New Mexico Film Office director Nick Maniatis announced on Tuesday that AMC has renewed the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul starring Bob Odenkirk and that it will again will be filmed in Albuquerque. Officials say the drama series, produced by Sony Pictures Television, will employ at least 75 to 90 New Mexico crew members. Better Call Saul follows Jimmy McGill, played by Odenkirk, who later changes his name to Saul Goodman and becomes an attorney for crime kings in the hit show Breaking Bad, which was broadcast from 2008 to 2103. Odenkirk played the lawyer of Bryan Cranston's character, the drug dealer Walter White, in the AMC series Breaking Bad, which was also filmed in Albuquerque. – AP
Miss USA pageant gets new hosts and channel
Sunday’s Miss USA pageant will now be hosted by Todd Newton and former Miss Wisconsin USA Alex Wehrley. The pageant faced major disruption that saw a mass exodus of on-air talent after co-owner Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric against Mexican immigrants to the United States. The remarks were made as he kicked off his presidential bid in June. NBC, Trump’s broadcasting partner in the Miss USA pageant, cited his comments when it cut business ties with him and dropped its pageant telecast. The channel Reelz acquired the rights last week, with its chief executive Stan Hubbard saying that while he disagreed with Trump’s comments, he admired the pageant. – AP
Rosie Perez leaves The View
Rosie Perez has quit The View and plans to return to acting. The talk show's executive producer Bill Wolff lauded Perez for handling her View host duties while performing in Larry David's Broadway play, Fish in the Dark. The talk show's team plans to have a "proper send-off" for Perez in a few weeks, Wolff said, which is when its current season wraps. Perez's departure leaves Whoopi Goldberg and relative newcomers Raven-Symoné and Nicolle Wallace. The show's tally of ex-hosts includes Rosie O'Donnell, Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd. Series creator Barbara Walters retired as host last year. – AP
Lady Gaga’s designer to show at NYFW
Brandon Maxwell, Lady Gaga's long-time stylist and a designer in his own right, will show his first full ready-to-wear collection at New York Fashion Week in September. Maxwell has created numerous looks for Gaga over the years, including a silver gown with a plunging neckline and high slit for this year's Grammys, in addition to a majority of the outfits Gaga has worn for her Cheek to Cheek tour with Tony Bennett. Known for a bold but glamorous aesthetic, Maxwell is listed in The Hollywood Reporter's Top 25 most powerful stylists in Hollywood. His fashion week debut was announced on Monday. – AP
Hema Malini talks about car crash that that killed a child
Hema Malini has spoken out about her car accident in which a 6-year-old girl was killed. The actress-turned politician tweeted her "heart goes out to the child who unnecessarily lost her life and the family members who have been injured in the accident". Malini also laid the blame on the deceased father who drove the Alto car that hit Malini's Mercedes on July 2. "How I wish the girl's father had followed the traffic rules – thn this accident could have been averted & the lil one's life safe!" [sic]. – The National staff
Comedy Nights With Kapil partners with Peta India
The cast of the television show Comedy Nights With Kapil has teamed up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India for a new campaign to promote the adoption of homeless cats and dogs. The campaign shows the cast on set alongside the words "Adopt a Dog From a Shelter or the Streets – Don't Buy". Host Kapil Sharma has rescued a golden Labrador named Zanjeer, a retired police dog, and the animal accompanies him to the set along with cast member Sumona Chakravarti, Ali, Sunil Grover and Kiku Sharda. "He is a part of our family," said Kapil, recounting a moment in which the dog attempted to protect his beloved actors by breaking up a staged fight between two cast members. The campaign will be broadcast starting tonight. – IANS
