New NBC Series "Champions" Features 16-Year-Old Out Actor J.J. Totah

Andy Favreau as Matthew, J.J. Totah as Michael, Anders Holm as Vince

Mindy Kaling and her co-producer Charlie Grandy (The Mindy Project; The Office) will see the premiere of their latest TV series, Champions, debut this Thursday night on NBC.

In the show, Brooklyn gym owner Vince (Anders Holm) sees his swinging bachelor life come to a halt when an old high-school fling, Priya (played by Kaling in a guest appearance) arrives from Cleveland with Michael, the 15-year-old son he’s never met.

Michael (played by out actor J.J. Totah) has always dreamed of living in New York City and attending its famed performing arts high school; and mother Priya has no issue getting dad Vince and his not-so-bright bro, Matthew (Andy Favreau) to take over the parenting duties in making Michael's dream a reality.

“Mindy wanted to tell a fresh New York story,” Grandy told TV Insider. “So we came up with a gay, half-Indian teen from the Midwest.”

In addition to his breakout performance in Other People, you may remember the 16-year-old actor from appearances on Glee, 2 Broke Girls, Sophia The First, and in the super-hero flick Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Champions premieres Thursday, March 8, 8:30/7:30c on NBC

Watch the trailer below.

Adam Rippon Hits Pause On Joining NBC Sports For Now

UPDATE: USA Today columnist Christine Brennan reports that Adam rethought the decision to work for NBC Sports for now as it would have meant relinquishing his Olympic standing, credentials and more.

After agreeing to an offer to work for NBC, Adam Rippon @Adaripp decided overnight that he would rather remain as an Olympian, source telling me. Didn’t want to
relinquish his official Olympic standing, give up credential, move out of Team USA housing and miss closing ceremony.

I am flattered that NBC wanted me to work as a correspondent for them here in PyeongChang. Doing this would require me to leave Team USA and move out of the Olympic Village. I don't want to do that so I had to declined the opportunity.

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) February 19, 2018

I love being on Team USA and representing our country. My teammates were there for me during my events, and now I NEED to be there for them. I look forward to being with them, and I’m very excited for the rest of the competition. Go Team USA!!!

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) February 19, 2018

I actually found everything out about the offer via twitter HAHA 😂😂 2018 is wild girl

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) February 19, 2018

***************************************

Not only did U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon score a bronze medal for his contribution to the team skating event, but "America's sweetheart" has also booked a gig working for NBC Sports for the remainder of the Winter Games in PyeongChang.

Rippon has emerged as one of PyeongChang’s breakout stars for both his skating and his personality.

Already a bronze medalist in the team figure skating event, the 28-year-old said that even after his 10th place finish in the men’s individual event, he still feels like a winner.

"I think I've shown the world that I'm a fierce competitor," he said. "But I think I've shown them that I'm also a fierce human being."

When asked in December what it's like to be a gay athlete, the Pennsylvanian answered, “It’s exactly like being a straight athlete. Lots of hard work but usually done with better eyebrows.”

My favorite Rippon-ism: "You know, I'm not like a gay icon, or America's gay sweetheart. I'm just America's sweetheart and I'm just an icon."

Rippon is one of Team USA’s first two openly gay athletes, along with slopestyle skier Gus Kenworthy.

Welcome to the team @Adaripp!

We're happy to have ya! #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/7PXbStXtoc

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2018

Extended Trailer for NBC's "The Wiz Live!"

First Trailer For "The Wiz Live!"

After The Sound of Music Live and Peter Pan Live, NBC "eases down the road" to Oz with a new live production of the 1970s hit musical, The Wiz Live!.

Starring Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Common, Ne-Yo, David Alan Grier, Elijah Kelley, Stephanie Mills, Amber Riley, Uzo Aduba and Shanice Williams as Dorothy.

Airs December 3rd.

Teaser: The Wiz LIVE!

First teaser for NBC's The Wiz Live!, starring Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Shanice Williams, David Alan Grier, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, Common and more,

Nice to see the network swing into some diversity here with it's third holiday musical presentation after The Sound of Music and Peter Pan.

Loving the costume design.

Thursday, December 3 at 8/7c on NBC.

Trailer: HEROES REBORN on NBC

This debuted at Comic Con over the weekend in San Diego. Over 1.3 million views in a day.

I was a big fan of the original 2006 series which lost big momentum when the writer's strike happened in Hollywood.

From the clip description: The saga behind the 2006 breakout series "Heroes" will continue this fall as creator Tim Kring returns to the fold and develops new layers to his original superhero concept. This highly anticipated 13-episode event series will reconnect with the basic elements of the show’s first season, where ordinary people were waking up to the fact that they had extraordinary abilities.

The new season begins September 24th at 8/7C on NBC.

Donald Trump Says NBC Attempting To Suppress His Freedom Of Speech, Files $500 Million Law Suit

In the wake of the Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants being dropped by NBC and Univision over Donald Trump's racist remarks about Mexican immigrants, Trump has filed a $500 million law suit against Univision.

In the suit Trump says Univision is seeking to squash his freedom of speech.

(Actually, he's perfectly free to express himself. He just needs to realize actions and opinions have consequences.)

Trump claims Univision is attempting to suppress his freedom of speech. Here's an excerpt from The Trump Organization's statement via NPR:

"Under the contract, Univision is required to broadcast the pageant live on television in Spanish. While Univision claims its decision came solely in response to comments by Mr. Trump during a June 16 campaign speech announcing his candidacy for President of the United States, the decision was, in reality, a politically motivated attempt to suppress Mr. Trump's freedom of speech under the First Amendment as he begins to campaign for the nation's presidency."

Last year's host of the Miss Universe pageant, Thomas Roberts of MSNBC, has dropped out of the event, as well has co-host Cheryl Burke.

"In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year's Miss USA Pageant as its co-host," Burke wrote on Facebook. "Effective today I have withdrawn from my duties with Miss USA."

Roberts sent this Tweet on Tuesday: "Best of luck to all #MissUSA2015 contestants this year & THX to the good people behind the scenes @MissUniverse - been a joy working w/you!"

NBC has announced it will not air either pageant even as the Miss USA event is scheduled to go on July 12th.

NBC Announces THE WIZ For Live TV Telecast, Then Major Broadway Revival

NBC announced today that The Wiz (winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1975) will be the next Live musical production on the network with an airdate of December 3rd.

That will be followed by a major Broadway revival to be co-produced with Cirque du Soleil for the 2016-17 season.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the previous "The Sound of Music Live" and "Peter Pan Live" telecasts, are back at the helm for this third live, musical presentation.

Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon will stage both the television production and Broadway revival of "The Wiz" in collaboration with Tony winner and Broadway icon Harvey Fierstein, who will contribute new material to the original Broadway book by William F. Brown.

"We love this yearly tradition and we're more excited than ever to not only bring another Broadway musical to America's living rooms, but also see it land on Broadway as well," said Greenblatt. "It's a natural next step for our live musical events and we're so pleased to be in business with this award-winning creative team and Scott Zeiger, President and Managing Director of Cirque du Soleil's new theatrical division. Cirque's incredible imagination will help bring the fantasy world of Oz vividly to life and give this great show a modern spin on the age-old story we all love."

"We are delighted that NBC and Cirque du Soleil will present 'The Wiz,'" said Zeiger. "It's a musical I have wanted to produce for years and it's the perfect show to present under the new Cirque du Soleil Theatrical banner."

Additional creative staff and casting are to be announced at a later date.

I've had mixed feelings about the first two Live musical telecasts, but love the idea of Cirque being involved here.

The Wiz is a terrific score, but as a book musical it remains a bit dated today. With both Cirque and Harvey Fierstein onboard, it sounds promising that the contemporary musical can be brought current again, with new magic added.

The musical made a star out of Stephanie Mills, who went on to a successful recording career after the run of The Wiz on Broadway.

In 1989 she revisited the song "Home," that made her famous. Watch below.

How Did Peter Pan Live Do In TV Ratings?

So, for those wondering - how did Peter Pan Live compare in terms of ratings last year's The Sound of Music Live?

The three-hour stage production averaged a 5.9 rating among households -  just over than half of what Sound Of Music did last year with a 10.9 rating.

Peter Pan Live was the NBC's second-highest rating for a non-sports Thursday in more than two years.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt offered a statement on the numbers early Friday: "We're very pleased with the Peter Pan ratings and it was a great night for NBC. We won every hour, which hasn't happened on Thursday with entertainment programming since a year ago. I'm proud to be part of a company that takes chances and creates big events, and that's exactly what we're going to continue to do. We didn’t expect to reach the same rating as The Sound of Music since that was the first live movie event of its kind in over 50 years."

Greenblatt added that plans are already in the works for next year's live musical event.

NBC announces Allison Williams of HBO's "Girls" to star in "Peter Pan Live!"

NBC announced today that "Girls" star and classically trained singer Allison Williams has been cast as the iconic title character in NBC's Dec. 4 telecast of "Peter Pan Live!"

"I have wanted to play Peter Pan since I was about three years old, so this is a dream come true," said Williams. "It's such an honor to be a part of this adventure, and I'm very excited to get to work with this extraordinarily talented team. And besides," added Williams, "what could go wrong in a live televised production with simultaneous flying, sword fighting and singing?"

According to press materials, Williams, who has sung on HBO's "Girls" and in various other projects, is an accomplished actress and singer. Williams graduated from Yale University in 2010.

I see a lot of hyping about her being "classically trained singer" but haven't found any credits for stage musicals yet.  I like to be positive, but after Carrie Underwood's underwhelming performance in  "The Sound of Music Live!" last December, you have to think NBC has really thought this one out.

It was previously announced that Oscar winner and Emmy and Tony Award nominee Christopher Walken will star as Captain Hook in the Dec. 4 telecast.

(from BroadwayWorld)

The Music Man is next musical on NBC's list to tackle

A live presentation of Meredith Willson's Tony Award-winning musical The Music Man will be seen in the near future on NBC, the network's chairman Bob Greenblatt revealed Monday morning.

No timetable or casting has been set for the production, which will likely follow the previously announced live broadcast of Peter Pan on December 4.

Both come on the heels of NBC's massively successful telecast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, starring Carrie Underwood, last December.

The Music Man tells the story of con man Harold Hill, who arrives in a small Iowa town and attempts to sell the community on the creation of a boys' band. He suddenly falls for Marian, the local librarian, and his conscience gets in the way of his ill deeds.

(source)

NBC to revive "HEROES" with 13 episode mini-series

 NBC has ordered 13 episodes of a new standalone arc titled Heroes Reborn, with all storyline and character details currently being kept under wraps.

The miniseries will air sometime in 2015, preceded by a web series that will introduce the characters and new storylines.

 This promo aired during Saturday night's Olympic coverage:

(via TVLine)

NBC edits out IOC anti-discrimination statement from opening ceremony at Sochi Olympics

Deadspin reports that NBC edited out IOC president Thomas Bach making a "strong statement against 'any form of discrimination' and in favor of tolerance."

The world heard Bach's statement, but Americans did not. Here is the edited out portion of the speech:

Now you are living in an Olympic Region. I am sure you will enjoy the benefits for many, many years to come. Thousands of volunteers have welcomed us with the well-known warm Russian hospitality. Many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers. Bolshoi spasiba, valantyoram! Thank you very much to everyone. Russia and the Russians have set the stage for you, the best winter athletes on our planet. From this moment on you are not only the best athletes, you are Olympic Athletes.

You will inspire us with your outstanding sports performances. You have come here for sports. You have come here with your Olympic dream. The International Olympic Committee wants your Olympic Dream to come true. This is why we are investing almost all of our revenues in the development of sports. The universal Olympic rules apply to each and every athlete- no matter where you come from or what your background is.

You are living together in the Olympic Village. You will celebrate victory with dignity and accept defeat with dignity. You are bringing the Olympic Values to life. In this way, the Olympic Games, wherever they take place, set an example for a peaceful society. Olympic Sport unites people. This is the Olympic Message the athletes spread to the host country and to the whole world. Yes, it is possible to strive even for the greatest victory with respect for the dignity of your competitors. Yes, Yes, it is possible - even as competitors - to live together under one roof in harmony, with tolerance and without any form of discrimination for whatever reason. Yes, it is possible - even as competitors - to listen, to understand and to give an example for a peaceful society.

Head over to Deadspin where both the full version of the speech and the edited version (with a cut-away shot) are posted.

Boo on NBC. This is going to be a story...

(via JMG)

NBC announces PETER PAN will be next live broadcast musical

BroadwayWorld has the details:

"We're very pleased to be underway on 'Peter Pan' as our next live holiday musical for the whole family," said NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt. "We were all delighted to see how 'The Sound of Music Live!' struck such a chord in December and brought nearly 19 million people to the live telecast plus another several million viewers over the weekend. In the hopes that lightning strikes twice, we think we've landed on another great Broadway musical - which ironically also starred Mary Martin - that is a timeless classic for all audiences, young and old, who just never want to grow up."

"We're thrilled to be reteaming with NBC and Bob Greenblatt in bringing 'Peter Pan' back to its roots as a live television event," said Zadan and Meron. "We hope to create the joy that has made this musical so beloved. We would like a whole new generation to experience 'Peter Pan' and for families across the country to share the magic."

Featuring the iconic songs "I'm Flying," "I've Gotta Crow," "I Won't Grow Up," and "Never Never Land," and a book full of magic, warmth, and adventure, PETER PAN is the perfect show for the child in all of us who dreamed of soaring high and never growing up.

The broadcast is scheduled for December 4, 2014.

Casting is currently underway although no names have been attached yet.

Post your opinions here - who would you cast in the leading roles?  Good choice for the next "live" TV musical?

NBC's Bob Costas: We will be talking about Russia's anti-gay laws at Sochi Olympics

The Huffington Post is reporting that NBC Sports anchor Bob Costas said yesterday at a press event that NBC will not ignore Russia's anti-gay laws during their coverage of the Sochi Olympics:

“If Putin doesn’t drag his butt into the studio, then we’ll talk about it without him,” Costas said during an Olympics press preview.

“But if he shows up, we’d rather talk to him. Wouldn’t you rather hear it from the horse’s mouth? I would. That’s what I was trying to say.”

NBC announces Hillary Clinton mini-series to star Diane Lane

NBC has announced a mini-series about Hillary Clinton which will star Diane Lane:

NBC announced here on Saturday that it was preparing a four-hour mini-series based on the life of Mrs. Clinton and hoped to broadcast it before any possible formal declaration that she was running. That would avoid the possibility of other candidates demanding equal time, said Robert Greenblatt, NBC’s top entertainment executive.

Mr. Greenblatt said NBC bought the project even though it had no script yet, though the deal came with a star attached: Diane Lane, who was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003 for her leading role in the film “Unfaithful.” The Clinton project will be written and directed by Courtney Hunt, who was nominated for an Oscar for writing the film “Frozen River.”

NBC’s release described the project as a mini-series that would “recount Clinton’s life as a wife, politician and cabinet member from 1998 to present.” That would include her run for the presidential nomination in 2008.

A spokesperson for Clinton declined to comment on the series, saying he had been unaware of its development. Get ready for the right-wing to issue its usual rants about the mainstream media colluding with Democrats.

(h/t JMG)

Megan Hilty to join Sean Hayes new series on NBC

Yay! This didn't take long!

Love Megan Hilty and very happy to read that she's already booked her post-SMASH gig on TV:

Hilty will re-team with Sean Hayes, who guest-starred on Smash, for his upcoming NBC comedy Sean Saves the World, according to TVLine.

On the show, Hayes stars as a dad who must figure out how to parent his 14-year-old daughter (Samantha Isler) while dealing with a temperamental new boss (Thomas Lennon) at work.

Hilty has been tapped to replace Lindsay Sloane as Liz, Sean's long-time loyal friend and co-worker.

(source)

Today Show news: Matt Lauer in, Ann Curry may be out

From TMZ.: Matt Lauer has signed a new, long-term deal with the "Today" show. He will become way richer than he already is, and we're told the next move will be to send Ann Curry packing.

As TMZ first reported, Matt Lauer got close to his $30 million a year asking price, nearly doubling his $17 million a year current salary.

It's sad news for Ann Curry, because sources say Lauer does not want her as his co-host, and it appears her fate is now sealed.

NBC sources say Ann's likely replacement will be Savannah Guthrie.

I'm personally a BIG fan of Ann Curry.  I think she's terrific and a huge loss for NBC is this ends up being the story.

Matt Lauer is over-rated and not nearly worth DOUBLE his salary.  Just my opinion....