What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T22 WHATS UP! March 5 - 11, 2023 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Last night [Feb. 5] was the 65th annual Grammy Awards, and I love the Grammys. Where else can you see Beyoncé and Tay- lor Swift together? You know? Ticketmaster's like, "We can't even make one of those things happen." Over the weekend [Feb. 4], U.S. military fighter jets shot down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean, and this is fun: instead of a medal, the pilot who popped the balloon got to pick any stuffed animal on the top shelf. ... Yeah, the balloon floated from Montana to South Carolina. Somehow it got across the country faster than someone flying Southwest. Earlier tonight [Feb. 7], Presi- dent Biden delivered the State of the Union address. Of course, Democrats spent most of the night clapping for Biden. It wasn't for anything he said. They were just trying to keep him awake. They were like, "Al- right, hey ... hey! Come on." It was a tough night for all of Biden's staffers watching from the White House, because ev- ery time people clapped, the lights went on and off. Late Night With Seth Meyers At an event at the White House last week [Feb. 2] celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act, former president Bill Clinton said that he has more people bring up this law than "any oth- er specific thing he did." Well, I don't know. I feel like it's the second. That's like O.J. saying most people bring up his Hertz commercials. "Yellowstone" actor Kevin Costner is reportedly consider- ing leaving the series to focus on directing a new film. Said your dad, "But, you know, other than that, I'm fine. Alright, here's your mom." President Biden delivered his second State of the Union ad- dress last night [Feb. 7] and spoke for 73 minutes, which sounds like a lot. But, I feel like Biden could speak for 73 min- utes to a wrong number. Georgia Congresswoman Mar- jorie Taylor Greene posted a video to Twitter yesterday showing herself trying to bring a large, white balloon as a guest to the State of the Union. And you know, I didn't know who she'd bring as a guest, but I knew they'd be white. North Korean leader Kim Jong- un was joined on stage yester- day [Feb. 8] by his nine-year- old daughter at a military pa- rade unveiling the country's new missiles. So, I guess Bring Your Daughter to Work Day has officially jumped the shark. New York Congressman Nick LaLota referred to fellow Re- publican representative George Santos during an interview yes- terday [Feb. 8] as a "sociopath," which, ironically, is the only thing not on his resume. The Late Late Show With James Corden According to reports, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy per- sonally requested that Biden not use the phrase "extreme MAGA Republicans" during the State of the Union address. He asked Biden to please use a more inclusive term like "insur- rectionist Americans." This is very much like McCarthy's run for House Speaker: if he doesn't get what he wants, he's going to ask 14 more times until he does. Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene kept standing up and booing the president through- out the speech [Feb. 7], at one point even yelled, "liar." Out of force of habit, George Santos immediately jumped up and was like, "No, I'm not." President Biden travelled to Tampa, Florida, for a speech to- day [Feb. 9] where he argued that voters can't trust Republi- cans to protect Social Security and Medicare. The president wrapped up his speech mid-af- ternoon, otherwise known in Florida as "dinner time." You know, Biden, he wasn't even supposed to be there; he wasn't supposed to go, but once he turned 80, he just instinctively started migrating south to Flor- ida. LATE LAUGHS BY MICHELLE ROSE TV Media Pilot project: Networks have begun handing out pilot orders, and the first comedy to be or- dered to pilot at CBS features a high-profile pairing: that of fa- ther-and-son duo Damon Way- ans ("My Wife and Kids") and Damon Wayans Jr. ("Happy Endings"). The Wayans are behind a multi-camera comedy that was still untitled at the time of writ- ing. It centers on a happily di- vorced, legendary talk radio host named "Poppa," played by Way- ans Sr. Poppa suddenly finds his worldview challenged at work after a new female co-host is brought in. The challenges con- tinue at home, too, where he still finds himself parenting his adult son (Wayans Jr.), "a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a re- sponsible father and husband." Deadline was the first to break the news last fall that a Wayans- led comedy was in development at CBS, and now this pilot order brings the potential sitcom one step closer to becoming a reality. Should the show make it to air, it would mark the elder Wayans' return to network comedy after appearing in the first two sea- sons of Fox's TV adaptation of "Lethal Weapon" (2016-2019). He got his big break in the 1990s show "In Living Color," which he co-created, before moving on to roles in films and TV. The four-time Emmy nominee also co-created, executive produced and starred in "My Wife and Kids," which remained popular throughout its run (2001-2005) on ABC, and co-created the ABC sitcom "Rodney" (2004-2006). Wayans Jr. made his TV acting debut on "My Wife and Kids" and went on to appear in "Hap- py Endings," and more recently, "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" (2021). He's teamed up with his father a few times on- screen, including the sketch comedy show "The Under- ground" and the CBS sitcom "Happy Together," in which the two displayed the kind of father- son dynamic we might see in their untitled pilot. Both Wayans will serve as ex- ecutive producers, and Wayans Sr. is said to be sharing the writ- ing duties with former "Last Man Standing" executive pro- ducer Kevin Hench. 'Spartacus' The Sequel: "Spartacus" was a big hit for Starz after the first installment, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," premiered in January 2010. Set in Ancient Rome, the series wrapped after four seasons, but it seems there are still more sto- ries to tell. Creator Steven S. DeKnight is working on a yet-untitled sequel that would add a new chapter to the story told in the original se- ries, which chronicled the titular gladiator's journey to becoming a champion and, later, the leader of a rebel army. The drama will be set in the aftermath of the defeat of Thra- cian gladiator Spartacus – played by Andy Whitfield until his death in 2011, and by Liam Mc- Intyre after that. It will "depict a new tale of treachery, deceit and blood unfolding beneath the foreboding shadow of Rome," according to Starz, which also teased the return of some char- acters from the original series. In a statement, DeKnight, who will serve as both showrunner and executive producer, had this to say about the new project: "It's such an incredible honor to be invited to return to the world of 'Spartacus' and to be met with unbridled creative support from my colleagues at Starz and Lion- sgate. Together we are crafting something truly unique and un- usual for the next chapter in this epic story." "It has been over a decade since Spartacus delighted inter- national audiences, and we are thrilled to reimagine and expand this gripping, action-packed dra- ma for our viewers today," Kath- ryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz, also said in an official statement. "'Sparta- cus' has deeply invested fans who are eager for its return, and we look forward to working with Steven on this exciting next chapter." Barney's big year: Barney – the big, friendly, purple dinosaur who famously sang, "I love you, you love me" – is primed to make a comeback. Toy and entertainment com- pany Mattel recently unveiled its plans for revitalizing the Barney brand through a complete over- haul of products spanning film, YouTube content, music, toys, clothes, merchandising and more. Those plans include reimag- ining the iconic preschool show as a new CGI-animated series that will debut in 2024. Pro- duced by Corus Entertainment's Nelvana, the new-look Barney show will feature music-filled adventures and its "message of love and kindness [that] has stood the test of time," per Josh Silverman, Mattel's chief fran- chise officer and Global head of consumer products. "In creating the new series, it was important to us that we properly reflect the world that kids today live in so that the se- ries can deliver meaningful les- sons about navigating it," Fred Soulie, SVP and general manag- er of Mattel Television, ex- plained. "With our modern take on Barney, we hope to inspire the next generation to listen, care and dream big. We think that parents, many of whom will fondly remember the original Barney from their own child- hoods, will love the show, too." Damon Wayans Jr. (seen here) and his father are behind a new CBS pilot STARS ON SCREEN