alert: This isn’t my first competition. I’ve even taken the Olympics by storm. I’m just trying to help.”

Crane

Song: “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan

Clue: Wedding proposal from a football player. “I just kicked off my next chapter with a major win. And I couldn’t be happier.”

Panel guesses: Taylor Swift, Normani

Previous songs: “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” by Whitney Houston; “Say You’ll Be There,” by Spice Girls

Previous panel guesses: Misty Copeland, Mya, Ashanti, Keke Palmer, Ciara

Crane voiceover: “I never thought I’d find myself at the bottom last time. It made me realize how lucky I am to be here. But you threw out the same wrong name twice. So, spoiler alert. Robin, I’m not Ashanti. Did that ruffle your feathers?”

Past “The Masked Singer” winners include T-Pain as Monster (Season 1), Wayne Brady as Fox (Season 2), Kandi Burruss as Night Angel (Season 3), LeAnn Rimes as Sun (Season 4), Nick Lachey as Piglet (Season 5), Jewel as Queen of Hearts (Season 6), Teyana Taylor as Firefly (Season 7), Amber Riley as Harp (Season 8), Bishop Briggs as Medusa (Season 9), Ne-Yo as Cow (Season 10), Vanessa Hudgens as Goldfish (Season 11), Boyz II Men as Buffalos (Season 12) and Gretchen Wilson as Pearl (Season 13).

“The Masked Singer” comes from Fox Alternative Entertainment. Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis and Cannon are executive producers, while Seitchik serves as showrunner. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.