BY DANA JACKSON
Q:I remember when singer Usher used to be on the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Has he done any acting since? -- S.L.
A:Born Usher Raymond IV, superstar Usher was born in Dallas and sang in the church choir that was directed by his mother. The family later moved to Atlanta and then
Los Angeles, where Usher released his first album in 1994 at the age of 16 and also hit it big with his second album, “My Way,” in 1997. He flexed his talents even more by branching out into acting -- first in the sitcom “The Parent ‘Hood” on The WB network, then in recurring roles on “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Moesha.”
More recently, he’s just played himself in several TV shows like “Dave” and The Lonely Island movie “Popstar.” However, being selected to headline the Super Bowl halftime show is a high honor for any recording artist, so I doubt he has any regrets about not having a hit acting career. He also just released his ninth album, “Coming Home,” so perhaps he’ll be adding his ninth Grammy to his mantel during the next award season.
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When is “Young Sheldon” coming back with new episodes? Is it true that this will be the final season? -- A.M.
Q:A:By the time you’re reading this, you might have noticed that “Young Sheldon” returned to CBS with all new episodes on Feb.
15. Delayed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, the seventh and final season will only consist of 14
episodes, with its hour-long series finale airing on May 16. It was inevitable that the show would end, since the title character was getting closer to the age of his future self in “The Big Bang Theory,” the hit sitcom that preceded “Young Sheldon.”
However, there is a bit of good news on the horizon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS is “reteaming with exec producers Chuck Lorre, Steve Holland and Steve Molaro to develop a spinoff of their prequel series ‘Young Sheldon.’” Although nothing official has been announced, word is that the new show will focus on Sheldon’s brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan), and his fiancee, Mandy (Emily Osment). It will debut as early as the 2024-25 television season. Hopefully, Iain Armitage will pop in occasionally as Sheldon.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.* “Ferrari” (R) -- From director Michael Mann (“Collateral”), this biopic follows Enzo Ferrari, owner of the car manufacturer Ferrari, during the summer of 1957 as the racing division of his company prepares for the Mille Miglia race. Portrayed by
Adam Driver (“House of Gucci”), Enzo is in a state of chaos due to his company facing extreme financial losses and his deteriorating relationship with his wife, Laura (Penelope Cruz). On top of this, kept hidden away from his wife in the countryside of Modena, Italy, is Enzo’s son, Piero, with mistress Lina (Shailene Woodley), who longs to be a true family. But even with the pressure rising from all aspects of his life, Enzo is determined to keep his company out of hot water and pull off the win at the Mille Miglia. Out now to rent. (Amazon Prime Video)
“The Greatest Night in Pop” (PG-13) -- This documentary film casts a spotlight on a magical evening in 1985 when some of the most famous musicians in the world at the time were brought together to record a memorable pop anthem called “We Are the World.” With incredible insider footage of the night, viewers feel like flies on the wall watching legends like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Bob Dylan attempt to find their footing amid an elite group of their peers. The footage is interspersed with new interviews featuring some of the musicians as they recount the long hours they put in that night and how beautifully the song came together in the end. Out now! (Netflix)
“Tracker” (TV-14) -- Justin Hartley (“This Is Us”) leads this new CBS action-drama series based on the novel “The Never Game” by Jeffery Deaver. Hartley plays -- cue the burliest name you can think of -- Colter Shaw, a “lone-wolf survivalist” with excellent tracking skills. Colter travels around the country to help citizens and law enforcement solve the mind-boggling mysteries and tragedies that have affected their town. In the first episode, Colter heads to Klamath Falls, Oregon, to dig deeper into the disappearance of a 14-yearold boy. Hartley also serves as an executive producer for the series, so here’s hoping this network show will be gripping enough to pull in viewers and get picked up for another season. The first two episodes are out now, with subsequent episodes premiering every Sunday. (Paramount+)