Netflix to Expand New Mexico’s ABQ Studios, Pledges $1 Billion in Production Spending

Neil Young has been busy both debunking and correcting, as his big beef with Spotify continues. He’s been correcting himself, but the debunking relates to a conspiracy theory that has been circulating that he’s only complaining about COVID misinformation in the Joe Rogan Experience podcast because vaccine maker Pfizer owns his songs catalogue.It does seem unlikely that a pharmaceuticals company would own Young’s songs, but there is a sort of logic to how this conspiracy theory came about.

It’s happening. Kanye West has booked in a listening event for new album ‘Donda 2’ on 22 Feb.

The long threatened American Song Contest looks like it will finally hit TV screens this spring, with Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg hosting. The spin-off from the long-running Eurovision Song Contest, and will see performers from all 50 US states, five US territories and the capital, Washington DC, compete.

Paul Hollywood's ex-wife Alex has really caused a stir with a recent Instagram post.MORE: Great British Bake Off: meet the partners of the judges and hostsThe cookbook author took to social media to reflect on Valentine's Day – and shocked some fans with revelations about her marriage.WATCH: Alex Hollywood reveals why she's keeping married name after divorceReferring to her single status, Alex wrote in part: "It's taken me a while to get here and it hasn't been easy, but I love the woman I am now.

EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4’s Craig Charles-hosted daytime format Moneybags has become the network’s first show from its £30M ($40.6M) Global Format Fund to be recommissioned for a second season.

The Chase star Jenny Ryan, 39, has recalled when her Valentine’s Day was ruined by former EastEnders actor, Dean Gaffney.The Vixen was left livid when she travelled in a first-class train cabin, only to be thrown out by Dean’s production company.The awkward incident, which happened in 2019, was dredged up by Jenny when she wished her 106,000 Twitter followers a Happy Valentine’s Day.She wrote: “J.Ry Trufax, I once spent Valentine’s Day on a train with Dean Gaffney. He gave me a cupcake with a heart on it.”She then wished the Robbie Jackson star a happy birthday as it also falls on February 14.Despite the seemingly cordial tweet, Jenny has revealed that she was actually “fuming” when she was asked to leave the carriage.Jenny recalled the full incident on The Comedy Arcade podcast in December.Chatting to host Vix Leyton, the quizzer said: "I was travelling first-class on a train and someone came in and said I had to move to a different carriage because some producers were using this one to film an advert.“I was all settled in! I got on the train early and got my coffee, I was a bit fuming.“I was in a bad mood, so I tweeted because I looked out the window and realised the person that was filming was Dean Gaffney.”In her fury, Jenny tweeted at the time: “I have just been evicted from my booked train seat in favour of Dean Gaffney.

Piers Morgan, 56, is currently in the US with his son Albert Morgan, and has kept his social media followers updated on every step of his trip. Yesterday, the former Good Morning Britain presenter took to Twitter to share a picture of his chance encounter with Hollywood star Jim Carrey, 60.Piers posted on Twitter a photo collage including a picture he took of his son with Jim Carrey on a golf cart at the Super Bowl.In the second picture you can see Jim pointing at Piers, as he realised who it was taking a picture of him.In the third you can see the three smiling for a selfie, as they all enjoy the Super Bowl event.He captioned the picture in view of his 7.9 million followers: "When you come out of the Super Bowl, spot @JimCarrey on a golf cart, take a pic of your son (big fan) running backwards alongside him, and Jim clocks you & shouts ‘Wait….

BRADLEY Walsh was left retching during a revolting eating challenge on the latest episode of Breaking Dad. Viewers followed Bradley and his son Barney on the Scandinavian leg of their tour as they headed to Sweden to embark on the latest series of hilarious activities.   But one activity, in particular, left The Chase presenter reaching for the sick bucket.

Foo Fighters performed a selection of rarities and deep cuts during a special VR show over the weekend.The band pre-recorded the gig at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It was then streamed online on Sunday evening (February 13) following the Super Bowl as an “immersive 180-degree VR concert”, which was broadcast on the band’s Facebook and Instagram pages (AKA the ‘Metaverse’) and the Horizon Venues app.While the livestream encountered technical issues on the night, the gig itself saw the Foos play a 10-song gig which included a small number of songs that don’t usually feature in the band’s set lists.This included ‘T-Shirt’, the opening track from 2017’s ‘Concrete and Gold’ which received its live debut on Sunday, and ‘Walking After You’, which was performed by the Foos live for the first time since 2006.A post shared by Foo Fighters (@foofighters)The gig concluded with a rendition of ‘Home’, which was played live by the band for the first time since 2007.

Saturday Night Live and, more recently, the Dan Harmon comedy Community, which he left after reported conflicts with Harmon and other cast members.When asked by CBS Sunday Morning about his negative experiences with his former collaborators who called him a “jerk”, Chase said: “I guess you’d have to ask them. I don’t give a crap.”He added: “I am who I am. And I like where… who I am.

LITTLE Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock has shown off her incredible post-baby body six months after welcoming her twins. The singer took to Instagram in a tight-fitting dress as she headed out on a date night with her fiance Andre Grey on Valentine's Day. Leigh-Anne, 30, sizzled in the stunning dress as she posed for a series of snaps with her footballing beau Andre, 30.

Brexit, is likely to impact this summer’s events season.The warning comes from the Association of Independent Festivals, ahead of the AIF Festival Congress 2022 taking place in Bristol today (February 15).AIF CEO Paul Reed made the comments during his opening remarks to indie festival promoters, arguing that while there is widespread optimism about the full return of the festival season, there will be trouble and challenges ahead for the live music industry as a whole.Reed said that while the UK “may be emerging from the shadow of the pandemic, this year will not be a case of ‘back to business as usual’ without critical support for festival organisers”.“We are facing a perfect storm in many ways,” he said. “I’ve spoken with many [festival organisers] in the last few weeks about supply chains, loss of skilled workforce, 20-30 per cent increase in costs across the board and a government-backed insurance scheme that isn’t simply isn’t fit for purpose despite our best efforts.”The AIF echoed fears that the government’s £750million Live Events Reinsurance scheme “simply isn’t fit for purpose”, with many festival organisers not taking it out due to “limited scope and excessive cost, so isn’t enabling organisers to plan with confidence”.Reed and the AIF are calling on the government for further support, with suggested measures including continued VAT relief on tickets beyond the end of March, a backed loan scheme for suppliers and to remove tax incentives to use certain biofuels to allow for use of greener fuels at festivals.Among the other main issues, Reed noted that suppliers lacked cash reserves to invest into inventory in a year when there will be near “unprecedented demand and event activity”.

ANTIQUES Roadshow viewers were all left saying the same thing after a guest learned the staggering value of a roll of wallpaper. On Sunday's instalment of the BBC show, a guest became flabbergasted after learning that one roll of wallpaper he'd had in his loft for 40 years was worth four figures.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterABC News is laying off staffers amid a broader reorganization at parent company Walt Disney, one that impacts a low single-digit percentage of the news division’s 1,400 staffers, according to a source familiar with the situation.In a memo to employees sent Thursday evening, ABC News president James Goldston said that the personnel reductions were “necessary” as the company adapts to changes in the business and its organizational structure.

Elaine Low Senior TV Writer“Saturday Night Live” is giving country singer Morgan Wallen a second chance.The sketch comedy show has slated Wallen as the musical guest for Dec. 5, with host Jason Bateman after canceling his scheduled October appearance after videos surfaced of Wallen partying and kissing fans without a mask, an apparent breach of “SNL” COVID-19 safety protocols.NBC announced the “SNL” slate for the last three shows of the year, with Timothee Chalamet set to host on Dec.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterWeeks after the passing of legendary “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, Sony Pictures Television has announced that popular contestant and “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” tournament winner Ken Jennings will serve as the first of a series of interim guest hosts when the trivia game show returns to production on Monday, Nov. 30.“Alex believed in the importance of ‘Jeopardy!’! and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him,” said ‘Jeopardy!’ executive producer Mike Richards.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos are right now announcing that Netflix will boost its presence in the state by expanding its ABQ Studios and committing to an additional $1 billion in production spending.The Studio expansion will add 300 acres to the company’s existing studios, located in Albuquerque’s Mesa Del Sol area. They said it will make ABQ Studios one of the largest high-tech and sustainable film production facilities in North America.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterThey’re Animaniacs, and they’re rebooting to the max.In the first big musical number of the long-awaited reboot to the beloved ‘90s animated series, the three deranged siblings who live in the Warner Bros. water tower — Yakko, Wakko and Dot — get caught up on the last 22 years since Steven Spielberg and Tom Ruegger’s original “Animaniacs” went off the air.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterAmid the ongoing NBCUniversal restructuring, additional layoffs are being enacted across the television and streaming division’s entertainment networks business.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterJust a little more than a month after officially joining NBCUniversal as the entertainment giant’s television and streaming chief, Susan Rovner has set her leadership team, a move that includes making Lisa Katz sole head of scripted content and splitting unscripted into two units.In an internal note to staff, Rovner started off by writing that she has spent the past month getting to know the organization, its employees and “watching A LOT of television.”“I accepted this role because Jeff Shell’s and Mark Lazarus’ vision for this new organization was so compelling that it became undeniable,” wrote Rovner.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterAfter nearly a decade at NBCUniversal, NBC’s co-president of scripted programming Tracey Pakosta is leaving the company to join Netfix as its head of comedy.The longtime TV exec will oversee development and current programming at the streaming giant, including adult animation and live-action family comedies, as well as stand-up and comedy formats.“I’ve spent many hours watching as a fan, and now I am incredibly excited to join Bela and the Netflix original series team,” said Pakosta.