Joseph Gordon-Levitt poised to lead Hulu Japan-set Gaijin / The Office UK star Lucy Davis announces she has “incurable” cancer / Brandy singing A Different World's theme song
PLUS: Hacks stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder to star in one-night stage event “Deborah Vance & Friends & Enemies Live!'
Joseph Gordon-Levitt poised to lead Hulu Japan-set drama series Gaijin
Gordon-Levitt will executive produce Gaijin, the Japanese word for foreigner or outsider and is expected to star in the series from Shōgun co-executive producer Shannon Goss. “Inspired by Ivan Orkin’s real-life story that led to the creation of Ivan Ramen, Gaijin is about an American culinary school dropout who spontaneously moves to Tokyo with his young son following his wife’s death,” according to Deadline. “Desperate to maintain a connection to his wife’s home country, Ivan (Gordon-Levitt) plunges headfirst into life in Japan. He moves in with his in-laws, whom he barely knows and barely likes, and takes action on a long-held dream of opening his own restaurant – in this case, a ramen shop. Through hardships, culture clashes and humorous moments lost in translation, Ivan will, over the course of the series, take on the Herculean task of building a business and rebuilding a life...New York chef Orkin became famous for opening successful ramen shops in Tokyo, Japan before expanding Ivan Ramen to his home town and London and starring on Season 3 of Netflix’s Chef’s Table.” Gaijin would mark Gordon-Levitt’s first major series since starring in Showtime’s Uber limited series Super Pumped in 2022.
The Office UK star Lucy Davis announces she has “incurable” cancer
”A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, which has metastasized to my bones,” the 53-year-old actress best known for playing receptionist Dawn Tinsley on The Office UK captioned an Instagram video of her ringing a cancer bell. “Specifically to my spine, right hip, and my ribs. The cancer is incurable, and too late for chemo.” Davis added: “As of now, I’m trying to live out whatever might be left of my life in as fun a way as I possibly can. I always like to find the teachable moments in anything negative that happens. And cancer has not disappointed in that regard; there’s a lot I have learned from it, and I’m grateful for that. As some of you will know, the pain can really be something else. Standing and walking for too long a time can be hard, and I need to use a wheelchair sometimes (so if you see me toddling around in one, feel free to give me a push!) The thing that has been most vital to me is humour. I asked my friends and family to make fun of me as much as possible (which they’re really good at🙄), and most importantly of all to not treat me like a sick person. There’s nothing that will make you feel more unwell than being treated as if you’re unwell. For those of you on a similar journey to mine, I do wish you well. Cancer asks a lot from us, physically and mentally. And we all get to do it however we choose.”
Hacks stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder to star in one-night stage event “Deborah Vance & Friends & Enemies Live!”
Smart and Einbinder will reprise their Hacks roles outside of their HBO Max comedy timed to the start of Emmy Phase 2 voting. “Deborah Vance & Friends & Enemies Live!” is set for this Friday at Hollywood’s Fonda Theatre.
Brandy unveiled as the singer for Netflix’s A Different World sequel series theme song
“Singing this iconic theme song for A Different World means everything to me. It was one of those shows that I had to watch every time it came on. I remember the song and how it made me feel,” Brandy said in advance of the sequel series’ premiere on Sept. 24. Phoebe Snow sang the original series’ theme song for Season 1, followed by Franklin for seasons 2 to 5, and finally by Boyz II Men for the sixth and final season.
Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show YouTube channel posts an Emmy For Your Consideration video that doesn’t return the favor to Jimmy Kimmel
The first video posted on The Late Show’s YouTube channel since Colbert signed off in May makes it clear that CBS wants to win another Emmy in the Outstanding Variety Series category (the new name for the merged category). As Deadline points out, after Jimmy Kimmel put up a billboard saying “I’m voting for Stephen,” The Late Show isn’t returning the favor. Kimmel recently told The Hollywood Reporter: “We were hoping this time they’d get one for us.”
PaleyFest announces The PaleyFest Award, with Billy Crystal, Dexter and American Horror Story among the first recipients
The inaugural PaleyFest Award will be handed out during this year’s PaleyFest NY, which will take place from Oct. 8-14. “For decades, PaleyFest—held annually in New York and Los Angeles—has been the premier celebration of media, television, and entertainment, bringing audiences together with the industry’s most influential series, creators, performers, and cultural icons,” PaleyFest said in a statement. “The PaleyFest Award builds on that legacy by formally recognizing that selection to PaleyFest is itself a mark of distinction, reflecting the excellence, creativity, and cultural significance that have long defined the festival.”
The Daily Show releases audition tapes for John Oliver, Michael Che, Samantha Bee and the current news team
As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, The Daily Show has released the video “30 Years of the Best F**king News Team’s Audition Tapes.”
Netflix’s SEC football docuseries isn’t returning for a second season this year
The seven-episode SEC Football: Any Given Saturday, which premiered last year, isn’t necessarily one-and-done, an SEC spokesperson tells Front Office Sports. “Our original plan was to do one season and then reassess,” says the spokesperson. “We have discussed the possibility of a second season, as well as whether there may be other opportunities or approaches worth exploring.” No filming for a second season has taken place at this point.
Netflix sets premiere date for The Body
In the eight-episode series premiering Nov. 11, “a group of unholy Catholic school girls start to have prophecy-like visions that send their town into a panic after a dance-team initiation takes a turn for the worse,” per Variety.
Conan O’Brien forms a new band named after Late Night staple Abe Vigoda
Conan’s new band The Vigodas is a tribute to the late veteran character actor and The Godfather alum who became a recurred in comedy bits on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
Netflix teases Ella Beatty in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
“Lizzie Borden took an ax. Gave her mother 40 whacks,” says the voiceover in the trailer for the latest Monster series that “tells the story of how one young woman changed what the world believed a killer could be — all it took was an ax.” Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story premieres Sept. 17.
Watch Nat Geo’s trailer for 9/11 Reunited
The Aug. 21 documentary special will feature reunions of complete strangers who helped save each other’s lives on 9/11.
Netflix unveils the trailer for dysfunctional family animation series Dang!
Premiering Sept. 8, Dang! follows a brother and sister duo, voiced by Andrew Law and Poppy Liu, whose fun, messy lives in New York City are interrupted when their worst nightmare comes true: their high-achieving older sister (Stephanie Hsu) shows up and wants to hang out with them.
Robot Chicken shares a preview of its Adult Swim Special
The Aug. 30 special will celebrate Adult Swim’s 25th anniversary and Cartoon Network’s 35th anniversary.
Love & Marriage: Huntsville reveals Season 12 premiere date and trailer
The OWN reality show returns Sept. 12.