'Panda' taken for walk on leash sparks outrage - but it's not a bear at all

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentParis-based lobbying group the European Producers Club (EPC) is launching an initiative in tandem with Netflix to help create new opportunities for European women TV drama producers in attempt to balance the gender gap in Europe’s industry.This new initiative, launched at the Series Mania TV festival, comprises a pitch contest for fiction series as well as a workshop run by Netflix about how to best pitch a project.Producers of the six selected best projects will get the opportunity to pitch to Netflix. The three best pitches will receive awards of €50.000 ($55,000), €20.000 and €10.000 respectively to take their projects to the next development stage.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAntoine Fuqua has signed an overall television deal with Paramount and MTV Entertainment Studios, Variety has learned.The deal comes after Fuqua served as executive producer on the Paramount Plus series “Mayor of Kingstown.” The first season of that series concluded in January with a second season on the way. Fuqua returns as an EP on Season 2.Fuqua and his Hill District Media will focus on developing original scripted and unscripted content under the deal.

William Earl Andrew Hampp has been named Senior Director of Music and Consumer Partnerships at Variety.Hampp is a brand partnerships specialist, content strategist and former full-time journalist. Prior to joining Variety, Andrew founded consultancy 1803 LLC in 2018, where he worked closely with blue-chip clients across the media, advertising, music, data and nonprofit spectrum, utilizing a wide range of capabilities to help the group achieve its goals.

Wyatte Grantham-Philips editorAfter a year off, the U.S.-Ireland Alliance’s 16th Oscar Wilde Awards returns on March 24, moving to the Ebell of Los Angeles from its longtime home of Bad Robot studios in Santa Monica.The awards celebrate contributions in entertainment notably from creatives who are Irish (and some who are not). This year’s honorees are Adam McKay, Kenneth Branagh, Jamie Dornan and Dónall Ó Héalai.“The whole purpose of the event is really to build ties between the industry in Northern Ireland, Ireland and the U.S.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAdvertisers still want TV to deliver big audiences, but they are also increasingly demanding new abilities to find smaller ones.NBCUniversal on Tuesday used an annual technology conference to keep demonstrating new technologies that help Madison Avenue track all the discrete consumer niches that may be found within the broader audiences watching TV programs. One new effort, an artificial-intelligence engine known as a “harmonizer,” aims to help marketers “make sure we are finding consumers at the right moment based on specific behavior,” says Josh Feldman, global chief marketing officer of NBCUniversal’s ad-sales unit.Using NBCU’s data about how viewers watch programs on the company’s streaming site Peacock, he says, advertisers might be able to assign an ad specifically created to “welcome” a new subscriber to the service, or feed particular commercials to customers who often watch programming late at night — even if they are tuning in at other times of the day.

Selome Hailu Hallmark has begun production on its first movie under the new Mahogany banner, titled “Unthinkably Good Things.” The film will star Karen Pittman.The film, set to debut on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, sees a woman named Allison (Pittman) at a crossroads in her career and love life, in need of the love and support of her two friends Melina (Joyful Drake) and Reesa (Erica Ash). When they visit her in Tuscany, the reunion causes each woman to reexamine the state of her own life and relationships. While they have different personalities and perspectives, they know each other’s truths and help to make life-changing decisions.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorWanda Sykes has a very specific memory of hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2009. “I shushed the first lady,” Sykes tells me, laughing. “I was sitting next to Michelle Obama and going over my notes, and she was trying to make conversation.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Prime Video is bowing the trailer for season two of its first Spanish-language romcom series “Como Sobrevivir Soltero” (“How to Survive Being Single”), which debuts April 15 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Performing  cameos this season are Miss Universe 2014/TV host Paulina Vega, Mexican heartthrob Vadhir Derbez (“De Viaje con los Derbez.” “El Mesero”), Faisy (“El Complot Mongol,” “Me Caigo de Risa”) and Edgar Vivar (“El Chavo del Ocho,” “Vecinos”).Created by brothers Emiliano and Sebastian Zurita, the eight episode second season picks up from where season one ends with Sebastián, playing his fictional self, paying tribute to his late girlfriend Julieta by trying to produce a movie from the script he wrote while they were dating.  He and his producing partner Natalia struggle to secure funding and in the end, decide to adapt the script for the stage. Still grieving, he decides that he can’t start dating again and takes full, wild advantage of his bachelorhood.Described as a hip millennial dramedy, the series revolves around Zurita’s alter ego and his pals as they navigate the trials and tribulations of dating in modern-day Mexico.

Wilson Chapman editor“My Brilliant Friend” is set to close the book on Elena and Lila’s journey. The Italian- and Neapolitan-language television series has been renewed for a fourth and final season by co-producers HBO and RAI.Based on the acclaimed “Neapolitan Novels” four-book series by Italian writer Elena Ferrante, “My Brilliant Friend” follows the coming-of-age of two best friends, Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, who grow up in a poor Naples neighborhood in the 1950s.

It’s hard to avoid social media posts and comments from “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” creator J.K. Rowling that are a not so veiled attempt to belittle the trans community.

Ever since their split, fans have wondered if there was still hope for these two. So, are Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley back together?

Residents in Ashton have been left 'devastated' following news that a beloved kids’ ride will be permanently leaving the town centre.

Ted Danson has done a lot over the years.

Staind‘s Aaron Lewis shared right wing conspiracy theories about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during an onstage rant last week (March 17).While playing a solo show, Lewis seemingly backed a baseless argument that Russian President Vladimir Putin is invading Ukraine in order to dismantle the so-called ‘Deep State’ – a clandestine government sect formed to undermine former President Donald Trump.“So, I’m not gonna go into some big get-myself-in-trouble dissertation. All I’m gonna say is this: question everything. Everything that they’re telling you right now is a lie.

Kelly Ripa is taking her award season preparations very seriously, and now some fans think she might have taken things too far.MORE: Kelly Ripa shares new details from family vacation following returnLive with Kelly and Ryan released an exciting teaser promoting their After Oscar show out the Monday following the Academy Awards, to discuss all things winners, red carpet looks, and surprises of the night.The teaser however revealed a shocking transformation Kelly underwent in honor of the awards, and fans were completely taken aback by it.WATCH: Kelly's son Joaquin showcased his impressive dance moves in a new video MORE: Kelly Ripa's family celebrate news related to son Joaquin's time at college"This is who I really am," the television host said in the video, recreating an iconic scene from Jessica Chastain's Oscar nominated film, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which tells the story of infamous televangelists Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker.Tammy was known for her extreme make-up looks, most notably for her eye make-up, which featured layers upon layers of heavy black mascara.

Caitlyn Jenner has hit a major milestone! The 72-year-old former Olympian announced on Monday that her 20th grandchild had been born. Caitlyn's son, Burt Jenner, and his wife, Valerie, welcomed their daughter, Goldie Brooklyn Jenner, into the world on March 19.

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Bree previously spoke out to admit she hid her body from her boyfriend for four years as she was too self-conscious to undress in front of him. Get all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free Daily Star Hot Topics newsletter.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has survived yet another assassination attempt at the hands of Vladimir Putin's Russian death squads after police swooped on a gang of bloodthirsty assassins.The group of 25 highly trained killers were being led by a Russian secret service agent when they were apprehended in Uzhgorod near the Slovakian border.According to Ukrainian counterintelligence, the group was being led and organised by a member of the Russian secret service as Putin ramps up the pressure to remove Ukraine's heroic president. The group's intentions prior to their capture by the police was to kill Zelenskyy and then infiltrate elements of the Ukrainian government.Ukrainian news site Unian, reports that the group was only stopped as an anti-war faction within the Russian secret service told Zelenskyy's team of the squad's whereabouts.

Arsenal's celebrations.The former Aston Villa forward slated the Gunners following their 1-0 win over his old side at Villa Park on Saturday, accusing Mikel Arteta's men of over-doing their celebrations. Within his critical rant on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor claimed Arsenal reacted "like they’d won the Champions League, not qualified for it," in response to scenes after the full-time whistle.However, the host was swiftly shot down in flames by fellow presenter Woods.

My Brilliant Friend is coming to an end at HBO. But not quite yet.