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Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
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America FerreraAmerica Ferrera is planning a return to TV.

The End Of Watch actress - who shot to fame on TV show Ugly Betty - is reportedly planning to star in telenovela project Pedro & Maria, a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

"Pedro and Maria are two opposites cut from the same cloth caught in the trap of forbidden love. He is a second generation Dominican from the mean streets of Washington Heights. She is a Puerto Rican whose parents made millions as real estate developers. It's a clash of the haves and the have-nots, of Main St vs. Wall St, set against a volatile cultural backdrop that fiercely believes neither side should mix with the other," the series synopsis states.

Although America found fame as the titular character in Ugly Betty - earning an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for her performance - she has previously admitted she nearly quit acting to follow her academic dream until one of her professors gave her some helpful encouragement:

Click to continue reading America Ferrera Returning to TV?


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Barbara WaltersBarbara Walters will be retiring. The chat show veteran has decided to end her phenomenal TV career in 2014.

"I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on The View and with ABC News. I created The View and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it. I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain. I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women - and, OK, some men, too - who will be taking my place," she said in a statement.

The 83-year-old star - who will continue to serve as executive producer of The View - began her career in 1961 and has spent five decades at the forefront of television. She co-hosted NBC's morning news program, The Today Show, for 15 years before moving over to ABC to co-host the Evening News. Ben Sherwood, ABC News President, said, "There is only one Barbara Walters. We look forward to making her final year on television as remarkable, path-breaking and news-making as Barbara herself. We look forward to a year befitting her brilliant career filled with exclusive interviews, great adventures and indelible memories."


Joss WhedonMarvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been picked up for a full season.

After viewing the pilot of Joss Whedon's Avengers spin-off, featuring Clark Gregg's Agent Coulson - who was believed to have died in the big screen movie - bosses at ABC chose to make a full series of the show. Ming-Na Wen and Elizabeth Henstridge will join Clark in the series, which tells the story of the peace-keeping company S.H.I.E.L.D [Stragetic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistic Directorate] headed by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in Marvel's films.

An official description of S.H.I.E.L.D reads, "Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel's feature films as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson's team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage, Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) expert pilot and martial artist, Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker); brilliant engineer and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet) (sic)."


Kristen WiigKristen Wiig will return to Saturday Night Live as host.

The Bridesmaids actress - who spent seven seasons on the show before quitting last year - will host on May 11, with Vampire Weekend as musical guests. Kristen, hailed by showrunner Lorne Michaels as one of the top three or four cast members of all time, recently admitted she has felt lost since quitting SNL, explaining, "The show was seven years of my life and a six-day work week and you're constantly with your friends all day, all night. You sort of live and breathe the show. Then, when it's over, you kind of feel a little lost ... It was definitely an adjustment - even just the hours and [no longer] being in New York."

However, it is a busy for year Kristen, who stars in four movies this year, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Skeleton Twins, Imogene and Hateship, Friendship.

Meanwhile, Zach Galifianakis will host the May 4 SNL episode, while NBC has announced Ben Affleck will take charge for the season finale on May 18, with musical guest Kanye West.


Jennifer LopezJennifer Lopez will guest star on lesbian drama The Fosters.

The former American Idol judge is producing the show for ABC - which features a same-sex couple and their family - and although they have ruled out an appearance by Jennifer in the first episode, she is keen to take part later in the season.

Jake T. Austin, who plays a foster son to the couple, told E! News, "She was maybe thinking about doing a cameo in the pilot, but there was some apprehension in deciding how early they wanted to feature someone like her into the show. So she'll definitely come on but at this point we just don't know when."

Jake is excited about the show, which features Teri Polo and Sherri Saum as the lesbian couple, because he feels it is "very timely." He explained, "It's very current, it's very timely and it's something that's needed, especially on a platform like ABC. The thing is it's a family show and it's relatable. It's not targeting any specific demographic. We're just trying to tell a story and to appeal to a mixed crowd."


Snoop LionSnoop Lion will star in One Life To Live. The rapper-turned-reggae artist will produce and perform the theme song for production company Prospect Park's revival of the legendary soap and will appear as himself on the show.

"We're thrilled to have the support of such an iconic artist, like Snoop Lion. To have him write and produce the theme song for this series and to have the amazingly talented Iza Lach on board, is just incredible. We are extremely grateful and excited for fans to hear the new theme song and of course catch Snoop Lion in upcoming episodes," Jeff Kwatinetz, chairman and CEO of Prospect Park.

Other stars set to appear in the revamped show include Jersey Shore's Jenni "JWoww" Farley and High School Musical's Corbin Bleu, who was thrilled to work with Snoop. "Fantastic day yesterday on the set of @onelifetolive with @snooplion #coolestguyever #OLTLPremiers 4/29 on @hulu (sic)," he wrote on Twitter.

(FYI - You can also follow TV Envy on Twitter.)


Cory MonteithCory Monteith has been written out of Glee's season finale after checking into rehab. The 30-year-old actor - who plays Finn Hudson in the comedy-drama show "voluntarily" admitted himself into a facility for "substance addiction" and show bosses have decided to write him out of the finale with his absence explained.

Twentieth Century Fox, which makes Glee has also come out in support for his recent ordeal, releasing a statement saying, "Cory is a beloved member of the Glee family and we fully support his decision to seek treatment. Everyone at the show wishes him well and looks forward to his return."

A spokesperson for Cory revealed the actor - who is dating his co-star Lea Michele - had taken steps to deal with his addiction by voluntarily admitting himself to a treatment facility. The representative said, "[Cory] has voluntarily admitted himself to a treatment facility for substance addiction. He graciously asks for your respect and privacy as he takes the necessary steps towards recovery."

Click to continue reading Cory Monteith Written Out of ‘Glee’ Season Finale


Melissa McCarthyMelissa McCarthy will host Saturday Night Live for the second time on April 6.

The Identity Thief star - whose weight recently came under fire by a US movie critic - will return to present the NBC comedy sketch show for the second time in two years after winning rave reviews for her series debut in October 2011.

The 42-year-old Emmy-winning actress - who began her career doing sketch comedy with the Los Angeles improv troupe Groundlings - previously reunited with her Bridesmaids co-star Kristen Wiig on the show for a hilarious skit about an inappropriate office worker who sexually harasses a co-worker played by Jason Sudeikis.

Melissa has kept a relatively low profile since veteran film critic Rex Reed trashed her role in Identity Thief last month calling her "cacophonous" and "tractor-sized" and blasting her as "a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success."


The FollowingThe Following has been renewed for a second season. The serial killer drama - which stars Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy - has been picked up by Fox thanks to its high ratings for season one.

"From the very beginning, we felt Kevin Williamson and Marcos Siega had created a high-quality, edge-of-your-seat drama that could break from the pack, and it is exciting to see the audience responding. Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy have given us two of the most compelling characters on television and the entire cast is incredible. I'm delighted to have this thrill ride continue on Fox for another season," Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly in a statement.

Fox has also renewed comedies New Girl, The Mindy Project and Raising Hope, with Mr. Reilly adding, "These shows are creatively vibrant, they have established a loyal and passionate audience and they will continue to define and grow the Fox comedy brand next season and beyond."


Chloe SevignyChloe Sevigny is set to guest star on The Mindy Project.

The 38-year-old actress will portray Danny Castellano's (Chris Messina) ex wife Christina, a war photographer who makes an unexpected return to his life in a bid to give their relationship another chance. According to E! Online, Chloe will make her debut on the 22nd episode of the first season of the show, which has just been renewed for a second series.

Last year Chloe played Mia, a pre-op transgender hitman, in TV series Hit & Miss, but she admitted she was concerned that she wouldn't be able to do the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community justice in the role. "I was worried people would be angry that they didn't cast a real person who was transitioning. I asked why they didn't, and the producers said they didn't find the right person. It's a big responsibility toward that community, and I wanted to do them right," she said.

The Mindy Project currently airs Tuesday nights on FOX.


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