What's news: Chris Noth has exited CBS' The Equalizer after sexual assault allegations were made against him. A slew of Broadway shows have suspended or canceled performances due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. Lorne Michaels has once again said he's looking to retire around SNL's 50th anniversary in 2024. Plus: Read THR's review of the show that everyone loves to hate, Emily in Paris — Abid Rahman
Parker, Nixon and Davis Break Silence on Noth Sexual Assault Allegations
►"We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences." Chris Noth’s And Just Like That co-stars are responding to the sexual assault allegations against him reported by THR last Thursday. In a statement posted to social media Monday and attributed to Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, the actresses said they “commend” the women who have come forward. The story.
—"Effective immediately." Chris Noth is out of CBS' drama The Equalizer as the actor faces allegations of sexual assault. CBS and Universal Television, which produces the series, confirmed Noth's firing in a statement Monday, adding that he will appear in one more episode of the show that has completed production. Noth played William Bishop, the former CIA handler and longtime friend of lead character Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah), in The Equalizer. The story.
Omicron Creates Chaos in Hollywood and on Broadway
►Scrapped. The Palm Springs International Film Society is scrapping plans for its starry Film Awards gala due to the recent COVID-19 spike, brought on by the Omicron variant. The gala was set to take place on Jan. 6 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, and per the official website, the event was already sold out with an expected 2,500 guests and more than 1,000 staff in the building. The story.
—Postponed. For the second year in a row, the AFI Awards luncheon — a major stop on the film and TV awards circuit — has been impacted by a surge in COVID cases. The event, at which AFI’s picks for the year’s 10 best films and 10 best TV shows are honored, was set to take place on Friday, Jan 7, 2022. No new date has been set. The story.
—Canceled till after Xmas.Hamilton and Aladdin on Broadway have canceled performances through Christmas due to rising COVID-19 cases. Hamilton performances from Dec. 20 and through Dec. 26 are canceled and will be fully refunded. Disney’s long-running hit Aladdin, meanwhile, has canceled all performances from Dec. 21 through Dec. 24, with plans to resume shows on Dec. 26. The story.
—Closed for good.Jagged Little Pill, the Tony and Grammy-winning musical inspired by the music of Alanis Morrisette, has closed for good on Broadway amid an increase in COVID-19 cases. Producers had initially suspended the production after positive virus cases in the company, but the musical will now not reopen at the Broadhurst Theater. The story.
—Still standing, but for how long? Amid all the cancelations and suspensions, the Critics Choice Association is moving forward with its longstanding plans to hold the Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 9. The organization assured its members and the community at large that it has been in close consultations with the L.A. County Department of Public Health and will implement expensive testing protocols to ensure a safe gathering. The story.
—Europe struggles with Omicron.Spider-Man: No Way Home has been breaking pandemic box office records in Europe but the industry fears further restrictions and shutdowns may be coming with rising COVID infection rates. So far governments in Denmark and The Netherlands closed all cinemas this past weekend and Ireland imposed an 8 p.m. curfew for theaters. The story.
—"We're not closing." Amid the rapidly changing situation for live theater, THR's Abbey White spoke to Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin about why an industry-wide shut down is not imminent, why shows are taking varied approaches to canceling performances, how the League is helping to support Broadway’s holiday season safely and what lessons have been gleaned from delta in the fall as Broadway gears up for winter and spring. The interview.
—What's canceled, so far. After the wave of cancelations on Monday, THR has put together a list that will be updated of Hollywood and Broadway events that have been postponed or scrapped altogether as Omicron makes its presence felt. The list.
Blimey! It's 2021's Biggest Brit Breakouts
►The Big Book of British Smiles. From the stars of CODA and Belfast to the creatives behind The Harder They Fall and We Are Lady Parts (not to mention a certain smouldering Bridgerton Duke), THR's man in London Alex Ritman has rather helpfully listed the rising talents from across the Atlantic who made a big impression this year. The list.
—"It’s three years away." Lorne Michaels says he’s contemplating exiting NBC’s Saturday Night Live. The 77-year-old SNL co-creator told CBS Mornings that he might leave the late night sketch comedy institution after the show’s 50th anniversary season, which gets underway in 2024. While Michaels typically shrugs off any suggestion of retirement, this isn’t the first time he’s at least hinted at this plan. The story.
—New rules. The Television Academy has revealed rule changes for the 74th Emmy Awards that will align with the evolving television industry. New changes include the elimination of categorization based on program length for a comedy or drama series, and that episode lengths will no longer dictate submission categories. Instead, producers will determine category submissions, but the Academy’s Industry Panel has the right to review the producer’s preference. The rule changes.
—Complicated legacy. Showtime has picked up We Need to Talk About Cosby, a four-part docuseries about convicted rapist Bill Cosby from comedian and filmmaker W. Kamau Bell. The series tries to unpack Cosby’s influential career and descent into infamy after being accused of sexual assault by 60 women. The series will debut on Jan. 30, eight days after its premiere at Sundance. The story.
Review: 'Emily in Paris' Season 2
►"The protagonist may be grating, but at least she's growing." THR critic Robyn Bahr reviews the second season of Netflix's Emily in Paris. In the meatier second season of the hit comedy series, Lily Collins' title character experiences personal growth in the City of Light. The review.
—For future pub quizzes.Spider-Man: No Way Out has broken a host of records since its debut, all the more impressive as its done it during a pandemic. Here in one place, are all the records set by No Way Home, not adjusted for inflation. The records.
—All good things.The Sopranos creator David Chase joined show alumni Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa on the final episode of the Talking Sopranos podcast, and he didn't disappoint as a guest. Chase, who has been awfully chatty in recent times, spoke about the one character he regretted killing off and spilled on lingering some questions. The story.
—A $550 Million Springsteen Deal? It’s Glory Days for Catalog Sales. [New York Times]
—Actor Jay Johnston Told Me He Was at the Capitol Riot, Says Director [Daily Beast]
—2021 Netflix Holiday Films Ranked By Brain Deadedness [Gawker]
—The Matrix Trilogy Has Always Been A Masterpiece [Defector]
—Saudi Entertainment Boom Raises Harassment Fears [BBC]
Today...
...in 1946, Frank Capra and James Stewart held the world premiere for It's a Wonderful Life in New York at the Globe Theater. The film initiallly received mixed reviews and bombed at the box office but went on to become a Christmas favorite in subsequent years and is regularly ranked amongst the best movies ever made. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Jane Fonda (84), Samuel L. Jackson (73), Steven Yeun (38), Teresa Ruiz (33), Michelle Hurd (55), Julie Delpy (52), Kaitlyn Dever (25), Kiefer Sutherland (55), Madelyn Cline (24), Tom Sturridge (36), Ray Romano (64), Jane Kaczmarek (66), Dennis Boutsikaris (69), Ted Griffin (51), Govinda (58)
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