Gaines’ network launch delayed
Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network will be blooming late because of the coronavirus crisis.
The network’s planned October launch is being pushed back because of production delays related to COVID-19, it was announced Tuesday. A new debut date wasn’t immediately announced.
Discovery Inc.’s DIY Network will be rebranded as the Magnolia Network when the joint venture with the husband-andwife team’s Magnolia company launches.
To tide viewers over, the DIY Network will air a four-hour special Sunday previewing some of Magnolia Network’s series and revisiting “Fixer Upper,” the HGTV renovation series that launched Chip and Joanna Gaines’ TV careers from Waco, Texas.
Fans invited to compete for ‘Friends’ reunion spot:
“Friends” cast members have announced that five fans will get a chance to watch the reunion special taping live and rub shoulders with stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.
“Be our personal guests in the audience for the taping where you’ll get to see us all together again for the first time in ages, as we reminisce about the show and celebrate all of the fun we had,” the cast announced Tuesday. “Plus, sip a cup of coffee with us in Central Perk, and get the ‘Friends’ VIP experience on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.”
The sweepstakes offer is being presented by The All In Challenge.
Fountains of Wayne’s surviving members to reunite:
The surviving members of Fountains of Wayne will reunite
Wednesday — joined by Sharon Van Etten on bass and backing vocals — to perform in tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger on “Jersey 4 Jersey.”
Said Chris Collingwood, the band’s co-founder and lead singer, “Brian (Young), Jody (Porter) and I are honored to be part of the Jersey 4 Jersey benefit, and grateful that Sharon was able to perform with us. Adam would have been proud that Fountains were helping to raise money for fellow New Jerseyans.”
The show will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Apple Music and AppleTV apps. The list of highprofile New Jersey natives participating includes Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett and Jon Bon Jovi.
‘The Batman’ release delayed:
Warner Bros. is delaying a batch of theatrical releases including “The Batman” and “The Sopranos” prequel “The
Many Saints of Newark.”
The studio says “The Sopranos” film will be pushed from September 2020 to March 2021, while “The Batman” starring Robert Pattinson will be delayed four months to October 2021. The Will Smith drama “King Richard” has been moved back a year to November 2021. Baz Luhrmann’s yet-to-betitled Elvis film, which Tom Hanks was shooting in Australia when he and Rita Wilson tested positive for COVID-19, was delayed a month to November 2021.
April 22 birthdays:
Actor Jack Nicholson is 83. Director John Waters is 74. Singer Peter Frampton is 70. Actor Joseph Bottoms is 66. Actor Ryan Stiles is
61. Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan is 54. Actress Sheryl Lee is 53. TV personality Sherri Shepherd is 53. Actor Eric Mabius is 49. Actress Amber Heard is 34.