The death of actor and comedian Norm Macdonald has rocked Hollywood on Tuesday. Macdonald, who most famously worked the Weekend Update desk during his tenure on Saturday Night Live in the ’90s, succumbed to cancer after a very private, decade-long battle at the age of 61.
Macdonald’s death was announced to Deadline by his management firm Brillstein Entertainment. The comedian’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra, who was with him at the time of his death this morning, said Macdonald had been battling cancer for nearly a decade but was determined to keep his health struggles private, away from family, friends, and fans.
Remembrances were shared by Seth Rogen, Edgar Wright, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Josh Gad, Whitney Cummings, Patton Oswald, and more. Find the social media tributes below.
Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2021 – Photo Gallery
Oh fuck. I was a huge fan of Norm...
Macdonald’s death was announced to Deadline by his management firm Brillstein Entertainment. The comedian’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra, who was with him at the time of his death this morning, said Macdonald had been battling cancer for nearly a decade but was determined to keep his health struggles private, away from family, friends, and fans.
Remembrances were shared by Seth Rogen, Edgar Wright, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Josh Gad, Whitney Cummings, Patton Oswald, and more. Find the social media tributes below.
Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2021 – Photo Gallery
Oh fuck. I was a huge fan of Norm...
- 9/14/2021
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
The Amber Ruffin Show and A Black Lady Sketch Show have both secured Emmy writing noms for the first time – noticeably helping to improve the diversity of the category.
The Peacock series and the HBO show will compete in Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series against HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and NBC’s SNL.
A somewhat curious note of this category is that Ashley Nicole Black will compete against herself, having been involved in writing on both The Amber Ruffin Show and A Black Lady Sketch Show.
It marks The Amber Ruffin Show’s first Emmy nomination since the weekly show launched last year. However, it is not Ruffin herself’s first nom, having been nominated in this category for her work, alongside her head writer Jenny Hagel, on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
The Amber Ruffin Show is...
The Peacock series and the HBO show will compete in Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series against HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and NBC’s SNL.
A somewhat curious note of this category is that Ashley Nicole Black will compete against herself, having been involved in writing on both The Amber Ruffin Show and A Black Lady Sketch Show.
It marks The Amber Ruffin Show’s first Emmy nomination since the weekly show launched last year. However, it is not Ruffin herself’s first nom, having been nominated in this category for her work, alongside her head writer Jenny Hagel, on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
The Amber Ruffin Show is...
- 7/13/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The ladies of “A Black Lady Sketch” show are back and the second season will be launching even sooner than fans expected.
The sketch comedy series from creator Robin Thede will return on April 23, with a six-episode season airing on HBO and available to stream on HBO Max.
“Oh you thought a pandemic was going to stop me?” Thede says in a teaser for the new season, which you can watch above.
Returning cast members include Thede, Ashley Nicole Black and Gabrielle Dennis, who will be joined by featured players Laci Mosley and Skye Townsend. Additionally, many guest stars will appear throughout the season, including executive producer Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union, Jesse Williams, Miguel, Skai Jackson, Laz Alonso, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Omarion, Kim Wayans, Ayesha Curry, Lance Gross, Wunmi Mosaku and more.
A scheduling conflict caused by industry-wide Covid-19 shutdowns kept Season 1 cast member Quinta Brunson from appearing in Season...
The sketch comedy series from creator Robin Thede will return on April 23, with a six-episode season airing on HBO and available to stream on HBO Max.
“Oh you thought a pandemic was going to stop me?” Thede says in a teaser for the new season, which you can watch above.
Returning cast members include Thede, Ashley Nicole Black and Gabrielle Dennis, who will be joined by featured players Laci Mosley and Skye Townsend. Additionally, many guest stars will appear throughout the season, including executive producer Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union, Jesse Williams, Miguel, Skai Jackson, Laz Alonso, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Omarion, Kim Wayans, Ayesha Curry, Lance Gross, Wunmi Mosaku and more.
A scheduling conflict caused by industry-wide Covid-19 shutdowns kept Season 1 cast member Quinta Brunson from appearing in Season...
- 3/23/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
A Black Lady Sketch Show, Robin Thede’s sketch comedy series, will return to HBO for season 2.
Set to premiere on Friday, April 23 at 11 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and HBO Max, A Black Lady Sketch Show‘s sophomore season will feature six episodes filled with new sketches from returning cast members Thede, Gabrielle Dennis and Ashley Nicole Black. Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union and Jessie Williams are among the guest stars set to make appearances this season. Additional guests are singer Miguel, Skai Jackson, Laz Alonso, Omarion, Kim Wayans, Ayesha Curry, Lance Gross and Lovecraft Country’s Wunmi Mosaku.
Quinta Brunson, who was a cast member in season one, will not appear this season due to Covid shutdown-related scheduling conflicts.
A Black Lady Sketch Show season one touched on culturally relevant themes as social norms, anxiety, religion, sex, dating and relationships. Each episode consisted of five to six sketches,...
Set to premiere on Friday, April 23 at 11 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and HBO Max, A Black Lady Sketch Show‘s sophomore season will feature six episodes filled with new sketches from returning cast members Thede, Gabrielle Dennis and Ashley Nicole Black. Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union and Jessie Williams are among the guest stars set to make appearances this season. Additional guests are singer Miguel, Skai Jackson, Laz Alonso, Omarion, Kim Wayans, Ayesha Curry, Lance Gross and Lovecraft Country’s Wunmi Mosaku.
Quinta Brunson, who was a cast member in season one, will not appear this season due to Covid shutdown-related scheduling conflicts.
A Black Lady Sketch Show season one touched on culturally relevant themes as social norms, anxiety, religion, sex, dating and relationships. Each episode consisted of five to six sketches,...
- 3/23/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
The Black Lady Sketch Show will go on — starting Friday, April 23 at 11/10c, when HBO premieres Season 2 of the acclaimed comedy series.
The six-episode season will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
More from TVLineA Black Lady Sketch Show Is Great — Here Are 7 Sketches That Prove ItIssa Rae Hosts SNL: Best & Worst SketchesThe Nevers: Powers of the 'Touched' Are on Full Display in Trailer for HBO Series -- Get Premiere Date
Nominated last year for three Primetime Emmys (including for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series and guest actress Angela Bassett), the narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable,...
The six-episode season will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
More from TVLineA Black Lady Sketch Show Is Great — Here Are 7 Sketches That Prove ItIssa Rae Hosts SNL: Best & Worst SketchesThe Nevers: Powers of the 'Touched' Are on Full Display in Trailer for HBO Series -- Get Premiere Date
Nominated last year for three Primetime Emmys (including for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series and guest actress Angela Bassett), the narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable,...
- 3/23/2021
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Amber Ruffin exudes Big Capricorn Energy. Ambitious, tenacious and undeniably talented, the zany comedian — whose birthday is Jan. 9 — is carving her own path in a field that’s hard-pressed to give Black women their proper due.
As host of Peacock’s The Amber Ruffin Show, which has been nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Comedy/Variety Sketch Series, she’s the only Black woman with a late-night show currently on the air. Her infectious charm and sharp social commentary make her a TV fixture, so much so that NBC is testing her show out with a broadcast audience. The...
As host of Peacock’s The Amber Ruffin Show, which has been nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Comedy/Variety Sketch Series, she’s the only Black woman with a late-night show currently on the air. Her infectious charm and sharp social commentary make her a TV fixture, so much so that NBC is testing her show out with a broadcast audience. The...
- 2/27/2021
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
Robin Thede predicted the end of the world in her HBO sketch comedy A Black Lady Sketch Show.
One of the first sketches in the six-part series, which launched in August 2019, features Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Quinta Brunson and Gabrielle Dennis, dealing with “The Event,” which runs through the series.
“When I brought that idea into our writers room, I had a fever dream, literally like a sweating dream in the middle of the night,” Thede tells Deadline. “I woke up, wrote it on two sides of a paper, single-spaced, in this chicken scratch, and brought it into the writers. I said, ‘This is what the interstitials are going to be. This is what we’re going to do.’ And they all just looked at me like I was insane. They were like, ‘You need more sleep.’ But, it turned out to be prophetic, in so many ways.”
Coming up...
One of the first sketches in the six-part series, which launched in August 2019, features Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Quinta Brunson and Gabrielle Dennis, dealing with “The Event,” which runs through the series.
“When I brought that idea into our writers room, I had a fever dream, literally like a sweating dream in the middle of the night,” Thede tells Deadline. “I woke up, wrote it on two sides of a paper, single-spaced, in this chicken scratch, and brought it into the writers. I said, ‘This is what the interstitials are going to be. This is what we’re going to do.’ And they all just looked at me like I was insane. They were like, ‘You need more sleep.’ But, it turned out to be prophetic, in so many ways.”
Coming up...
- 7/6/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
When Robin Thede’s Bet late-night show “The Rundown” was canceled in July 2018, she wasted no time in finding her next project, the HBO sketch comedy series “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”
The comedian, whose career started with sketch and improv comedy at The Second City theatre group in Chicago, had already been soft-pitching a sketch show to work on between seasons of “The Rundown.” The day the Bet show was canceled, she got a call from Issa Rae about what she planned on doing next, and had her answer ready to go.
“I just wanted to create a really authentic product, something that was uniquely from our point of view,” said Thede. “I set out to highlight black women living grounded experiences in a magical reality.” When she told the “Insecure” star about her vision, Rae immediately offered to take the show to HBO.
Also Read: Black Panther Party Dramedy From 'Insecure' Writer,...
The comedian, whose career started with sketch and improv comedy at The Second City theatre group in Chicago, had already been soft-pitching a sketch show to work on between seasons of “The Rundown.” The day the Bet show was canceled, she got a call from Issa Rae about what she planned on doing next, and had her answer ready to go.
“I just wanted to create a really authentic product, something that was uniquely from our point of view,” said Thede. “I set out to highlight black women living grounded experiences in a magical reality.” When she told the “Insecure” star about her vision, Rae immediately offered to take the show to HBO.
Also Read: Black Panther Party Dramedy From 'Insecure' Writer,...
- 8/16/2019
- by Kylie Harrington
- The Wrap
Winners to be announced on February 17 at concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles, New York.
The Crown, Succession, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and The Looming Tower are among television series nominated for the 2019 Writers Guild Awards.
The list of nominees announced by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) West and East branches also includes The Handmaid’s Tale, longform projects Castle Rock, Paterno, Maniac and Sharp Objects and individual episodes of Narcos: Mexico, The Affair and Ozark.
Select categories appear below. WGA Award winners will be announced on February 17 at concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.
The Crown, Succession, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and The Looming Tower are among television series nominated for the 2019 Writers Guild Awards.
The list of nominees announced by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) West and East branches also includes The Handmaid’s Tale, longform projects Castle Rock, Paterno, Maniac and Sharp Objects and individual episodes of Narcos: Mexico, The Affair and Ozark.
Select categories appear below. WGA Award winners will be announced on February 17 at concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.
- 12/6/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
The Writers Guild Awards honor outstanding writing in film, television, new media, videogames, news, radio, promotional, and graphic animation categories. Today the nominees for the 2019 Writers Guild Awards were revealed. Check out the list below.
Television, New Media, And News Nominees
Daytime Drama
Days of Our Lives, Head Writer: Ron Carlivati; Writers: Sheri Anderson, Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Joanna Cohen, Lisa Connor, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Cydney Kelley, David Kreizman, David A. Levinson, Rebecca McCarty, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine Schock, Elizabeth Snyder, Tyler Topits; NBC
General Hospital, Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Christopher Van Etten; Writers: Barbara Bloom, Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O'Connor, Donny Sheldon, Scott Sickles; ABC
Drama Series
The Americans, Written by Peter Ackerman, Hilary Bettis, Joshua Brand, Joel Fields, Sarah Nolen, Stephen Schiff, Justin Weinberger, Joe Weisberg, Tracey Scott Wilson; FX Networks
Better Call Saul,...
Television, New Media, And News Nominees
Daytime Drama
Days of Our Lives, Head Writer: Ron Carlivati; Writers: Sheri Anderson, Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Joanna Cohen, Lisa Connor, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Cydney Kelley, David Kreizman, David A. Levinson, Rebecca McCarty, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine Schock, Elizabeth Snyder, Tyler Topits; NBC
General Hospital, Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Christopher Van Etten; Writers: Barbara Bloom, Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O'Connor, Donny Sheldon, Scott Sickles; ABC
Drama Series
The Americans, Written by Peter Ackerman, Hilary Bettis, Joshua Brand, Joel Fields, Sarah Nolen, Stephen Schiff, Justin Weinberger, Joe Weisberg, Tracey Scott Wilson; FX Networks
Better Call Saul,...
- 12/6/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
The HBO comedy “Barry” is having a great day. First it reaped three Golden Globe nominations and then it earned another three bids at the Writers Guild of America Awards. At the WGA, it competes for Best Comedy Series writing as well as for an individual episode and for the catch-all Best New Series award.
For the comedy series award, “Barry” faces off against reigning Emmy champ “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” as well as “Atlanta,” “Glow” and “The Good Place.” “Barry” is the only comedy up for the new series award alongside the dramas “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Homecoming,” “Pose” and “Succession.”
Of those four, only “Succession” made it into Best Drama Series where it competes against the final season of “The Americans,” season 4 of “Better Call Saul” and the sophomore editions of “The Crown” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
The WGA Awards winners will be revealed on Feb.
For the comedy series award, “Barry” faces off against reigning Emmy champ “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” as well as “Atlanta,” “Glow” and “The Good Place.” “Barry” is the only comedy up for the new series award alongside the dramas “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Homecoming,” “Pose” and “Succession.”
Of those four, only “Succession” made it into Best Drama Series where it competes against the final season of “The Americans,” season 4 of “Better Call Saul” and the sophomore editions of “The Crown” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
The WGA Awards winners will be revealed on Feb.
- 12/6/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The WGA on Thursday unveiled its nominations for in TV, new media, news, radio/audio and promotional writing for 2018, with writers for Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale and NBC’s Saturday Night Live among last year’s winners to make the cut.
Last year, Handmaid’s Tale won the Drama Series category and the New Series category. HBO’s Succession has that same chance this year in drama, nominated in both categories. Another HBO series, its Bill Hader comedy Barry, was triple-nommed today including in the episodic race.
SNL returns to the Comedy/Variety sketch series category it won last season, this time facing the likes of the final season for IFC’s Portlandia and Sarah Silverman’s Hulu docuseries I Love You, America. Another returning champ, Comedy/Variety Talk Series’ Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, also landed a nom.
Like the Golden Globes earlier today the marquee...
Last year, Handmaid’s Tale won the Drama Series category and the New Series category. HBO’s Succession has that same chance this year in drama, nominated in both categories. Another HBO series, its Bill Hader comedy Barry, was triple-nommed today including in the episodic race.
SNL returns to the Comedy/Variety sketch series category it won last season, this time facing the likes of the final season for IFC’s Portlandia and Sarah Silverman’s Hulu docuseries I Love You, America. Another returning champ, Comedy/Variety Talk Series’ Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, also landed a nom.
Like the Golden Globes earlier today the marquee...
- 12/6/2018
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Refresh for updates During a Megyn Kelly Today discussion this morning about offensive Halloween costumes and blackface during trick or treat season – and if the mental alarm bells weren’t already going off, they should have been – the host who once insisted Santa Claus is white dug herself a Halloween social media grave.
“What is racist?” Kelly asked her panel of guests Jenna Bush Hager, MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff and Melissa Rivers. The quartet were discussing campus attempts to discourage “inappropriate and offensive costumes” during Halloween season when Kelly explained, “You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween.”
“Back when I was a kid, that was okay just as long as you were dressing as a character,” Kelly said.
To make her point, Kelly recalled the Real Housewives controversy when Luann...
“What is racist?” Kelly asked her panel of guests Jenna Bush Hager, MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff and Melissa Rivers. The quartet were discussing campus attempts to discourage “inappropriate and offensive costumes” during Halloween season when Kelly explained, “You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween.”
“Back when I was a kid, that was okay just as long as you were dressing as a character,” Kelly said.
To make her point, Kelly recalled the Real Housewives controversy when Luann...
- 10/23/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Warning: This post contains graphic language.
Bill Maher has issued an apology after he said the N-word during a conversation with Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse on Friday night’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.
“Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show,” the comedian said in a statement on Saturday. “Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret...
Bill Maher has issued an apology after he said the N-word during a conversation with Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse on Friday night’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.
“Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show,” the comedian said in a statement on Saturday. “Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret...
- 6/3/2017
- by Alexia Fernandez and Jodi Guglielmi
- PEOPLE.com
Warning: This post contains graphic language.
HBO has issued a statement after Bill Maher used the N-word during a conversation with Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse on Friday night’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.
“Bill Maher’s comment last night was completely inexcusable and tasteless,” the networks said in a statement to People. “We are removing his deeply offensive comment from any subsequent airings of the show.” (Maher’s rep did not respond to a request for comment.)
During the interview on Friday Maher, 61, sparked outrage when he responded to Sasse’s question, “Would you like to come...
HBO has issued a statement after Bill Maher used the N-word during a conversation with Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse on Friday night’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.
“Bill Maher’s comment last night was completely inexcusable and tasteless,” the networks said in a statement to People. “We are removing his deeply offensive comment from any subsequent airings of the show.” (Maher’s rep did not respond to a request for comment.)
During the interview on Friday Maher, 61, sparked outrage when he responded to Sasse’s question, “Would you like to come...
- 6/3/2017
- by Alexia Fernandez and Jodi Guglielmi
- PEOPLE.com
Warning: This post contains graphic language.
Another comedian is causing headlines for a less than funny “joke.”
Bill Maher used the N-word during a conversation with Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse on Friday night’s episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.
Bill Maher is out here feeling way too comfortable and just used the N-word on his show. pic.twitter.com/JAojuSqn4j
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 3, 2017
Maher, 61, responded to Sasse’s question, “Would you like to come work in the field with us?” with the N-word.
“Work in the fields?” Maher asked. “Senator, I’m a house n–.”
Sasse,...
Another comedian is causing headlines for a less than funny “joke.”
Bill Maher used the N-word during a conversation with Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse on Friday night’s episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.
Bill Maher is out here feeling way too comfortable and just used the N-word on his show. pic.twitter.com/JAojuSqn4j
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 3, 2017
Maher, 61, responded to Sasse’s question, “Would you like to come work in the field with us?” with the N-word.
“Work in the fields?” Maher asked. “Senator, I’m a house n–.”
Sasse,...
- 6/3/2017
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
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