Just a few months after Jimmy Fallon marked his first anniversary as host of "The Tonight Show," NBC has signed him for six more years.
Calling him "the best there is," NBC entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said Fallon, who turns 41 next month, will occupy the "Tonight" host chair until at least 2021.
Speaking to TV critics on Thursday, Greenblatt also announced that Rihanna will join "The Voice" as key adviser to the panel of judges, who will be Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Pharrell and Gwen Stefani.
He said new additions to the cast of the holiday production of "The Wiz Live!" include "Hairspray" co-star Elijah Kelley (in the role of the Scarecrow), singer-songwriter-actor Ne-Yo (as the Tin Man) and Oscar-winning songwriter and actor Common, who will play the Gatekeeper to Emerald City.
Previously announced cast members in the musical production, airing live Dec. 3, include Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, David Alan Grier, Uzo Aduba, Amber Riley, Stephanie Mills and Shanice Williams as Dorothy.
Greenblatt also had two words on whether Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump would ever return as host of "The Celebrity Apprentice": "Absolutely not."
Greenblatt said the show will not be back next season, but will return in the future with a new host. He didn't speculate on whom that host might be, but said, "We're obviously looking for a host who will make noise and is a big personality."
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More