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Tag: Jennifer Lopez

  • Lionsgate roars louder as Hollywood meets Hyderabad in 2026

    Lionsgate roars louder as Hollywood meets Hyderabad in 2026

    MUMBAI: Hollywood’s roaring lion just found its desi accent. Lionsgate Play, the premium streaming platform that’s redefined Hollywood for Indian screens, is entering 2026 with a bang and a hundred more. The platform has announced a record-breaking slate of 100 plus premieres across languages, cementing its claim as India’s “Home for Action” while widening its cinematic jungle to embrace regional storytelling.

    In just five years, Lionsgate Play has grown from a niche Hollywood service into a full-blown entertainment powerhouse now reaching over 40 million viewers through a vast distribution network that stretches from metros to mini-screens. Its latest evolution? A blend of blockbuster swagger and local soul.

    2025 was the turning point. With audiences increasingly vibing to Southern storytelling, Lionsgate Play turned its camera beyond Los Angeles, premiering Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam titles like Dakshina, Eleven, Soothravakyam, and Racharikam. The result was pure box-office streaming energy, a 40 per cent surge in consumption, even as the global industry reeled from the Hollywood strikes of 2024.

    And now, 2026 promises an even bolder leap. The platform’s upcoming lineup is stacked like never before, a global-meets-local buffet of spectacle and storytelling.

    The Hollywood big guns are back: From Gerard Butler’s Greenland: Migration to Angelina Jolie’s Kiss of the Spider Woman, and from Mutiny to The Rivals of Amziah King, the slate packs serious star wattage with the likes of Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, and Matthew McConaughey.

    The South stays strong: Building on its regional momentum, Lionsgate Play is rolling out 25 plus Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada titles, ensuring that cinematic flavour flows from both sides of the equator.

    The Hindi turn: The streamer is also going desi in Delhi expanding into Hindi originals with a curated mix of crime thrillers, horror comedies, and game shows, each designed to tap India’s ever-evolving taste for drama with a twist.

    And the classics never fade: In between the new, Lionsgate Play is doubling down on its cult collection. Think Sherlock meets Spider-Man, Rambo joins Men in Black, and Charlie Chaplin shares screen space with Jumanji and Anaconda. A line-up tailor-made for every mood, every generation.

    “Our journey so far has been defined by bold storytelling and a deep understanding of what today’s audience seeks quality, variety, and authenticity,” said Lionsgate Play Asia president Rohit Jain. “2026 marks a turning point. We’re scaling our stories, deepening regional connections, and making premium global entertainment more inclusive and accessible than ever before.”

    With its expanding footprint and its eye firmly on cultural inclusivity, Lionsgate Play is no longer just Hollywood’s Indian outpost, it’s a full-fledged entertainment ecosystem where Los Angeles meets Lucknow, and where cinematic worlds collide, connect, and click ‘Play’.

  • Fox to bring down curtains on ‘American Idol’ in 2016; lines up new shows

    Fox to bring down curtains on ‘American Idol’ in 2016; lines up new shows

    MUMBAI: Popular reality show American Idol will begin its 15th – and final – season in January 2016 on Fox.

     

    A season-long celebratory event, American Idol XV will feature host Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., as they search for the final Idol superstar and pay tribute to the past 14 seasons of talented contestants and the millions of fans who tweeted, texted and championed their Idols.

     

    The reality show began in 2002 and was a huge success. Over the years, American Idol has been responsible for churning out singing stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson.

     

    NEW SHOWS

     

    Additionally, Fox also announced that its old hit The X-Files will debut with a special two-night event beginning 24 January, following the NFC Championship Game, and continuing with its time period premiere on 25 January. The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, marks the momentous return of the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.

     

    Come September, Fox will also be bringing back the new TV hit Empire. The show is expected to run up to 18 episodes next season, up from the 12 this year.

     

    Fox will also introduce a series of new shows in 2016 like the devilish drama Lucifer, which is based on a DC Comics story and modern gothic action series The Frankenstein Code; and two comedies, The Guide To Surviving Life and animated Bordertown.

     

    In addition, two new dramas – the futuristic Minority Report and the Miami-set Rosewood will debut this fall. Based on Steven Spielberg’s international blockbuster film and the first of his films to be adapted for television, Minority Report follows the partnership between a man (Stark Sands) haunted by the future and a cop (Meagan Good) haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes before they happen.

     

    Ryan Murphy will return with a new show, Scream Queens, which stars Emma Roberts and Jamie Lee Curtis. Additionally, John Stamos will lead a new comedy titled Grandfathered, and Rob Lowe and Fred Savage will star in The Grinder. New Girl returns to the Tuesday comedy block in January with a season of uninterrupted episodes.

     

    As previously announced, Grease:Live, a three-hour production of the massively popular crossover musical Grease, starring superstar singers, dancers and actresses Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens, will air live on 31 January, 2016 on Fox.

     

    Additional Fox series include: Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Bob’s Burgers, Boom!, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Bullseye, Family Guy, Gotham, Hell’s Kitchen, Masterchef, Masterchef Junior, The Simpsons, Sleepy Hollow, So You Think You Can Dance and World’s Funniest.

  • DD’s FIFA offering

    DD’s FIFA offering

    NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Reaching out to a wider audience so that the FIFA fever isn’t missed by all, India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has got into an agreement with official FIFA World Cup broadcaster Sony Six.

     

    The deal is mandatory under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory sharing with Prasar Bharti) Act 2007 for telecasting a few games of the mammoth event.

     

    These games include the opening ceremony (which was telecasted yesterday), the maiden match (played out between Brazil and Croatia), two semi finals and the final match.

     

    However, DD will be showcasing different advertisements during the simulcast of select matches.

     

    Officials from Sony Six confirmed saying that since FIFA World Cup is a mandatory listed event under the mentioned Act, therefore it had to share its feed with the pubcaster.

     

    Surprising, the marketing department of DD quoted higher ad rates than those quoted by Sony Six for a 10 second slot. Therefore following the modalities that come under the Act, DD will retain 25 per cent of the ad revenues while 75 per cent will be handed over to Sony Six.

     

    Meanwhile, keeping at bay all apprehensions,  the World Cup opening ceremony finally got off to a colorful start with American singer Jennifer Lopez along with rapper Pitbull and Brazillian singer Claudia Leitteto belting out the  official World Cup song  “We are One” together on stage.

     

    Kids who were draped as football referees created formations around a giant LED flower in the center of the stadium that displayed Brazillian colours and many languages. The famous Brazilian dance, Samba, was showcased as men and women in fancy colours put their best foot forward. The opening match between the host country Brazil and Croatia ended with a 3-1 victory with Brazil winning it. The lone goal for Croatia was only because Brazilian defender Marcelo scored Brazils own goal in the 11th minute.

  • TLC gets up close & personal with Hollywood celebrities in ‘Celebrity Style Story’

    TLC gets up close & personal with Hollywood celebrities in ‘Celebrity Style Story’

    MUMBAI: In its endeavour to bring new formats and innovative themes to television screens across India, TLC presents a refreshing series on the style evolution of world famous Hollywood celebrities – CELEBRITY STYLE STORY. The new series airsevery Saturday and Sunday at 10 PM in April.

     

    CELEBRITY STYLE STORY highlights the style statement of well-known celebrities and the influence of their personal life and career on their wardrobe choices.The series follows the cr?me de lacr?me of Hollywood celebrities such as Angelina Jolie,Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman,Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore and Kate Hudson amongst others.

     

    CELEBRITY STYLE STORY showcasesarchived interview clips with celebrities, vibrant red carpet footage and photos, a panel of expert hairstylists, makeup artists, fashion stylists, designers and fashion journalists that weigh in on the celebrity’s looks and transformation from each stage of their career. CELEBRITY STYLE STORYcovers all the major fashion hits and misses through the decades.

     

    CELEBRITY STYLE STORY providesviewers an access to witness the style transition of various celebritiesfrom ordinary people to red carpet showstoppers. To get closer glimpse and more insight of their style stories, stay connected to TLCevery Saturday and Sunday at 10PM.

     

  • TLC strengthens content library with the launch of fresh series this quarter

    TLC strengthens content library with the launch of fresh series this quarter

    MUMBAI: The Discovery Communications owned television network, TLC, is gearing up to amplify the entertainment experience of its viewers with a fascinating line-up of 18 new series this quarter.

     

    Cuisine, high-life and fashion, are some of the lifestyle themes that will be presented in TLC’s distinct and inimitable style to its viewers. Some of the new series that will be launched this quarter include Cake Boss, Celebrity Style Story, Epic, Heston’s Fantastical Food, Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation, and Jamie & Jimmy’s Food Fight Club amongst many others.

     

    The thing to look out for in each of these new series will be the fact that it will be presented by world-renowned hosts such as accomplished fourth generation baker buddy Valastro (Cake Boss), passionate cook and author Lorraine Pascal (Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh and Easy Food), culinary wizard Heston (Heston’s Fantastical Food) and one of the world’s most loved television personalities Jamie Oliver (Jamie & Jimmy’s Food Fight Club).

     

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific senior VP & GM – South Asia and head of revenue, pan-regional ad sales and Southeast Asia Rahul Johri said in a release, “TLC has been the pioneer in presenting differentiated and aspirational lifestyle content in the country. We will continue to invest and bring in the finest quality programs from across the globe. Spread across a variety of themes and hosted by celebrated chefs, the new programming line-up will make for a splendid viewing experience.”

     

    Taking a closer look at the series, Cake Boss will take the viewers behind-the-scenes to witness the process of creating edible art out of flour and sugar in the form of remarkably modern cakes. Celebrity Style Story delves into the world of fashion uncovering the style secrets of celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Angelina Jolie, the Oslen twins, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Hudson, Nicole Kidman and Lindsay Lohan among others.

     

    In the show, Heston’s Fantastical Food, he will bring back the wonder and excitement of childhood days by creating supersized versions of meals and treats. Madhur Jaffrey will explore the curry nation of Britain in Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation to uncover how Indian food has been transformed and embraced in the UK from restaurants to places of worship to homes of British South Asians.

  • ‘American Idol’ format gets tweaked for Season 13

    ‘American Idol’ format gets tweaked for Season 13

    MUMBAI: In addition to changing the judges of the reality show American Idol from Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj to Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. joining Steven Tyler, the producers of the long running reality competition series have decided to tweak the show a bit in its new season.

     

    At the Television Critics’ Association Press Tour 2014, executive producer Trish Kinane said that there will be a new element called “The Chamber” that will look at the contestants just after Ryan sends them off to perform in front of the judges during the auditions.

     

    The contestants will collect themselves in a small room — “some people pray, some people sing, some people look under their arms to see if they’re perspiring. They’re intimate moments that tell you a lot about the kids,” Kinane said.

     

    The middle rounds will be condensed into one week too. Titled the Rush Week, former “Idol” Randy Jackson reemerge and conduct a two-day workshop ahead of the live shows where contestants examine their musical style and decide what look they want. It will be followed by tips from the experts. “He’s been through it for 12 years,” Kinane said. “He’s seen these kids come and go. He has a lot to offer.”

     

    Along with the changes made by the producers, the producers are taking a new approach to the music theme this year. And for those tired of the same old songs, the producers have indicated that they have expanded the song lists. “There are many more contemporary songs in the lists,” Kinane said.

     

    In India, the latest season of American Idol will air on Zee Café from 19 March onwards.

  • Universal dates The Mummy reboot for April 2016

    Universal dates The Mummy reboot for April 2016

    MUMBAI: Nearing the end of its best year ever at the domestic box office, Universal announced a slew of release dates today. The recently shaken-up studio has set its reboot of The Mummy for 22 April 2016, and Seventh Son, the Jeff Bridges-Julianne Moore fantasy that Legendary picked up from Warner Bros in August, will bow 6 February 2015, a week before the arrival of Universal’s Fifty Shades Of Grey.

     

    Legendary‘s untitled Michael Mann cyber thriller for 16 January 2015 and Blumhouse’s Jennifer Lopez thriller The Boy Next Door hits theaters on 23 January 2015. The studio also is pushing its video game adaptation Warcraft – the first film that had been dated under the new Universal -Legendary partnership – from 18 December 2015 to March 2016.

  • The LGBT challenge for Indian TV & cinema

    The LGBT challenge for Indian TV & cinema

    It’s said that a country’s art and culture reflect its plight in the best way. At the present time its TV and films that have become the biggest platform to showcase the visual arts. And in the present situation when the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community is facing a tough time after the Supreme Court reinstated that gay sex will remain a criminal offence, it seems so apt.

    On Wednesday, the Supreme Court gave a severe blow to the largely-closeted homosexual community in the world’s largest democracy. It overturned a 2009 ruling by Delhi’s High Court, which had lifted a ban on gay sex between consenting adults that dates back to 1861. According to SC, only parliament can now change the penal code. Under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sexual activities “against the order of nature” – including homosexual acts – are a criminal offence.

    The law says: “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
    While the law has can be extrapolated to cover even heterosexual couples indulging in oral or anal intercourse, it’s the folks with alternate sexual orientation (the LGBT community) that are the most troubled.

    Apparently, if we look back, we would realise that "mainstream" commercial TV and cinema  (whicht are not just the most disposable form of art in the country, but also the most common source of entertainment across masses) are mostly devoid of any content that features the LGBT community. 
    'Maryada…lekin Kab Tak' featured a gay couple but the main plot overshadowed this sub-plot

    While in the world cinema space, we have had aesthetically and artfully shot films like Brokeback Mountain,All About Love, Another Country among many others, in India, the ones that feature gay relationship are either very caricaturish in nature (like Dostana that largely made fun of a gay relationship), or aren’t promoted enough to reach the masses. 

    Films like Fire by Deeepa Mehta, My Brother Nikhil and I Am by Onir, one of the short films in Bombay Talkies by Karan Johar and Dunno Y…Na Jaane Kyun have tried to bring up the topic to the fore, but our country’s film certification board hasn’t let them reach the audience the way they were supposed to. Others like Girlfriend sank without a trace as most of the scenes were just meant to provide cheap thrills rather than focusing on the issue. There have been many other independent films, like You Can't Curry Loveabout an Indian gay, Vikas who works in London that has won awards and acclaim at international film festivals but in India remain confined to the certain sections.
    Mitchell and Cameron in 'Modern Family'

    The situation on TV seems to be even worse. While the world TV is opening up to a cross-section of issues, we seem to be lagging far behind with most of our shows still featuring the saas-bahu sagas.

    So if, internationally, we have shows such as Mom and Dads, an Israeli series involving a menage-a-trois between two gay men – Ima and AbaZ and the mother of their child; Modern Family, a comedy that tastefully puts across the relationship of a gay couple; The New Normal that follows a wealthy Californian gay couple – Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha) – who have a child through a surrogate mother; Sean Saves the World about a gay father and his teenaged daughter; and The Fosters produced by Jennifer Lopez featuring a lesbian couple and their three kids, airing on TV, in India, we can hardly recall anything similar.

    While there’s no serial featuring a gay couple in the lead plot, even the side-kicks who have portrayed gay characters haven’t been fleshed out well. One of the first official gay characters was Petha, portrayed by Deven Bhojani in Tara almost two decades ago, that even a hardcore TV viewer would hardly be able to recall. Maddy in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi portrayed by Rajesh Khera was another character that showed an alternate sexuality openly, however it was more comical in nature and barely brought out the issues of the community.
    'Moms and Dads' is about a gay couple raising a baby

    It was only in 2010 when Imagine TV reprised a popular Telugu serial Rakth Sambandham that dealt with the character of a closeted eunuch, the industry had thought that Indian TV is coming of age. But unfortunately, the serial, Rakt Sambandh starring Dhruv Bhandari and Sriti Jha, didn’t work its magic on the audience and met with a natural death very soon.

    Another show, Maryada…Lekin Kab Tak had a strong sub-plot featuring a gay relationship portrayed by actors Dakssh Ajit Singh and Karaan Singh. But that too didn’t make much difference as it was overshadowed by the main storyline.

    At a time when the entire country is debating on what could be done to protect the rights of the LGBT community and is suggesting various measures from bringing in young leaders and disowning the judiciary, shouldn’t the creative industry instead of shouting and screaming on social-media platforms come forward and work towards putting the spotlight on this minor community whose members can now be labelled as criminals just because they love someone from the same sex!

  • Jane Fonda to receive AFI life achievement award

    Jane Fonda to receive AFI life achievement award

    Mumbai: Renowned actress Jane Fonda will be the 42 recipient of the AFI life achievement award. The ceremony is to be held on 5 July2014 in Los Angeles.

     

    Henry Fonda was the sixth recipient of the award and this makes the two the first father-daughter duo to get the prize. Fonda is a two time Oscar winner and a seven time nominee. The last nomination was Sidney Lumet’s ‘The Morning After’. She was most recently seen in ‘Mother-in-law’ with Jennifer Lopez in 2005.
    The ceremony will be aired on TNT and a repeat will be shown on TCM.

  • Big CBS Love to air American Idol’s grand finale live in India

    Big CBS Love to air American Idol’s grand finale live in India

    MUMBAI: Big CBS Love is all set to live telecast the grand finale of singing reality show American Idol season 12 in India.

     

    The telecast marks the first time ever that the finals of an international singing reality show will be aired live on Indian television screens.

     

    The show will witness performances by the likes of the ex-judge Jennifer Lopez and international phenomenon PSY. The grand finale of American Idol Season 12 with the top two finalists Candice Glover and Kree Harrison and judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson will air on 17 May at 5.30 am with a repeat telecast on Friday and Saturday at 9 pm exclusively in India on Big CBS Love.

     

    According to the channel, the American Idol season 12 grand finale promises to be a star-studded musical affair. Joining these stars during the finale will be two Indian singers who through the ‘Love to Sing’ contest conducted in association with Talenthouse India have won the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to witness the show Live in Los Angeles.

     

    Big CBS Networks business head Anand Chakravarthy said, “We constantly strive for excellence in terms of the quality of content we offer to our audiences. A show like American Idol which is followed by millions across the globe warrantees the need of a live telecast for its grand finale. We are extremely proud to be the first movers in introducing this trend and are confident that the show’s loyal fan following in India will appreciate our efforts. The appeal of the show is sure to attract music lovers across the county while allowing us to provide an added value proposition to our advertisers.”