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John Amos, Patriarch On ‘Good Times’ And An Emmy Nominee For The Blockbuster ‘Roots,’ Dies At 84

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Los Angeles — John Amos, who played the family patriarch on the popular 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and received an Emmy nod for his performance in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 84.

He died on August 21 from natural causes in Los Angeles. Belinda Foster, Amos’ spokeswoman, confirmed the news of his death Tuesday.

He played James Evans Sr. in “Good Times,” which starred one of television’s first Black two-parent households. Norman Lear produced it, and actor Mike Evans, who co-starred in “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” co-created it. It played on CBS from 1974 to 1979.

John Amos, Patriarch On ‘Good Times’ And An Emmy Nominee For The Blockbuster ‘Roots,’ Dies At 84

“That show was the closest depiction in reality to life as an African American family living in those circumstances as it could be,” Amos told the magazine Time in 2021.

Amos’ film credits included “Let’s Do It Again” with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier, “Coming to America” with Eddie Murphy and its 2021 sequel, “Die Hard 2,” “Madea’s Witness Protection,” and “Uncut Gems” with Adam Sandler. He appeared in Ice Cube and Dr. Dre’s 1994 video, “Natural Born Killaz.”

Amos’ “Good Times” character, along with his wife Florida, played by Esther Rolle, debuted on another Lear comedy, “Maude.” James Evans frequently worked two physical labor jobs to support his family of three children, with Jimmie Walker breaking out as oldest son J.J.

The program had such an influence that Alicia Keys, Rick Ross, and the Wu-Tang Clan all mentioned Amos or his character in their lyrics.

“Many fans consider him their TV father,” his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, stated. “He led a good life. His legacy will be remembered through his amazing performances in television and film. My father had a lifelong passion for acting. “He was my father, greatest friend, and hero.

The elder Amos and Rolle were keen to convey a favorable image of a Black family working against the difficulties in Chicago’s public housing project. They became frustrated, however, when Walker’s character was made dumb and his role was increased.

“The fact is that Esther’s criticism, as well as that of John and others — some of which was quite direct and personal — substantially hurt my appeal in the Black community,” Walker said in his 2012 memoir “Dyn-O-Mite! Good Times, Bad Times, and Our Times.

Following three seasons of critical praise and excellent ratings, Amos was fired. He had become critical of the show’s white writers for inventing plots that he felt were inauthentic to the Black characters.

“There were multiple occasions when I told, ‘No, you don’t do these things. It is anathema to Black society. “I’ll be the expert on that if you don’t mind,” he told Time. “And it got confrontational and heated enough that ultimately my being killed off the show was the best solution for everybody concerned, myself included.”

Amos’ character was killed in an automobile accident. Walker bemoaned the circumstances. “If the decision had been up to me, I would have preferred that John stay and the show remain more of an ensemble,” according to his memoir. “Nobody wanted me up front all the time, including me.”

Amos and Lear eventually reunited, and they hugged at a “Good Times” live TV reunion special in 2019.

Amos swiftly recovered, gaining the role of an adult Kunta Kinte, the focal point of “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s novel set during and after the slavery era in the United States. The miniseries was a critical and ratings success, and Amos received one of 37 Emmy nominations.

“I knew that it was a life-changing role for me, as an actor and just from a humanistic standpoint,” according to Time. “It was the culmination of all of the myths and stereotypes that I had seen and witnessed being offered to me. It felt like a gift for enduring those indignities.”

John Allen Amos Jr. was born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, the son of an auto technician. He earned a sociology degree from Colorado State University while still playing football for the institution.

John Amos, Patriarch On ‘Good Times’ And An Emmy Nominee For The Blockbuster ‘Roots,’ Dies At 84

Before becoming an actor, he relocated to New York and worked as a social worker at the Vera Institute of Justice, working with defendants at the Brooklyn House of Detention.

He had a brief professional football career, competing in several lower leagues. He signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967, but coach Hank Stram pushed him to pursue his passion for writing instead. Before turning to acting, he worked as an advertisement and comedy writer.

Amos’ first notable television role was as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” from 1970 until 1973. He was the show’s only Black character, playing straight man to bombastic host Ted Baxter.

He was a regular guest star on “The West Wing,” and his other TV performances included “Hunter,” “The District,” “Men in Trees,” “All About the Andersons,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “The Ranch.”

In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. He served in the New Jersey National Guard.

He is survived by his daughter Shannon, a former entertainment executive, and Kelly Christopher, a Grammy-nominated video music director and editor. They sprang from his first marriage to Noel Mickelson, whom he met in college. His second marriage, to actor Lillian Lehman, also ended in divorce.

SOURCE | AP

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Maya Rudolph As Harris And Dana Carvey As Biden Open The 50th Season Of ‘Saturday Night Live’

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“Saturday Night Live” kicked off its 50th season with a parade of past cast members, including Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris, Andy Samberg as her husband Doug Emhoff, and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.

“We’ve got to stay focused,” Rudolph-as-Harris stated at a faux rally during the show’s chilly open. “If we win, together, we can end the drama-la and the trauma-la and go relax in our pajama-las.”

After introducing running mate Tim Walz, portrayed by comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, she summoned Samberg-as Emhoff to the stage, followed by Biden, played by the group’s oldest member, 69-year-old Carvey.

rudolph

Maya Rudolph As Harris And Dana Carvey As Biden Open The 50th Season Of ‘Saturday Night Live’

“A lot of people forget I’m president, including me,” said Carvey, who played President George H.W. Bush on the sitcom in the late 1980s.

Rudolph and Carvey performed the “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night” that kicked off season 50 of the sketch comedy classic.

Rudolph’s return to play Harris, for which she had won an Emmy, was publicized, but it was unclear when she would appear. The appearances by Carvey, Samberg, and Gaffigan were all surprises.

Jean Smart, who recently won her sixth Emmy for her starring part in “Hacks,” hosted, a role the 73-year-old has never played in her nearly four-decade career.

“I remember watching the first episode of ‘SNL’ and thinking,’someday I’m going to host that show,” Smart remarked in her opening monologue. “And this is the first Saturday that fit my schedule.”

The inaugural episode aired on October 11, 1975, with Lorne Michaels at the helm, as he is now.

George Carlin hosted, and the public was introduced to the Not Ready for Prime Time Players: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, and Garrett Morris.

There were two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian, each performing two songs, as was customary in the early days.

Jelly Roll, a country singer and rapper, had the music spotlight Saturday, performing his songs “Liar” and “Sober.” Like Smart, he was a first-timer.

Smart debuted Jelly Roll alongside her “Hacks” co-star Hannah Einbinder, the daughter of original cast member Newman.

That debut episode is documented and re-enacted in the recently released Jason Reitman film “Saturday Night,” which is part of a wave of contemplation and celebration as the show approaches its 50th anniversary.

Despite the spectacular guest stars on this Saturday night, regular cast members carried the majority of the show, which swiftly settled into its usual pattern.

At his rally, James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Donald Trump, claiming he preferred Biden to Harris as his opponent.

“We miss Joe Biden, folks,” Johnson’s Trump stated. “What we wouldn’t give to have him stand next to me and be old.”

Colin Jost and Michael Che returned for another season of the mock-news show “Weekend Update.”

“There were so many insane political stories this summer and everyone kept asking, ‘Are you are you so bummed you aren’t on the air right now?” Jost instructed me to begin the part. “And I was like, ‘I have a feeling there’s going to be more that happens when we get back.'”

Maya Rudolph As Harris And Dana Carvey As Biden Open The 50th Season Of ‘Saturday Night Live’

Rudolph, Carvey, Gaffigan, and Samberg joined Smart, Jelly Roll, and the cast on stage for the usual finale.

Upcoming episodes will feature host Nate Bargatze and musical guests Coldplay, Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton and Billie Eilish, and John Mulaney and Chappell Roan.

Those shows will build up to a three-hour primetime special on February 16 that will mark the official 50th season celebration. Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Will Ferrell are among the many talents who have appeared on the show.

SOURCE | AP

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In “The Electric State,” Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt Battle Robots.

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(VOR News) – The brothers and brothers-in-law Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of “Avengers: Endgame” and Millie Bobby Brown, are back at it with “The Electric State.”

A view into a dismal future, this film stars Chris Pratt (“The Super Mario Bros. Movie”) and Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”). But the year is 1994.

The events depicted in “The Electric State” follow a sad and fruitless standoff between humanity and artificial intelligence. The bodies of the dead humans were buried, and the husks of the automatons they had fought with rusted where they had fallen. All of the living robots ended up in the “exclusion zone” of the southern desert. People are trying to rebuild society without the aid of technology as a result.

Anthony Russo stated, “You can recognise humanity in humans, and you can recognise humanity in technology,” in a Millie Bobby Brown Vanity Fair interview. These two scenarios are both plausible. That is the constant battle.

This is the plot.

Michelle, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is a young woman who believes her brother has long since passed away and is looking for him. However, it is a remote-controlled robot that resembles a life-sized, tiny-toy version of Kid Cosmo, his beloved science fiction hero, who helps him locate her. The robot, whose language consists of catchphrases, tries to guide her towards him.

Millie Bobby Brown thinks everyone can agree on anything and sees her brother in the doll.

Pratt’s portrayal of Keats, a former soldier turned long-haul truck driver, joins them on their adventure. This old enemy, played by Anthony Mackie, is involved in a construction machine smuggling operation called Millie Bobby Brown Herman.

He acts like a Russian nesting doll, transforming into smaller or larger versions of himself. Michelle needs help finding her lost brother in a difficult area, and only the two of them can do that.

“It felt like a story about broken families and broken people trying to find each other in a broken world,” Joe stated. “The texture in the images was really powerful,” he stated. “It was a story about how this world is broken.” It resonated with us since we are raising our kids in a digitally dependent society.

But Wait, There’s Still More

If the previously described situation doesn’t seem complicated enough, the background of Walt Disney’s early animatronics provides more insight into the motivation behind the robots’ rebellion: Millie Bobby Brown.

“The Electric State,” a theme park experience at Disneyland, takes some of its fundamental ideas and gives them a very sophisticated twist. This leads, after a few decades, to the creation of robots intelligent enough to rebel against their creators.

“These robots had the most benign appearance possible, and they end up feeling that they are being mistreated, and they have a Millie Bobby Brown desire to be treated as equals with humans, which leads to a war,” Joe said in his clarification. “And now you have this strange dichotomy playing out, where these service bots that are very pleasing and palatable from a service perspective are now attempting to kill you.”

For what reason was it 1994?

Joe contends that the topic of aggression might come up if the novel were set in the present era. Information that has been taken out of its immediate context and narratively presented might occasionally lead to people perceiving it in various ways. It turns out that this is the case.

Simon Stalenhag has done an amazing job pointing out how people are dehumanising themselves through technology and then creating a story about technology that attempts to be human. The query is, “At what point do they intersect, and at what point does technology become more hum

Joe continues by saying, “The intention was to create complex feelings for you, where it is both funny and tragic at the same time.”

The Millie Bobby Brown movie is based on the theory that robots were designed to be tranquil, visually beautiful, and non-threatening in addition to making people feel attached to them. in order to provide for you, sell you goods, and ensure your happiness. Stated differently, the movie’s goal was to make them resemble cartoon figures.

SOURCE: NB

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‘Better Man’ Trailer: The Robbie Williams biopic features a singing monkey as the main character.

John Amos, Patriarch On ‘Good Times’ And An Emmy Nominee For The Blockbuster ‘Roots,’ Dies At 84

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‘Better Man’ Trailer: The Robbie Williams biopic features a singing monkey as the main character.

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Robbie Williams

(VOR News) – To put it another way, when people watch the trailer for the movie “Better Man,” fans of Robbie Williams will go completely insane.

Released by Paramount Pictures is the first trailer for the musical biopic directed by Michael Gracey (director of “The Greatest Showman” as well).

Gracey was assigned the task of directing the movie. A computer-generated monkey that represents the popular British song is included in the movie’s trailer. The short film features the monkey. This is indeed the current scenario.

It is no secret that I am aware of the products you are considering. The monkey’s behaviour is strange for whatever reason. I’m referred to as Robbie Williams by others. My name has been linked to some of the most well-known music performers in history since the beginning of time.

Robbie Williams admits in the teaser that he has always thought he was less brilliant than others.

He has always viewed the world in this way. Early assessments of the musical film claim that it is comparable to previous musical biographies of well-known figures.

This is the idea that is expressed. A monkey double that resembles something from “Planet of the Apes” replaces Robbie Williams in each scene in which he appears. This is true in every single situation. This is a substantial change from the original musical biography.

Williams was found to have been a monkey in clothes when he was a young football player. This information is evident in the trailer. This is something that the film under consideration shows. Robbie Williams may also be seen in the video footage playing football.

A highlight video of Robbie Williams playing live in front of boisterous, yelling crowds is the next item to be shown. This is the thing that appears next. On the other hand, he is depicted as a sobbing ape with protruding tongue and several enormous teeth.

“‘Better Man’ is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time,” reads the official synopsis for the movie.

The film’s avant-garde direction, helmed by “The Greatest Showman” director Michael Gracey, recounts the tale from Robbie Williams’ point of view in a style that is entirely unique and portrays his boundless energy and wit. Gracey also serves as the director of “The Greatest Showman.”

The chart-topping boyband Take Who’s youngest member is Robbie Williams.

It also talks about the challenges that come with achieving the level of success and notoriety that Robbie has. Robbie’s adventure is covered in this book.

The stories of Robbie’s life are told in this book, beginning in his early years and ending when he became the youngest member of Take Who.

The actors in the cast include Tom Budge, Frazer Hadfield, Kate Mulvaney, Alison Steadman, Damon Herriman, Steve Pemberton, Raechelle Banno, and Anthony Hayes. Actor Raechelle Banno is among the others. Frazer Hadfield is another actor in this scene. Jonno Davies, who also portrays the character’s monkey form, is the actor who plays Robbie Williams.

Simon Gleeson, Gracey, and Oliver Cole were among the individuals that contributed to the writing of “Better Man.” Each of these individuals also contributed something. Dean Hood, David Conley, Daniel Fluri, Adrian Grabe, Andres Kernen, Slava Vladimirov, Philip Lee, Li-Wei Chu, Michael Loney,

Thorsten Schumacher, Lars Sylvest, Mark Williams, Gregory Jankilevitsch, Klaudia Smieja, David Ravel, Domenic Benvenuto, Gianni Benvenuto, Zoran Stojkovic, Dean Hood, David Conley, Daniel Fluri, Adrian Grabe, Andres Kernen, Slava Vladimirov, Jared Underwood, and Andrew Robinson are among those who are believed to be the feature film’s executive producers.

SOURCE: Variety

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John Amos, Patriarch On ‘Good Times’ And An Emmy Nominee For The Blockbuster ‘Roots,’ Dies At 84

Ranveer Allahbadia Opens Up After His YouTube Channel Hacked

Eric Stonestreet Says ‘It Felt A Little Hurtful’ When A Mitch And Cam ‘Modern Family’ Spinoff Was Rejected

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