News Mash-up: TV Shows

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. reunite / ˌri yuˈnaɪt / (v.) – to be together again, especially after a long time of being away from each other
    Example:

    My friends and I finally reunited after 10 years.


  2. quirky / ˈkwɜr ki / (adj.) – unusual in an interesting way
    Example:

    The quirky magician wears brightly colored clothes all the time.


  3. tribute / ˈtrɪb yut / (n.) – an act that shows respect or appreciation, especially for someone who has passed away
    Example:

    I wrote a song as a tribute to my grandfather, who passed away last month.


  4. loopy / ˈlu pi / (adj.) – acting strange or silly
    Example:

    He’s a loopy comedian in his movies, but he’s actually a very serious man in real life.


  5. champion / ˈtʃæm pi ən / (v.) – to publicly support and fight for a belief or cause
    Example:

    She’s a lawyer who champions human rights.


Article

Read the text below.

And Just Like ThatSeries reboot returns Sex and the City characters to small screen


Members of the original cast of the popular U.S. television show Sex and the City reunited on the red carpet in New York on Dec. 8 to celebrate the release of their series reboot, And Just Like That.


Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis appear in the program, which picks up with the same characters after roughly two decades. Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones, the fourth member of the group of close girlfriends on Sex and the City, will not appear in the new series.


Chris Noth and Mario Cantone, among other well-loved characters from the original show, will return, according to the network. The new 10-episode series began airing on HBO Max from Dec. 9. (Reuters)


Betty White, star of American TV sitcoms for over 60 years, dies at 99


Betty White, the actress who played many quirky roles on American TV sitcoms, has died in Los Angeles. She was 99.


Her longtime agent and friend, Jeff Witjas, confirmed her death on Dec. 31. She had no diagnosed illness, he said.


She would have turned 100 on Jan. 17.


Her death brought tributes from the U.S. president and his wife.


“We loved Betty White,” first lady Jill Biden said as she left a Delaware restaurant with President Joe Biden. The president said: “Ninety-nine years old. As my mother would say, God love her.”


White worked in TV for more than 60 years. She was the mancrazy TV hostess on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s and played the loopy housemate on The Golden Girls in the ’80s.


She won many awards, including seven Emmys. White also championed animal welfare causes. (AP)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Sex and the City‘s reboot, And Just Like That, was released about 17 years after the show’s final episode. Do you think the old show’s fans will still support its reboot? Why or why not? Is there any show that you want a reboot of? Discuss.
  • Why do you think the show’s producers chose to include the actors from the original show in the reboot? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • White worked in television for more than 60 years and played many roles in American sitcoms. How do you think her passing would affect American sitcom fans? Is there an actor that’s passed away that you miss a lot? Discuss.
  • White would’ve turned 100 years old last January 17. How do you think her fans, colleagues, and loved ones should continue to celebrate her life (ex. hold charity events for causes she supported, create a special tribute show for her)? Discuss.