Month: June 2023

Sony Pictures Television confirmed in a press release on Tuesday that Ryan Seacrest will replace Pat Sajak after he steps down from his role as host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ after the upcoming 41st season, which premieres this fall. Sajak has served as host of “Wheel of Fortune” since 1981, taking over the position from Chuck Woolery, and has been at the helm of the popular game show ever since.

The “American Idol” host has signed a multi-year agreement as host of the daily syndicated game show.  Seacrest said in a social media post, “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them. Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition. Many people probably don’t know this but one of my first jobs was hosting a little game show called ‘Click’ for Merv Griffin 25 years ago so this is truly a full circle moment for me and I’m grateful to Sony for the opportunity. I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”

Suzanne Prete, EVP of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pat and Vanna for many years, witnessing their effortless ability to bring joy and humor to ‘Wheel of Fortune’ for decades! Pat has been an incredible host and helped build the show into the success it is today. While Ryan has some big shoes to fill, I’m confident he will connect with our loyal fanbase and excite a whole new audience as we expand upon the show’s great legacy. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Seacrest’s new gig comes shortly after he left his co-host role on the syndicated “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” where he worked for six years with Kelly Ripa.  Seacrest currently hosts  “Idol,” “On Air With Ryan Seacrest,” “American Top 40,” “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” and his morning show for L.A.’s KIIS-FM radio.

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As noted in an article published by Vogue Business, Rihanna has stepped down from her role at Savage X Fenty and appointed a new CEO. Rihanna held the title since founding the line in 2018; she will remain the company’s executive chair.

Hillary Super, the former CEO of Anthropologie Group, will be the new chief executive officer of the brand, effective Monday, June 26.  Savage X Fenty said in a statement: “It’s been beautiful to see our vision for Savage X Fenty impact the industry at such an incredible magnitude over the last five years. This is just the beginning for us, and we’re going to continue to expand in ways that always connect with the consumer. I’m so grateful and excited to welcome Hillary Super as our new CEO – she is a strong leader and is focused on taking the business to an even higher level.”

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Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola were married over the weekend after two years together. The actors originally met on the set of Mad Men, on which Hamm starred as advertising executive Don Draper for the series duration. Osceola portrayed the character Clementine in the 2015 series finale; fittingly, the couple’s wedding took place at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, the very place where the Mad Men finale was filmed. The couple were first romantically linked in 2020, and made their red carpet debut in March 2022 at an Oscars after-party.

According to TMZ, celebrity guests at the wedding included Billy Crudup, Paul Rudd, Tina Fey, and John Slattery — another Mad Men alum who also directed Hamm in the new true-crime film Maggie Moore(s).

In addition to appearing together in the final episode of Mad Men, Hamm, 52, and Osceola, 35, also shared the screen in last year’s film Confess, Fletch.

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Netflix has shared the the cast for Season 2 of Squid Game.  Lee Jung-jae will be reprising his role of Gi-hun, with Hwang Dong-hyuk returning to direct and executive produce the sophomore season of the series. The ten-part series ‘will see contestants competing in a series of games inspired by the show, plus some new ones and their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them.’ Squid Game debuted on Netflix on September 17, 2021, becoming a global phenomenon.

As previously confirmed, Season 1 protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Jung-jae) is back alongside the overseer of the game Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Undercover cop Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) and the unnamed mystery man (Gong Yoo) who recruited Gi-hun into the game will also return. Netflix also revealed four new cast members for the second season: Yim Si-Wan (Unlocked), Kang Ha-Neul (The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure), Park Sung-Hoon (The Glory), and Yang Dong-Geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations). There are no details about their characters as of yet.

Production for Season 2 of Squid Game is set to begin later this year. Check out a preview of the new cast members in the video posted – here.

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Paramount+ has shared the teaser trailer for Taylor Sheridan’s Special Ops: Lioness. Zoe Saldaña stars as Joe, an agent in the CIA Lioness program, with her mission ‘to get close to the loved ones of targets so she can move in for the kill.’

The teaser shows Joe in a hearing being interviewed by Morgan Freeman about her last mission. Nicole Kidman plays Joe’s superior in the Lioness program, and also serves as executive producer. Laysla de Oliveira plays Joe’s new partner and Michael Kelly another Lioness overseer. Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur and Hannah Love Lanier will also star.

Special Ops: Lioness premieres July 23. Check out the teaser trailer – here.

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Ryan Reynolds is launching his own channel with FuboTV. FuboTV announced in a press release that it has partnered with the 46-year-old Reynolds and his production company, Maximum Effort, on the Maximum Effort channel. The Maximum Effort channel will also feature “original and classic TV and movies — as well as some surprising content breaks.”

Reynolds’ first project is the original series Bedtime Stories with Ryan as his first project, directed by Vincent Peone and consisting of 15 episodes. Bedtime Stories with Ryan will see Reynolds “read new and classic bedtime stories in an attempt to soothe your mind and soul (and also his own).”

Reynolds said:  “We’re so happy to create a program with the express goal of putting people to sleep. This show has actually been a dream of mine for a while. Story time is a nighttime staple in our home and is a daily reminder of the power of storytelling. We’re extremely grateful to our always amazing partners at Autodesk for helping bring this show to life with their design and make platform.”

Check out a preview of Bedtime Stories with Ryan – here. 

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com