People: Colbert hires band leader for ‘Late Show’
Stephen Colbert is ready to strike up the band with musician Jon Batiste as his “Late Show” bandleader.
Colbert made the announcement of Batiste on Thursday, saying his music “makes the audience feel so good, we may have to install a ‘Do Not Make Love’ sign.”
Batiste is a singer and educator from New Orleans who has toured globally with his band, Stay Human, and has collaborated with performers including Prince, Wynton Marsalis and Lenny Kravitz. He studied at the Juilliard School, where he received his undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Colbert used to host “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central. He’s stepping into CBS’ late-night slot long occupied by David Letterman.
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” starts Sept. 8.
Rose will get Cronkite Award
Charlie Rose, anchor of “CBS This Morning” and host of a weekly interview show on PBS, will receive the 2015 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism from Arizona State University’s Cronkite School.
The university announced Monday that Rose will receive the award during an Oct. 19 luncheon in Phoenix.
Rose said in a statement released by the university that he treasures the award from the school located in downtown Phoenix partly because it honors Walter Cronkite, the late longtime CBS News anchor whom Rose said was “the constant connection to our world.”
A North Carolina native, Rose is a graduate of Duke University with a bachelor’s degree in history. He also has a law degree from Duke.
‘I Am Cait’ will follow Jenner
The TV docu-series that will follow Caitlyn Jenner on her journey as a transgender woman has a title: “I Am Cait.”
The E! network, which will air the program starting July 26, unveiled the title, “I Am Cait,” and a trailer Wednesday amid the public’s fascination with the Olympic gold medal-winner’s transition.
The former Bruce Jenner announced her new name and presented a postoperative look in an interview and photo spread in Vanity Fair released Monday. The pictures and details generated worldwide attention and reaction, mostly supportive, on social media.
Jenner, who is 65 years old, first went public about her transition in an ABC News interview with Diane Sawyer that aired April 24. It was during that interview that the eight-part E! series was announced.
The birthday bunch
Actor-singer Bill Hayes is 90. Broadcast journalist Bill Moyers is 81. Rock singer Laurie Anderson is 68. Financial guru Suze Orman is 64. Rock musician Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) is 63. Jazz musician Kenny G is 59. Actor Jeff Garlin is 53. Actor Ron Livingston is 48. Actor Mark Wahlberg is 44. Rock musician Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) is 36.