Daily News 19

Tag: ABC

  • Hailey Bills, Niece of Jenna Johnson, Becomes ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Pro

    Hailey Bills, Niece of Jenna Johnson, Becomes ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Pro

    Hailey Bills is waltzing her way into a major new role on Dancing With the Stars. After joining the ABC competition series as a troupe member in 2025, the 20-year-old dancer is returning for season 35 as a professional partner. The promotion marks a significant career milestone for the rising ballroom talent.

    From Troupe Member to Pro Partner

    Bills initially joined the DWTS family as part of the show’s ensemble troupe, performing in group numbers and supporting the lead couples throughout the season. Her elevation to professional status means she will now be paired with a celebrity contestant for the upcoming 35th season, taking on full choreography and coaching responsibilities.

    The Utah native has been dancing since childhood, training in multiple disciplines before specializing in ballroom and Latin styles. Her troupe performances during the previous season showcased strong technique and stage presence, positioning her as a natural candidate for the professional roster.

    Season 35 Cast Takes Shape

    Bills joins a professional lineup that continues to blend veteran pros with fresh talent. The show typically announces its full celebrity and professional cast closer to the premiere date, which traditionally airs in the fall. Her promotion suggests producers see long-term potential in her partnership capabilities and audience appeal.

    For Bills, the transition from ensemble dancer to lead professional represents the realization of a career goal shared by many in the ballroom community. Dancing With the Stars has historically served as a launching pad for troupe members, with several current pros — including Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart, and Ezra Sosa — following a similar trajectory.

  • CMA Awards Nominations Announced: Taylor Swift, Ella Langley Among Nominees

    CMA Awards Nominations Announced: Taylor Swift, Ella Langley Among Nominees

    2026 CMA Awards Nominations Announced: Country Music’s Biggest Night Approaches

    The countdown to country music’s most anticipated evening has officially begun. Ahead of the 2026 CMA Awards ceremony scheduled for November 18, the Country Music Association unveiled its complete slate of nominees on September 10, setting the stage for what promises to be another memorable celebration of the genre’s brightest stars.

    Nomination Leaders Emerge

    Leading this year’s pack of contenders are artists who have dominated radio airplay, streaming charts, and touring circuits throughout the eligibility period. The nomination announcement marks the formal kickoff of awards season in Nashville, with industry insiders and fans alike analyzing the categories for surprises, snubs, and anticipated showdowns.

    Key Dates for Country Music Fans

    • Nominations Announced: September 10, 2025
    • Awards Ceremony: November 18, 2026
    • Broadcast Network: ABC (traditional broadcaster)

    The 2026 ceremony continues the CMA Awards’ legacy as country music’s premier accolade, recognizing artistic achievement, technical excellence, and commercial success across multiple categories including Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.

    What to Expect This Year

    As the November broadcast approaches, speculation will intensify around potential performers, presenters, and special tribute segments that have become hallmarks of the annual telecast. The CMA Awards consistently deliver memorable collaborations and career-defining moments that resonate far beyond the country music community.

    Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of the nominee announcements, predictions, and behind-the-scenes insights as country music prepares for its biggest night.

  • The View’s Ana Navarro Reveals How She Lost the Weight of a “Baby Hippo”

    The View’s Ana Navarro Reveals How She Lost the Weight of a “Baby Hippo”

    Ana Navarro, the political commentator and longtime guest host of The View, revealed details about her weight-loss journey during the show’s 30th-anniversary season premiere.

    Navarro Shares Weight-Loss Insight on Milestone Episode

    The co-host appeared on the landmark broadcast marking three decades of the ABC daytime talk show. Since joining the program as a guest host in 2013, Navarro has become a familiar presence at the table, offering political analysis and personal perspectives alongside the permanent panel.

    During the anniversary episode, Navarro addressed her noticeable physical transformation with characteristic candor. She joked about the speculation surrounding her methods, telling the audience and her co-hosts that the “secret ingredient” to her results was not a single product or quick fix.

    Consistency and Lifestyle Changes Cited as Key Factors

    While the full details of her remarks were delivered with humor, Navarro has previously spoken about adopting healthier habits over time. Her approach aligns with medical guidance emphasizing sustainable lifestyle adjustments over restrictive diets or singular solutions.

    The conversation on the season opener highlighted the public interest in celebrity health journeys while reinforcing the show’s tradition of blending personal stories with broader cultural discussions.

  • ABC Denies Jimmy Kimmel’s Late-Night Show Is Ending After 24 Years

    ABC Denies Jimmy Kimmel’s Late-Night Show Is Ending After 24 Years

    Jimmy Kimmel is not done laughing yet. Following reports that the comedian’s late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! would end after this season after 24 years on the air, ABC set the record straight, confirming the program will continue.

    ABC Denies Cancellation Reports

    The network pushed back against recent speculation that the long-running talk show was preparing for its final bow. While industry chatter suggested the current season would serve as a farewell run, ABC officials clarified that no decision has been made to conclude the series.

    Two-Decade Late-Night Fixture

    Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered on January 26, 2003, establishing Kimmel as a mainstay in the competitive late-night landscape. The show has aired more than 3,500 episodes from its Hollywood Boulevard studio, featuring celebrity interviews, comedy segments, and musical performances that have become cultural touchstones.

    Contract Status and Future Planning

    Kimmel’s current contract with ABC runs through 2025. Network executives have indicated discussions about the show’s future are ongoing, with both sides expressing interest in continuing the partnership. The host has previously suggested he considers the role on a year-to-year basis, though he has signed multiple extensions since the program’s debut.

    The series remains a key component of ABC’s late-night strategy and a reliable ratings performer in its time slot, consistently drawing younger demographic audiences valued by advertisers.

  • Jimmy Kimmel’s Late-Night Show Reportedly Ending After Next Season; ABC Denies Report

    Jimmy Kimmel’s Late-Night Show Reportedly Ending After Next Season; ABC Denies Report

    Jimmy Kimmel may be approaching his final sign-off on ABC after more than two decades in late night. TMZ has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! is reportedly set to conclude after its next season, a development first reported by Page Six.

    Long-Running Late-Night Staple Nearing Its End

    Since its premiere in 2003, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has become a fixture of ABC’s late-night lineup, airing weeknights after Nightline. Kimmel’s tenure places him among the longest-serving hosts in the format’s history, alongside contemporaries such as Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers.

    The reported decision to end the show after next season would mark a significant shift in the late-night landscape, which has already seen considerable turnover in recent years.

    Industry Context and Recent Changes

    Late-night television has undergone substantial transformation as audiences migrate to streaming platforms and digital content. Networks have adjusted strategies accordingly, with some reducing episode counts or experimenting with hybrid formats.

    ABC has not issued an official statement regarding the show’s future beyond the reports from TMZ and Page Six. Representatives for Kimmel and the network have not publicly commented on the timeline or potential successor programming.

    Kimmel’s Broadcast Legacy

    Over 21 seasons, Kimmel has hosted major events including the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards. His show has been known for viral segments such as “Mean Tweets,” “Lie Witness News,” and recurring bits featuring his family and childhood friends.

    The program has also served as a platform for political commentary, particularly during the Trump administration, when Kimmel’s monologues frequently addressed healthcare policy and other national issues.

    If the reports hold, the final season would air during the 2025–2026 television cycle, bringing one of broadcast television’s last remaining traditional late-night talk shows to a close.

  • Karoline Leavitt Not in Talks to Join ‘The View’ as Co-Host

    Karoline Leavitt Not in Talks to Join ‘The View’ as Co-Host

    Karoline Leavitt Not Joining ‘The View’ Despite Reports, TMZ Confirms

    Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will not be joining the cast of ABC’s daytime talk show “The View,” according to production sources who spoke with TMZ. The report directly contradicts recent media speculation that Leavitt was in talks to become a co-host alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar.

    TMZ Sources Deny Casting Rumors

    Production sources connected to “The View” told TMZ there is no truth to the reports suggesting Leavitt had been offered or accepted a position on the long-running program. The outlet learned that despite contrary reports circulating in media circles, no deal or serious discussions have taken place between Leavitt and the show’s producers.

    Background on the Speculation

    Rumors regarding Leavitt’s potential move to daytime television gained traction following her tenure as White House Press Secretary under President Donald Trump. As a prominent conservative voice and frequent media surrogate, her name had been floated in various industry reports as a possible addition to “The View” panel, which has historically featured a mix of political perspectives.

    Current Status

    As of this reporting, Leavitt remains focused on her post-administration endeavors. “The View” continues with its current lineup of co-hosts. Neither ABC nor representatives for Leavitt have issued official statements addressing the rumors beyond the production sources cited by TMZ.

  • Jim Green, Architect of ABC’s Golden Age of TV Movies and Producer of ‘Stephen King’s It,’ Dies at 83

    Jim Green, Architect of ABC’s Golden Age of TV Movies and Producer of ‘Stephen King’s It,’ Dies at 83

    Television pioneer Jim Green, the programming executive who helped turn ABC's Movie of the Week into a cultural institution and later produced landmark miniseries including the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King's "It," passed away on August 9 in Santa Barbara at age 83 following a long illness. His wife of 59 years, singer Cathy Cole Green of The King Family, announced the news. Read also: Only Murders in the Building Season 6 Heads to London with December Premiere Date. Read also: USA Network Orders Rome-Set Medical Drama 'Diplomatic Immunity' as Part of Scripted Revival.

    Green's career reads like a blueprint for modern event television. Joining ABC in 1966 under development chief Barry Diller, he helped shepherd nearly 200 made-for-TV movies that transformed the struggling network's primetime fortunes. The slate included Steven Spielberg's feature directorial debut "Duel" (1971), the Emmy-winning "Brian's Song" (1971), and the groundbreaking eight-part adaptation of Alex Haley's "Roots" (1977). Several of these films spun off into hit series — among them "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Starsky & Hutch," "The Night Stalker," and "The Love Boat."

    After leaving the network in 1977, Green formed Green/Epstein Productions with former ABC executive Allen Epstein, producing more than 50 television movies and miniseries often centered on human-interest stories. Their credits ranged from "Women at West Point" (1979), dramatizing the first female cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, to "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (1979), a rare male-perspective divorce drama starring Robert Conrad, Billy Crystal, and Ted Bessell. The company also produced "Fallen Angel" and "And the Sea Will Tell," both cited as landmark telefilms of their era.

    Green's path to Hollywood was unconventional. After graduating from Cal State Northridge, he considered law school while dating Cathy Cole, whose family performed on ABC's "The King Family Show." When the group planned a national tour, Green suggested to matriarch Yvonne King that he serve as tour manager — a role that launched his entertainment career. A stint as a Universal publicist preceded his three-decade run shaping television.

    Industry veterans credit Green with helping define the "movie of the week" format as appointment viewing, a model that anticipated today's limited-series boom. His work bridged the gap between network-era mass audiences and the more niche, prestige-driven storytelling that followed. As streaming platforms revive the event-miniseries model, Green's template — high-concept premises, literary adaptations, and true-life dramas — remains visibly influential.