Exclusive: For NASA’s pioneering Black astronauts, gravity wasn’t the only barrier impeding them from reaching the highest heights. They also faced another implacable force, in the form of racial bias.
National Geographic Documentary Films today announced filmmakers Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza will direct and produce The Space Race, a feature documentary “that will uncover the little-known stories of the first Black pilots, engineers and scientists to become astronauts” and the obstacles that impacted their trajectory. Frank Marshall and Tony Rosenthal of The Kennedy/Marshall Company will executive produce the film, along with Carolyn Bernstein of National Geographic Documentary Films and Leland Melvin. The project will be produced by Kennedy/Marshall’s Alexandra Bowen and Aly Parker, Diamond Docs’ Mark Monroe and independent producer Keero Birla. Monroe will also serve as the film’s writer.
Astronaut Ed Dwight is interviewed for ‘The Space Race.
National Geographic Documentary Films today announced filmmakers Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza will direct and produce The Space Race, a feature documentary “that will uncover the little-known stories of the first Black pilots, engineers and scientists to become astronauts” and the obstacles that impacted their trajectory. Frank Marshall and Tony Rosenthal of The Kennedy/Marshall Company will executive produce the film, along with Carolyn Bernstein of National Geographic Documentary Films and Leland Melvin. The project will be produced by Kennedy/Marshall’s Alexandra Bowen and Aly Parker, Diamond Docs’ Mark Monroe and independent producer Keero Birla. Monroe will also serve as the film’s writer.
Astronaut Ed Dwight is interviewed for ‘The Space Race.
- 3/31/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Bah Gawd that’s Barstool’s music! Barstool Sports CEO Erika Nardini has been elected to WWE’s board of directors. “Erika is a seasoned executive with a tremendous track record of building businesses, developing experiences, and engaging different audiences across the media ecosystem,” said Vince McMahon, WWE chairman & CEO. “Her entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen and understanding of today’s consumers will serve as a perfect addition to our Board of Directors.” In 2016, Nardini became Barstool’s Sports’ first-ever CEO. There, she’s launched more than 35 brands, according to WWE. Also Read: Rulon Gardner Explains Why Talks With WWE Broke Down - Twice Earlier this year, Nardini struck a deal with Penn National Gaming that resulted in the creation of Barstool Sportsbook. Prior to joining Barstool Sports, Nardini held executive posts at Microsoft, AOL, Demand Media and Yahoo! She sits on the advisory board of Premiere Lacrosse League. In addition to McMahon and Nardini,...
- 10/5/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
In 1996, Team USA wrestler Kurt Angle won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics. By the next Summer Games, when fellow U.S. Olympian Rulon Gardner took gold in Sydney with arguably the biggest upset in Greco-Roman wrestling history, Angle was already the WWF Champion.
The assumption among fans of the (real) amateur sport and the (fake) professional version was that Gardner — suddenly an American hero and nearly a household name — would follow Angle’s career path. And it almost happened … twice.
TheWrap asked the super-heavyweight legend why he never made it to the WWF/WWE.
“In 2000, right afterwards, they said, ‘Hey, WWE wants you to possibly join up,'” Gardner said of his first opportunity, the one that came while he and his gold medal were adorning Wheaties boxes. “And I’m like, well, I still have Olympic aspirations and I made a commitment to myself to go for two Olympics,...
The assumption among fans of the (real) amateur sport and the (fake) professional version was that Gardner — suddenly an American hero and nearly a household name — would follow Angle’s career path. And it almost happened … twice.
TheWrap asked the super-heavyweight legend why he never made it to the WWF/WWE.
“In 2000, right afterwards, they said, ‘Hey, WWE wants you to possibly join up,'” Gardner said of his first opportunity, the one that came while he and his gold medal were adorning Wheaties boxes. “And I’m like, well, I still have Olympic aspirations and I made a commitment to myself to go for two Olympics,...
- 10/5/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
There will be no Olympics this summer, but Five Rings Films has announced its latest slate of documentaries on some of the biggest stars of the games.
Rulon Gardner Won’t Die bows on June 3 on OlympicChannel.com and the official Olympic Channel apps for mobile and connected TV devices.
After achieving one of the biggest upsets in Olympics history, wrestler Rulon Gardner struggled with his newfound stardom amidst a constant battle with life’s struggles.
In Rulon Gardner Won’t Die, he shares his personal journey, from humble roots growing up on a Wyoming farm to finding fame at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, where he defeated three-time Olympic champion Aleksandr Karelin of Russia, and how his resilience has helped him to overcome adversity after the ‘miracle on the mat’ and multiple near-death experiences.
Following the release of Rulon Gardner Won’t Die, the Olympic Channel plans to release three...
Rulon Gardner Won’t Die bows on June 3 on OlympicChannel.com and the official Olympic Channel apps for mobile and connected TV devices.
After achieving one of the biggest upsets in Olympics history, wrestler Rulon Gardner struggled with his newfound stardom amidst a constant battle with life’s struggles.
In Rulon Gardner Won’t Die, he shares his personal journey, from humble roots growing up on a Wyoming farm to finding fame at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, where he defeated three-time Olympic champion Aleksandr Karelin of Russia, and how his resilience has helped him to overcome adversity after the ‘miracle on the mat’ and multiple near-death experiences.
Following the release of Rulon Gardner Won’t Die, the Olympic Channel plans to release three...
- 5/7/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
They only come around once every two years, so the Olympics are exciting no matter what. But hearts really start pounding when a competitor that's favored to win ends up getting surpassed by another. And if that underdog is from your own home country, that's when things really get crazy. In the build up to Rio, let's take a look at the captivating - and at times, heart-breaking - upsets from Olympics past. 1. Argentina's basketball gold in Athens, 2004The United States had taken home the gold medal in basketball every year since 1988, so it came as a big shock when...
- 8/2/2016
- by Diana Pearl, @dianapearl_
- PEOPLE.com
Like it did last year with the Rumble on the Rails event, Nbcsn presents the Beat the Streets wrestling gala event from New York City. This year’s event, Beat the Streets: Team USA vs. The World features 11 top American wrestling stars, highlighted by 2012 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs, taking on a team of international all-stars. Nbcsn airs the event from Times Square on Wednesday, May 7, at 10:30pm Et (following Nbcsn’s coverage of the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers NHL playoff game). Jason Knapp handles play-by-play, with former Olympic champion analyst Rulon Gardner and sideline reporter … Continue reading →
The post Beat the Streets: Team USA vs. The World wrestling on Nbcsn appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.
The post Beat the Streets: Team USA vs. The World wrestling on Nbcsn appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.
- 5/6/2014
- by Ryan Berenz
- ChannelGuideMag
The International Olympic Committee just announced wrestling Won't be axed from the 2020 Tokyo Games after all ... and one of the biggest stars in the sport couldn't be more thrilled.TMZ spoke with Rulon Gardner -- former "Biggest Loser" contestant and gold medal winner at the 2000 Sydney Games -- who tells us the Ioc's ruling made his day.Rulon says he still can't believe the sport was ever on the chopping block to begin with ... but...
- 9/8/2013
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Rey Mysterio has had an amazing career, but a string of health problems from his high flying style combined with his age have made us all come to terms with the fact that the masked luchador will probably be wrapping up his career soon. So how should Mysterio ride off into the sunset(flip)? What fitting way can you say goodbye to a sure-fire hall of famer, who has had amazing matches with people of all styles, shapes, and sizes over the last couple of decades?
Well, that’s why I’m here to present 3 ways to say goodbye to Mysterio. Let me preface by saying, since this is my post, that these will be 3 awesome ideas which I think are awesome, and in no way are meant to be realistic ideas the WWE will choose. These are more pipe dreams than anything, and I am ok with that. Without further adieu,...
Well, that’s why I’m here to present 3 ways to say goodbye to Mysterio. Let me preface by saying, since this is my post, that these will be 3 awesome ideas which I think are awesome, and in no way are meant to be realistic ideas the WWE will choose. These are more pipe dreams than anything, and I am ok with that. Without further adieu,...
- 5/23/2013
- by Cory Lynn Schibler
- Obsessed with Film
Rewind from last night courtesy of NBC as Morgan Freeman discussed the rumors of his death and being mistaken for someone else at President Obama.s most recent inauguration. Later, Freeman previews his latest role in the upcoming film .Olympus Has Fallen. Olympic wrestlers Rulon Gardner and Henry Cejuda talk about the recent news that wrestling has been eliminated from The Summer Olympics. Gardner and Cejuda explain how you can help overturn this decision Jay Leno.S Monologue Monday, March 18, 2013 I Hope You All Had A Nice Holiday Weekend. I Thought This Was Great; To Celebrate St. Patrick.S Day Carnival Cruise Lines Had All Their Toilets Overflowing With Green Water. Did You See That? Beautiful.Very Festive.
- 3/19/2013
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
It's a Devastating day for wrestling fans ... after officials announced the sport will be 86'd from the Olympics starting in 2020 ... and now one former gold medalist is lashing out. TMZ spoke with Rulon Gardner -- who won gold in 2000 and bronze in 2004 before going on to appear on "The Biggest Loser."Gardner tells us he's "appalled" by the International Olympic Committee's decision to drop the sport -- saying, "As a two time Olympian, I think...
- 2/12/2013
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
We at Zap2it love to answer your real burning questions. Sure, the news is that Olivia won Season 11 of "The Biggest Loser." And after several days of speculation, NBC officially announced that Anna Kournikova is indeed replacing Jillian Michaels. But, what about the things fans really want to know?
So, we've gathered the answers to your most frequently asked questions after the finale:
Sure, Kournikova is an accomplished athlete, but does she have the background to train people?Aside from playing tennis since she was eight-years-old, being ranked No. 1 in singles at 13, and later breaking into the world's Top 20 after turning pro, and being totally easy on the eyes, what gives her the background to train others?
According to an NBC press release, the tennis pro is a certified trainer and has worked with several fitness programs around the world. That includes lifestyle and fitness programs with the Boys & Girls Club of America,...
So, we've gathered the answers to your most frequently asked questions after the finale:
Sure, Kournikova is an accomplished athlete, but does she have the background to train people?Aside from playing tennis since she was eight-years-old, being ranked No. 1 in singles at 13, and later breaking into the world's Top 20 after turning pro, and being totally easy on the eyes, what gives her the background to train others?
According to an NBC press release, the tennis pro is a certified trainer and has worked with several fitness programs around the world. That includes lifestyle and fitness programs with the Boys & Girls Club of America,...
- 5/25/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Olympic gold medalist, wrestler, and near-death experience survivor Rulon Gardner quit The Biggest Loser on Tuesday's episode, although that was badly timed because he then showed up as a contestant during the cross-promotional challenge on Top Chef Masters last night. While he said on the show he was leaving for personal reasons after losing 188 pounds, and NBC would only say the same thing ("Rulon chose to leave the show for personal reasons, and we...
- 4/28/2011
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
Photo by Trae Patton/NBC
Were you as shocked as we were to see Justin Pope get sent home this week on The Biggest Loser? Justin was, by far, head motivator on the ranch and had consistently had one of the highest percentages of weight loss week after week. And yet by luck of the draw, and his first bad weigh in, he ended up below the yellow line and facing elimination. And then in his final selfless act as team leader, he begged the other players to send him home so Courtney Crozier could stay and finish the journey she so desperately needed to complete.
There was also the drama during the weigh in when Kaylee Kinikini intentionally gained pounds because she was ready to go home. In a recent conference call interview Justin said his cast mate approached him earlier in the week and revealed her plan to him.
Were you as shocked as we were to see Justin Pope get sent home this week on The Biggest Loser? Justin was, by far, head motivator on the ranch and had consistently had one of the highest percentages of weight loss week after week. And yet by luck of the draw, and his first bad weigh in, he ended up below the yellow line and facing elimination. And then in his final selfless act as team leader, he begged the other players to send him home so Courtney Crozier could stay and finish the journey she so desperately needed to complete.
There was also the drama during the weigh in when Kaylee Kinikini intentionally gained pounds because she was ready to go home. In a recent conference call interview Justin said his cast mate approached him earlier in the week and revealed her plan to him.
- 3/29/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
By Randy Son Of Robert/RandyRobertson
We checked our phone messages theother day and as one obvious robocall started to play, we tried to rememberwhat local election we had forgotten. Instead the voice was making a very sadplea — a neighbor had lost her pet greyhound and this call was meant to spreadthe word. We’d seen some fliers on telephone poles on our street but hadn’t hadthe time to stop and check it out. Now we can keep an eye out for the runaway pup.Pretty ingenious, no?
So if your pet flies the coop, youcan hire findtoto.org to spread the word to your neighbors. For $95 they’llreach out to 500 local homes. Or if you’re willing to search more far afield,$895 will get you a 10,000-house reach.
If you don’t get a call but youhappen upon a wayward pup, you can enter your zip code to...
We checked our phone messages theother day and as one obvious robocall started to play, we tried to rememberwhat local election we had forgotten. Instead the voice was making a very sadplea — a neighbor had lost her pet greyhound and this call was meant to spreadthe word. We’d seen some fliers on telephone poles on our street but hadn’t hadthe time to stop and check it out. Now we can keep an eye out for the runaway pup.Pretty ingenious, no?
So if your pet flies the coop, youcan hire findtoto.org to spread the word to your neighbors. For $95 they’llreach out to 500 local homes. Or if you’re willing to search more far afield,$895 will get you a 10,000-house reach.
If you don’t get a call but youhappen upon a wayward pup, you can enter your zip code to...
- 1/13/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
Photoby Virginia Sherwood/NBC
Overthe years Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has attracted some pretty amazing guest stars from RobinWilliams to Sharon Stone to Kathy Griffin to Jerry Lewis. But tonight a truethespian joins the illustrious list. In a recent conference call interview, wespoke with Jeremy Irons about his appearance on Svu and his distinguished career and with Executive Producer NealBaer about guest stars on the series.
Baerexplained how they choose and approach these special guest stars, “We go andask actors, literally, whom I’ve loved watching on television or in themovies.”
Suchwas the case with tonight’s guest, “I’ve seen Jeremy’s films from FrenchLieutenant’s Woman to Reversal of Fortune and Dead Ringers…Who wouldn’t want to work with him?... I saw a film that Jeremy had done withLeslie Caron called Damages that was a phenomenal film and I thought,‘Well, I’m just going to...
Overthe years Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has attracted some pretty amazing guest stars from RobinWilliams to Sharon Stone to Kathy Griffin to Jerry Lewis. But tonight a truethespian joins the illustrious list. In a recent conference call interview, wespoke with Jeremy Irons about his appearance on Svu and his distinguished career and with Executive Producer NealBaer about guest stars on the series.
Baerexplained how they choose and approach these special guest stars, “We go andask actors, literally, whom I’ve loved watching on television or in themovies.”
Suchwas the case with tonight’s guest, “I’ve seen Jeremy’s films from FrenchLieutenant’s Woman to Reversal of Fortune and Dead Ringers…Who wouldn’t want to work with him?... I saw a film that Jeremy had done withLeslie Caron called Damages that was a phenomenal film and I thought,‘Well, I’m just going to...
- 1/12/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
Photo by Trae Patton/NBC
Last week season 11 of The Biggest Loser premiered with a contestant who was familiar to many sports fans. Rulon Gardner won Olympic Gold at the 2000 Sydney Games. He beat out three-time champion Alexander Karelin in Greco-wrestling in an underdog-takes-all kind of story. He won another medal, this time the bronze, at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. But after that the 264-pound wrestler began his battle with the bulge and his addiction to food. He tipped The Biggest Loser scales at 474 lbs. when he weighed it on day one at the ranch.
Some people think he has an advantage being a world-class athlete. Most feel he's the odds on favorite for a win, which of course puts a on his back. But Rulon admitted in a recent conference call interview that in some ways losing weight on The Biggest Loser is tougher than his Olympic training.
Tune...
Last week season 11 of The Biggest Loser premiered with a contestant who was familiar to many sports fans. Rulon Gardner won Olympic Gold at the 2000 Sydney Games. He beat out three-time champion Alexander Karelin in Greco-wrestling in an underdog-takes-all kind of story. He won another medal, this time the bronze, at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. But after that the 264-pound wrestler began his battle with the bulge and his addiction to food. He tipped The Biggest Loser scales at 474 lbs. when he weighed it on day one at the ranch.
Some people think he has an advantage being a world-class athlete. Most feel he's the odds on favorite for a win, which of course puts a on his back. But Rulon admitted in a recent conference call interview that in some ways losing weight on The Biggest Loser is tougher than his Olympic training.
Tune...
- 1/11/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
NBC fired over the previews for the Tuesday slate; coming back on January 4th. Two new trainers and the fattest contestant The Biggest Loser has ever had will make Season 11 one you don.t want to miss. Biggest Loser season 11 begins Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. with 11 teams of two contestants each in a Biggest Loser: Couples format. Among the contestants: Olympic gold medal wrestler Rulon Gardner.Opera singer Olivia Ward.Arthur Wornum, this season.s heaviest contestant at 507 pounds.Student Courtney Crozier Get an extended sneak peek in this four-minute clip and the new season.s promo below. After the new season of Bl kicks off on Tuesday, the Bravermans are back for more Parenthood Season 2...
- 12/28/2010
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
The cast for the upcoming season of The Biggest Loser: Couples has been revealed by NBC. The eleventh instalment of the competition will see eleven new teams of two making a choice in the season premiere that could affect their time on the show. They will have to choose whether to work out with trainers Bob and Jillian at the ranch or take a chance on two unidentified trainers at a mystery location. The players that opt for the unknown trainers - whose identities will be revealed at a later date - will scoop four weeks of immunity for taking the chance. Among the contestants this season are an opera singer, an Olympic medalist and identical twin police officers. The heaviest contestant will weigh in at 507lbs when the show begins in January 2011. The full cast is:
Friends Rulon Gardner, 39, Logan, Ut (gym owner/motivational speaker) and Justin Pope, 39 (business...
Friends Rulon Gardner, 39, Logan, Ut (gym owner/motivational speaker) and Justin Pope, 39 (business...
- 12/14/2010
- by By Lara Martin
- Digital Spy
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