Here's everything that's been happening in the world of Pop Culture this past week... in case you missed it! Feel free to comment on any of the stories and info shared here, add any news bits that you caught going on that may have been missed, or at least show us some love if you read the post but have nothing to comment on by clicking on that little heart icon at the bottom of the post...

GENERAL POP CULTURE NEWS:

- Two-time former “Survivor” contestant RICK DEVENS was named the winner of season 28 of CBS reality competition series “Big Brother” in a 6-1 victory over second place finisher, TAYLOR BROWN, to win the $750,000 prize (Brown receives $75,000 for coming in second). Devens is the first “Big Brother” winner to have previously competed on fellow CBS reality competition series “Survivor” (in both seasons 38 and 50) and at the age of 42 is the second oldest player to win the series. Devens also was named America’s Favorite Houseguest making him only the second player in the game’s history to both win the series and America’s Favorite Houseguest; having won both prizes and a separate in-game reward of $10,000, Devens will take home the largest total amount of prize money the series has ever given to one contestant - $810,000.

- NAMES, HASHTAGS, MEMES, AND TRENDS FROM THIS PAST WEEK –

Cornell University sexual assault lawsuit; botched Tennessee execution; MICHAEL MCDONALD secret son

ON BROADWAY/ THE WEST END -

- Actor NEIL PATRICK HARRIS is set to lead a Broadway revival of musical “Damn Yankees” next year. Harris will play the devilish Mr. Applegate in the production, which will open sometime next spring. Actors JULIANNE HOUGH and AUSTIN SCOTT have also been cast.  

- “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”, based on the classic holiday film, is set to make its Broadway this holiday season for a limited nine-week run. The play will transport audiences to a 1940’s radio studio where a company of celebrated actors – including ANDREW RANNELLS, MEGAN HILTY, TITUSS BURGESS, HARRY HAMLIN, and LISA RINNA - gathers to perform the story live on-the-air, complete with a foley artist and holiday carols. Previews will begin November 4^th at the Broadhurst Theatre; opening night is November 18^th. The play will run through January 3, 2027.

MOVIE NEWS:

- Warner Bros. announced that “Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest”, based on GEORGE R. R. MARTIN’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series from which the “Game of Thrones” series was adapted, has been set for a June 1, 2029 theatrical release. The film centers on King Aegon I Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros. No cast has been announced as of yet.

- MOVIE CASTING UPDATE -
- Singer/actress SABRINA CARPENTER and actress MARGARET QUALLEY have been added to the cast of Sony Pictures’ as-yet-untitled biopic about late actor/dancer FRED ASTAIRE. Carpenter will play Astaire’s frequent co-star and dance partner GINGER ROGERS while Qualley will play Astaire’s sister, ADELE ASTAIRE, with whom he starred on Broadway and London’s West End before becoming a major film star. Actor TOM HOLLAND was previously announced to play Astaire.

- Actress JENNIFER LAWRENCE will star in filmmaker ZACH CREGGER’s next sci-fi thriller “The Flood”.

- Actor WALTON GOGGINS has been added to the cast of Universal’s “Miami Vice ‘85” as a villain.

- Actor BRADLEY COOPER will star as Duke in Paramount’s “G.I. Joe”, based on the Hasbro toy line. Actor/director DANNY MCBRIDE is set to direct the film.

TV NEWS:

- Actors and real-life father and son MARTIN and CHARLIE SHEEN are set to star in a new comedy series for AMC and AMC+ called “Happy Jack”. The multi-cam half-hour family comedy was greenlit for a six-episode first season which will go into production early next year. The series will air on AMC and stream on AMC+ sometime later in 2027. No further details were given regarding the series’ plot.

- Peacock has greenlit a new scripted tv series based on the film franchise “Fast & Furious”. The show’s plot details are being kept under wraps and it is unclear if any of the characters from the film franchise will be involved in the show’s storyline. The series is tentatively set for a 2028 premiere.  

- Warner Bros. TV, producer of ABC reality competition series “The Bachelor”, has sent a cease and desist letter to Fox Nation and Lionsgate Alternative Television over their upcoming reality competition series “The Vow”, set to be hosted by former “Bachelor” host CHRIS HARRISON. Warner Bros. TV is arguing that the program “improperly capitalizes” on the company’s intellectual property and goodwill in the franchise” following the release of a trailer for the new series. Fox Nation stated it will fight back against the claims, which it called “malicious and vindictive”.

 TV CASTING UPDATE –

- Actors JOHN GOODMAN, IAN ALEXANDER, and LAURA BAILEY have been added to the season 3 cast of HBO drama series “The Last of Us”. Goodman and Alexander will play Joey and Paco, a friendly duo who dub themselves “Heroes of the Highway”, while Bailey will play Elizabeth, one of the leaders of the Seraphites.

- Actor TOM HOLLANDER has been added to the season 2 cast of AMC drama series “The Audacity” in a recurring role.

- Actor SCOTT FOLEY is joining the season 4 cast of Apple TV comedy series “Shrinking” in a recurring role.

- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS/EXTENSIONS** -

* “Neagley”, Amazon Prime Video, renewed for season 2

* “Reacher”, Amazon Prime Video, renewed for season 6

* “Big Brother”, CBS, renewed for seasons 29 and 30

* “ESPN Jeopardy!”, Hulu & Disney+, renewed for season 2

MUSIC NEWS:

- The cast of HBO drama series “The Gilded Age” will be featured on a new collection of holiday classics and originals. “Voices of ‘The Gilded Age’: The Christmas Album” will feature two new holiday songs written by songwriter/producer DESMOND CHILD and those songs as well as other holiday classics will be performed by “Gilded Age” cast members (many of whom have Broadway backgrounds) including CHRISTINE BARANSKI, LAURA BENANTI, CARRIE COON, CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER, AUDRA MCDONALD, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL, KELLI O’HARA, TAYLOR RICHARDSON, and MORGAN SPECTOR. “Voices of ‘The Gilded Age’: The Christmas Album” will be released on digital, cd, and vinyl on November 6^th.

- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 SINGLES AROUND THE WORLD –

France: “Fille A Papa” by VACRA & LA RVFLEUZE

Greece: “Pablona” by LIGHT

Ireland: “My Body Isn’t Ready” by SOMBR

Italy: “Lontano” by SFERA EBBASTA

Japan: “Rebon” by NUMBER_I

- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 ALBUMS AROUND THE WORLD –

Australia/ UK: “Pylon” by BEABADOOBEE

Italy: “Miria” by 22SIMBA

US: “Bass Persuades” by MILEY