Celebrity Extra: Bridget Everett
By Dana Jackson
Q: Where have I seen the actress who stars in the HBO series "Somebody Somewhere?" Was she a stand-up comedian? -- J.J.
A: The acclaimed series "Somebody Somewhere" recently concluded its second season, with Bridget Everett as the star of her semi-autobiographical series. You might recognize her as a stand-up comedian, most notably doing her routine on comedy specials as well as the series "Inside Amy Schumer."
Everett previously attended Arizona State University on a full scholarship to study music and opera. She got a standing ovation when she performed the song "Piece of My Heart" on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and later incorporated a performance of the same song on "Somebody Somewhere."
Prior to landing a starring role in her own series, she guest-starred on shows like "2 Broke Girls" and "AJ and the Queen," and she also had a dramatic role as a foster mom in the Netflix miniseries "Unbelievable."
You can watch the first two seasons of the heartwarming dramedy "Somebody Somewhere" on the recently renamed streaming service Max (formerly HBO Max).
Bridget Everett stars in the HBO series "Somebody Somewhere." Photo Credit: Depositphotos
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Q: I've gotten really hooked on "The Night Agent" on Netflix. There's a character on the show named Diane Farr. I could have sworn there is also an actress with that same name. Am I mistaken? -- D.E.
A: While Oscar-nominated actress Hong Chau ("The Whale") plays a fictional character named Diane Farr in the Netflix series "The Night Agent," there is indeed an actress with that same name. The actress Diane Farr currently stars on another hit show -- "Fire Country" -- and previously played an FBI agent on "Numb3rs."
"The Night Agent" began as a novel by Matthew Quirk. The author originally named Chau's future character Diane Carruthers, but changed it to the shorter surname of Farr before publication. He told TVLine that he never heard of the actress Diane Farr when he penned the book, but now that he's aware of her, he said, "I recognize her from many shows I've seen -- and she's great!"
Interestingly, according to Shawn Ryan, showrunner of "The Night Agent," Farr actually auditioned for the role that bears her name, but didn't get the part. "It's tough to tell Diane Farr she can't play Diane Farr," Ryan added.
"The Night Agent" has been a big hit for Netflix, earning a renewal for a second season not long after its premiere.
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Q: When is "Stranger Things" returning with its final season? I've read conflicting information. -- L.S.
A: According to "Variety" magazine, the supernatural hit Netflix series "Stranger Things" has halted production of its fifth and final season due to the writer's strike. Even if all the episodes' scripts are written for a show, writing doesn't stop once filming begins. Therefore, since the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike is still in progress, showrunners Ross and Matt Duffer have ceased filming until negotiations reach a satisfying conclusion.
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