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    CBS bets big with new talent show “The World’s Best”

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1509 Views
    Alison Holloway, from left, Mike Darnell, RuPaul and Ben Winston participate in the "The World's Best" show panel during the CBS presentation at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour at The Langham Huntington on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

    By Beth Harris

    PASADENA, Calif. (AP) --

    CBS is betting big on "The World's Best," handing over the coveted post-Super Bowl time slot to the new talent competition shepherded by reality TV titans Mark Burnett and Mike Darnell.

    Burnett has a track record following the NFL's showcase game. In 2001, his "Survivor: The Australian Outback" debuted in that slot, drawing more than 45 million viewers.

    CBS scored again in 2010 when "Undercover Boss" followed the Super Bowl and lured more than 38 million viewers.

    Hosted by James Corden, "The World's Best" premieres Sunday after Super Bowl 53.

    Besides impressing judges RuPaul, Drew Barrymore and Faith Hill, contestants have to break through the "wall of the world" featuring more than 50 experts from 38 different countries who score the competition. Among them is Brazilian UFC fighter Anderson Silva.

    The winner receives $1 million.

    Burnett's other big hit is "The Voice." Darnell's credits include "American Idol" and "Ellen's Game of Games."

    "The World's Best" joins a crowded field of reality competition programming, including "The Masked Singer," renewed for a second season by Fox on Wednesday.

    Darnell noted to a TV critics' gathering that his show's format isn't based on any existing foreign programs and offers "the next new spin on a variety show."

    If it works, Darnell envisions franchising the show to other countries.

    "We have a very different voice, a very different flavor," executive producer Alison Holloway said. "We've dug deep to find talent that is new and exciting. Most of the acts on our show are professionals."

    And there's no humiliation factor, executive producer Ben Winston said.

    "Everybody is at the top of their game," he said. "No one is being laughed at. It's a very joyful and happy show."

    The show offers RuPaul a broader platform than he's enjoyed as host of "RuPaul's Drag Race" on VH1.

    "We were all not prepared for the emotional journey that the show and performances took us on," the drag performer said. "It was phenomenal to watch all these amazing people from around the world express themselves."

    The second episode airs on Feb. 6.

    Tags:CBSJames CordenMark BurnettRu PaulThe World's Best



    Kevin Costner to receive MPSE Filmmaker Award; Greg Hedgepath named recipient of MPSE Career Achievement honor

    Thursday, November 21, 2024
    Kevin Costner (photo courtesy of Kevin Costner)

    Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) will present Oscar®-winning filmmaker and actor Kevin Costner with the 2025 MPSE Filmmaker Award, bestowed annually to a filmmaker of distinction. And supervising sound editor Greg Hedgepath will receive the Career Achievement Award for his prolific career in sound editing. Both awards will be presented during MPSE’s 72nd Annual Golden Reel Awards Gala on February 23, 2025 at the Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

    The MPSE Filmmaker Award is bestowed upon an individual outside the sound community whose career has demonstrated a great appreciation and understanding of the impact of sound editing. The MPSE Career Achievement Award is presented to a person whose career has made a significant impact on the sound community through exemplary work, service or leadership.

    “Kevin Costner has captivated audiences with his powerful storytelling throughout his illustrious career,” said MPSE president David Barber. “From epic Westerns to poignant dramas, his use of sound as an integral component of his cinematic storytelling has stirred our emotions and immersed viewers in the worlds he’s created for decades. This passion for sound is abundantly clear in his latest ambitious project, the Horizon saga. We are thrilled to honor him with the Filmmaker Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the art of storytelling through sound in film and television.”

    Barber added, “Greg Hedgepath is a true titan in the world of sound. His contributions to cinema are immense, spanning decades and encompassing a remarkable range of genres. From the heart-pounding intensity of ‘Speed’ and ‘Twister’ to the nuanced drama of ‘Selma’ and ‘Straight Outta Compton’, Greg’s work has consistently elevated... Read More

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