Will Smith may not be attending this year’s Academy Awards, but he is impressed with how the Academy responded to the backlash following their lack of diverse nominees.
Following the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, the Academy announced plans to overhaul its membership process. Will, who many felt was snubbed for his role in Concussion, told BBC, “I was very pleased with how quickly and aggressively the Academy responded. But I want to be very clear about the spirit of what I’m saying. This has nothing to do with me, this has nothing to do with awards – that’s a very frivolous reason for me to put my hand up and make a statement. For me this is much more about the idea of diversity and inclusion.”
He added, “So it’s much more a domestic family issue than a civil rights issue, it’s a problem that we all have to solve.”
Well said, Will.
Even though the fourth hasn’t aired yet, we know House Of Cards will be back for season five. Netflix renewed the acclaimed drama series for a fifth season to launch in 2017.
The only difference this time around is that the show will continue without its creator, executive producer, and showrunner Beau Willimon, who will be departing. Producers MRC and Netflix released a joint statement: “[We] owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Beau Willimon for his strong narrative vision for House of Cards over the show’s first four seasons. As an Academy Award nominated writer, he made his first foray into television and built a riveting and critically acclaimed series, establishing his place in TV history. The producers, cast and crew join us in wishing Beau the best in his next creative adventure.”
No word yet on who will replace Willimon.
Leonardo DiCaprio has proved over the years that he is not just a pretty face. The actor and philanthropist met with Pope Francis to discuss climate change, the impact we have on the planet, and how people can help protect the world from further harm.
According to reports, Leo was accompanied by his father George DiCaprio and Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation global fundraising chair Milutin Gatsby. His foundation recently donated $15 million to global efforts.
Watch as The Revenant actor tries to speak Italian with Pope Francis in the video above.
It’s pilot season and Shondaland is gearing up for its first-ever comedy.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the program is called Toast, and is written by Scandal star Scott Foley and pal Greg Grunberg and executive produced by Shondaland’s Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. The ABC Studios hybrid comedy takes place over the course of Max and Page’s wedding rehearsal dinner, which sees their eclectic family and friends give toasts recalling anecdotes about the couple — but flashbacks reveal the toasts don’t always get it right, as the show tracks the real story of their complicated, funny, and relatable road to marriage.
The comedy is Shondaland’s second pilot order this season, joining ABC’s Romeo and Juliet follow-up Still Star-Crossed.
WeTV’s Ex Isle is back with another intense episode. On the upcoming ep, hosted by Carmen Electra, two of the exes go head-to-head in a blowout fight. In therapy, the exes are bound together, experiencing the physical representation of each other’s emotional ties. As the exercise takes a toll on the exes, Sean and Sam start to rekindle their romance. In a shocking twist, ten eligible singles arrive, giving the exes a fresh shot at love, and others a dose of heartache. Lucas sets his sights on a “new Brittney” and Samantha develops a ploy to prevent Sean from finding new love.
Check out the intense clip above. Ex Isle airs Fridays at 10 p.m. on WeTV.
SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Us Magazine, HR, Examiner | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty | VIDEO SOURCE: Inform, YouTube
What’s Happening In Hip-Pop: Will Smith Pleased With Academy’s Response To #OscarsSoWhite, Leonardo DiCaprio Meets The Pope, & More was originally published on globalgrind.com
