Stephen A Smith Says People Are ‘Misinterpreting’ His Comments on MLB’s Shohei Ohtani Not Speaking English

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBill Lawrence is staying put at Warner Bros. Television, with the TV writer and producer inking a massive five-year deal sources value at nine figures, Variety has confirmed.WBTV would not comment on the financial terms of the deal.

Anna Marie de la Fuente New York and L.A.-based indie distributor 1091 Pictures, known for such hit releases as Taika Waititi’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” Spirit Awards winner “Christine” and knockout comedy “The Overnight,” has swooped on rights to all English-speaking territories for psychedelic thriller “To the Moon.” The drama, sold by Yellow Veil Pictures, marks the directorial debut of actor Scott Friend (“The Dark End of the Street”), who also wrote and plays a lead role in it.The film, which bows its first poster in Variety, premiered last year at the online film festival Nightstream, and was in selection at the 2020 U.S. in Progress industry showcase organized by Wroclaw’s American Film Festival, which later hosted the film’s international premiere.

Luke Bryan is getting advice from special sources ahead of his Las Vegas residency. ET's Rachel Smith spoke with the 45-year-old country star ahead of his residency at Resorts World Las Vegas, and Bryan revealed that his fellow judges, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, offered up some words of wisdom to him before the start of his shows.«Katy, I’ve been talking to her… She said, 'It's just a big, big stage,'» Bryan said of Perry's advice, after she had her residency at the same venue last year.While Bryan appreciates the heads up about the stage size, his turn at Resorts World Las Vegas will be much different than Perry's, which he classified as more «theatrical.»«I don’t take myself very seriously, to just stand there and try to be real theatrical,» he explained.

Zack Sharf Kevin Smith isn’t happy with the Academy for snubbing “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in the best picture race. Despite earning critical acclaim and being one of the highest-grossing films ever made with over $750 million in the U.S. and over $1.7 billion globally, the latest “Spider-Man” film earned just a single Oscar nomination.

EXCLUSIVE: Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Kali Reis has inked with ICM Partners and Authentic Talent and Lit Management for representation.

EXCLUSIVE: The Fosters alumna Shi Ne Nielson has booked a heavily recurring role on the fourth season of The CW’s Charmed reboot. Nielsen will play Roxie, the mercurial owner of the Blue Camellia, a mysterious bar with an emotional history that caters to a dangerous collection of magical miscreants. Part fixer, part-confidant to those who drink at her establishment, part heartbroken hero…Roxie is the keeper of many secrets…including her own. She’ll play a central role in the action and drama of Season 4 as the Charmed Ones bring her deeper into their lives and their hearts. The question is…can they trust her? Based on the original series, Charmed is from CBS Studios in association with Propagate Content, with executive producers Jeffery Lieber, Nicki Renna and Joey Falco, Kevin Dowling, Jennie Snyder Urman, Ben Silverman , Brad Silberling, Howard Owens, Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro. Known for her recurring roles on The Fosters and Chasing Life, Nielson recently guest-starred on MacGyver, S.W.A.T., and The Rookie. She’s repped by BRS/Gage Talent Agency.

It’s not only Pete Davidson who has to watch out if Kanye Wet rolls up to 30 Rock.

EXCLUSIVE: Larry Teng has been tapped as director and executive producer on CBS Studios’ CW pilot Walker: Independence, executive produced by Jared Padalecki. The project fall under Teng’s overall deal with the studio.

EXCLUSIVE: IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Julian Higgins’ feature directorial debut God’s Country, starring BAFTA and Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton (Westworld, Crash), on the heels of its debut at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. It will release the film won in a bidding war in theaters this fall.

Bill Lawrence, the top comedy showrunner at the moment amid the enormous critical and commercial success of Ted Lasso, is staying put at Warner Bros. TV Group through 2028. After lengthy negotiations, Emmy winner Lawrence, who had a little time left on his current overall pact at the studio, has closed a blockbuster new five-year deal for his Doozer production company, I have learned. Noone is commenting but sources value the pact at more than $100 million, catapulting Lawrence in the very top tear of TV showrunners.

EXCLUSIVE: Emerging filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun, whose narrative feature debut We’re All Going to the World’s Fair premiered in the NEXT section of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, has signed with CAA for representation.

EXCLUSIVE: When Calls the Heart‘s Chris McNally has landed heavily recurring roles on two series — Paramount+’s upcoming Grease prequel Rise of the Pink Ladies, and season 2 of Netflix’s Firefly Lane, opposite Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.

Jennifer Lopez‘s new movie Marry Me is now in theaters and streaming on Peacock!

Kanye West and Julia Fox have had a whirlwind relationship over the past month and now it seems they are “cooling off” as a couple.

Megan Thee Stallion looks great in her mini black dress while leaving The Nice Guy on Thursday night (February 10) in West Hollywood, Calif.

Dakota Fanning makes a funny face while getting ready to shoot new scenes for Ripley in Venice, Italy, on Friday afternoon (February 11).

T.I. wraps his arm around Tiny while out and about in Los Angeles on Thursday night (February 10).

Spotted! New York Fashion Week is officially in session, which means Us Weekly’s Stylish is keeping an eye on the always-fabulous celebrity street style. 

Chris Willman Music WriterOn the opening night of the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest Thursday night, Halsey — doing her first concert in two years — was even more mindful in her remarks of what else happens in the host venue, Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center), than what might be going down across town at SoFi Stadium this weekend.“I know it’s football time, but I’ve gotta say something,” Halsey said, finally adding after a pause: “Go, Lakers.” She explained herself: “I was getting ready for the show tonight and I was like, something good has to happen here. The people of L.A.

Boris Johnson has tonight received a legally-binding questionnaire from police investigating allegations of lockdown-breaching parties inside No 10.

Outlander fans are being treated with an extra special Valentines Day gift this year as they're in for a chance to attend the season six world premiere in London.

The Niche, based at Irvine's Harbourside, is serving up a dinner devoted to lovers this Valentine's Day weekend.

A vile drug dealer who asked a 16-year-old to perform a sex act on him to pay for cannabis was caught out when pictures were taken of the distinctive bend in his penis.

A five-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after ingesting a 'hazardous substance' in school and suffering burns to his tongue.

reported on by Cleveland Scene this week ahead of the team’s face-off with the Los Angeles Rams, which will be the Bengals’ first Super Bowl appearance since 1988.The 72-year-old regional brand has been dubbed the “official chili” for many local professional sports establishments, including MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and ice hockey team Cincinnati Cyclones — that’s how much they love this stuff. So when Cincinnati’s own Bengals clinched a spot at Super Bowl LVI against NFC champs Los Angeles Rams, Cincy citizens toasted to their beloved food mascot, then took a big, meaty gulp.If the Bengals win the Super Bowl, CJ Uzomah promises to swim in Skyline Chili.

Tom Brady is working on his parenting skill now that he has retired from the NFL.

Ryan Reynolds is keeping his mock feud with Hugh Jackman alive and well.

Adele seemingly doubled down on declaring her love for "being female" after she faced criticism over her acceptance speech at the 2022 Brit Awards. The 33-year-old artist was videoed by fans while hanging out at G-A-Y's Porn Idol event at Heaven in London. Videos showed Adele pole dancing and cohosting a stripping contest alongside RuPaul Drag Race UK star Cheryl Hole.

Megan Fox is ready to move on after finalizing her divorce from Brian Austin Green after nearly 10 years of marriage. “Megan is relieved to have this whole process behind her and she’s thankful that she and Brian have managed to co-parent amicably and keep their divorce just between them,” a source EXCLUSIVELY revealed to HollywoodLife.

Stephen A. Smith is in a HUGE quagmire this week after saying MLB baseball star Shohei Ohtani — who is Japanese — is “harming” the marketing of professional baseball in America because he “doesn’t speak English.”

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorESPN’s Stephen A. Smith apologized on air Tuesday morning for comments he made about Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani, acknowledging the hot talk he typically offers on his program had elevated to boiling after he suggested the Japanese baseball star’s use of an interpreter diminished his appeal, as as well as that of the sport.Smith used the opening minutes of his popular ESPN program, “First Take,” to apologize to the “Asian community, the Asian American community, to Walt Disney and ESPN” for his comments.

As the Los Angeles Angels’ pitcher-slugger Shohei Ohtani moves toward a Major League Baseball feat that has not been accomplished since Babe Ruth, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith went on First Take Monday morning to say Ohtani’s discomfort with speaking English in interviews hurts the marketability of the sport.