Michael Schneider: Last News

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association has elected German journalist Helen Hoehne as its new president, the latest step in the org’s move to reform following controversies surrounding its operations. Hoehne, who previously served as vice president, will lead the HFPA’s recently announced expanded Board of Directors.HFPA members voted for Hoehne as its new president directly from the new Board membership, revealed last week.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeA week after “Wheel of Fortune” lost its executive producer, as Mike Richards stepped down in a firestorm of controversy, the show has sealed a new deal to keep long-running hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White in place. And as part of the new deal, Sajak will also serve as consulting producer on “Wheel” in addition to his hosting duties.As part of their contract renewals, Sajak and White are set to continue with the show through at least the 2023-2024 TV season.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFox alternative entertainment head Rob Wade said the quick spread of the COVID-19 delta variant this summer caught everyone off guard — and led to the outbreak of cases registered on the set of “The Masked Singer.”Last month Los Angeles County’s Public Health department reported 12 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Red Studios Hollywood, where “The Masked Singer” was shooting its sixth season. Production wasn’t shut down, however, and Wade says the season — the first with an audience back in studio since the pandemic began — will look and feel much like a return to normal for the show.But that took a lot of effort — and the outbreak had a “huge impact” on the show, Wade said.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeNormally, the Emmy producers would be able to preview the annual telecast by now. Not in 2021.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeBut despite the difficulty in organizing the events as the COVID -19 pandemic’s Delta variant causes a spike in cases, producer Bob Bain says he’s relieved to once again oversee these in-person shows.“We’re hoping for something that — in terms of energy — feels a lot more like the prior shows that we used to do at the Microsoft Theatre than last year, when it was all virtual and Zooms that no one really wants to watch,” Bain says. “We are at least kind of back in the live-event business.” “Kind of,” because just as with the Primetime Emmys on Sept.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeChristmas is coming early for fans of NBC’s canceled musical comedy “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” Roku has confirmed that it has picked up a holiday-themed, feature-length film based on the Emmy-winning show to air exclusively on its ad-supported The Roku Channel in the U.S. later this year.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe 74th annual Writers Guild Awards will take place on Sunday, March 20, 2022 — right in the middle of final Oscar voting. The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), which jointly honor outstanding writing in film, television, new media, news, radio/audio and promotional categories with annual awards, announced the 2021-2022 timeline (including eligibility periods) for next year’s awards on Tuesday.The March 20 date will make the WGA Awards the last of the major guild ceremonies during this upcoming film awards season.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeIn Season 3 of “Community,” the study group takes a class from biology professor Dr. Marshall Kane, played by Michael K. Williams.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeVice TV had been in active production on season two of Michael K. Williams’ unscripted series “Black Market” when the star died on Sunday, and according to insiders, much of it had already completed.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAfter 20 years and 32 seasons, CBS’ “The Amazing Race” remains one of the gold standards of reality competition TV, having won 10 Emmys in that series category since its inception, more than any other show. Production on “The Amazing Race” currently remains on hiatus, unfortunately, as the world continues to contend with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAlex Borstein, Yvette Nicole Brown, Justin Hartley, Padma Lakshmi, Mj Rodriguez and Brittany Snow have been named the 2021 honorees for the Creative Coalition’s 7th annual Television Humanitarian Awards.The event, to be held in-person on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the private residence of Academy Award-nominated producer Lawrence Bender, celebrates the charitable work of honorees and their support of various nonprofit organizations and causes.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeDisney General Entertainment’s directing program is putting its money where its Mouse is: on the actual screen. For the first time, participants in the Disney Directing Program will be given guaranteed slots to direct episodes of some of the studio’s biggest shows, including ABC’s “Black-ish,” Freeform’s “Good Trouble” and FX’s “Snowfall.”That’s in addition to the program’s offerings of mentorship, shadowing assignments and advanced professional development.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeLos Angeles public broadcaster KCET has announced the student finalists for its 22nd annual Fine Cut Festival of Films, which will air as four one-hour episodes starting Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 10 p.m.A collection of short films from Southern California student filmmakers, Fine Cut finalists are vying for prize packages in the categories of documentary, animation and narrative short films, as well the Jack Larson Southern California Student Filmmaker Award, which singles out one student’s strength as a storyteller.Besides airing on KCET, the Fine Cut festival will also air nationwide on Link TV starting Thursday, Sept.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the election of its expanded board of directors, naming 12 members — five of whom have never served on the board — and is next set to select three more outside non-members, for a total of 15.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeBreaking: Sony has fired Mike Richards as the executive producer of “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.” The following was just sent to Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune staff from Suzanne Prete, EVP, Business and Strategy, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!I’m writing to let you know that Mike will no longer be serving as EP of Wheel and Jeopardy! effective immediately. We had hoped that when Mike stepped down from the host position at Jeopardy! it would have minimized the disruption and internal difficulties we have all experienced these last few weeks.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeGreetings from Variety Awards Headquarters! Today is Aug. 30, 2021, which means final voting ends TODAY; and it’s now just 20 days until the Primetime Emmys telecast on Sept.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large“The Masked Singer” returns for Season 6 with several familiar faces joining the show’s usual panelists at the guessing table. Although airdates are in flux because of World Series coverage, joining the show later this fall will be Leslie Jordan (“Call Me Kat”) in October, followed by Joel McHale (“Crime Scene Kitchen”), will.i.am (“Alter Ego”) and Cheryl Hines (“I Can See Your Voice”) in November.McHale and Hines are previous guest panelists on “The Masked Singer,” while all four are part of the Fox family through those credited shows.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAfter being delayed a week and switched from an in-person event to a virtual ceremony, the Hollywood Critics Association revealed the winners for its first-ever HCA TV Awards — and Apple TV Plus’ “Ted Lasso” led the pack with four victories.“Ted Lasso” was named best streaming comedy, best comedy actor in a streaming series (Jason Sudeikis), best comedy supporting actor in a streaming series (Brett Goldstein) and best comedy supporting actress in a streaming series (Hannah Waddingham, tied with “Hacks” star Hannah Einbinder).

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe comedian who knows a thing or two about family feuds is now actually going to have the final say. Steve Harvey, who hosts “Celebrity Family Feud” for ABC (as well as the syndicated daytime civilian “Family Feud”), has been tapped to host a new courtroom series for the Alphabet network.With the working title “Judge Steve Harvey,” ABC has ordered 10 episodes of what it’s billing a “courtroom comedy series.” But the cases will be real: Harvey will welcome real-life people into his courtroom to rule on conflicts ranging from family disputes and sour friendships to actual small claims.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large“The Masked Singer,” “The Simpsons” and “Love, Death and Robots” are among early winners for this year’s Emmy Awards, as the Television Academy announced juried category honorees in the fields of animation, costume, interactive programming and motion design.Unlike the rest of the Emmy Awards, there are no nominees in these juried categories. Instead, peer groups in these fields — animation, costume design, interactive programming and motion design — bring together a panel of professions to screen juried category entrants.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large When the world shut down in spring 2020, production ground to a halt and comedy clubs closed their doors, Cedric the Entertainer was still working. CBS needed programming to fill its schedule and turned to the comedian to host “The Greatest #AtHome Videos,” a series of specials spotlighting social media videos of people amusing themselves in lockdown.The “#AtHome Videos” specials later turned into a regular series, giving Cedric, who also stars on CBS’ sitcom “The Neighborhood,” double duty at the Eye.