Martin Herlihy is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after a five-season tenure. He was part of the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, which transitioned from a trio to individual roles after John Higgins left “SNL” last year, and Ben Marshall was promoted to a featured player. In Season 51, Martin continued as a writer while making occasional on-screen appearances, including sketches featuring Dakota Johnson and Taylor Swift.
Amazon Music Live’s fifth season will feature performances from artists including Doja Cat, Don Toliver, and Noah Kahan, with the pre-taped concerts airing directly after Thursday Night Football on Amazon Music, Prime Video, and Twitch. The series will kick off with Noah Kahan’s farewell performance from his “Great Divide World Tour” in Seattle on September 24.
Sherri Shepherd will make history as the first woman to play the Genie in Disney’s Broadway musical “Aladdin”. Her limited run at the New Amsterdam Theatre starts on October 16. The casting decision is notable as it marks the first time a woman has portrayed the iconic Genie character in any Disney-produced version of “Aladdin” worldwide.
“Wheel of Fortune” is introducing a new gameplay twist when it returns for season 44. The long-running game show will debut a rapid-fire game called “Fortune Frenzy”. The new game will take place at the beginning of the show and give contestants the chance to win $1,000 for each puzzle they solve. Ryan Seacrest said the faster gameplay may also help contestants overcome their nerves at the start of the show.
Olivia Rodrigo’s album “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love” has not only found its way back to #1 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums chart, but it has also now spent 10 weeks at the top of the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart. What’s more, it is at #3 on the Billboard 200, #6 on the Vinyl Albums chart, #7 on the Top Album Sales ranking, and #3 on the Top Streaming Albums tally.
Stevie Wonder will hit the road next month to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his 10 million selling classic 1976 album “Songs in the Key of Life”. He and his band will perform the album in its entirety each night of the run. The tour begins in Birmingham, England on October 13, and ends in LA on December 19.
When Elton John decided to move his “Rock in Rio” performance up by 65 minutes on Monday, many assumed it was weather-related. But it turned out he wanted to take the stage early enough to deliver a 2 hour and 15-minute set, featuring 24 songs. He explained that he decided to come to Brazil because the country had been left off his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour”, which wrapped in 2023.
Jelly Roll has released the video for his latest single ‘Hands Up’. The live performance clip takes place at California’s oldest prison, San Quentin, the same location Johnny Cash performed in 1958 and where future star Merle Haggard was an inmate at the time.
“Saturday Night Live” has revealed its Season 52 hosting lineup. NBA champion Jalen Brunson opens the season on September 26 alongside K-pop group Katseye, both making their SNL debuts. Dakota Johnson returns for her third hosting stint on October 3, with rock band Turnstile as musical guest. Shane Gillis hosts for the third time on October 10, with Rosalía performing. The Halloween episode on October 31 features breakout horror star Inde Navarette alongside Gracie Abrams.
Paramount Pictures is developing a follow-up to its 2003 heist hit “The Italian Job”, with director Paul Feig in early talks to helm the project. The studio is currently searching for a writer. F. Gary Gray’s 2003 film, inspired by the 1969 Michael Caine original, grossed $176 million globally.
Netflix has acquired “Understudy”, a five-page short story by sci-fi author Nicholas Binge, for $1 million. The thriller centers on an actor hired for a mysterious role in South Korea who discovers he’s entangled in a deadly conspiracy. Steven Yeun and filmmaking duo Lord Miller will executive produce and likely direct the pilot.
“Wicked: Part One” is hitting concert halls worldwide, with a full symphony orchestra performing the score live alongside the movie. The tour previews in San Francisco on January 16, 2027, with its premiere at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on January 23. Chicago, Mexico City, Toronto, and other cities follow. The soundtrack debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Michael Kelly, known for “Jack Ryan”, “The Penguin”, and “House Of Cards”, is joining the cast of “Landman” Season 3. He’ll play William Crockett, described as “the leader of the largest oil management firm in the world.” He already stars in fellow Taylor Sheridan series “Lioness” on Paramount+.
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