Netflix Just Dropped a New Trailer for “Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy Part 2”

by Jennifer SwartvagherAugust 21, 2020

DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy Part 2 launches exclusively on Netflix Sept. 4. Inspired by the 2002 Oscar-nominated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy Part 2 takes place during their final term as Foals, Lucky, Pru & Abigail have finally adjusted to life at Palomino Bluffs Riding Academy when Mariciela announces that she and Mystery will be joining them.

According to the show’s description, as the PALs become the PALMs the girls must learn to navigate friendships both old and new, especially when Eleanor, a new student, and potentially a faster racer than Lucky and Spirit, arrives on the racetrack. Together they will face their biggest challenges yet as the girls bravely encounter new adventures, experience new emotions, and discover that friendship is what ultimately matters most.

Jane Lynch (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) joins the cast this season as “Coach Bradley”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Netflix

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American Girl “Heroes with Heart” Contest Winners Announced

by Jennifer SwartvagherAugust 21, 2020

American Girl wanted to thank real-life community heroes helping out on the frontlines during the pandemic. As part of their #ThankYouHeroes program, they held a “Heroes with Heart” contest.Five Grand Prize winners were selected and received a one-of-a-kind, custom-made American Girl doll and outfit in the hero’s likeness, along with a $200 American Girl gift card for the nominator.

“At American Girl, we’ve always celebrated the idea of acting with courage and compassion,” says Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “That’s why we’re proud to recognize these local heroes who all play critical roles in helping our friends, families and communities every day. It’s this kind of dedication and service that shows true strength of character.”

There was an amazing response with more than 1,000 nominations of really moving stories. Five “Heroes with Heart” contest winners have been announced.

April is a paramedic nominated by her niece for working on the frontlines in Virginia.
Xavier is a grocery store worker nominated by his sister for working five days a week at a grocery store during the pandemic.
Pam is a teacher nominated by her students who visited each student’s house with a smile, an encouraging sign, and a bag of books.
Sarah is a Nurse assistant nominated by her granddaughter for her dedication and patience as a caregiver and in feeding the homeless in her community.
Laurent is a pilot for Spirit Airlines nominated by his daughter for volunteering to fly a team of American doctors to Haiti to help them fight COVID-19 and a return flight full of stranded U.S. citizens.

“Heroes with Heart” is part of American Girl’s #ThankYouHeroes program, which also includes an exclusive Scrubs doll outfit to honor frontline healthcare workers with a donation of books benefiting First Responders Children’s Foundation.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: American Girl

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XUMO Launches Free Kids TV Channel

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 14, 2020

Many families have been taking advantage of streaming new shows and catching up on old favorites. XUMO announced the launch of FREE Kids TV, a new dedicated channel just for kids programming. Now you can enjoy over 40 different series on this free, ad-supported streaming TV service.

FREE Kids TV delivers pop culture classics, like all four seasons of WildBrain’s Daytime Emmy Award-nominated Teletubbies and 14 seasons of Teen Choice Award-winner Degrassi: The Next Generation. Other WildBrain favorites on the channel include Rainbow Ruby and Rev & Roll. Other beloved shows like Raggs Nursery Rhymes from dotstudioPRO, Zoomix from Indigenius, Elf Learning For Kids from Glewed TV, Gummy Bear from Imira Entertainment, and more will also be available for free on FREE Kids TV, located at channel 600 on the guide. The new channel complements XUMO’s wildly successful Kids & Family genre.

“Weekday consumption across the Kids & Family vertical has increased significantly over the past month with TV tune-ins spiking around 9:00 a.m. Eastern,” said Stefan Van Engen, XUMO’s senior vice president of content partnerships and programming. “As quarantine keeps our schools closed around the country, more than ever, families are still searching for new and engaging home entertainment options, and FREE Kids TV on XUMO is providing hundreds of hours of parent-approved content their children will love. Our service is known for its high-quality programming and we continue to prioritize on-boarding premium, brand-safe streaming content for kids.”

“We’re delighted that our shows like Teletubbies and Degrassi: The Next Generation will be available to kids and families on XUMO,” noted Lara Ilie, vice president of rights strategy at WildBrain. “As one of the leading free, ad-supported streaming TV services, XUMO is an ideal partner to help us bring iconic WildBrain brands and series to viewers.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Elly Fairytale from Pexels

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“The Wonderful World of Disney” Will Make Movie Night a Little More Magical

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 8, 2020

Grab the popcorn because it’s movie night! ABC announced that “The Wonderful World of Disney” will bring a little bit of Disney magic into our homes each week. For four consecutive Wed. evenings, beloved titles currently available on Disney+, will be shown in prime time on ABC, beginning with the broadcast world debut of Disney’s Academy Award-nominated Moana on Wed. May 20 at 8 p.m. ET.

Additional titles include Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World, Academy Award-winning films Up from Disney and Pixar and Disney’s Big Hero 6.

Also at DisneyMagicMoments.com, fans and families can find more entertaining stories, videos and activities from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic that inspire imagination and discovery.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Alex Munsell on Unsplash

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NASA Astronaut Joins “Reading with Role Models” Series

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 26, 2020

You may be looking for new ways to entertain your kids at home. There are a wealth of online resources you can access. NASA Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel Nicole A. Mann will be joining Hullabaloo Book Co + Chronicle Books for “Reading with Role Models,” a free virtual story time featuring everyday heroes.

NASA Astronaut LtCol Nicole A. Mann will read Most Marshmallows. Listeners will also have the chance to hear her talk about her amazing experiences as an astronaut. Mann is a graduate of the Naval Academy and Stanford and a Marine F-18 operational and test pilot, She is the only female in the upcoming first crewed flight of the Starliner spacecraft.

This episode of “Reading with Role Models” will air next Thurs., Apr 30 at 3 p.m ET/12,p.m. PT and will only be available to watch for 72 hours (per NASA).

LtCol Mann’s episode of “Reading with Role Models” is an exciting addition to the “Reading with Role Models” lineup that includes an ER Doctor, a biologist, sheriffs, firefighters, a young environmentalist, a Tony-nominated Broadway performer and many more. Previous installments can be found at The Hullaballo Book Company’s YouTube Page.

Those interested in attending this free virtual event can sign up at www.readingwithrolemodels.com.

A new installment of Reading with Role Models is available every Tues. and Thurs. at 3 p.m. ET on the website and Instagram. Videos will be uploaded to YouTube within a couple of days.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: The Hullabaloo Book Compnay

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Teen Activist Greta Thunberg Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

by Jennifer SwartvagherFebruary 4, 2020

Countless kids and young adults are trying to change the world. Swedish teen activist, Greta Thunberg, the founder of the Fridays for Future movement, has already inspired many to stand up for their beliefs. Now, the 17-year-old has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize for the second year in a row.

According to the Associated Press, Thunberg was nominated by two Sweedish lawmakers, Jens Holms and Hakan Svenneling, who are both members of Sweden’s Left Party. They said that Thunberg, “has worked hard to make politicians open their eyes to the climate crisis” and “action for reducing our emissions and complying with the Paris Agreement is therefore also an act of making peace.”

In 2018, at age 15, Thunberg sat in front of the Swedish parliament every school day for three weeks to protest the lack of action on the climate crisis. After posting her crusade on Instagram and Twitter she went viral, inspiring fellow students throughout the world to join protests demanding action on climate change.

View this post on Instagram

Just over a year ago, a quiet and mostly friendless teenager woke up, put on her blue hoodie, and sat by herself for hours in an act of singular defiance. Fourteen months later, she had become the voice of millions, a symbol of a rising global rebellion. The politics of climate action are as entrenched and complex as the phenomenon itself, and @gretathunberg has no magic solution. But she has succeeded in creating a global attitudinal shift, transforming millions of vague, middle-of-the-night anxieties into a worldwide movement calling for urgent change. @gretathunberg is TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year. Read the cover story by @charlottealter, @suyinsays and @justinworland—and watch the full video—at the link in bio. #TIMEPOY Video by @robson.alexandra, @juliamarielull, @arpane and @maxim_arbugaev for TIME

A post shared by TIME (@time) on Dec 11, 2019 at 5:28am PST

Thunberg was favored to win the award last year, but the prize ultimately went to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. If she wins this year, she will join Malala Yousafzai as one of the youngest people to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2019, Thunberg was named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year,” and was one of four people named as the winners of a Right Livelihood Award, aka the “Alternative Nobel.”

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This was the year the climate crisis went from behind the curtain to center stage, from ambient political noise to squarely on the world's agenda, and no one did more to make that happen than @gretathunberg. Meaningful change rarely happens without the galvanizing force of influential individuals, writes editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal, and in 2019, the earth's existential crisis found one in Thunberg. For that reason, she is TIME's 2019 Person of the Year. Read more about the #TIMEPOY choice at the link in bio. Photograph by @evgenia_arbugaeva for TIME; Video by @maxim_arbugaev for TIME

A post shared by TIME (@time) on Dec 11, 2019 at 4:45am PST

The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce the winner of this year’s 2020 Nobel Peace Prize later in the year.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Greta Thunberg via Instagram

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Mom-to-Be Maren Morris Chose a Babymoon Over the Grammies

by Erica LoopJanuary 27, 2020

One country star was noticeably absent from the recent Grammy Awards. A very pregnant Maren Morris reportedly spent her Grammy time at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee.

Morris, who was nominated for best country duo/group performance along with Brandi Carlile, announced her pregnancy back in October with a sweet Instagram post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7yiDDMBOqP/

The mama-to-be’s initial announcement featured a baby bump photo of herself with husband Ryan Hurd. Morris captioned the pic, “The irony is just too rich that after a year of living in the “GIRL” headspace, the universe would give us a baby boy to even things out. See you in 2020, little one.”

Her Grammy-day post showcases Morris’ belly bump—as she stands in front of a supremely scenic setting. Morris captioned her new IG photo, “Back at the farm. #babymoon.”

Even though Morris didn’t win a Grammy this year, judging by her IG posts, this soon-to-be mommy still has plenty to celebrate!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Maren Morris via Instagram

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Disney’s Live-Action “The Little Mermaid” Officially Has Its Ariel

by Shahrzad WarkentinJuly 11, 2019

News has been swirling about the cast of the new live-action The Little Mermaid which is in the works, and now fans can officially get a first look at the new Ariel.

Disney has revealed that R&B singer Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle will be joining the cast of The Little Mermaid as the golden-voiced mermaid turned human. “After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance—plus a glorious singing voice—all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role,” the film’s director Rob Marshall said in a statement.

Singer-actress Halle Bailey – part of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle – has nabbed the starring role of Ariel in #Disney's live-action remake of #TheLittleMermaid https://t.co/jDkrGWsYft pic.twitter.com/fi6L6b9JLu

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 3, 2019

Bailey joins the growing cast, which already includes Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina. Melissa McCarthy is also reportedly in talks to play the role of Ursula. This will be the first feature film role for Bailey who also stars in the Freeform series Grown-ish.

The new live action reboot will feature songs from the original animated film as well as new songs composed by Alan Menken and Hamilton sensation Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is no stranger to Disney having written Oscar-nominated songs for Moana and Mary Poppins Returns.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Hollywood Reporter via Instagram

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80’s Kids Rejoice! Punky Brewster Is Getting a Reboot

by Shahrzad WarkentinJune 5, 2019

If you sported a denim vest covered in pins as a kid, chances are you were a big fan of Punky Brewster. Now that spunky gal is headed back to the small screen in a reboot with original star Soliel Moon Frye.

The reboot, which will be based on the Emmy-nominated series Punky Brewster that ran on NBC in the early 80’s, will find Punky all grown up and a single mom of three. She is attempting to get her life on track when she meets a young girl that reminds her of herself as a kid.

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A post shared by Soleil Moonfrye (@moonfrye)

The new series is in the early stages of development so there is no word yet on when it will premiere or what network it will air on. Wherever it lands, fans are sure to enjoy the communal experience of watching with their kids, much like the recent reboots of She’s So Raven and Boy Meets World.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Soliel Moon Frye via Instagram

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Box Office Hit “Little” Was Produced By This Incredible 14-Year-Old Girl

by Shahrzad WarkentinApril 16, 2019

Hollywood is making strides to ensure that productions feature more diversity, but this weekend’s box office hit Little might signal a big first with its 14-year old producer.

Marsai Martin known for her role as Diane Johnson in ABC’s Emmy-nominated hit series Black-ish made her producing debut this weekend in Little. Marsai was just ten-years-old when she pitched the idea of the film to Black-ish creator Kenya Barris and Will Packer, the producer behind the hit movies, like Girls Trip and Night School.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwHdT-AndTz/

Even at ten Marsai noticed that no body swap films, which are a successful Hollywood genre (think Big and Freaky Friday) starred black women so she decided it was time to get one made. The film, which stars a trio of black actresses including Issa Rae and Regina Hall is also directed by a woman, with many women also working behind the scenes.

“She is going to be a force in our industry for a very long time,” producer Packer told the crowd gathered to preview the film at the Cinemacon convention in Las Vegas earlier this month. “It was my privilege to say yes to her.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4QaPkBDC8/

Marsai might be a little producer, but its clear from this film’s success that she is destined for big things.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Marsai Martin via Instagram

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