Here's Why Soap Operas Are Still Making New Episodes Despite Writers Strike & Possible Actors Strike

John Bleasdale Guest Contributor When Variety talks to Zoe Saldana and her husband, the artist and film director, Marco Perego, they’ve only just arrived in Taormina and are in the process of unpacking. Room service arrives and Zoe apologizes about having to tuck into the salad straightaway. They’re here attending the world premiere of Perego’s debut film as a director, “The Absence of Eden,” a drama that takes place in the murky world of the U.S.’s southern border, a hellish landscape inhabited by Coyotes, ICE officers, desperate immigrants and refugees. It’s a universe away from the Pandora of the “Avatar” pictures or the science fiction blockbusters “Star Trek” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” Saldana is more usually associated with. “When I was picked for those films, I had no idea they were going to become franchises. I thought it was going to be a one and done kind of thing. I hold all of those films responsible for any kind of global notoriety I may have. However, it’s time consuming. Between ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Guardians’ and ‘Avatar,’ I had solid work for over 10 years. As I became an asset that had a certain value in this industry, I could turn that to films like this.”

Gene Simmons has revealed he asked former Kiss members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley to perform at the band’s last ever shows, but both refused.Kiss are in the middle of their farewell ‘End Of The Road’ tour, which they are in the UK for this week. Their last-ever shows are set to take place at Madison Square Garden in their hometown of New York on December 1 and 2.Fans hoped Criss and Frehley would make an appearance at Kiss’s last shows, but the chances of that happening appear slim, seeing as Simmons has claimed multiple offers were made and declined.“For the older fans, the ones who’ve been around for 50 years, they’re old, and some of them wanna see Ace and Peter. The newer fans never saw them and they don’t know,” Simmons told Linea Rock [via Classic Rock]“But the older fans wonder about Ace and Peter.

J Hus has announced the imminent arrival of his first new album since 2020’s Big Conspiracy. Due out July 14 via Black Butter, Beautiful and Brutal Yard will feature two previously released tracks: his May solo single “It’s Crazy” and the Drake-featuring “Who Told You,” shared earlier this month.

Taylor Swift played her second ‘Eras’ tour gig in Cincinnati last night (July 1), duetting with Aaron Dessner and Gracie Abrams.As the stadium tour of the US rolls on into summer, Swift played two shows in the Ohio city this weekend at the Paycor Stadium.At the second on Saturday night, the ‘surprise’ segment of the show featured two collaborations.

And Just Like That… star Cynthia Nixon has shared her disappointment that the much-hyped cameo appearance by Kim Cattrall in the second series was leaked before it made it to air. 

Despite already being an established presenter, Craig Doyle's first appearance on This Morning last year came as a surprise to viewers. But now, more than a year later, fans are regularly calling for him to be a permanent host on the show, particularly since the sudden exit of Phillip Schofield.

When it comes to holidays there's so much choice that picking one can often feel a bit overwhelming. But if you're taking children abroad there are some things that are guaranteed to tick the right boxes.

The British royal family is renowned for being well dressed and stylish. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they’re often accessorizing with crown jewels.

The cast of Friends will always be there for us, but it might just be in the form of re-runs of the beloved sitcom.

Luke Macfarlane opened up in a new interview.

With curved doorways, white-washed walls and arches, this unusual Airbnb aims to spirit guests away to the iconic cave properties of the Greek Island - while you are actually in a converted mill in Ancoats.

Climbing up the property ladder is an ambition for many who have hopes of one day achieving their dream home. But for one couple in Cheshire, the process of buying and selling homes left them with the desire to try something completely new.

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht has expressed his delight at signing his first professional contract at Manchester City.

This week, Bolton council debated calls for the borough to leave Greater Manchester after a petition with more than 3,000 names supporting the move was handed in. The petition requested a referendum in the borough on leaving the region and returning fully back into the county of Lancashire – from which it was removed in 1974.

When Ahmad Alaswad opened his shop on one of north Manchester's busiest high streets, he had high hopes of it becoming a success.

The Titanic submarine's remains were found "almost immediately" by a rescue robot, according to the head of the search operation.

Blue hair is seriously trending for pop stars this week!

Anthony Mackie opened up about all things Marvel in a recent interview.

Luke Bryan’s son is 15 and every parent knows what that means.“He’s 15, so he’s doing the whole learning permit nightmare,” the “But I Got a Beer in My Hand” singer told Katie Neal on Audacity’s “Kate & Company” podcast this week. “He is not a very good driver right now so we’re having to work with him pretty hard.” The country star added that Bo, 15, whom he shares with wife Caroline, 43, is “very frustrating right now ’cause he thinks he knows how to drive, but he has no idea what he’s doing.” Bryan explained that Bo thinks “because he can operate a 4-wheeler or Polaris that he is quite proficient.

A post shared by Swami John Reis (@swami_john_reis)Born in Los Angeles, California in 1968, one of Froberg’s earliest musical projects was the San Diego-based band Pitchfork, which he formed with Reis in 1986. Following Pitchfork’s disbandment in 1990, the pair formed Drive Like Jehu alongside bassist Mike Kennedy and drummer Mark Trombino.Their self-titled debut album was released the following year, with follow-up ‘Yank Crime’ arriving in 1994.

Strathaven hockey players Sally Hall and Sheona Hutchison represented Scotland in the GB&I 4 Nations tournament earlier this month, thanks to a helping hand from Strathaven Round Table.