Television Archives - The Michigan Star

Music Spotlight: Wendy Starland

January 11, 2023January 10, 2023 Bethany Bowman

I met Wendy Starland at a party in Nashville celebrating an upcoming original music competition TV show that will air on MTV later this year. When we arrived, everyone was clamoring to get a picture with her. She was so beautiful that I was taken aback. However, I wondered why she was there.

It turns out that Starland is a musical maven. One of the show’s producers told me that she was a brilliant songwriter and that I needed to meet her. After we met, I asked if she wanted to be featured in my Music Spotlight column, and she gave me her phone number.

Spotlight on Miss Tennessee Lauren Dickson

December 9, 2022December 8, 2022 Bethany Bowman

NASHVILLE, Tennessee-Miss Tennessee 2022 is Lauren Dickson. The Parsons native and Miss Lexington 2021 was selected from a class of 36 candidates to become Miss Tennessee on June 25. Dickson is the 69th Miss Tennessee.

This year, Lauren Dickson represented Lexington, Tennessee (population 7915), right next to her hometown of Parsons, Tennessee (population 2,082). They are located midway between Nashville and Memphis, right off I-40.

Fan-Supported ‘The Chosen’ Season Three Tops Box Office with No. 3 Open

November 26, 2022November 25, 2022 Susan Berry, PhD

The premiere of Season 3 of The Chosen, a free streaming series based on the life of Jesus, opened at a stunning No. 3 spot at the box office this past weekend.

The first two episodes of the premiere of The Chosen Season 3 has drawn a historic number of viewers, pushing its original five-day run in theaters to December 1, and grossing $8.7 million in the United States.

Candace Cameron Bure: Christian Message of ‘Traditional Marriage’ at Core of Great American Family Channel

November 17, 2022 Susan Berry, PhD

Christian actress Candace Cameron Bure says in her new top-level role at the Great American Family Channel, she will place faith and “traditional marriage” at the core of its Christmas movies.

In April, Bure became chief creative officer at Great American Family, a channel that is aiming to become the faith and freedom alternative to Hallmark, where the actress once served as the chief representative of the romantic comedy Christmas channel.

Project Supergroup to Air on MTV

November 9, 2022November 9, 2022 Bethany Bowman

NASHVILLE, Tennessee- Project Supergroup is a first-of-its-kind music competition series that implements a new and innovative “build a band” from scratch concept that showcases exceptionally talented musicians who play, write, and sing. It premiered Tuesday on MTV Live 8c/9e and with reruns Thursday on MTV Classic at 9 p.m. EST and again on Mondays Fave TV also at 9 p.m. EST.

Music SpotlIght: Noah Guthrie

January 24, 2022January 23, 2022 Bethany Bowman

Even though Noah Guthrie played Roderick on Season 6 of Glee in 2015, making music has always been his aspiration. As a very young child, the South Carolina native grew up going to recording studios with his dad and step-mom who were both background singers.

Music Spotlight: Rob Mayes

January 21, 2022January 21, 2022 Bethany Bowman

I attended RomaDrama Live! last year initially because several of the artists I had featured in my column were part of the entertainment. And of course, it was fun to see and meet the popular actors of favorite romance dramas and Hallmark movies. But what I wasn’t expecting was for one of the actors to be a genuinely talented country music singer/songwriter.

Faith-Based Nature Docuseries Bypassing Gatekeepers Thanks to Crowdfunding

September 14, 2021September 13, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

N.D. Wilson loves nature documentaries, but one element of the genre always gets under his skin.

The God-fearing producer calls it the “grinding, empty atheism” found in every sequence.

Mike Richards Out as ‘Jeopardy!’ Host Following Resurfacing of Controversial Remarks on Podcast

August 22, 2021August 21, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

Mike Richards has stepped down as the host of “Jeopardy!” just days after being appointed the new host, following the resurfacing of past inappropriate comments made on a podcast.

“Dear Team – it pains me that these past incidents and comments have cast such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we look to start a new chapter,” Richards wrote in a statement released by Sony, adding that the company will now “resume the search for a permanent syndicated host,” and will bring back guest hosts in the meantime.

Music Spotlight: Dailey and Vincent

July 19, 2021July 18, 2021 Bethany Bowman

Multi-Grammy nominated duo and Opry members, Dailey & Vincent are one of the most popular bands in contemporary American music, embracing bluegrass, country, and gospel.

Music Spotlight: Becca Bowen

February 7, 2021February 6, 2021 Bethany Bowman

NASHVILLE, Tennessee- Becca Bowen is an up-and-coming country artist whose Southern Belle exterior and tomboy personality have earned her the nickname “Country Barbie.” This personal fitness instructor is the single mother of two teenage girls.

Raised in South Carolina, as a child, she participated in pageants and talent shows – but her weekends were spent fishing and enjoying the outdoors with her grandfather. She is a true tomboy with a tiara.

Charlie Brown Holiday Specials Temporarily Returning to TV

November 22, 2020November 21, 2020 Jacob Taylor

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Christmas and Thanksgiving will look quite different this year for millions of Americans across the country, but at least one tradition will make the holidays feel like normal again.

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) announced this week that the company had reached an agreement with Apple TV+ to allow broadcasts of two Charlie Brown holiday specials to air on TV in November and December.

Music Spotlight: Ana Cristina Cash

November 20, 2020November 19, 2020 Bethany Bowman

While Ana Cristina Cash has released “Mele Kalikimaka” for the Holiday season, this exceptional vocalist has a huge catalog of songs that are not to be missed.

Television Legend Alex Trebek Remembered for Grace and Good Humor that Charmed Viewers for More than a Generation

November 9, 2020November 8, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Alex Trebek never pretended to have all the answers, but the “Jeopardy!” host became an inspiration and solace to Americans who otherwise are at odds with each other.

He looked and sounded the part of a senior statesman, impeccably suited and groomed and with an authoritative voice any politician would crave. He commanded his turf — the quiz show’s stage — but refused to overshadow its brainy contestants.

‘Brian’s Song,’ ‘Roots,’ ‘Purple Rain’ Screenwriter William Blinn Dies

October 26, 2020October 25, 2020 The Associated Press

William Blinn, a screenwriter for the landmark TV projects “Brian’s Song” and “Roots” and the Prince film “Purple Rain,” has died. He was 83.

Blinn died Thursday of natural causes at an assisted living community in Burbank, California, his daughter, Anneliese Johnson, said Saturday.

‘Walking Dead’ to be Laid to Rest in 2022, Spin-Offs to Rise

September 10, 2020September 9, 2020 The Associated Press

The end is coming for “The Walking Dead,” but not until 2022.

The AMC series that became a franchise with current and planned spin-offs will wrap with an 11th season spanning 24 episodes and two years, the channel said Wednesday.

Television Viewership Down for Democrats’ Unconventional Convention

August 19, 2020August 18, 2020 The Associated Press

Preliminary estimates show that viewership for the first night of the Democrats’ virtual convention was down compared with the opening of Hillary Clinton’s nominating party four years ago.

An estimated 18.7 million people watched coverage between 10 and 11 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, the Nielsen company said. Four years ago, opening night drew just under 26 million viewers.

A&E Network’s Viewership Decimated After Police Show Canceled

July 27, 2020July 26, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

A&E Network’s cancellation of its popular police show “Live PD” has backfired, big time.

Average prime-time viewership for the channel has declined by 49 percent year over year since the show’s cancellation, according to the Wall Street Journal. Prior to the show’s cancellation June 10, viewership for the channel in 2020 had been up 4 percent over 2019.

Actress Spencer Grammer Slashed Outside Manhattan Restaurant

July 27, 2020July 26, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Actress Spencer Grammer says she was trying to calm an agitated man when he slashed her in the arm and stabbed her friend in the back Friday outside a New York City restaurant.

Grammer, 36, told US Weekly that she and her friend “did what anyone else would do in the same situation” and were “attempting to prevent the altercation from escalating” when they were attacked.

Actor John Saxon Dies

July 27, 2020July 26, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Actor John Saxon, a versatile actor with a lengthy and prolific career who starred with Bruce Lee in “Enter the Dragon” and appeared in several “Nightmare on Elm Street” movies, has died at his home in Tennessee, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He was 83.

The entertainment news outlet quotes Saxon’s wife, Gloria, as confirming that the actor died of pneumonia on Saturday in Murfreesboro.

Alex Trebek Expects to Mark Two-Year Cancer Survival in 2021

July 21, 2020July 20, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Alex Trebek says he’s responding exceptionally well to treatment for pancreatic cancer and expects to mark his two-year survival next February.

His doctor has said he’s counting on that milestone, the “Jeopardy!” host said, “so I expect to be around ‘cause he said I will be around. And I expect to be hosting the show if I am around.”

Comedian DL Hughley Announces He Is COVID-19 Positive After Fainting Onstage

June 22, 2020June 21, 2020 The Associated Press

Comedian D.L. Hughley announced he tested positive for COVID-19 after collapsing onstage during a performance in Nashville, Tennessee.

The stand-up comedian, 57, lost consciousness while performing at the Zanies comedy nightclub on Friday night and was hospitalized, news outlets reported. On Saturday, Hughley posted a video on Twitter in which he said he was treated for exhaustion and dehydration afterward.