Tanya Kersey Dies: Hollywood Black Film Festival Founder Was 61

Jonathan Cohen Todd Fancey’s vocals have been heard by millions, as the multi-instrumentalist for the New Pornographers and as the balladeer behind “That One Night,” the song that’s central to what is arguably the most cringe episode of “The Office,” 2008’s “Dinner Party.” The hilarious, earnestly yearning delivery isn’t all that true to Fancey’s artistry, though his new album, “Star Dreams” (out today), nods to the year 1980, which also saw the release of Benny Mardones’ “Into the Night,” a Yacht Rock classic not dissimilar in sentiment.  The 10-track album under the banner Fancey was co-produced by Vancouver music veteran Allan Rodger and sports contributions from vocalist Micae and New Pornographers drummer Joe Seiders, who traded his sticks for the Yamaha DX-7 electric piano/synthesizer. That instrument’s preset sounds found their way into some of the ‘80s biggest songs by Whitney Houston, Kenny Loggins and Luther Vandross, a vibe enhanced on “Star Dreams” by the use of the Korg Poly synth and the Oberheim drum machine.“This album probably still sounds ‘70s-ish because I can’t really help myself,” Fancey confesses to Variety.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteven Pasquale is set to star opposite Neve Campbell in the upcoming ABC series “Avalon,” Variety has learned.The announcement of Pasquale’s casting comes just one day after Campbell’s, with Campbell set to play the lead role in the show. It hails from co-creators David E. Kelley and Michael Connelly, with the show based on a short story that Connelly wrote.

Ellise Shafer Hey Mr. Ziegfeld, here she is.On Friday, Broadway’s “Funny Girl” officially revealed the first footage of Lea Michele as lead Fanny Brice.

Wilson Chapman editorA spinoff of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is in the works at Paramount Pictures, with the creators of “Cobra Kai” producing, Variety has confirmed.The film, titled “Sam and Victor’s Day Off,” will focus on the two valets, seen in the original John Hughes classic, who took the Ferrari on a joy-ride. Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald will produce the film, and Bill Posley will pen the screenplay.News of a “Ferris Bueller” spinoff was first reported by Deadline.

A.D. Amorosi The roads taken by Demi Lovato have never been a simple stroll.

Selome Hailu Warner Bros. Discovery has laid off Nicole Nichols, Karen Grant-Selma, Jennifer Giddens and MaryBeth Cunin from their executive positions at the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), Variety has learned exclusively.Nichols is OWN’s executive vice president of communications.

Michaela Zee editorThe Directors Guild of America (DGA) has hired Rebecca Rhine as western executive director. Rhine recently served as the national executive director of the International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600, where she expanded the Local’s focus on safety, communications and legislation.Under her new position at DGA, Rhine will have oversight of contracts and agency relations, as well as work with the lobbying team that handles state and local governments.

The highest-ranking executive at Australian TV company Foxtel is apologizing after insulting “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke at a premiere of the “GoT” prequel series, “House of the Dragon”.

Netflix is collaborating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for “Redeem Team”, an upcoming documentary about the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team’s quest for gold at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

the Utah High School Activities Association, which oversees and regulates athletic events in the state, said during a legislative hearing on transgender athletes on Wednesday.In the athletic competition, the girl outmatched her fellow competitors by such a wide margin that it aroused suspicion that she might be transgender. The parents of her rivals filed a complaint, launching an investigation into her gender.

“Sam and Victor’s Day Off,” a spin-off from the classic hit film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” is in the works at Paramount, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.“Sam and Victor’s Day Off” will follow the same-day adventure of the valets who took the Ferrari on a joy ride in the original 1986 film.Bill Posley (“Bitch Ass”) is set to write the film.Deadline first reported the news.More to come…

If you’re ready to feel thrills and chills of the mind, the prequel to the 2009 horror movie “Orphan,” premiering Aug. 19, might be for you.Isabelle Fuhrman returns to the screen in “Orphan: First Kill” as Esther, who cleverly escapes from Estonian psychiatric facility and travels to the U.S.

Yellowjackets.A press release from Paramount said that Wood was joining the second season of the show in “a season long guest arc.”The statement added that “Wood will play Walter, a dedicated Citizen Detective who will challenge Misty in ways she won’t see coming.”The series will go into production later this month in Vancouver.Responding to the news on social media, Wood tweeted a picture of the script with his character named at the top. He tweeted: “I am beyond stoked to join y’all!”I am beyond stoked to join y'all! https://t.co/SnhE3YL0JQ— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) August 19, 2022The series, which aired earlier this year, won acclaim from critics and fans alike.An official synopsis describes it as “equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, Yellowjackets is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness.“The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.”The press release also revealed that Liv Hewson and Courtney Eaton have been upped to series regulars in season two, following their appearances in season one.The show is executive produced by Lyle, Nickerson and fellow showrunner Jonathan Lisco.

Victoria Beckham has fans swooning over her latest outfit choice! MORE: Victoria Beckham's stateside walk-in wardrobe has the most incredible views - videoThe 48-year-old looked sensational on Friday evening as she picked up her phone to record a video of her posing in the walk-in wardrobe at her Miami penthouse wearing a skintight nude bodycon mini dress from her very own collection.WATCH: Victoria Beckham's epic dressing room has the best views She paired the stunning sleeveless number with a cobalt blue Birkin bag which could be seen in the reflection of the mirror, and towering matching blue stilettos. The evening look was finished with a sleek and simple updo.MORE: Victoria Beckham's son has fans all saying the same thing about latest family photoMORE: Victoria Beckham swears by this £28 three-in-one skincare product to get photo-readyCaptioning the post, she wrote: "Another Friday night, another VB Body mini dress! I've been living in these all summer long.

Wiig an audition, and hiring Heidi Gardner and Vanessa Bayer.She addressed her exit in a statement obtained by Deadline, offering her thanks to Michaels and the staff of the long-running show.“Thank you for your support, encouragement and freedom to bring my voice to this legendary stage. Thank you to all the people that pushed, supported, taught, listened, valued and respected me throughout my crazy ride at the show. There are so many of you – too many to name – but please know that I will always be thankful for each and every one of you and never take for granted how special those moments and lessons have been,” she said.

Haunting CCTV footage reveals the moment Thomas Nutt dragged the suitcase containing his murdered bride Dawn Walker through their garden.

Love Island star Adam Collard has denied rumours he “doesn’t like Ekin-Su” and insists moments between them were left out in the villa. Adam, 26, found love in the Love Island villa with paramedic Paige Thorne, 24, with the couple recently making their relationship official . The star took to Instagram in a recent Q&A and gave more insight into the show behind the scenes and insisted that he and Ekin-Su, 27, spent plenty of time in the gym together in the villa and got along well.

Will Young has paid tribute to his former Pop Idol co-star Darius Campbell Danesh, who died earlier this week. Danesh, who was living in the US, was found dead in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota on Tuesday (16 August). He was 41.

Alex Ferguson has told a court he never saw Ryan Giggs lose his temper as he gave evidence defending his ex-player. The former Manchester United manager, 80, spoke about his relationship at the club with Giggs, who is on trial charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville. Sir Alex told Manchester Crown Court on Friday that Giggs had a “fantastic temperament”, adding: “To have a career as long as he had in a difficult position, in terms of energy, he fulfilled everything we ever wished for.

BBC star Rachae​l Bland's widower has married his nurse girlfriend of three years following his wife's death from breast cancer in 2018. Steve Bland, from Cheshire, came to prominence after he began presenting the You, Me and the Big C podcast alongside Lauren Mahon and Deborah James following the death of his wife Rachael in 2018. She had triple negative breast cancer and moved thousands of people who hailed her bravery and dignity as she fought terminal illness.

Aubrey Plaza shared some intimate details of her family. In an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Plaza talked about the time she gave her sister a stripping pole, and about some of her upcoming films, which are premiering this month.Aubrey Plaza rocks a crop top in New York as she promotes her new filmAubrey Plaza will star in the second season of ‘The White Lotus’A post shared by aubrey plaza (@plazadeaubrey)The stripping pole conversation was prompted by guest host Nicole Byer, who introduced Plaza while comedian Guillermo Rodriguez danced on a pole. “Does it do it for you?” asked Byer.

Chris Evans has definitely watched the first episode of ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,’ which included a joke about his famous character Captain America, making fans ask themselves if Steve Rogers in fact died a virgin or not.During a conversation between Jennifer Walters, played by Tatiana Maslany, and cousin Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, the two characters talk about the fan-favorite superhero.“Steve Rogers did so much for his country, and he never got to experience sex. Did you see that ass? Like, that ass did not deserve to die a virgin. It’s, like, so sad,” Walters says to Banner, who had previously said that he “obviously” died a virgin.And while the pair have a more serious business to check in the middle of the conversation, later in the episode Banner declares that “Steve Rogers is not a virgin.

Many of you probably know by now that beauty mogul Jaclyn Hill’s ex husband Jon Hill passed away last week. Now, the influencer is giving an update on her “grieving process.”

Stephen Colletti is clearing the air once and for all with Laguna Beach fans!

and would be satisfied with just a , did you? Of course not!According to multiple reports, the newly married couple is taking a page from playbook by , more lavish ceremony and reception to celebrate their love. However, instead of , the pair are hosting their friends and family in their own backyard—the sweeping backyard of Affleck's 87-acre Georgia estate, to be exact. Mr. and Mrs.

Tanya Kersey, the entrepreneur and entertainment journalist who founded the Hollywood Black Film Festival among other organizations, died of cardiac arrest in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Her daughters Brittany Love, Monique Love and sister Lisa M.