January 31, 2023

Here's the Scoop...

Actress Cindy Williams, best known for her role as Shirley in the hit television sitcoms Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, has died at the age of 75.

Williams' death was announced Monday on her official website. Williams died peacefully at her Los Angeles home on Jan. 25, after a short illness, according to a statement released by family spokesperson Liza Cranis.

"The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed," her two children, Zak and Emily Hudson, said in the statement.

"Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved," the statement said.

Williams played Shirley Feeney, opposite the late Penny Marshall, in the television comedy series Laverne & Shirley from 1976 to 1983. The show, which featured two single women working at a Milwaukee brewery in the 1950s, was a spin-off of their characters on Happy Days.

Williams was born in Van Nuys, Calif., where she first started acting in high school. She majored in Theater Arts at L.A. City College before landing roles on other hit television shows Room 222, Nanny and the Professor and Love, American Style in the 1970s.

Williams also appeared in the 1973 film American Graffiti, as well as The Conversation in 1974.

During her career, Williams made her Broadway debut in the role of Mrs. Tottendale in the award-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone.

Williams' stage credits also include the national tour of Grease, the national tour of Deathtrap, The Female Odd Couple and Steel Magnolias.

Be Well,
Steve

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Stars remember TV icon Cindy Williams as 'fine and talented'

Many of Cindy Williams' fellow TV icons are taking to social media to mourn her death at the age of 75.

The actress' representative announced Monday that Williams had died peacefully at her Los Angeles home on Jan. 25, after a short illness.

"Backstage, Season 1: I'm offstage waiting for a cue. The script's been a tough one, so we're giving it 110% and the audience is having a great time," Williams' Laverne & Shirley co-star Michael McKean tweeted. "Cindy scoots by me to make her entrance and with a glorious grin, says: "Show's cookin'!". Amen. Thank you, Cindy."

Happy Days and Barry star Henry Winkler retweeted McKean's post, adding, "My condolences for the loss of your incredible friend."

Winkler also wrote, "What a fine and talented human being ! RIP."

"#CindyWilliams Her unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with. We were paired as actors on 6 different projects. #AmericanGraffiti a couple of dramas & then #HappyDays & #laverneandshirley Lucky me. RIP, Cindy," actor and filmmaker Ron Howard said.

Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter posted: "She never heard the word impossible. Thank you for all the laughter and treasured TV memories, Cindy."

"Singing this song with so much gratitude for both of you ladies. Absolute gems. United again... Rest in Paradise Cindy Williams," Rosario Dawson shared a clip of the Laverne & Shirley theme song, "Making Our Dreams Come True."

Actress Ming-Na Wen tweeted: "Loved #LaverneandShirley! Knew that opening so well. RIP #cindywilliams Condolences to her loved ones."

"Rip Cindy Williams -- fave is great iconic film and television performances -- American graffiti the conversation -- and Laverne and Shirley -- of course -- to name a few," said actor John Cusack.

Showtime gets a new name, cancels three new series

Showtime has canceled three of its new dramas as the cable TV network is rebranded "Paramount+ with Showtime."

Let the Right One In, led by Demian Bichir, and American Gigolo, featuring Jon Bernthal, won't be renewed for second seasons, while the recently filmed new series, Three Women starring Shailene Woodley, is no longer set to premiere on the network.

Short-lived shows such as Kidding, American Rust, On Becoming a God in Central Florida and Super Pumped have been removed from the platform.

"Today, we're announcing that we will be fully integrating Showtime into Paramount+ across both streaming and linear platforms later this year -- providing even more popular franchises and hit originals for viewers to enjoy. To reflect this change, both our premium streaming tier on Paramount+ and the Showtime linear network will become "Paramount+ with Showtime" in the U.S," Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish wrote in a memo to staff Monday.

"With Showtime's content integrated into our flagship streaming service, and select Paramount+ originals joining the linear offering, Paramount+ will become the definitive multiplatform brand in the streaming space -- and the first of its kind to integrate streaming and linear content in this way."

Staff layoffs are expected as the two divisions merge.

Paramount+ is a streaming service and the home to shows such as Star Trek: Picard, The Mayor of Kingstown, Criminal Minds: Evolution, Wolf Pack, Tulsa King and 1923.

Recent Showtime hits have included Yellowjackets, Billions, Dexter and The Chi.

'FBI' crossover with 'International,' 'Most Wanted' coming in April

FBI and its spinoff series FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted will have a crossover event in April.

CBS said in a press release Tuesday that the series will have a three-hour global crossover event April 4 beginning at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. The crossover will also be available to stream on Paramount+.

The event will be the second crossover for the FBI series, created by Dick Wolf. The first crossover aired in September 2021.

"As the FBIs continue to dominate on Tuesday nights, we will bring these three heroic -- and popular -- teams together for a second time," CBS Entertainment EVP of current programs Eric Kim said in a statement. "Our April 4 crossover event will be a non-stop thrilling experience that will keep viewers engaged in ways that only Dick Wolf's FBI world can."

FBI is in its fifth season on CBS and stars Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki and Jeremy Sisto.

FBI: Most Wanted returned for a fourth season in September and stars Roxy Sternberg, Keisha Castle-Hughes and Alexa Davalos, while FBI: International is in its second season and stars Luke Kleintank, Heida Reed and Carter Redwood.

The schedule for the FBI crossover event is as follows:

FBI: International, March 4 at 8-9 p.m. EST

FBI, March 4 at 9-10 p.m.

FBI: Most Wanted, March 4 at 10-11 p.m.

'Power Book II: Ghost' renewed for Season 4, Michael Ealy to join cast

Power Book II: Ghost will return for a fourth season on Starz.

The network announced in a press release Monday that it renewed the drama series for Season 4.

The news comes ahead of the show's Season 3 premiere, which airs March 17.

In addition, Michael Ealy will join the cast as a series regular in Season 4.

Ealy will play Detective Don Carter, an NYPD officer who was on track to become police commissioner until his wife was killed in a crossfire between rival drug gangs.

"Vowing to make the streets safer, Carter traded in his tie for a kevlar vest and now leads an elite NYPD drug task force that elicits concrete results against drug related violence. While his achievements are noteworthy public recognition, nothing can bring back his lost love," an official description reads.

Power Book II: Ghost is a sequel to the Starz series Power. The show follows Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.), the son of Power's James St. Patrick, as he struggles to leave behind his father's drug empire.

Production on Season 4 is underway in New York.

"The high-octane drama of Power Book II: Ghost continues to resonate with our viewers and we're thrilled to get season four production underway ahead of our season three debut," Starz president of original programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. "It's clear our fans are ready to devour more of this explosive series and we look forward to having Michael join our incredible cast."

Ealy is known for his roles on The Good Wife, Almost Human and Being Mary Jane. He recently appeared on Bel-Air and Reasonable Doubt.