September 20, 2020

Here's the Scoop...

I think someone is getting EGOT and their EGO confused!

Universal Pictures announced it is developing a film based on the life of Madonna, with the pop superstar set to direct the movie herself and co-write the screenplay with Diablo Cody.

The studio said the currently untitled project will be directed by Madonna and the "Like a Prayer" singer is co-writing the screenplay with Cody, who won an Academy Award for her screenplay to 2007 comedy Juno.

Amy Pascal (Little Women, The Post, Spider-Man: Homecoming), will produce the film for her Universal-based Pascal Pictures alongside Madonna. Sara Zambreno and Guy Oseary will executive produce.

"I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer -- a human being, trying to make her way in this world," Madonna said. "The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It's essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision."

The project was hailed by Donna Langley, chairman of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.

"Madonna is the ultimate icon, humanitarian, artist and rebel. With her singular gift of creating art that is as accessible as it is boundary-pushing, she has shaped our culture in a way very few others have," she said. "It's an incredible honor for everyone at Universal to work alongside her, Diablo, and Amy to bring audiences and dedicated fans around the world her unvarnished story for the first time."

Pascal described the project as "an absolute labor of love.

"I have known Madonna since we made A League of Their Own together, and I can't imagine anything more thrilling than collaborating with her and Diablo on bringing her true-life story to the big screen with Donna and our partners at Universal," she said.

Madonna teased the project Friday, four days before the Universal announcement, with a Twitter post that showed her and Cody writing together.

"Are you ready for the story of my life.................... Am I? #livetotell #diablocody #screenplay," she tweeted.

Be Well,
Steve

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'South Park' pandemic special to air Sept. 30

A special episode of South Park centering on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will air later this month.

The animated comedy series said Tuesday on Twitter that it will address the health crisis in a hour-long special airing Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. EDT on Comedy Central.

"The on-going pandemic presents continued challenges to the citizens of South Park, in the hour-long, supersized episode titled 'The Pandemic Special,'" the post reads.

In a press release, Comedy Central said the episode will show Randy come "to terms with his role in the COVID-19 outbreak." The kids head back to school but "nothing resembles the normal that they once know."

A teaser for the special shows Stan, Cartman and the boys return to school, where they are greeted by a new teacher, Detective Harris.

South Park is created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who voice several of the show's characters. "The Pandemic Special" will serve as the show's Season 24 premiere.

Other TV series will address COVID-19 in their new seasons. The Conners star Sara Gilbert said in August that Season 3 will reflect the pandemic, while This is Us creator Dan Fogelman said Season 5 will tackle the health crisis "head on."

Cardi B files for divorce from Offset

Celebrity couple Cardi B and Offset are headed for divorce.

TMZ reported Tuesday that Cardi B, 27, filed for divorce from Offset, 28, in Atlanta, just days before their third wedding anniversary.

Cardi B is seeking primary physical and legal custody of the couple's 2-year-old daughter, Kulture Kiari. She is also requesting that Offset pay child support and her legal expenses.

In the filing, Cardi B said the marriage is "irretrievably broken" and that "there are no prospects for a reconciliation," according to People.

News of the split follows new rumors that Offset cheated.

"Cardi does not trust Offset. She's really tried for the last two years and has tried to forgive him. It's been hard for her since the last cheating scandal and there have been rumors of him being unfaithful again," a source told E! News.

Cardi B and Offset previously split in December 2018 after Offset was unfaithful. After reconciling with Offset, Cardi B said in the January 2019 issue of Vogue that she and her husband had "come to a clear understanding" since the scandal.

"I believe in forgiveness," Cardi B said. "I prayed on it. Me and my husband, we prayed on it ... And we just came to an understanding like, bro, it's really us against the world."

"He has my back for everything, I have his back for everything, so when you cheat, you're betraying the person that has your back most. Why would you do that?" she added. "For me, monogamy is the only way."

In the September issue of Elle, Cardi B said her marriage to Offset has "a lot of love."

"I do know that my relationship has a lot of drama and everything. But there's a lot of love, there's a lot of passion, there's a lot of trust, there's a big friendship," she said. "It's always us against the world."

Maren Morris, Luke Combs win big at 55th Academy of Country Music Awards

Maren Morris and Luke Combs took home big wins at the 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards Wednesday night following a sixth-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morris was among three artists nominated for five total awards and brought home Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year for her collaboration with Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Elle King on "Fooled Around and Fell in Love."

Combs was also nominated for multiple awards and claimed Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for What You See Is What You Get.

Other notable winners included Blake Shelton's "God's Country" claiming Single of The Year, Old Dominion winning Group of the Year, Dan + Shay earning Duo of the Year and Tenille Towns and Riley Green being named New Female and Male Artist of the Year, respectively.

Keith Urban hosted the awards show, originally set to be held in Las Vegas in April. It featured two dozen performances across three locations in Nashville: the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe.

Speaking to an empty auditorium and fans watching from home, Urban addressed the delay at the top of the show, in addition to acknowledging wildfires raging in the Western United States and storms in the Gulf Coast.

"This has been an unpredictable and unsettling year for everyone," he said. "Even as of right now, our friends out West are battling horrific wildfires and our folks on the Gulf Coast are threatened by hurricanes and we want to send our love, thoughts and our prayers out to every one of you affected right now."

Urban also declared that "we are in the midst of trying to fight two pandemics: COVID-19 and social injustice."

"Far too many lives have been lost to both, but the examples set by our essential workers and first responders, along with the voices crying out for equality in all walks of life have echoed around the world and right here, in our country community," Urban said.

The show began with a medley of performances by Combs, Rhett, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Carrie Underwood.

Urban also debuted a new single with P!nk, while Shelton and Gwen Stefani performed a duet, and Taylor Swift delivered her first performance at the awards show in seven years.

ABC cancels 'Stumptown' after Season 2 renewal

ABC has canceled crime drama Stumptown, starring Cobie Smulders, after one season after the network had initially renewed it.

The series received a second season order in May but scheduling concerns led to the show being canceled, The Wrap reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Deadline, citing sources, reported that timing issues related to the production start delay meant that Season 2 would not be ready for the fall. The series had its production delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hollywood Reporter also confirmed the news and cited sources stating that the cancellation was related to a change in showrunner, late production start and high price tag to produce.

ABC Signature, the studio behind Stumptown, will shop the series to other networks and outlets.

Stumptown is based on the comic book series of the same name by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth.

Smulders starred as a Marine veteran who becomes a private investigator in Portland, Ore., where she takes care of her brother with Down syndrome.

Jake Johnson, Tantoo Cardinal, Cole Sibus. Adrian Martinez. Camryn Manheim and Michael Ealy also starred.

ABC also recently canceled family comedy United We Fall starring Will Sasso and Christina Vidal after one season.