March 29, 2020

Here's the Scoop...

Kristen Bell to host Nickelodeon special on coronavirus for kids

Kristen Bell will host a Nickelodeon special about coronavirus created for kids and their families.

The network announced in a press release Friday that Bell, 39, will host #KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall, a #KidsTogether town hall on COVID-19, airing Monday at 7 p.m. ET.

"You've got questions, we've got answers. Join Kristen Bell & special guests for the #KidsTogether Town Hall on all things Coronavirus this Monday at 7p/6c," Nickelodeon wrote on Instagram.

The special will give a "kids-eye view" of life amid the coronavirus outbreak and address young people's concerns about the health crisis. The show fill feature appearances by Josh Gad, Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, Ciara and Russell Wilson and other stars, and a performance from Alicia Keys.

In addition, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California's surgeon general, and Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, former U.S. surgeon general, will share advice on how to stay healthy, while kids and their parents from around the country will discuss how they're coping with the outbreak.

"It's so important to remember that we are all in this together, and our kids and loved ones need outlets to help them process and understand what's going on and, most importantly, to still feel connected," Bell said. "I hope kids and families come away from this special feeling a little more comfortable and that they enjoy some much-needed moments of humor during this difficult time."

Nickelodeon launched #KidsTogether, a new initiative encouraging kids and their families to stay informed, engaged and healthy amid the outbreak, last week.

Bell voices Anna in the Disney movie Frozen and its sequel, Frozen 2. Frozen 2 was made available to stream three months early on Disney+ this month.

Be Well,
Steve

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Mark Blum, 'You,' 'Succession' actor, dead from COVID-19 complications

Mark Blum, an actor who appeared in Netflix's You and HBO's Succession, has died at the age of 69 due to complications from COVID-19.

The Screen Actors Guild confirmed Blum's death in a statement to CNN.

Blum was also known for starring in Desperately Seeking Susan, Crocodile Dundee and in Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle.

Blum was a stage performer, appearing in the Broadway revival of Twelve Angry Men. He worked frequently with off-Broadway theater Playwrights Horizons.

"With love and heavy hearts, Playwrights Horizons pays tribute to Mark Blum, a dear friend and a consummate artist who passed this week. Thank you, Mark, for all you brought to our theater, and to theaters and audiences across the world. We will miss you," Playwrights Horizons said on Twitter alongside photos of Blum onstage.

Madonna, who starred with Blum in Desperately Seeking Susan, paid homage to the actor on Instagram.

"I Want to Acknowledge the Passing of a remarkable Human, fellow actor and friend Mark Blum, who succumbed to Coronavirus. This is really tragic and my heart goes out to him, his family and his loved ones. I remember him as funny, warm, loving and professional when we made Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985," the singer said.

"Another reminder that this virus is no joke, nothing to be casual about or pretend won't affect us in some way. we need to stay grateful -be hopeful- help each other-and follow the quarantine rules!" Madonna continued.

Actress Alicia Silverstone also paid homage to Blum on Instagram alongside a selfie of herself with the actor.

"My heart is heavy. Mark Blum was one of the loveliest ever! I was lucky enough to spend a month with him filming an upcoming movie where he plays my daddy," Silverstone said.

"We had so much fun together. Sending love to everyone who has lost loved ones and is struggling with this virus. Oh goodness, I'm so sad not to get to spend more time with this gorgeous man," she continued.

Blum is the latest public figure to die due to complications from COVID-19 following Fashion designer Jenny Polanco, playwright Terrence McNally, 81, and jazz great Manu Dibango, 86.

Chef Floyd Cardoz dies of complications of COVID-19

Chef Floyd Cardoz died Wednesday in New Jersey.

CNN reported the statement from Hunger Inc. Hospitality and People confirmed with a spokesperson. Cardoz was 59.

Cardoz checked into Mountainside Medical Center on March 18 with a fever. He tested positive for COVID-19.

The chef told his Instagram followers he was going to the hospital as a precautionary measure. He had flown home to New York after filming the Netflix series Ugly Delicious in India, and connected in Frankfurt, Germany.

"I was feeling feverish and hence as a precautionary measure, admitted myself into hospital in New York," Cardoz wrote. "I was hugely anxious about my state of health."

He is survived by his mother Beryl, wife and business partner Barkha and their sons Peter, 27, and Justin, 22.

Cardoz won Top Chef Masters in 2011, the show's third season. He'd opened Indian restaurants Tabla, North End Grill, Paowalla and Bombay Bread Bar in New York City. He also opened restaurants The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro and Bombay Sweet Shop in Mumbai, where he was raised.

Born in Bombay, India, Cardoz worked his way up from New York City kitchens to partnering with Union Square Hospitality Group. He authored two cookbooks: One Spice, Two Spice: American Food, Indian Flavors and Floyd Cardoz: Flavorwalla: Big Flavor, Bold Spices. A New Way to Cook the Foods You Love.

Colleagues of Cardoz posted their condolences on social media. Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi wrote, "Nobody who lived in NY in the early aughts could forget how delicious and packed Tabla always was. He had an impish smile, an innate need to make those around him happy, and a delicious touch."

David Chang tweeted, "People may not realize it, but so much of the food you eat today was influenced by Floyd when he was the cdc at Lespinasse with the late chef Grey Kunz. "

LOOSE LIPS:

"I remember obviously loving everybody there and having fun and I remember certain times in my life that I was there, but I don't remember episodes."
--Courteney Cox during Friends trivia and discussing the planned Friends reunion special while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel's Quarantine Minilogue series

??? Guess Who ???

Which actress, and former royal by marriage, will narrate the Disney nature film 'Elephant'?

Rhett Akins, wife Sonya celebrate baby boy's birth

Rhett Akins is a dad of three.

The 50-year-old country music singer and songwriter and his wife, Sonya Akins, welcomed a son, Brody James, earlier this month.

Sonya Akins shared the news on Instagram alongside a slideshow of photos of her baby boy.

"Friday the 13th is a pretty magical day. Our little angel arrived at 7:49 p.m. weighing 7.2lbs and 19 inches. He is perfect is every way!!!! Welcome Brody James Akins," she captioned the post.

Sonya Akins said in a subsequent post that her "heart is about to explode" with love.

"I'm so in love with our sweet baby boy!! Thank you lord for this precious gift that you have given our family!!" she wrote.

Akins is also parent to two children, country music singer Thomas Rhett, 29, and Kasey Lee Akins, 27, with his ex-wife, Paige Braswell.

Akins and Sonya Akins married in 2017 and announced in September that they were expecting. Sonya Akins showed her baby bump while attending the BMI Awards with Akins in November.

Akins is known for the singles "What They're Talkin' About," "That Ain't My Truck" and "Don't Get Me Started." He released his sixth studio album, Down South, in 2008.

'Angry Birds: Summer Madness' series coming to Netflix

Netflix has an Angry Birds series in the works.

The streaming service shared plans in a press release Wednesday for Angry Birds: Summer Madness, a new animated series in the Angry Birds franchise.

Netflix is producing the show with CAKE and Rovio Entertainment. The first season will have 40 11-minute episodes and premiere in 2021.

Angry Birds: Summer Madness features Red, Bomb, Chuck and new characters as tween birds at a summer camp. The group has "explosive antics, improbable pranks and crazy summertime adventures" while fending off the Pigs on the other side of the lake.

"Angry Birds have been a true phenomenon for kids around the world and we're excited to bring them home to the nest at Netflix where they will be angrier and bird-ier than ever," Netflix director of original animated series Curtis Lelash said.

Netflix confirmed the news in a tweet Wednesday.

"Angry Birds: Summer Madness is coming to Netflix in 2020! The animated series stars Red, Bomb & Chuck as tween birds at summer camp squaring off with the obnoxious Pigs on the other side of the lake, who seem hell-bent on causing as much mayhem as possible!" the post reads.

Angry Birds is a video game franchise that was first released as a mobile game in 2009. The games inspired several animated series and the films The Angry Birds Movie and The Angry Birds Movie 2, featuring the voices of Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride and Maya Rudolph.

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??? Guess Who ???

Which actress, and former royal by marriage, will narrate the Disney nature film 'Elephant'?

Meghan Markle will narrate a new nature film coming to Disney+ in April.

Disney announced in a press release Thursday that Markle, the duchess of Sussex, will provide a voiceover in the Disneynature film Elephant, which premieres April 3 on Disney+.

Elephant follows the African elephant Shani and her son Jomo as their herd travels hundreds of miles across the Kalahari Desert. The film is directed by Mark Linfield and co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz and Alastair Fothergill.

Disneynature and the Disney Conservation Fund is supporting Elephants Without Borders, a wildlife conservation organization in Botswana, in honor of the film. Markle has spent time in Botswana, including a trip in 2017 for her 36th birthday.

Markle recorded Elephant in London in the fall, prior to her and her husband, Prince Harry, announcing they will step back from the British royal family and live an independent life in North America.

Dolphin Reef, narrated by Natalie Portman, and Penguins will also premiere April 3. Disney+ is releasing a number of Disneynature and National Geographic films in April in honor of Earth Month.