Month: March 2023

‘Creed III’, the latest installment in the Rocky Balboa spin-off saga, earned $58.7 million at the domestic box office in its weekend debut. The film, directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan alongside Jonathan Majors, set a franchise record after opening to rave reviews.

MGM’s head of distribution Erik Lomis told the Associated Press: “This is beyond all of our expectations. And we knew that we had something special — we tested the movie and it tested great, but the public responded so resoundingly to it  Everything went right here starting with the movie itself … It was just up to us not to break it when they gave it to us and we didn’t.”

‘Creed III’ also knocked reigning box office No. 1 ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ out of the top spot. The Marvel action film saw a 61% decline in its third weekend after taking in around $12 million. Following closely behind is Elizabeth Banks’ action-comedy ‘Cocaine Bear’, starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Keri Russell, and Alden Ehrenreich, which grossed $11 million after a 53% drop from its $23 million opening weekend.

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Syndicated daytime talk show “Rachael Ray” will end after 17 years. Ray shared in a press release: “In my more than 20 plus years in television I have had 17 wonderful seasons working in daytime television with ‘Rachael.’ However I’ve made the decision that’s it’s time for me to move on to the next exciting chapter in my broadcast career. My passions have evolved from the talk show format production and syndication model to a platform unencumbered by the traditional rules of distribution.”

Ray recently launched Free Food Studios, a new production company with the mission to distribute Ray’s “in the kitchen content.”  Ray partnered with longtime collaborator Brian Flanagan, and his partners at Intentional Content, Anthony Amoia and Sean Lee. The platform will also develop new upcoming new talent.

Steve LoCascio, president of CBS Media Ventures, added: “When Rachael debuted her show 17 years ago, she was a gamechanger in the daytime space. She made cooking accessible to the masses, taught viewers simple solutions on how to improve their lives and coaxed great stories out of celebrity guests with her relatable down-to-earth demeanor. We’re proud to have produced such a successful show with Rachael and her team for so many years. We’ll miss Rachael on the air every day, but we’ll always be family.”

“Rachael Ray” debuted in national syndication Sept. 18, 2006  In its 17 seasons, it earned 37 Daytime Emmy nominations, and won 3 Emmys for ‘Outstanding Talk Show.’

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Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove and Benjamin Bratt have signed on to star in the Netflix romantic-comedy, Mother of the Bride. Sheilds wrote on Instagram: “Hoping my future mother of the bride duties are far less dramatic than this. So excited to get to work on #MotherOfTheBride.”

Netflix said in a press release about the film: “When Lana’s daughter Emma returns from a year abroad in London, she drops a bombshell on her mother: she’s getting married. On an island. Next month! Things only get worse when Lana discovers that the mystery man who stole her daughter’s heart just so happens to be the son of the man who broke hers years ago.”

Director Mark Waters (“He’s All That,” “Mean Girls”) — is directing the project, from a script written by Robin Bernheim (of ‘The Princess Switch‘ film franchise).

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Actor Tom Sizemore passed away on March 3 at age 61, nearly two weeks after suffering a brain aneurysm as the result of a stroke. Sizemore had been hospitalized in critical condition and remained in a coma and in intensive care since the aneurysm.

Sizemore’s manager, Charles Lago, said that the actor “passed away peacefully in his sleep at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank. His brother Paul and twin boys Jayden and Jagger were at his side.”  Lago added: “We are asking for privacy for his family during this difficult time and they wish to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of support, and prayers that have been received. This has been a difficult time for them.”  He said there will be a private cremation service for the family with a larger celebration of life event planned in a few weeks.

Sizemore’s death comes just days after the actor’s medical team had informed the family “there is no further hope and have recommended end of life decision.”  Paul Sizemore said in a statement: “I am deeply saddened by the loss of my big brother Tom. He was larger than life. He has influenced my life more than anyone I know. He was talented, loving, giving and could keep you entertained endlessly with his wit and storytelling ability. I am devastated he is gone and will miss him always.” Sizemore’s ex-wife, actress Maevee Quinlin, offered “my heartfelt condolences to the entire Sizemore family. … Most especially, my thoughts and prayers go out to Tom’s two sons, Jayden and Jagger. May God hold you both in the palm of his hand, give you strength and bless you all the days of your lives.”

Sizemore is best known for action movies and crime dramas, including Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Passenger 57, Heat, True Romance, Natural Born Killers, Devil in a Blue Dress, The Relic and Strange Days.

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