Latest news with #WhatNow
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Wrestling Legend Jim Ross Provides Major Health Update Amid Cancer Battle
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Legendary announcer Jim Ross has shared a positive update on his health. On his Grilling JR podcast, he confirmed his cancer is gone and praised AEW President Tony Khan. Ross has been dealing with health issues for some time. He stated that his main goal now is to get back to work at the commentary desk. Jim Ross Is Cancer-Free Ross expressed his excitement about returning to AEW. He also delivered the welcome news about his health status. "The cancer's gone, which I'm very happy to say," Ross shared (H/T to "So you know, I'm blessed that my health has returned, and I'm feeling pretty damn good." He is eager to stop sitting at home. He is targeting a major upcoming AEW event for his return. "My plan is to be in Dallas for the big event [AEW All In]," Ross said. Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross attends the premiere of "What Now" at The Laemmle Music Hall on March 10, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross attends the premiere of "What Now" at The Laemmle Music Hall on March 10, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California Praise For Tony Khan Ross made a point to thank his boss for his support. He said Tony Khan has been "amazingly wonderful" during his illness. "He supported me wholeheartedly and I really do appreciate that," Ross stated. "That's the way a boss should act, should do is take care of your people." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation He noted that he feels indebted to Khan and AEW. He plans to repay that support by doing his best work when he returns. "Tony Khan has certainly taken good care of me, and I plan on being reciprocal and doing my best to take care of him in my role going forward," he said. AEW All In weekend takes place in Arlington, Texas. It begins with the Starrcast convention on Friday, July 11, and the pay-per-view is on Saturday, July 12. Ross has been a foundational voice for AEW since its inception. He signed with the company in April 2019 in a dual role as both a lead commentator and a senior advisor, bringing instant credibility and a familiar, respected voice to the new promotion. For years, Ross was a regular fixture on the commentary team for Dynamite and major pay-per-views, calling many of the company's most historic moments. While health issues have recently seen him transition to making special appearances on shows like Collision and pay-per-views, he remains a key figure and mentor within the company. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'I'm pampered': Anele Mdoda shares joys of marriage on the 'What Now with Trevor Noah' podcast
Anele Mdoda and her husband, Buzza James, embracing in Munich. Image: Instagram. In the latest episode of the wildly popular podcast "What Now with Trevor Noah", listeners were treated to a delightful conversation between host Trevor Noah and his friends, radio presenter and film producer Anele Mdoda and fellow radio personality Sizwe Dhlomo. The episode took a heartfelt turn as Mdoda, who recently celebrated her traditional marriage to Bonelela Buzza James, opened up about her exciting new chapter as a bride. Describing her experience of being newly married, Mdoda radiated happiness as she shared: "I'm spoiled, I'm pampered, it's nice. I do nothing which is great ... They try to tell us women, you must cook, you must clean, no, none of that. The real marriage is that it's the man that does everything." She continued to say that all she needed to do was cook. "It's so nice to find a partner, like I've literally found an equal, like he my dude, he's my guy. I feel so protected and safe and it's just that entire thing. Also because he's the one person in the world that I don't have to convince to be on my side. He is automatically on my side." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ While Mdoda celebrated her marital bliss, Dhlomo chimed in with playful banter, teasing the possibility of his own secret marriage. The light-hearted conversation continued as Noah revealed that Mdoda's upcoming white wedding would be a significant milestone for him - it would be the first wedding he has ever attended. "I've never attended a wedding ever in my life ... A part of the reason I don't attend weddings is because I work to much and the other reason is that people don't invite me to their weddings or they uninvite me because I am me," said Noah. Curious about wedding etiquette, he sought advice from Mdoda regarding her special day. "Is there anything I should or shouldn't do?" To which Mdoda responded: "You'll be fine, Trevor. You've been to the Oscars and Grammy's ..." She also divulged the one rule that she will never break when attending weddings. "I have a hard rule that I do not take photos at weddings with people because it's all about the couple, leave me out of it," said Mdoda. Watch the full podcast below.
The Spinoff
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘A big, brave thing': Janine Morrell-Gunn on What Now's huge pivot
The children's television veteran shares her life in television. A year-and-a-half ago, beloved local children's series What Now made the hugest swing of it's television tenure. After four decades as a live studio show, the series pivoted to be digital-first. YouTube became the primary platform for the show, with short videos being uploaded regularly and a pre-recorded episode packaging it all together still airing every Sunday morning on TVNZ2. 'We did a big thing and a brave thing,' says Janine Morrell-Gunn, executive producer of What Now and director of Whitebait Media. 'After 42 years on television, it's been tantamount to moving the Titanic.' Aside from moving to a smaller studio, there's also been a refresh of the hosting dynamic. What Now is now helmed by a 'crew' mostly in their early 20s, who take turns hosting the studio show and competing in a range of challenges together. 'It has really changed the whole culture of the show, which I think is much closer to reflecting young people and how they live their lives,' says Morrell-Gunn. She admits that the new era of What Now initially spent time trying to 'out-beast Mr Beast' with the likes of dramatic helicopter stunts, but have now settled into simpler shortform quiz formats and lo-fi crew set-ups. And having worked on everything from Spot On to The Son of a Gunn Show, Morrell-Gunn remains passionate about celebrating local kids. 'Kids seeing themselves on screen, hearing their voices and having their own humour and sensibilities showcased is so important,' she says. 'We need to keep seeing kids from all cultures accepting, playing, and enjoying each other.' And, before you ask, there's still plenty of room for gunge – the new era of What Now also comes with a fully mobile gunge tank, which is still traversing the motu gunging kids to this day. 'Whatever gunge means, it's joyful,' says Morrell-Gunn. Speaking of joyful, we asked Morrell-Gunn to take us through some of her most treasured television memories, including what Michael Jackson had to do with Jason and Thingee's Big Adventure. My earliest TV memory is… Watching The High Chaparral, which is a Western from way back in the day. That's how old I am – the show aired in the late 60s. The reason I remember it is because I was terrified behind this chair watching it. The show I would rush home from school to watch is… We didn't watch TV very much after school as kids, but I do remember Romper Room which was a preschool show. They'd do a song where kids would run around the studio with these little wooden horses between their legs. I knew a girl Eden who got on the show and she took her horse and started hitting the lights in the studio. I don't know why they didn't edit in those days. A TV moment that haunts me is… We made Jason and Thingee's Big Adventure on the weekends while we were working on other things during the week, and we had so much fun. But my haunting memory was that we included various video clips from the Son of a Gunn Show throughout, and one of them was montage with a young group of dancers who were dancing to 'Beat It'. When it was about to come out we got a message saying 'have you cleared the Michael Jackson song?' We hadn't, so we re-recorded a soundalike using session musicians. I thought we had sorted it out, except that the original version with Michael Jackson was somehow put out on the VHS. I've lost a lot of sleep about that because I could see the headlines – 'Michael Jackson sues Christchurch woman' – but we lived to tell the tale. My earliest TV crush was… Definitely David Soul from Starsky and Hutch. He went into singing and I bought his 45 from the local record shop for 99 cents. No one who reads this will remember any of this. My TV guilty pleasure is… I did have a big Schitt's Creek moment. So many people had said to watch it and I couldn't get through the first couple of episodes, and then suddenly those 80 episodes just went like that [Morrell-Gunn snaps her fingers]. I could not get enough of it – I'd just keep tapping on the table and say 'go again, Jason'. I remember feeling very much out of control. My favourite TV character of all time is… Well, my husband. I've enjoyed him on everything that he's ever done. I just think he has this beautiful, real and really relatable way about him. So he is my pick. My favourite TV show I've ever been involved in is… That's a hard one for me, because they're all your babies. 2kaha was a show we made on Saturday mornings and I loved the Māori sensibility, it had a really great energy about it. Bumble was also something special. I just love the kindness of that show, there was real joy in that and innocence to it. You never know what impact your shows ever have, but I remember getting this mail from a mum thanking me because she could put her child in front of Bumble and finally have a shower. And then there's Brain Busters – making the te reo Māori version of Brain Busters just melted my heart. The TV project I wish I could be involved in is… I'd love to have worked on Adolescence. I think it's just stunning what they achieved. From the execution of that idea through the script, to the groundbreaking style of storytelling, to the messaging and the timeliness and the need for it in society… it was just a fabulous piece of content. My controversial TV opinion is… This isn't controversial, but I've always been a champion for children's content. I think that we always get the thin end of the wedge, and that young people deserve the same range and diversity of local content across all genres. Children's television often feels last in a long, long line. A show out there I won't watch, no matter how many people say I should… I don't watch any real-life murder crime series. The family love them and I'll take a look if I'm wandering through the room, but only because I'm fascinated by the technique – how slow it takes, how much is recapped, how they interview. But it's never going to have a happy ending. The last thing I watched on television was… We just waited for that last episode of Mob Land, and loved that. Also just finished My Friends and Neighbours. And then Nine Perfect Strangers, based on the Lianne Moriarty book with Nicole Kidman. We love the dramas.
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Legendary Wrestling Announcer Jim Ross To Undergo Surgery
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Legendary wrestling commentator Jim Ross provided a significant update on his health during a live episode of his Grillin JR podcast. Ross, who revealed earlier this month his diagnosis with colon cancer, confirmed that his surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning, May 27th. Ross shared that the cancer has been located in two places, but expressed a resilient mindset heading into the procedure. "Getting ready for surgery, and that's always stressful but I've prepared myself mentally and physically to endure the situation," Ross said on the show. He mentioned doctors anticipate a six-day hospital stay and that the surgery will be less invasive, though he was awaiting more specific details. Fortunately, he also noted that he is "not in any pain" currently. Despite the upcoming surgery, Ross remains focused on his career and has no plans to step away from wrestling. While he stated, "I'm thinking I'll really slow down after the surgery. I'll talk to the doctor, and see what he says. I'll try to really slow down when this is over," he also believes he can maintain his previous AEW schedule. "I could still do my schedule I had, but I don't know if anybody else believes that. I believe it. I still would love to do the pay-per-views in AEW, but I don't know if Tony will want me on, I don't know." He definitively added, "I don't plan on retiring, I plan on getting healthy and getting well and doing something for somebody and we'll see how that works out." Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross attends the premiere of "What Now" at The Laemmle Music Hall on March 10, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross attends the premiere of "What Now" at The Laemmle Music Hall on March 10, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California The WWE Hall of Famer also spoke about the incredible support he has received. He shared a touching moment: "I was at home and I got a call from Steve Austin. And when we got off the phone, I looked at my phone and we talked for 43 minutes." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "And here's what your friends do. They call you, they talk to you, and at the end of the conversation, they tell you they love you. That's what Steve did. So that's what I got. And that cheered me up. And it made me feel strong and vibrant." He also praised AEW President Tony Khan, stating, "Tony Khan called me, which was nice. You know, the Khan family has done an amazing job of taking care of JR since I signed with their company. He's very talent-friendly. Maybe too friendly at times." Looking ahead, Ross is optimistic about attending AEW All In: Texas later this summer. When asked about the possibility, he responded enthusiastically, "Hell ya, I think so. Why not?" Due to his current focus on his health, Ross mentioned he did not get a chance to watch the wrestling shows from the past weekend, saying, "I did not. I was sleeping." More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Wrestling Legend Jim Ross Diagnosed With Cancer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Legendary professional wrestling commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross shared serious health news with his global fanbase earlier today, May 15, 2025. He announced via his official X account that he has been diagnosed with colon cancer. Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross attends the premiere of "What Now" at The Laemmle Music Hall on March 10, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross attends the premiere of "What Now" at The Laemmle Music Hall on March 10, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California In a candid post, Ross stated: "Diagnosed this week with colon cancer. Surgery being scheduled in the next week or two." He also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of concern, adding, "I appreciate your concern and support." Diagnosed this week with colon cancer. Surgery being scheduled in the next week or two. I appreciate your concern and support. 🙏 — Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) May 15, 2025 This story will be updated shortly....
