Coming soon: Obama TV? Forget it, says White House
Affleck, Stone, Cena to host ‘SNL’
WASHINGTON, Dec 3, (Agencies): US President Barack Obama’s frequent remarks on the spread of information in the social media age have fueled rumors about his life after the White House.
But his team quashed speculation Friday that he is going to launch a career in the media business.
“@POTUS is interested in the changing ways people consume info, but he has no plans to get into the media business after he leaves office,” White House Communications Director Jen Psaki said in a tweet, referring to Obama by his Twitter handle.
It was apparently in response to an article Friday on the Mic news site that the soon-tobe ex-president was considering working in digital media and “launching his own media company.”
Numerous times during the bitter campaign to pick his successor, Obama expressed concern about how information is distributed and digested.
The current media ecosystem “means everything is true and nothing is true,” he told The New Yorker.
“The capacity to disseminate misinformation, wild conspiracy theories, to paint the opposition in wildly negative light without any rebuttal — that has accelerated in ways that much more sharply polarize the electorate and make it very difficult to have a common conversation.”
Asked by Rolling Stone about his transition out of the Oval Office, Obama explained that he wanted to set up his presidential center to focus on training and empowering up and coming leaders.
“How do we rethink our storytelling, the messaging and the use of technology and digital media, so that we can make a persuasive case across the country?” he asked rhetorically.
“And not just in San Francisco or Manhattan but everywhere, about why climate change matters or why issues of economic inequality have to be addressed.”
Obama also revealed his immediate plans for after the official January 20 handover to President-elect Donald Trump.
“You know, I’m gonna sleep for a couple of weeks when I get out of here, take my wife on a well-deserved vacation,” he said.
Obama confirmed plans to write a book in his first year out of office.
Following its hot streak of stellar election parodies and ratings resurgence, “Saturday Night Live” has tapped three big names to host shows this month.
John Cena and Casey Affleck are set to host “SNL,” along with the previously announced Emma Stone.
Stone was to host on Saturday, Dec 3; Cena on Dec 10; and Affleck on Dec 17. Their musical guests are Shawn Mendes, Maren Morris and Chance The Rapper.
This will mark Stone’s third time hosting “Saturday Night Live.” She’s currently starring opposite Ryan Gosling in the criticallyacclaimed “La La Land,” which is generating much Oscar buzz.
Cena and Affleck will both make their “SNL” debuts as hosts this month. The WWE superstar has recently forayed into more onscreen roles with Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck” and “Sisters.” The younger Affleck currently stars in “Manchester By the Sea” for which he won best actor awards at the Gotham Awards, New York Film Critics Circle and National Board Of Review.
In today’s TV news roundup, comedy legend Betty White will guest star on “Young and Hungry,” E! sets a date for its new docuseries “So Cosmo,” and more.
Betty White will guest star on an upcoming episode of Freeform’s “Young Hungry.” White will play Ms. Wilson, an advice-dispensing neighbor whom Gabi (Emily Osment) happens to meet after a misunderstanding with Josh (Jonathan Sadowski), in the episode that will air in 2017.
“School of Rock” has been renewed for a third season at Nickelodeon, Variety has confirmed. The kids’ cabler picked up the show with a mega 20-episode order. Based off of the 2003 Paramount movie that starred Jack Black, the series hails from Paramount TV.
Animal Planet’s newest series “The Guardians” will premiere on Saturday, Jan 7 at 10 pm. The docuseries follows Guardians of Rescue founder and president Rob Misseri and his dynamic team that includes former FBI investigators, military personnel, and even former convicts and gang members — all of whom are united by their common passion of animal advocacy.
E!’s new docuseries “So Cosmo” is set to premiere Wednesday, Feb 8 at 8 pm. The series tracks the daily lives of some of Cosmopolitan magazine’s staff, whose experiences influence the pages of Cosmo. They’re led by Joanna Coles, the exacting chief content officer of Hearst Magazines (and former Cosmo editor-in-chief). E! will also introduce the cast in a special, “So Cosmo: Preview Special,” on Dec 20 at 8 pm.
Andy Cohen, the host of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” and the network’s popular “Real Housewives” reunions, shared his unexpected path to on-air success.
“I wanted to be on TV,” Cohen told RuPaul and a packed audience at Santa Monica High School for Live Talks L.A. “I originally wanted to be on TV and be able to be myself on TV. I didn’t know what incarnation that would be. I thought that would be on a morning show because it seemed so diverse. I did major in broadcast journalism and worked at CBS News for 10 years.”