Carrie Ann Inaba to miss Dancing with the Stars premiere / Wednesday Season 2 soars up Netflix chart / Jai Courtney joins Yellowstone spinoff
PLUS: Tom Brady's appearance in the Las Vegas Raiders coaches’ booth on Monday Night Football magnified his Fox Sports conflict of interest.
Carrie Ann Inaba to miss tonight's Dancing with the Stars premiere due to illness
Dancing’s Season 34 premiere will go on without the longtime judge — and with no replacement. That means viewers and the celebrity contestants will only hear from judges Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. “I wanted to share that I will not be at the show tonight as I am feeling quite under the weather," Inaba wrote on Instagram. "I’m resting up and can’t wait to be back next week in good health. In the meantime, I wish all the contestants the very best of luck. I’ll be cheering you on from home.” ALSO: Sasha Farber will still be part of Dancing this season despite not competing as a pro.
Wednesday Season 2 becomes Netflix's No. 10 most-watched English language season, replacing Stranger Things Season 3
With Wednesday Season 1 topping the list of most-watched English-language seasons, it's no surprise that Season 2 would also be popular. Season 2 has hit a total of 94.5 million views so far.
AMC Networks and Sundance TV pay tribute to Robert Redford
The Hollywood icon, who died today at age 89, has enjoyed a long association with AMC Networks, which is home to the Sundance TV that launched in 1996 as an extension of his Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival. He also executive produced AMC's Dark Winds, for which he made a cameo earlier this year. "Robert Redford was an immense talent and extraordinarily meaningful figure in our industry as an actor, director, producer and champion of story, character and independent film," AMC Networks said in a statement that was also posted to Sundance TV's social media. "We have been inspired and entertained, like so many, by his work over a remarkable career. For the last two decades, we have been proud to work and partner with him through his Sundance Film Festival as well Sundance TV, Sundance Now and, most recently, Dark Winds, a series he had been developing for almost 40 years. He was an American icon whose work will live on forever."
Tom Brady's appearance in the Las Vegas Raiders coaches’ booth on Monday Night Football magnified his Fox Sports conflict of interest
While the NFL says Brady didn't violate any rules with his appearance wearing a headset in the Raiders coaching booth last night, the appearance will likely lead to scrutiny of his conflict of interest as an NFL broadcaster and a Raiders minority owner. "Hearing about something is one thing. Seeing it is another," says ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio. "From the moment Tom Brady both took the job as the No. 1 analyst at Fox while also trying to buy a piece of the Raiders, the conflict of interest was lurking. It became obvious on Monday night, with the video of Brady embedded in the Raiders’ coaching box, wearing a headset and watching a tablet. This minority owner is hardly a silent partner. He’s not in the owner’s suite, sipping Chardonnay and snacking on avocado chips. He’s involved with the Raiders. Very involved. And the man whose favorite Super Bowl ring is 'the next one' surely wants nothing more than to expand his collection to eight. (And then to nine.) Meanwhile, he enjoys a window into other teams, other players, other coaches that no other owner has. For good reason. It crosses a line that the league should never allow anyone to cross. The good news is that more and more voices have joined the chorus. Brady must pick a lane. If he won’t do it voluntarily, Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to mandate it."
Jai Courtney joins Beth and Rip Yellowstone spinoff The Dutton Ranch
Courtney will play Rob-Will, who is described as “an imposing, unpredictable ranch foreman," on the Paramount+ drama series. He most recently starred on American Primeval.
Kamala Harris returns to The View next week
The former vice president will promote her new presidential campaign memoir 107 Days on The View next Tuesday in her first visit since last year's presidential election.
ESPN extends NBA host Malika Andrews
ESPN announced today that it has reached a multi-year contract extension with Andrews, who will continue in her current roles hosting NBA Countdown, NBA Today and the NBA Draft.
Molly Qerim's voluntary exit from ESPN's First Take is effective immediately
Stephen A. Smith announced this morning that the longtime First Take host has decided to exit the show, calling her “an enormous part of our success for a decade. Not only did she keep me and many others in line, but she did it with dignity, class and kindness, to say the least.” In a social media post, Qerim wrote: “After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take. Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Every morning, I had the privilege of sharing the desk with some of the most brilliant, passionate and entertaining voices in sports — and with all of you, the best fans in the world.” She hinted that she may have other opportunities in the future: “Stay tuned,” Qerim said.
Ricky Gervais deletes tweets targeting Hacks' Hannah Einbinder that criticized her political Emmy speech
Gervais deleted two tweets responding to Einbinder saying at the Emmys "Go Birds, f*ck ICE and free Palestine," including a quote from his hosting of the 2020 Golden Globes in which he said: “If you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a political platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.” Gervais deleted his tweets after he was accused of being political himself with his posts.
Sam Corlett set as co-lead on Dan Fogelman's untitled Hulu football drama
The Vikings: Valhalla alum will star opposite Christopher Meloni, possibly as the younger son of Meloni's head coach.
The Pitt, The Studio and Adolescence sees streaming surge in wake of their Emmy victories
The Pitt saw a 142% increase in U.S. viewership on Monday on HBO Max, The Studio jumped 254% on Apple TV+ and Adolescence saw a massive 416% increase on Netflix.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans are ticked off over Lynne Marie Stewart's Emmys In Memoriam snub
Stewart, who played Miss Yvonne on Pee-wee’s Playhouse and recurred as Charlie's mom Bonnie Kelly on It's Always Sunny, didn't make the In Memoriam cut after her death in February at age 78.
Only Murders in the Building's robot doorman revealed
This week's episode revives what showrunner and co-creator John Hoffman calls "a good, repetitive joke."
Netflix says Saturday's Crawford-Canelo boxing match delivered 41 million viewers
More than half of the viewing audience came from overseas watched last Saturday's superfight between Terence “Bud” Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, which marked Netflix’s second major foray into boxing, according to the streamer.
A Friends Central Perk location is opening New York City's Times Square
Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio guided the menu for the new location opening this fall, which follows a similar location in Boston that opened two years ago.
Amazon sets premiere date for Allen Iverson docuseries
The three-part Allen Iv3rson debuts on Oct. 23 with Steph Curry and Shaquille O'Neal among its producers.
The Tinder Swindler villain Shimon Hayut arrested again
The notorious con man who was the subject of Netflix’s hit 2022 documentary has been arrested after allegedly stealing more than $52,000 from a woman in Berlin.
Father-son duo Ian Eagle and Noah Eagle will again call Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL doubleheader
The 56-year-old Ian Eagle is poised to handle play-by-play for Netflix’s stream of Cowboys-Commanders at 1 p.m. ET. His 28-year-old son Noah Eagle is set to call Lions-Vikings at 4:30 p.m. ET.
ESPN will produce two pre-event shows for its Wrestlepalooza
An ESPN Wrestlepalooza Special will air this Friday, while Road to Wrestlepalooza will be shown on Saturday.
Watch Bravo's Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition's trailer
The four-episode crossover event, starring Angie Katsanevas, Emily Simpson, Melissa Gorga and Dr. Wendy Osefo, premieres Oct. 14.