BET plans coronavirus benefit
DJ Khaled, Charlie Wilson, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Fantasia and Melvin Crispell III are slated to perform in a special BET show that will assist people of color in dealing with the coronavirus.
The “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort” broadcast special will air at 8 p.m. EDT April 22.
The special will be hosted by singer and actress Kelly Rowland, TV personality Terrence J and actress Regina Hall. The special will give up-to-date information and drive viewers to needed resources.
“Every day, there are new reports of how this pandemic is killing African Americans at much higher rates than other communities,” said Scott Mills, BET president. “BET is using all of our resources — our capital, our media platforms, our relationships with the creative community, sponsors, businesses and charitable organizations to support our community in this time of crisis.”
Celebrity guests will give up-to-date information and drive viewers to needed resources during this unprecedented time, and in partnership with United Way, proceeds are being donated to African American communities severely impacted by COVID-19.
Broadway to stay dark: Broadway producers have extended the suspension of all shows on the Great White Way, saying musicals and plays will stay shuttered through June 7 in accordance with the latest medical guidance.
Broadway abruptly closed March 12 and announced plans to reopen the week of April 13. But that timetable was increasingly looking too optimistic as the city saw an alarming surge in deaths.
“Our top priority continues to be the health and well-being of Broadway theatergoers and the thousands of people who work in the theater industry every day,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League.
Already some shows scheduled to open this spring have abandoned plans of ever returning, including “Hangmen” and a revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Others — like revivals of “Caroline, or Change” and “Birthday Candles” — have been moved to the fall.
‘SNL’ music supervisor dies: Hal Willner, 64, a music producer and longtime “Saturday Night Live” music supervisor, has died.
Blake Zidell, a representative for Willner, said the producer died Tuesday. Zidell said Willner had symptoms consistent with those caused by the coronavirus, but he had not been diagnosed with the virus.
Willner had selected music for skits on “Saturday Night Live” since 1980. He produced albums for Lucinda Williams, Lou Reed and Marianne Faithfull, who is currently being treated for the coronavirus in a London hospital.
Willner is also known for curating a host of tribute albums starting off with “Amarcord Nino Rota” in 1981.
Birthdays April 9: Actress Michael Learned is 81. Actor Dennis Quaid is 66. Talk show host Joe Scarborough is 57. Actressmodel Paulina Porizkova is 55. Actress Cynthia Nixon is 54. Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam is 41. Actress Annie Funke is 35. Actor Jordan Masterson is 34. Actress Kristen Stewart is 30. Actress Elle Fanning is 22. Musician Lil Nas X is 21.