From changes in the music industry to new TV shows, this is your entertainment brief from last week’s biggest entertainment news.
Ozzy Osbourne Leaving the United States
Heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne is leaving the United States, reportedly citing gun violence as the main reason.
“Everything’s ridiculous [in the U.S.],” Osbourne said, talking to The Guardian. “I’m fed up with people getting killed every day. God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. Then there was that shooting in Vegas at that concert.”
Osbourne, along with his wife Sharon, originally announced intentions of moving back to their native U.K. in March 2022 due to California’s high tax rate.
“We are leaving L.A,” Osbourne said, “The tax is getting too much. I am sad because I really like staying and living there.”
On Sept. 2, Ultimate Classic Rock reported the Osbournes planning to return to reality TV. The new BBC miniseries, Home to Roost, will describe the family’s move back to England. The family’s original show, The Osbournes, ran from 2002 until 2005.
Osbourne recently made news on Aug. 8 as he and former Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi reunited to perform their hit song “Paranoid” at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games. This performance was Osbourne’s first since 2019.
Osbourne is also preparing to release his 13th studio album Patient Number 9. The record is due out Sept. 9.
Jason Aldean Dropped from Publicist
Country singer Jason Aldean has been dropped from his publicist after his wife Brittany’s controversial remarks about gender.
One of Nashville’s biggest publicity firms, The GreenRoom, has announced they will no longer be representing Aldean, as his wife’s comments were interpreted by many as “transphobic.”
The firm’s co-owner, Tyne Parrish, spoke to Billboard on Sept. 1, explaining the situation.
“Music has always been and remains The GreenRoom’s core focus, so we had to make the difficult decision after 17 years to stop representing Jason,” Parrish said. “We aren’t the best people for the gig anymore, but will always be fans of his music—he’s one of the greatest live entertainers in country music.”
This announcement, while not specifically mentioning his wife’s remarks, came just days after she posted a controversial video to social media.
On Aug. 23, Brittany Aldean shared a before-and-after makeup video with a caption reading, “I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender during my tomboy phase. I love this girly life.”
Many fans were offended by Aldean’s statements with country stars Maren Morris and Cassadee Pope calling her out.
“It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human,” Morris said. “Zip it, Insurrection Barbie.”
The Rings of Power Debuts on Amazon Prime
On Sept. 1, The Rings of Power debuted on Amazon Prime.
This premiere marks the first “Middle Earth” themed content since Amazon bought the rights to J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series in 2017.
The series, which boasts a $715 million budget for season one, makes history as the most expensive TV show produced. For comparison, Netflix’s Stranger Things 4 cost roughly $30 million per episode, totaling just $270 million.
The Rings of Power takes place roughly three thousand years before the events of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, chronicling Celebrimbor’s creation of the one ring before his mind is twisted by the evil Sauron. In addition, the show follows an expansive cast of characters who will attempt to combat an incoming evil which looms over Middle Earth.
Multiple reviews of the series have been positive, although critics were only able to see the first two of the debut season’s eight episodes.
Actual numbers have yet to be released in terms of viewership, as Neilson data typically lags a show’s premiere by three or four weeks. According to Hollywood Reporter, the numbers won’t be in until the first season is three-fourths complete.
While two episodes of the new Amazon series have already debuted, HBO is fighting for streaming superiority by releasing a free episode of their new series, House of the Dragon, on YouTube.
While both shows seem to have a common fanbase and genre, medieval and fantasy, the different age ratings for the shows seem to play a part in their successes.
House of the Dragon is rated TV-MA, while Rings of Power attains a rating of TV-14, making it more accessible for younger audiences.
When The Rings of Power completes, the first season will have eight episodes. The rest of the season will be released every Friday at 12 a.m. ET.
Jane Fonda Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
Actress Jane Fonda reveals a diagnosis with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and has begun chemotherapy treatment.
Fonda, 84, announced this diagnosis on her Instagram on Sept. 2, saying she has 6 months of chemo ahead of her, but considers herself fortunate.
“This is a very treatable cancer,” Fonda said. “80% of people survive, so I feel very lucky.”
Fonda also said she wouldn’t let the diagnosis interfere with her climate activism.
“We’re living through the most consequential time in human history because what we do or don’t do right now will determine what kind of future there will be,” Fonda said. “I will not allow cancer to keep me from doing all I can.”
Fonda began her acting career in the 1960s, acting both in stage plays (There was a Little Girl) and films (Tall Story).
By the 1970s, Fonda began joining climate protests, citing her pregnancy with her first daughter in 1968 as inspiration for her activism.Fonda has recently been inspired by young activist Greta Thunberg to continue her climate efforts. In 2019, Fonda started “Fire Drill Fridays,” a demonstration at the U.S. Capital to raise awareness for climate change issues.
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