Month: August 2023

Beloved game show host Bob Barker has passed away at the age of 99.

Bob’s former publicist Roger Neal announced the television icon’s death on behalf of Barker’s girlfriend, Nancy Burnet. The statement read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us. I am so proud of the trailblazing work Barker, and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry and including working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally. We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed.” Barker died of natural causes.

Barker landed his first hosting gig on the game show Truth or Consequences, which he hosted for 18 years. Barker began hosting CBS daytime’s The Price is Right in 1972, and it quickly became a smash hit, eventually becoming the longest-running game show in U.S. history. For over 35 years, Barker hosted The Price is Right until his retirement in 2007.

Barker also hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants for 22 years; however, he severed ties with the organization in 1987 after discovering that contestants would model furs during the swimsuit competition, which didn’t align with Barker’s longtime support for animal advocacy.

Barker won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999; and in 2004, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Barker is survived by his half-brother Kent Valandra and half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, as well as a half-niece, Vickie Valandra Kelly.

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Showtime announced the premiere date for the limited series Fellow Travelers , starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey. The show will premieres Oct. 27 on the Paramount+, and Oct. 29 at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

Bomer and Bailey play two politicians who fall in love amid Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn’s anti-LGBTQ tenures. The show covers four decades in their lives amid the changing political times. A tweet reads of the show: ‘There are eyes everywhere. #FellowTravelers premieres October 27’ 

Fellow Travelers is based on the book by Thomas Mallon, and is created by Ron Nyswaner, who executive produces along with Bomer, Robbie Rogers, Dee Johnson and director Dan Minahan. Jelani Alladin, Allison Williams and Noah J. Ricketts also star.

‘Fellow Travelers’: Matt Bomer & Jonathan Bailey Limited Series Gets Showtime Premiere Date

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Paramount+ released a teaser for the revival of the hit comedy series ‘Frasier’. The original ‘Frasier’ series was a spin-off from hit comedy Cheers, with Kelsey Grammer’s psychiatrist Frasier Crane moving to Seattle to be with his family and host a radio call-in program. In the revival series, Frasier moves back to Boston.

The teaser features a new animated rendition of the Frasier opening with the “Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs” theme song along with the text: “No more callers. All new hang ups. Oh, what fresh start is this?” Additionally, instead of the traditional closing, “Frasier has left the building,” the theme now sings, “Fraser has re-entered the building.”

The ‘Frasier’ revival is a sequel of sorts, featuring a 10-episode season. The revival “follows Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to finally fulfill.” Jack Cutmore-Scott plays Frasier’s now adult son, Freddy, with Bebe Neuwirth confirmed to reprise her role as Frasier’s ex-wife, Lilith, as well as Peri Gilpin reprising her role as Frasier’s producer, Roz, in guest appearances. Toks Olagundoye, Jess Salgueiro and Anders Keith have also joined the cast. David Hyde Pierce, who played Frasier’s brother, Niles, will not be returning (on the reboot, Niles presumably still lives in Seattle); and actor John Mahoney, who played Frasier and Niles’ father, passed away in 2018.

The revival will premiere October 12 in the U.S. and Canada with a pair of episodes over Paramount+, with new episodes then dropping weekly on Thursdays thereafter. In addition, CBS is broadcasting the first two episodes back to back on October 17 . Check out the teaser for the revival series – here.

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A man accused of stalking actress Drew Barrymore at a conference was detained by police after apparently showing up at her home. The man, who’s been identified as Chad Michael Busto, was detained after showing up at Barrymore’s farmhouse in Long Island uninvited. Sources said that Busto was going door-to-door in Barrymore’s Southampton neighborhood, attempting to locate the actress.

Southampton Chief of Police James Kiernan confirmed to Variety that the fan was “temporarily detained” Wednesday afternoon in Southampton, Long Island, after “going door to door telling area residents that he was looking for Drew Barrymore’s residence,” The man, identified as Chad Busto, was not arrested, despite other reports. Lieutenant Todd Spencer told Variety that Busto has since been released, as a police investigation continues. Per Kiernan, he “does not appear to be in the area any longer.”

The recent news comes just days after Busto interrupted the 48-year-old Barrymore at an event she held with The Sex Lives of College Girls actress/singer Reneé Rapp at the 92nd Street Y in NYC on Monday. As seen clips that have since gone viral, Busto yells out to Barrymore during the event. While she excitedly responds when he starts calling her, the man then approaches the stage, saying:“I’m Chad Michael Busto. You know who I am. I need to see you at some point while I’m here in New York.” Per TMZ, Rapp is then seen leading Barrymore off stage, with security coming between the pair. Busto was subsequently escorted from the venue.

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