‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judge Addresses Show’s Controversial Move to Disney+

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Back in April 2022, Disney made an announcement that shocked everyone — ABC’s hit show Dancing With the Stars will no longer air on ABC. Instead, Walt Disney Television is moving the show to its streaming platform, Disney+, for the show’s 31st season. The show will live stream on Disney+ and is believed to be the first show on any streaming platform to do that. The news was met with a lot of divided opinions. Some were excited to hear that one of their favorite shows would be moving to the same place they can stream other Disney content they love. Others were upset, as ABC is a part of pretty much any basic cable package, but Disney+ requires a subscription to be able to use it.

Dancing With the Stars first premiered on ABC in 2005 and featured a number of well-known ballroom dancers teaming up with some favorite celebrities. Three renowned ballroom experts would judge the dances each week — Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba. Season 31 will see all three judges return, with the addition of DWTS alum Derek Hough. With all the controversy surrounding the show’s move, one of those judges is now speaking out.

Carrie Ann Inaba took to Facebook to address the move to Disney+, acknowledging that some viewers may be upset by the news.

Just reading all your comments yesterday. I am so grateful for the words of encourgement and the sharing of your own journeys. It helps others to know that we are all going through unique journeys… and we all have challenges in our lives.

I’m heartbroken to hear so many people saying they won’t be joining us on dwts this season. We’ve always been a family for so long…All of us, the dancers, the hosts, the judges, the production team, the creatives and hair and make up and stylists and lighting and set design…. And YOU.

I hope you will be able to stay connected to us.

I will be posting lots of content from my socials so I hope that will help you stay connected.

Family is forever.

#dwts

Season 31 of Dancing With the Stars will premiere on Disney+ on September 19. It will continue to be produced by BBC Studios, the same production company that worked on the series when it was ABC. No casting information has been shared at this time, so we don’t know which stars will be in this season. Tyra Banks will return as host for Season 31, and she will be joined by America’s Funniest Home Videos host and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro. Banks replaced hosts Tom Bergeron — who had been there since the beginning — and Erin Andrews in Season 30.

ABC’s Live-Action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Special Has Cast Its Belle!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

It seems nearly impossible to believe, but this year, Disney is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its classic film, Beauty and the Beast. That’s right, 30 years ago, audiences were introduced to Belle, the Beast, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Gaston, and more. Disney wants to celebrate the special anniversary of its Oscar-winning movie and, on December 15, Disney and ABC will air a special live-action/animated version of the film. We already knew that the special will be directed by Jon M. Chu — who also directed Crazy Rich Asians — and now Disney has revealed that they have cast Belle!

Disney has revealed that the role of Belle will be played by Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. After the news was shared, H.E.R. — born Gabriella Wilson — released a statement, saying she was incredibly excited to play one of Disney’s most famous princesses. The statement, shared by The Hollywood Reporter, read:

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy. The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle! I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors Hamish Hamilton and my favorite, Jon M. Chu. It is very surreal and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Jon M. Chu also released a statement and said that he was very excited to work with H.E.R. on such a special event.

With her obvious extraordinary talent and stage presence, H.E.R. is the perfect embodiment of our Belle, and we are thrilled for audiences to see her in this celebration of creativity. We were both influenced as storytellers by the original animated movie, so it’s very exciting to collaborate together to honor the artistry of that timeless classic while also inspiring a whole new generation of creators.”

The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report on the special anniversary show, revealing the following:

The Disney-backed broadcast network is making a two-hour, live-action/animated special that will feature a new cast and air Dec. 15 on the broadcast network. Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Wicked) is on board to executive produce the project, which will be directed by Hamish Hamilton. The latter is best known for helming awards shows including the Emmys and Grammys, as well as the Super Bowl halftime show, ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live and a pair of Disney’s quarantine-era singalongs.

Disney’s live-action/animated Beauty and the Beast special will air on ABC on December 15 and will then be made available on December 16 to all Disney+ subscribers. The special is exciting news to all Beauty and the Beast fans, especially since Disney broke the news that it was indefinitely delaying — most likely canceling — the spinoff series, Little Town. The show was set to star Josh Gad and Luke Evans as LeFou and Gaston and tell their story before they ended up in Belle’s provincial town.

Writer on ABC Drama Placed On Leave Pending Investigation

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

One of the main things you are taught in Intro to Writing classes is “write what you know.” And while many truly magical stories have been created by things we know nothing about — J.R.R. Tolkien created an entire language for his incredible novels — some of the best stories are pulled right from the writer’s lives. One of those writers, who based her scripts on her life, was Elisabeth Finch. Finch has written for the popular ABC show Grey’s Anatomy — created by Shonda Rhimes — since 2014.

However, it is now being reported that Finch may have fabricated large pieces of personal information about her life. This includes a cancer diagnosis. ABC — which is owned by Disney — has placed Finch on Administrative leave pending an HR investigation. Elisabeth Finch has also published stories about her life in pieces for Elle magazine, Shondaland.com, and even The Hollywood Reporter. The last of which is now reporting on her potential web of lies.

Elisabeth Finch

Per The Hollywood Reporter:

Sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter that Disney’s human resources and legal departments are conducting an internal investigation to determine if elements including her cancer diagnosis and abortion while undergoing chemotherapy, among other subjects, were not accurate. Reps for Shondaland did not immediately respond to calls and emails from THR. The Ankler earlier reported that an investigation was launched by Disney…

Multiple sources tell THR that the doubt over the validity of Finch’s personal details arose after the writer cited a family emergency and left the writers’ room to address a family matter. When colleagues phoned Finch’s wife, Jennifer Beyer, similarities to the story Finch told her colleagues and Beyer’s history matched. Beyer raised concerns with Disney and Shondaland execs, prompting Finch to be placed on administrative leave. Finch and Beyer are now said to be going through an “acrimonious divorce,” as one source described it.

Elisabeth Finch

THR spoke to some of Finch’s colleagues about the investigation, and they were shocked. Some have worked with Finch for years and do not believe that there is a “smoking gun” to conclude that she did in fact lie. Many of them have been supporting her through her journey and do not want to believe that she would lie to them about such life-altering experiences.

Finch has written for a number of other successful television shows, including True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. Neither Disney nor Finch nor her representatives have commented on the investigation at this time.

Aulani Resort Sets the Stage for ABC’s ‘American Idol’

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

ABC’s “American Idol” is returning to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa for its fifth season on ABC and 20th season overall. After earning their chance to become America’s next superstar in Hollywood, American Idol contestants will journey to Oahu to hone their craft under the guidance of celebrity mentors as they prepare to showcase their vocal skills during a concert on Aulani Resort’s beach. 

But, it will not be all work. Between coaching sessions and performing, the contestants will have time to explore all the incredible experiences that Aulani Resort has to offer. They will dine on culinary delights including Mickey Shave Ice, traditional island cuisine and sushi. And, the lush surroundings on 21 oceanfront acres are sure to provide inspiration for the up-and-coming artists. Of course, the sprawling Waikolohe Valley pool area is always a favorite among activities for American Idol contestants. Here they can admire the view from a quiet infinity-edge pool, float along a lazy river, splash down water slides and more.

The upcoming episode will feature the American Idol all-star judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, along with Emmy-winning producer and host Ryan Seacrest, and celebrity mentors, as they coach and critique contestants competing to become the next American Idol.

This milestone season of ABC’s “American Idol” begins Sunday, Feb. 27 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST). Stay tuned every week to catch the two episodes filmed at Aulani Resort, and see contestants enjoy a Hawaiian paradise with a touch of Disney magic.

Follow along on our Aulani Resort social channels @DisneyAulani and also on @AmericanIdol.

“Mandalorian” actress Gina Carano responds to Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Actress Gina Carano from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian isn’t happy about Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension either.

Goldberg was suspended for two weeks by ABC New President Kimberly Godwin after Goldberg made comments on Monday’s episode of ABC’s The View, saying the Holocaust was “not about race,” but rather about “man’s inhumanity to man,” which led to an immediate outcry online.

Goldberg’s co-hosts are reportedly unhappy about the decision on ABC’s part to take disciplinary action against Goldberg, and some fans of The View are angered by Goldberg’s suspension, some threatening a boycott of the series citing the news network’s “double standard” in suspending Goldberg for her comments while a former co-host, Meagan McCain, never received similar consequences for comments she made over the years than some felt were inflammatory.

But others, like actress Gina Carano, who was fired by Disney for comments she made referring to the Holocaust feel there’s been a “double standard,” but from a different angle.

Last February, Carano was fired from her role as Cara Dune on Disney+’s The Mandalorian for comments she made in an Instagram post, which read:

“Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors… even by children… Because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?”

“Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future,” a Lucasfilm spokesperson said in a statement regarding her termination. “Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”

Carano has taken to Twitter this week to give clarity to her Instagram post from February 2021, to show her support for the Jewish community, and to call for “conversation over cancellation.”

Carano tweeted that she never once said that “Republicans were being treated like Jews in the Holocaust.”

Carano also tweeted about her support for the Jewish community, saying that last year, when she was fired by Disney for her comments, it was a Jewish man, Ben Shapiro, who reached out to her.

Goldberg’s suspension came on Tuesday of this week. Goldberg made her comments during Monday’s episode of The View, after which Goldberg appeared on the Late Night with Stephen Colbert Show and doubled down on her comments from earlier that day. Later on Monday, she made an apology, and on Tuesday’s episode, she made an apology on-air.