Idina Menzel Sings "Wind Beneath My Wings" In First Look At BEACHES Remake

We get our first tease of Tony Award winner Idina Menzel singing the iconic "Wind Beneath My Wings" from the upcoming Lifetime Channel remake of the Bette Midler classic film, Beaches.

Here's the synopsis of the film:

Like the 1988 original, the remake follows C.C. (Menzel) and Hillary (Nia Long) over several decades, including the former’s stage success and the latter’s tragic illness. Despite coming from different backgrounds, C.C., a budding singer, and Hillary, the daughter of a civil rights lawyer, strike up a friendship that lasts a lifetime.

The TV movie debuts on Lifetime January 21 at 8PM ET/7PM C

Funny Or Die: Christina Applegate Stars In Lifetime Biopic "Meryl"

Meryl: The Lifetime Biopic with Christina Applegate from Funny Or Die

TV: 1980s FAME Gets Greenlight For Reboot

The 1980s TV series FAME (based on the hit movie of the same name) has gotten the green light for a reboot over on Lifetime.

From NewNowNext:

Penning the show will be Josh Safran, who was an Executive Producer on Gossip Girl and served as a Showrunner during the season season of Smash.

The plot will remain the same: A group of talented teens face the up and downs of attending the prestigious New York High School of the Performing Arts, all expressed in a smattering of musical and dance numbers.

First airing in 1982, the original series ran for six seasons, starring Debbie Allen. Supporting players during the show’s seven year run included a young Janet Jackson and recent Tony Award-winner, Michael Cerveris.

Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol) is also attached as an executive producer.

You'll recall in 2009 a remake of the series totally flopped.

The original movie was raw, edgy (for it's time) and was a part of my teenage landscape as a performer. It rang true on so many levels. For many of my generation in the arts, it evoked a visceral reaction.

To this day, I still "get" that ineffable, hard to explain thing that makes us all want to express ourselves in the arts.

Fingers crossed the powers that be find a way to communicate THAT to a new audience.

Whitney Houston Biopic "Whitney" Premieres On Lifetime Channel Tonight

Check out the trailer for the highly anticipated biopic on the life of Whitney Houston - "Whitney" - which premieres on Lifetime Channel tonight, January 17, at 8pm ET.

Yaya DaCosta stars as Whitney Houston, Arlen Escarpeta plays Bobby Brown and Mark Rolston is music exec Clive Davis. The project marks Angela Bassett's directorial debut.

Whitney's mother Cissy Houston has denounced the film and the producers had troubles securing the rights to Whitney's spectacular vocals. So Grammy nominated dance artist and Broadway actress Deborah Cox was brought in to re-record several of Houston's iconic songs.

Cicely Tyson and Vanessa Williams star in Lifetime TV Movie - "The Trip To Bountiful"

I know I talk quite a bit about Broadway here on The Randy Report.

And you may say,  "Randy, I love your posts about Broadway, but I can't afford the ticket price."

Or - "I can't afford to travel to New York City to see Broadway."

Completely understandable. Now - Broadway comes to you.

Tony Award winner Cicely Tyson and Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams reprise their celebrated Broadway performances in "The Trip To Bountiful" - the award-winning Horton Foote play brought to television as a Lifetime Movie World Premiere.

This movie event debuts on Lifetime TV this Saturday at 8pm with encore performances to follow.

I saw the play on Broadway last year and it was as beautiful, artful and touching.

With Vanessa Williams after her gorgeous performance in "The Trip to Bountiful" on Broadway

Here's a bit about the movie from Lifetime:

Based on Oscar®, Pulitzer Prize, and Emmy Award winning author Horton Foote’s Tony Award nominated play, "The Trip to Bountiful" is a courageous and moving story of liberation, as well as a humor-filled celebration of the human spirit.

In "The Trip to Bountiful," Carrie Watts, begrudgingly lives with her busy, overprotective son, Ludie and pretentious daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae. No longer able to drive and forbidden to travel alone, she wishes for freedom from the confines of the house and begs her son to take her on a visit to her hometown of Bountiful. When he refuses, Mrs. Watts is undeterred and makes an escape to the local bus station, where she befriends Thelma, a young woman traveling home. When Ludie and Jessie Mae discover she is gone, they call in law enforcement to help, but Mrs. Watts is one step ahead of them and convinces the local sheriff to help her on her journey home to Bountiful.

Don't miss Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams along with Blair Underwood and Keke Palmer in this television event.  You'll be glad you did.

Now go set the DVR.  Now.

Susan Lucci's new series "Devious Maids" gets picked up

Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives creator) has adapted the telenovela Ellas son la Alegría del Hogar, which has now been picked up with a 13-episode order.

Ex-Housewife Eva Longoria is one of the executive producers.

This should give series regular Susan Lucci plenty to talk about  on the Daytime Emmy red carpet. The All My Children legend stars as Genevieve Delacort, a loopy, aging socialite, prone to suicide attempts, and taking much younger lovers.

Apparently, Lucci was testing through the roof for Lifetime, courtesy of her guest stints on Army Wives. I'm guessing that made this happen - and I for one am glad. Everyone I know who's met Ms. Lucci says wonderful things about her.