Month: January 2021

General view of the Hollywood Sign on November 17, 2020 in Hollywood, California. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin | GC Images | Getty Images After months of rising coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in California, several Hollywood guilds and labor unions are recommending that in-person production of television shows and independent films be temporarily halted. "Southern California hospitals are facing a crisis the likes of which we have never seen before," said Gabrielle Carteris, president of SAG-AFTRA. "Patients are dying in ambulances waiting for treatment because hospital emergency rooms are overwhelmed. This is not a safe environment for in-person production right now." SAG-AFTRA, the Joint Policy Committee and the Producers Guild of America made thei...

"Jeopardy!" champ Ken Jennings spoke out in defense of his podcast co-host, John Roderick, after he caught backlash for telling a story about his daughter that readers likened to child abuse.  Jennings, who has been tapped to be the first guest host of the popular game show in the wake of longtime host Alex Trebek’s death, hosts a podcast called "Omnibus" alongside Roderick. Together, the duo unpacks odd true stories in an effort to create a sort of time capsule for future generations.  Over the weekend, Roderick shared a lengthy story on Twitter about parenting his 9-year-old daughter when she mentioned she was hungry. Instead of getting her food, he instructed her to make herself some baked beans. That task required the use of a can opener, which she did not know how to use. Roderic...

After posting a photo of himself looking ultra-ripped, actor Kumail Nanjiani became a trending topic on Twitter, a development which has some social-media watchdogs spreading unfounded steroid rumors — and others slamming the discourse as racist. “Happy new year! I celebrated with a pandan tres leches cake from @marysmakeshop that made me rethink everything,” Nanjiani, 42, wrote beneath the Instagram picture he posted over the weekend modestly displaying his long sleeve shirt-covered biceps. “I only eat Pandan tres leches cakes from here on out.” The innocuously captioned image has inspired an extensive commentary on social media regarding the comedian’s physical transformation, which he underwent for his role in Marvel’s upcoming “Eternals,” co-starring Angel...

Kerry Vincent, a celebrated cake artist and judge on “Food Network Challenge,” has died at the age of 75. Vincent’s passing was announced Saturday by the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show, a nonprofit organization she founded. “It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of Kerry Vincent earlier this evening,” the organization posted to its Facebook page, noting she had been fighting an illness. “Being a very private person when it came to all things not cake, she did not want to put her illness out there to the public. Unfortunately her fight has come to an end but she will no longer have any pain. She will be sorely missed by all who she has touched through the Sugar Arts as [well] as personally,” the post continued. Kerry VincentDenver Post via...

Alexi Laiho, former front man of Finnish death metal band Children of Bodom, has died at age 41 after struggling with "long-term health issues," his bandmates announced.  Laiho died in his Helsinki, Finland, home last week, according to an announcement posted Monday to the band's website. "More than 25 years of friendship. We lost a brother," read a statement on the band's website from former members Jaska Raatikainen, Henkka T. Blacksmith and Janne Wirman. "The world lost a phenomenal song writer and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Memories and Alexi’s music will live forever. Our thoughts are with Alexi’s family during this difficult time."  The band, known for hits "Are You Dead Yet" and "Needled 24/7," disbanded in late 2019 after first joining together in 1993 under the n...

Officials did not release her cause of death. But it was not due to Covid-19, said her publicist and longtime friend Mike Pingel. "I'm devastated, I've been friends with Tanya for over 20 years," Pingel told CNN. "She was full of energy and we always had a wild time together. She was truly an Angel and I will miss her so much." Roberts was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 24, after she collapsed at her California home following a morning walk with her dogs, Pingel told CNN. She died Sunday. Born Victoria Leigh Blum, Roberts began her career as a model before breaking into films. A 30-year career in movies and TV followed. She had starring roles in the cult favorites "The Beastmaster" and "Sheena: Queen of the Jungle." And she appeared in sev...