Movie theater exhibitors are getting a preview of upcoming blockbusters at CinemaCon, where films like “Fate of the Furious,†“Blade Runner 2049†and “Pirates of the Caribbean†wowed the crowds. Meanwhile, a war of words has been raging among Sean Hannity, Ted Koppel and Bill O’Reilly (and Rep. Maxine Waters, too).
Here’s what’s new and interesting in entertainment and the arts:
- ‘All or Nothing’ will return for Season 2, with the Rams in the spotlight
- Beyoncé as Nala in ‘The Lion King’? It could happen
- Teaser trailer for Season 7 of ‘Game of Thrones’ is here
- Robin Thicke and Paula Patton near custody agreement
- Vin Diesel and Charlize Theron surprise CinemaCon with ‘Fate of the Furious’ screening
Alex Rodriguez likes Jennifer Lopez for her mind
Alex Rodriguez didn’t come out and say Jennifer Lopez’s name Friday on “The View,†but he didn’t really have to.
“It’s obvious,†he told the panel after they began quizzing him about his love life. “We’ve been having a great time.â€
The retired Major League Baseball great, who played for the New York Yankees from 2004 to 2016, rattled off some things he likes about Lopez, whom he’s reportedly been dating for a month or so: She’s a New Yorker. From the Bronx. A great athlete. An incredible mother, sister and daughter. And -- this never hurts -- a big Yankees fan.
“She’s an amazing, amazing girl,†Rodriguez told the panelists. “One of the smartest human beings I’ve ever met.â€
J. Lo also likes chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate chip cookies, he said. Now we’re falling in love with her, too.
Beyoncé as Nala in ‘The Lion King’? It could happen
Beyoncé may say yes to voicing the role of Nala in John Favreau’s remake of “The Lion King,†according to a report Friday.
The “Crazy in Love†singer is the director’s top choice to voice Nala, Simba’s lifelong companion/love interest, in the live-action reboot of the 1994 animated Disney classic, sources told Variety.
Donald Glover is already on board to voice Simba and James Earl Jones will reprise his turn as Mufasa.
Beyoncé and Jay Z announced in February that she’s pregnant with twins. The production would be willing to accommodate any scheduling needs she might have, Variety said, but its insiders emphasized that Blue Ivy’s mom hadn’t made a decision yet.
The pregnancy changed Beyoncé’s mind about headlining the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival this year, as was planned. Lady Gaga will take the reins, with Queen Bey back on top at the festival in 2018.
Amazon’s ‘All or Nothing’ will return for a second season, with the Los Angeles Rams in the spotlight
It’s the Rams’ time to shine, as Amazon announced Friday the renewal of the serialized sports documentary series “All or Nothing.â€
After the first season of the Emmy-nominated program followed the 2015 season of the Arizona Cardinals, Season 2 will focus on the Rams’ 2016 season and their move back to Los Angeles from St. Louis.
The Rams went 4-12 in their first season back on the West Coast and have now scored nearly as many reality television seasons as they have wins. In 2016, both E!’s “Hollywood & Football†and HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Los Angeles Rams†detailed the team’s struggle to acclimate to its new old home.
“‘All or Nothing’ brings Amazon Prime members a deep dive into the lives of professional athletes,†Conrad Riggs, Amazon’s head of unscripted original programming, said in a statement released Friday. “We are excited to highlight the L.A. Rams in Season 2, a team with a compelling story of relocation, rebuilding and reuniting with the city they once again call home.â€
Ross Ketover (“Hard Knocks,†“Inside the NFLâ€) and Pat Kelleher (“Hard Knocks,†“30 for 30 -- Four Falls of Buffaloâ€) are executive producers of the project with Keith Cossrow (“A Football Lifeâ€) serving as show runner.
“Since bringing pro football back to the Los Angeles region last year after a 21-year absence, we have been committed to giving NFL fans an up-close view of our journey,†Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ executive vice president of football operations and chief operating officer, said in Friday’s statement. “We are pleased that NFL Films captured this important chapter in the NFL’s history and are looking forward to working with Amazon to bring this behind-the-scenes look at our team to their customers.â€
No release date for the second season of “All or Nothing†has been announced. The 2017 NFL season kicks off on Sept. 7.
Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs calls for diversity upon receiving Pioneer Award
Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was honored with the Pioneer of the Year award Wednesday night at CinemaCon’s Will Rogers Motion Picture Foundation Dinner.
After Steven Spielberg’s pre-taped message touting Boone Isaacs’ accomplishments, and an onstage tribute from “Selma†actor David Oyelowo, Boone Isaacs accepted her award by stressing the importance of ongoing diversity and inclusion within Hollywood.
“We’re all stronger, our art is more alive, our industry more innovative when we are awakened to fresh perspective,†Boone Isaacs said. “I believe we all have a responsibility to open our industry to reflect the complete mosaic and diversity of our country and the world.â€
That mission of diversity has been a calling card for the head of the Academy, particularly after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
In response to the second consecutive year where only white actors and actresses were nominated in the Oscars’ acting categories, Boone Isaacs spearheaded a movement committed to doubling the number of women and minorities in the academy by 2020.
Though Boone Isaacs did not address the most recent Oscars kerfuffle in her remarks -- the PwC accounting mix-up that initially announced the wrong winner for best picture (it went to “Moonlight,†not “La La Landâ€) -- she did send a letter to Academy members on Wednesday announcing revised protocols to the backstage process.
Boone Isaacs is serving her fourth and final term, which concludes this summer.
Ken Burns to tackle ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali in new documentary
Ken Burns announced Tuesday that he has a new documentary underway on late sports legend Muhammad Ali.
The creator of landmark documentaries including “Baseball†and “The Civil War,†Burns will serve as director and producer on the project, along with daughter Sarah Burns and her husband, David McMahon.
Production on the project began in early 2016, months before Ali’s death in June.
Robin Thicke, Paula Patton near custody agreement, report says
Robin Thicke and Paula Patton might finally be close to a custody settlement, according to a report Thursday.
Patton has agreed to give Thicke significant time with their 6-year-old son, Julian, TMZ said, citing sources “familiar with the situation.†The deal is expected to be inked in about a week, the website said.
The family’s post-split relationships blew up in January, weeks after the death of Alan Thicke, Robin’s father. It was reported that Julian accused his dad of spanking him excessively, and the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services opened an investigation.
Near the end of that month, Patton was granted a restraining order, keeping the “Blurred Lines†singer away from her and granting him only supervised visits with Julian. Thicke ultimately was cleared of “wrongdoing†by DCFS, “Entertainment Tonight†reported, but according to TMZ the investigation remains active.
TMZ said that Julian is now “comfortable†with his dad after spending more time with him while Patton has been out of town working on a movie.
“The Perfect Match†actress filed for divorce in October 2014.
Reps for Patton and Thicke did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Vin Diesel goes electric over Charlize Theron in ‘Fate of the Furious,’ but where’s the Rock?
Two years ago, Vin Diesel took to the stage in front of thousands of movie theater owners and made a vow: “‘The Fate of the Furious’ will be the best movie you have ever seen.â€
The actor set out to make good on that promise Wednesday at CinemaCon, surprising the crowd by debuting the eighth installment in the Universal Pictures franchise.
We’re not sure you’ll agree with Diesel’s assessment about the film’s place in cinematic history, but the movie does deliver on what you’d expect from a “Fast†movie: Fast cars, globetrotting and plenty of “family†mentions.
The movie -- which brings the crew to Havana, Berlin, New York City and the icy tundra in Russia -- will have fans questioning where the loyalty of Diesel’s Dominic Toretto truly lies. While on his honeymoon in Cuba with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Dom is confronted by the franchise’s new villain: Cipher, played by Charlize Theron, who is sporting some, uh, interesting blond dreadlocks.
Diesel was particularly amped on Theron’s performance, telling the audience before the screening that his “whole career was leading up to working with this incredibly brilliant talent.†Their scenes together in Cuba were so electric, he said, that “it changed weather,†apparently causing storms, lightning and thunder.
Theron’s character is out to steal some Russian nukes, but she needs Dom’s help to get them. In order to persuade him to turn on his old crew -- and his new wife -- Theron tells Dom that she’s got something on him. We won’t reveal what -- or who -- forces Dom to turn to the dark side, but let’s just say family has something to do with it.
Theron isn’t the only newcomer to the franchise. There’s Helen Mirren, playing the British mum of Jason Statham’s baddie; she’s enlisted by Dom to help with his mission. There’s also Scott Eastwood, who serves as a government agent but ends up as the “Fast†gang’s punching bag as he tries to keep them on-task.
As for Dwayne Johnson, who over the summer had a beef with Diesel in the last days of filming “Fate of the Furious,†he has a hilarious scene in the beginning of the movie coaching his daughter’s soccer team. A shadow operative turns up at the game to try to pull Johnson back into the‎ fray, but he’s more focused on coaching the team. If they lose, he says, he’s going to have to take the team to a “TayTay concert†-- a.k.a Taylor Swift. It got the biggest laugh of the film.
But Johnson didn’t hear the reaction; after being at CinemaCon Monday and Tuesday for the Sony and Paramount presentations, he was conspicuously absent from the “Furious†panel; Rodriguez wasn’t onstage either.
Most significant, this is the first “Fast†film without Paul Walker, who died in a car accident shortly before production on the seventh movie was complete. As you might expect, though, Walker’s legacy lives on within the franchise -- and there’s a nice reference to his character, Brian O’Conner, at the end of the movie.
Diesel got emotional when talking about his late friend’s influence on the film, saying he was constantly “reminded of this angel that was so integral to this concept of brotherhood†while filming.
“The irony is when I thought about going into this eighth chapter, it was Paul Walker who promised eight,†said the actor. “I just play it over and over in my brain, him saying, ‘Eight is guaranteed.’ I always feel like he’s looking down on us, so never want to let him down.â€
The first image of an updated Black Lightning debuts as the CW pilot begins production
The first image from The CW’s new superhero pilot “Black Lightning†has been released, and it shows a super slick version of the updated ‘70s vigilante.
Played by “Hart of Dixie†actor Cress Williams, Jefferson Pierce or Black Lightning was the first African American DC superhero to have his own stand-alone comic title. The character was created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden in 1977.
But here’s the update: Jefferson Pierce stopped being that hero years ago. Now two daughters in danger have pulled him back into the crime-fighting life, and into an new suit harnessing his electrical powers.
The updated costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon, who is no stranger to comic book looks with credits on “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,†“Blade: Trinity†and “Iron Man.â€
The show is being shot in Atlanta, and is being directed by executive producer/writer Salim Akil.
“Comics were a great way for me to escape. I was about 13 when ‘Black Lightning’ was created, and finally there was a black superhero that gave a damn about our neighborhood and our lives,†Akil said in a statement.
Film academy will continue using accounting firm that mixed up Oscar best picture envelopes
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially spoken.
In a letter sent to members on Wednesday, President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced that the organization will continue to work with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting firm responsible for the now-infamous envelope mishap at this year’s Oscars, which resulted in “La La Land†being incorrectly named as best picture, an honor that went to “Moonlight.â€
“After a thorough review, including an extensive presentation of revised protocols and ambitious controls, the Board has decided to continue working with PwC,†the letter reads.
The Board of Governors, the body that oversees the academy, met Tuesday night for the first time since the Feb. 26 ceremony. In addition to discussing the debacle for which PwC has already accepted full responsibility, the letter outlined a number of protocols being established to ensure that the mix-up doesn’t happen again.
Also mentioned in Boone Isaacs’ letter was the status of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, set to open in 2019.
Read the full letter below:
Dear Members,
Last night the Board of Governors met for the first time following what was, in so many ways, the most extraordinary and memorable Oscars ceremony in decades. As you may know, the Board meets approximately six times a year to discuss the business of the Academy.
One of the items on our agenda was to discuss PwC’s Oscar night mistake and review options moving forward that are in the best interest of our organization.
Heading into our 84th year working with PwC, a partnership that is important to the Academy, we’ve been unsparing in our assessment that the mistake made by representatives of the firm was unacceptable.
Throughout the last month, the Academy team has worked hand-in-hand with PwC to review our wide-ranging relationship – everything from Oscars voting, auditing, and taxes – during which we asked them to lay out for us a path and a process towards ensuring that everything will continue to the high standards the Academy expects and you deserve. From the night of the ceremony through today, PwC has taken full responsibility for the mistake. After a thorough review, including an extensive presentation of revised protocols and ambitious controls, the Board has decided to continue working with PwC.
New protocols include:
- A greater oversight role for PwC US Chairman and Senior Partner, Tim Ryan.
- PwC partner Rick Rosas will return to the Academy account as co-balloting leader, a function Rick performed flawlessly for more than 12 years. We will add additional key balloting partners in the coming months.
- The PwC on-site team at the Oscars will now include a third balloting leader with knowledge of award winners who will sit in the control room with the show’s director throughout the ceremony.
- We’ve developed Oscar night protocols including implementation of partner rehearsals for possible onstage issues, removal of electronic devices from backstage and improvements to onstage envelope category verification.
- Ongoing evaluation of backstage protocols and procedures.
On another note, I also have terrific news to report about progress on a project that excites all of us: the development of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which will open its doors in 2019. The first phase of construction is now complete, which included renovating the historic Wilshire May Company building, and excavating and creating new underground spaces that will house exhibits that will bring our industry to life. During this next and final phase of the project, we will continue the work on the May Company building, and begin building the breathtaking Renzo Piano-designed sphere that will include our 1000-seat David Geffen Theater and the Dolby Terrace. Stay tuned for updates and thank you for your support of this endeavor.
Last night Tom Hanks, who co-chairs the museum’s capital campaign, brought the future Academy Museum to life by presenting a spoken tour of the space. We look forward to sharing these plans as they continue to evolve.
Last of all, just a reminder about one of the very best ways you can keep contributing to the Academy each day of the year: in April, you’ll receive information about running for a seat on the Academy’s Board of Governors and your Branch Executive Committee. Please think about seizing this opportunity to write the Academy’s next great chapter. The more you get involved, the stronger we can be together. Membership has its privileges, but it also has its responsibilities. We need you.
Lamar Odom regrets multiple affairs, says cocaine was his drug of choice
Lamar Odom wishes he had kept it in his pants.
With a new docuseries reportedly on the horizon and rehab recently in his rear-view, the former Mr. Khloé Kardashian is getting honest about what happened when “Keeping Up With the Kardashians†and “Khloe & Lamar†put him on the radar with women who didn’t follow basketball.
“When I became Khloé Kardashian’s man and on TV, it made me look more enticing,†the 37-year-old told Us Weekly. The ladies (or something like that) came out of the woodwork in droves, and he didn’t say no.
“If there is one thing I regret when I was married, it was having multiple affairs with different women,†Odom said. “That wasn’t the stand-up thing to do. I wish I could have kept [it] in my pants.â€
Huh, ya think?
The cocaine use wasn’t a winning choice either.
“I was hiding it [from Kardashian] for a while, but then I got frustrated ... ,†the former Los Angeles Laker and Clipper said. Then in 2011, about two years before they split, he said, “I was in the man cave she had made for me and she caught me. She was disappointed. So was I.â€
READ MORE: Lamar Odom: A Shakespearean tale for the TMZ era
“The sad thing about it is, I don’t know if I was disappointed because I was actually doing the drug or because she caught me.â€
After that, Kardashian “tolerated†his use of what he called his drug of choice.
Odom said that after she filed for divorce in 2013 and he got his own place, his life “was all about drugs.†He wasn’t trying to fix his marriage and was in a dark place.
Drug abuse “probably helped the end of my career come along a little faster,†he said, “because drugs killed my drive to want to train and be in shape. It killed that and my sex drive.â€
By the time Kardashian was staying by his side as he recovered after nearly dying in 2015, Odom said, the couple hadn’t “been intimate in years.â€
The couple’s divorce became final in December 2016. He went to rehab at the same time.
READ MORE: Lamar Odom, post-rehab: ‘I committed suicide enough already’
‘The Mindy Project’ is renewed for its sixth and final season
Every love story has its ending: “The Mindy Project†has been renewed for a sixth and final season on Hulu.
The last season of the Mindy Kaling-created comedy, which centered on a rom-com-loving, pop-culture-obsessed OB-GYN, will premiere in September. But that’ll be the end of the road.
The announcement comes on the heels of this week’s Season 5 finale, which saw Kaling’s character, Dr. Mindy Lahiri, marrying boyfriend Ben (Bryan Greenberg).
“It has been an honor and a joy to work with Mindy and the entire creative team behind ‘The Mindy Project,’†Craig Erwich, Hulu’s head of content, said in a statement. “This series has been part of Hulu since we launched the service and, thanks to Mindy’s incredibly unique voice and vision, has remained one of our most popular and beloved series over the past five years.
“While we can’t wait to see what Mindy has in store for what will undoubtedly be a fantastic sixth and final season, we know ‘The Mindy Project’ will live on as fans will continue to watch, discover and relive all of the best moments from the complete series,†he added.
The series launched in 2013, with its first three seasons airing on Fox. When the network canceled the comedy in 2015, “The Mindy Project†quickly found a home at Hulu, securing a robust 26-episode order for Season 4.
“I feel the glow,†Kaling told The Times in 2015 about the move to Hulu. “You know, like that glow when you’re in this great new relationship? That’s the only way I can describe it ... to use the analogy of being in a healthy relationship.â€
With its recently wrapped fifth season, the comedy hit the 100-episode milestone. Viewers can also catch reruns of the comedy on Freeform and VH1.
Perhaps the end was inevitable. Kaling’s load has certainly ramped up. She recently finished production on Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time†and is also part of the female-fronted “Ocean’s 8.â€
The “The Office†alum is executive producer of a comedy pilot for NBC that she will appear in if it’s picked up. And she sold a film script about a late-night talk show host that she would also appear in.
Maxine Waters has some news for Bill O’Reilly: ‘I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be undermined’
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) has no time for Bill O’Reilly’s foolishness.
Waters appeared on MSNBC’s “All In With Chris Hayes†Tuesday night, and Hayes asked the California congresswoman if she had a response to O’Reilly’s remarks that morning about her hair (or, as O’Reilly put it, her “James Brown wig.â€)
While Waters didn’t have a direct response to O’Reilly, per se, she definitely had a message to convey.
“No, I’m not responding to him,†Waters began, before thanking Hillary Clinton for always standing up for women in general and black women in particular.
Then Waters neatly pivoted to what was really on her mind.
“Let me just say this: I’m a strong black woman and I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be undermined. I cannot be thought to be afraid of Bill O’Reilly or anybody,†Waters said.
Then she dug in deeper.
“And I’d like to say to women out there everywhere: Don’t allow these right-wing talking heads, these dishonorable people, to intimidate you or scare you. Be who you are, do what you do, and let us get on with discussing the real issues of this country,†she said.
And in case she wasn’t already clear:
“I am not going anywhere. I am going to stay on message. I am going to fight for the people of this country. I’m going to fight for comprehensive healthcare, and I don’t care about Bill O’Reilly or [Roger] Ailes or Trump or any of them,†Waters emphasized. “We have a responsibility as elected officials to do good public policy in the best interests of all the people. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m not going to stop.â€
Despite releasing a public statement Tuesday apologizing for his jokes about Waters’ hair, O’Reilly doubled-down on his criticisms of the congresswoman in a segment on “The O’Reilly Factor.â€
After acknowledging the inappropriateness of his comments, O’Reilly went on to state that Waters would never appear on his show because he would challenge her and she doesn’t want to be challenged.
O’Reilly then dismissed Waters as just “spouting the left-wing company line†and bemoaned her idea of patriotism as ideological nonsense.
“But in order to succeed in this country, you must be self-reliant, not dependent on the entitlement system that Maxine Waters loves so much,†O’Reilly said.
ALSO
The Internet to Bill O’Reilly: Leave Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ hair out of this
‘Daily Show’ at work on the Trump Presidential Twitter Library: ‘It will be so tremendous’
Round 2 of Sean Hannity versus Ted Koppel, with a cameo by Bill O’Reilly
As a Trump protest, theaters worldwide will screen the film version of Orwell’s ‘1984’
‘Daily Show’ at work on the Trump Presidential Twitter Library: ‘It will be so tremendous’
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah†has so much material on President Trump, it apparently can’t be contained to late-night TV alone.
“The Daily Show Presents: The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library†will open in June in New York City, the show and Comedy Central announced Tuesday. Unlike other presidential libraries, this one will highlight “our commander in chief’s preferred vessel for communicating with the public, his Twitter feed.â€
Naturally, the library itself has a Twitter account, written in the style of the 45th president of the United States.
“[I]t will be tremendous. It will be so tremendous that you’ll get tired of the tremendousness, so it will then close only a few days later. Sad!,†the release (and the Twitter feed) said.
The “library†exhibit, which will be free to the public, will feature “a fully interactive and hands-on experience for hands of all sizes†and will offer people an opportunity to “celebrate the many ‘unpresidented’ moments of President Trump’s Twitter history.â€
And no, it’s not an early April Fool’s prank. A Comedy Central rep told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that it’s “a real event,†with more details forthcoming at a later date.
Japanese American National Museum names Amnesty International board chair as its president
The Japanese American National Museum has a new president and chief executive -- officially.
Ann Burroughs, who has served as interim president and CEO since June 2016 and also chairs the board of Amnesty International USA, has stepped into the role of museum chief permanently, the board of trustees announced.
Board chairman Norman Y. Mineta said Burroughs had earned the “respect and admiration†of the staff and supporters of the museum, located in Little Tokyo. “She has helped articulate a vision for the museum that has resonated deeply with me, my fellow trustees and our governors,†he said.
Burroughs, who has more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, said she was “committed to reinvigorating and finding new ways to advance the museum’s key values, emphasizing the importance of being vigilant about democracy and stressing the value of diversity in our world today.â€
NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt joins Center Theatre Group board
Center Theatre Group just got a little more Hollywood sparkle. The company announced Tuesday that NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt has joined its board of directors.
Greenblatt is a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer (“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murderâ€) and has been a big advocate of theater-related projects at NBC, including “The Sound of Music Live!†and “Hairspray Live!â€
The addition of Greenblatt (also a Golden Globe-winning producer on “Six Feet Underâ€) to the board made sense as Center Theatre Group tries to highlight connections between the film and TV industries and live theater, artistic director Michael Ritchie said.
“I’ve worked with Bob on and off for more than a decade, and he is one of theater’s great advocates,†Ritchie said. “As we continue to strengthen our already wonderful board, there is no question that we want the guy who used his role as a top TV executive to broadcast musical theater into the homes of millions of Americans.â€
Center Theatre Group stages plays and musicals at the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum in downtown L.A. and at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. The company, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, already has a Hollywood presence on its board, including “Everybody Loves Raymond†actress Monica Horan Rosenthal, producer Gail Berman-Masters, YouTube global content head Susanne Daniels, producer Vin Di Bona and Chernin Entertainment executive Dante Di Loreto.
“I’ve always been a theater lover – from ‘Guys and Dolls’ back in high school to ‘Hairspray Live!’ on NBC, and I’m so pleased to be part of a world-class organization like Center Theatre Group,†Greenblatt said in the announcement. “I had great experiences working with Michael Ritchie and Center Theatre Group on the world premiere of ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ as well as ‘Drowsy Chaperone,’ and I look forward to doing everything I can to bring great theater to more and more people in Los Angeles.â€
Follow me on Twitter: @debvankin
Discovery Communications announces return of ‘Trading Spaces’ and ‘Cash Cab’
Discovery Communications held its annual advertising upfront in New York on Tuesday and announced the return of several beloved series.
“Trading Spaces,†the TLC home-improvement reality series that ran from 2000 to 2008, is scheduled to return, as is Discovery’s “Cash Cab,†which aired from 2005 to 2012.
â€TLC is back into home and property with ‘Nate & Jeremiah by Design,’ our new show helping distressed homeowners turn disasters into dream homes,†Nancy Daniels, TLC president and general manager, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to expand in this space, and what better way to do that than to bring back ‘Trading Spaces,’ the series that put property on the map.â€
Though predated by “This Old House,†“Trading Spaces†was on the forefront of the home-improvement reality-show boom, finding entertainment in other people’s housing situations long before modern counterparts such as “Love It or List It†and “Flip or Flop.â€
As for whether mainstay host Paige Davis will be returning with the series, Davis was evasive when asked for comment by E! News.
“All I know is fans are constantly bringing up to me how much they miss the show...so with TLC bringing it back, there will for sure be a lot of happy viewers out there,†Davis said.
Discovery Communications announced a host of new programming, too, including Animal Planet’s “My Fat Pet†and Science Channel’s prank show “Scijinks†hosted by “The Big Bang Theory†star Johnny Galecki.
Maks Chmerkovskiy needs ‘a surgery,’ will be off ‘DWTS’ for weeks
Maks Chmerkovskiy’s calf muscle injury is serious enough that it will sideline the “Dancing With the Stars†pro for weeks, his fiancée, Peta Murgatroyd, confirmed Monday night.
Chmerkovskiy, who is partnered this season with “Glee†alum Heather Morris, felt something go pop during a rehearsal last week, and it turned out to be serious. Pro Alan Bersten had to take over for him on Monday night’s show and apparently will stay with Morris until Maks is back.
“It’s going to take weeks to get better,†Murgatroyd told “Access Hollywood†after the show. “He’s having a surgery done ... then rehab starts after that.â€
It’s not just “an ice bag type of situation,†said the new mom, whose child with Chmerkovskiy, Shai Aleksander, was born in early January.
Morris said the injury, which was shown on the show, didn’t seem like a big deal at first.
“My reaction obviously wasn’t huge because it was like, ‘Oh, you know, what happened? It just felt like something popped?’ †she told E! News after the show. But then her partner couldn’t even walk.
That said, Murgatroyd was upbeat about her man’s future. “He’s a quick healer,†the dancer said. “It’s going to be fine.â€
Looks like Maks is going to get a little of the paternity leave he said he wanted.
The Internet to Bill O’Reilly: Leave Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ hair out of this
Bill O’Reilly found a new enemy Tuesday morning in the form of California Rep. Maxine Waters’ hair.
After spending extended time on Monday’s episode of “The O’Reilly Factor†defending colleague Sean Hannity from Ted Koppel, O’Reilly stopped by “Fox & Friends,†where he was asked about Waters’ recent criticisms about President Trump.
O’Reilly was then shown a clip from Waters’ speech on the House floor and responded, saying, “I didn’t hear a word [Waters] said. I was looking at the James Brown wig. If we have a picture of James, it’s the same wig.â€
Beyond the inappropriateness of insulting people on their appearance, O’Reilly also overstepped right into a minefield when he targeted the hair of a black woman.
The 2009 documentary “Good Hair†delved into the history and evolution of matters of hair among African American women. It’s an issue that continues to be so culturally relevant that comedian Phoebe Robinson titled her 2016 memoir “You Can’t Touch My Hair,†and Solange Knowles included a track on her 2016 album, “A Seat at the Table,†called “Don’t Touch My Hair.â€
Beyond the cultural issues, O’Reilly is dismissing the statements of the most senior black woman in the United States Congress — there are 12 total — because of what her hair looks like.
Since O’Reilly was so distracted, here’s the message that Waters was delivering:
African Americans “fight against this president, and we point out how dangerous he is for this society and for this country. We’re fighting for the democracy.
“We’re saying to those who say they’re patriotic but they’ve turned a blind eye to the destruction that he’s about to cause this country, ‘You’re not nearly as patriotic as we are.’â€
Waters has served in the House of Representatives for more than 25 years, originally elected to represent California’s 29th Congressional District in 1991.
That same year, O’Reilly was hosting “Inside Edition.â€
Things devolved on “Fox & Friends†after O’Reilly’s statement, with co-host Brian Kilmeade quickly agreeing with O’Reilly, saying, “It’s the same one†and referencing the fact that Brown is dead.
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt tried to improve the situation with (arguably a misguided) understanding of feminism, stating, “You can’t go after a woman’s looks. I think she’s very attractive.â€
When the men agreed on Waters’ looks, O’Reilly stands by the hair comparison, which leads Earhardt to state that Brown “had girl hair.â€
No surprise, the Internet was incensed over the exchange.
O’Reilly released a statement several hours after the segment aired and apologized for his comments.
“As I have said many times, I respect Congresswoman Maxine Waters for being sincere in her beliefs. I said that again today on ‘Fox & Friends,’ calling her old school. Unfortunately, I also made a jest about her hair, which was dumb. I apologize,†O’Reilly said.
Shortly thereafter, O’Reilly tweeted about tonight’s episode of “The O’Reilly Factor†tackling political correctness.
Timing is everything.
Huntington Library president steps down
The president of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino has stepped down after a tenure of less than two years, the museum’s board of trustees announced Tuesday.
Laura Skandera Trombley became the eighth president of the Huntington and the first woman to hold that position on July 1, 2015, following the retirement of Steven S. Koblik, who served as president since 2001.
The Huntington announcement said Trombley is leaving to work on a book-length study of Mark Twain. She is the most recent recipient of the Louis J. Budd Award for Twain scholarship, the Huntington said.
During the search for a new president, the Huntington’s director of research, Steve Hindle, will serve as acting president. Trombley will be an advisor to the board of trustees.
Round 2 of Sean Hannity versus Ted Koppel, with a cameo by Bill O’Reilly
Sean Hannity provided a chaser to his Twitter rant against Ted Koppel on Monday night with a seven-minute segment on his Fox News show “Hannity,†raging against what he deems “edited fake news.â€
The war of the words began after a “CBS News Sunday Morning†piece where Koppel hypothesized that the political divide in America is rooted in the extreme punditry now prevalent in the 24-hour news cycle.
Koppel interviewed Hannity for the segment, and when Hannity asked if he was bad for America, Koppel said, “Yeah.â€
Hannity took to Twitter on Sunday to decry CBS for using only a portion of his interview and came out guns blazing on his Monday episode over the perceived injustice.
“I guess people like Ted Koppel feel that you, the American people, can’t distinguish between opinion and news,†Hannity stated before running through a five-minute laundry list of accusations against former President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Dan Rather and CBS News.
Hannity argued that he provides a valuable service to viewers by telling them things they won’t hear on mainstream news sites.
He then implored CBS to release the full 45-minute interview so people could judge for themselves.
Bill O’Reilly also weighed in on Koppel versus Hannity, bringing in fellow Fox News analyst and former ABC journalist Brit Hume to discuss the matter in detail.
By the end of their five-minute conversation, O’Reilly had come to the conclusion that what was really bothering Koppel -- who appeared on O’Reilly’s show just last year -- was that the old guard of broadcast television journalists are jealous of how successful Fox News is.
Hume then added that he assumed that Koppel and his ilk were also similarly disheartened by partisan displays by MSNBC and the like, an observation supported by anyone viewing the original “CBS News Sunday Morning†clip.
In new ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ trailer, our little Spidey’s growing up -- or trying to
The second “Spider-Man: Homecoming†trailer is out, and Peter Parker’s saga has evolved a bit from the first one -- but only a little bit.
It’s less about high school and more about Spider-Man (Tom Holland) aspiring to move past his friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man roots and toward Avengers status.
Michael Keaton’s “Birdman,†err, Vulture character spreads his wings, sharing his animosity toward Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and his ilk and showing off his aptitude for menacing in general.
“Forget the flying monster guy, Peter. There are people who handle this sort of thing,†says mentor-bro Tony Stark, who winds up doing the disappointed-dad thing after Peter has an oops with a very large ferry.
Surprise, “flying monster guy†appears likely to stay on Spidey’s agenda. Loved ones have been threatened, you see.
“Spider-Man: Homecoming†premieres July 7.
READ MORE: First ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ trailer reunites Iron Man and Peter Parker
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New ‘Justice League’ trailer brings Batman a bit of self-awareness
What to expect from Disney’s new ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ ride
Dan Stevens channels his beastly side in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ prologue dance
Thanks, United Airlines, for making us look at Captain Kirk in leggings
Thanks, United Airlines. You just made us look at William Shatner in leggings.
Some folks on social media were up in arms over leggings on Sunday and Monday after activist and airline traveler Shannon Watts live-tweeted early Sunday morning that a United Airlines gate attendant wasn’t allowing some tween-age girls to board a flight out of Denver because of their form-fitting attire.
After Patricia Arquette piped up against the decision, saying that it was discriminatory because not a lot of men wear leggings, Shatner offered himself up as a bright red exception to that rule.
It seems the girls were traveling on employee-perk companion or “buddy†passes, and the gate attendant was enforcing a dress code that comes with that privilege. Even though she retweeted United’s explanation, Arquette called the dress code outdated.
Sarah Silverman threatened to take her travel business elsewhere, while Chrissy Teigen threatened to keep her business with United, but to keep her clothing to a minimum when she did.
Then there was Jim Norton, cracking wise about the situation. Always a comedian, that guy. (You know, literally.)
Todd Fisher on how the Debbie Reynolds-Carrie Fisher public memorial became a musical revue
In the weeks following the death of “his girls†— his mother, Debbie Reynolds, 84, died just a day after her 60-year-old daughter, Carrie Fisher, passed away in December — Todd Fisher devoted most of his time to organizing a public memorial for the Hollywood icons.
A private ceremony, held in January, was attended by dozens of celebrities, including Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow, George Lucas and Jamie Lee Curtis.
The public memorial on Saturday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park-Hollywood Hills was decidedly less star-studded, and those celebrities who did attend largely bypassed camera crews.
Emotion flowed openly once the memorial got underway, particularly when the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles rose from seats in the audience and began singing Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.â€
Troupes of dancers from the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood, which she founded in 1979, performed with umbrellas and yellow raincoats to honor the “Singin’ in the Rain†star.
And a new song from James Blunt, who composed his hit “You’re Beautiful†in Fisher’s bathroom, was played for the crowd.
Fisher told the crowd of roughly 1,200 he was hopeful the event would have an intimate feel, as if the audience were sitting in the family’s living room, leafing through old photos and watching home videos.
Full Coverage: Debbie Reynolds: Actress had a remarkable life on screen and off
Full Coverage: Carrie Fisher: Author, actress and ‘Star Wars’ heroine
Ted Koppel tells Sean Hannity he’s bad for America; Hannity fires back
In a decidedly unsurprising turn of events, veteran newsman Ted Koppel and Fox News personality Sean Hannity have polarizing reactions to Koppel’s “CBS News Sunday Morning†segment on the political polarization of America.
The 10-minute analysis attributed the growing rise in political discord to the Federal Communications Commission’s 1987 revocation of the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to present contrasting views for matters of public interest.
In the wake of the revocation, highly politicized personalities and networks were given room to thrive, leading to an environment where individuals on either side of the aisle are unable to agree on what are the facts.
Enter Sean Hannity. During an interview with Koppel, Hannity said: “We have to give some credit to the American people that they’re somewhat intelligent and they know the difference between an opinion show and a news show.â€
“You think we’re bad for America?†Hannity asked, to which Koppel immediately responded, “Yeah.â€
“You think I’m bad for America?†Hannity clarified. Again, Koppel answered in the affirmative.
It wasn’t the only notable exchange between the two in the segment, which featured Hannity calling for the defeat of liberalism and asserting that the press is out to destroy the president.
Hannity went on a Twitter tear after the telecast Sunday morning. He questioned why CBS only aired two minutes of his 45-minute interview in the 10-minute segment before demanding the network release the full interview so people could see the truth.
This is not the first time that Koppel has found himself at odds with outspoken political pundits.
In 2010, Koppel wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post bemoaning the rise of Fox News and MSNBC and their politically partisan personalities, including Keith Olbermann and Bill O’Reilly. (Appearing on O’Reilly’s show last year, Koppel told the host: “You have changed the television landscape over the past 20 years. You took it from being objective and dull to subjective and entertaining.â€)
Koppel was the host of ABC’s “Nightline†for 25 years and now serves as a special contributor for “CBS News Sunday Morning.â€
Kim Kardashian wants baby No. 3 with Kanye West, despite rough pregnancies
Kim Kardashian West, whose two pregnancies have been far less than comfortable for the reality star, says she’s going to try to have another baby.
“I want my kids to have siblings, but the doctors don’t think it’s safe for me,†she says in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it promo for the next episode of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.â€
If the editing of the reactions from Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian is to be believed, the family was shocked by Kim’s smiling announcement. Simply shocked. And concerned.
Some background for those not keeping up with the next generation of Kardashian Wests: Daughter North arrived a month ahead of time after mom dealt with early-onset preeclampsia and then, post-delivery, the placenta did not detach from Kim’s uterine wall; son Saint West was breech, and the placenta issue recurred.
Adele’s ‘Hello’ may mean goodbye to touring
Adele has been quite chatty as she closes out the third leg of her world tour in Australia and New Zealand.
Earlier in the month, the superstar singer and songwriter confirmed to a Brisbane, Australia, audience that she had tied the knot with longtime partner Simon Konecki, and at a Sunday concert in Auckland, New Zealand, Adele may have dropped the biggest bomb of all.
The New Zealand Herald reported Monday that Adele remarked at the close of her concert her doubts about continuing to tour.
“Touring isn’t something I’m good at,†the 28-year-old from London remarked. “Applause makes me feel a bit vulnerable.â€
Adele continued, saying: “I don’t know if I will ever tour again. The only reason I’ve toured is you. I’m not sure if touring is my bag.â€
Her latest tour began in February 2016, and when it concludes in July, it will have encompassed more than 120 shows on three continents.
The artist’s skittishness regarding live performances could well be attributed to several high-profile flubs at consecutive Grammy Awards ceremonies.
At the 2016 Grammys, Adele struggled with audio issues during a performance of “All I Ask.†And when she stopped her George Michael memorial performance of “Fastlove†at the 2017 ceremony and asked to start again, she explained, “I can’t do it again like last year.â€
Her current tour concludes with four concerts at Wembley Stadium in London in late June and early July, dramatically dubbed “The Finale.â€
Is this really the end of Adele’s touring career?
Representatives for the singer did not immediately respond request for comment.
Samira Wiley marries ‘Orange Is the New Black’ writer Lauren Morelli
Samira Wiley of “Orange Is the New Black†and Lauren Morelli, a writer for that show, are married.
Wiley -- who’s now appearing in Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale†-- and Morelli exchanged vows Saturday in a ceremony in Palm Springs, according to Martha Stewart Weddings. The women had gotten engaged at the same location in October. Wiley’s parents officiated at the ceremony, where the brides both wore white designed by Christian Siriano.
The ceremony wrapped up with Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It,†while the colorful, confetti-themed reception kicked off with Justin Bieber’s “Baby,†MSW said.
The couple started dating in early 2014 and walked the Emmy Awards red carpet together that August.
Morelli filed for divorce from her TV-writer husband Steve Basilone the next month. They had gotten married just months before Morelli joined the “OINTB†writing staff in 2012; the split was reportedly amicable.
While writing for the show, her first professional writing gig, Morelli “found a mouthpiece for my own desires and a glimmer of what my future could look like,†she said in a May 2014 essay for Identities.mic. The essay was written about six months after she and Basilone, who’d dated for six years before tying the knot, decided to split.
“I went through it all on set,†Morelli wrote. “I fell in love with a woman, and I watched my life play out on screen.â€
And now it’s playing out on Instagram -- and in the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings, which will have a full spread of wedding photos in its summer issue.
Kendrick Lamar targets Donald Trump on new song ‘The Heart Part 4’
Kendrick Lamar’s warning is clear on the new single “The Heart Part 4.â€
“Y’all got till April 7 to get y’all [stuff] together,†he raps.
What happens then? A new record? An anti-Trumpist insurrection? Whatever it is, after Lamar released the scalding single on Thursday night, the big takeaway is this: More fire is coming, and just in time for his Coachella headlining sets.
Jake Gyllenhaal begs Ryan Reynolds to pick up the stupid phone already, man
Men. They never pick up the phone when you want them to.
Jake Gyllenhaal bravely -- foolishly? -- attempted to prove that he and Ryan Reynolds are friends in real life by connecting with his “Life†co-star via FaceTime during the taping of “Late Night With Seth Meyers†on Thursday. By the time the bit was over, the score was Calls, 2, Gyllenhaal, zero.
“C’mon, man, you’re eating up precious TV time!,†Gyllenhaal pleaded with the ringing, ringing, ringing phone.
“You don’t know Ryan Reynolds,†Meyers teased him.
But wait! During the commercial break, a magical thing happened: Reynolds called back.
With Meyers offstage to get his microphone adjusted, Gyllenhaal commandeered the host’s desk for a chat with Reynolds.
“Here’s what I’m doing,†Reynolds said, redirecting the phone’s camera to show the action. “Pushing baby strollers.â€
Gyllenhaal’s giddy peek into their friendship was a far cry from the oh-so-private version of the actor who went into a repeat cycle of replying, simply and coolly, “I would love to not talk about my personal life†and “I would love to talk about the movie†after an interviewer for the Guardian made the mistake of asking him about dating Taylor Swift.
(In his defense, that did happen way back in 2010. Can we all move on now?)
The bromance between the two actors might have been at its best, or at least its most amusing, in the “autocomplete interview†the two did recently for Wired magazine. First, guess which one of them said which of the following things:
- “Canada had sex with America.â€
- “It’s mostly done exclusively with politicians’ spit.â€
- “You know how scary that would be if you just woke up and someone was taking your hair? That’d be terrible. Terrifying!â€
- “There are, like, 400 more cards. Let’s waste more life.â€
- “I didn’t even know I was kissing him until I found out when I got home that night. There should be a map just to get out of his eyes.â€
- “Twigs, rocks, sticks and a tiny bit of green tea.â€
- “Fake ones.â€
Now click play, and enjoy.
Nick Viall accepts a rose (and peace offering) from William Shatner
Forget the olive branch — William Shatner extended a rose on Thursday to Nick Viall as a sign of peace after an intense campaign earlier in the week to get “The Bachelor†transported off “Dancing With the Stars†as early as possible.
“My goal for #DWTS is to knock Bachelor Nick out ASAP. Who is with me?†Shatner tweeted Monday right before the show aired on the East Coast. “He lives up to the homonym of his last name,†he said later.
After some tweeps tried to convince him that Nick wasn’t such a bad guy, or at least he wasn’t on “Bachelor in Paradise†last summer, Shatner stood firm, tweeting: “Leopards don’t change their spots. Don’t be surprised if he shows up again on paradise. I won’t be.â€
Nick, of course, is engaged to Vanessa Grimaldi, and theoretically should not be available for another season on a “Bachelor†franchise show. Then again, he has shown up four times already.
Shatner pushed for Charo that night. He pushed for Mr. T. He pushed for everyone but Nick. Seems Bill doesn’t like the way Nick treats the ladies.
And Nick? Well, Nick was just sad about the whole thing.
However, on Thursday, the “Star Trek†legend changed some spots of his own, tweeting a peace symbol and rose emoji to the “Bachelor†veteran with a vague explanation for the “Anyone But Nick†campaign. “As a Dad w/ daughters I’m not happy w/ what you’ve done in the past,†Shatner said. “Maybe you’ve matured now?â€
The peace offering was accepted, with Nick wishing Shatner a belated happy 86th birthday.
Once a charmer, always a charmer.
“Saw Nick Viall dance,†Shatner said 45 minutes after extending his peace offering as he retweeted word from “DWTS†host Tom Bergeron predicting the end of the kerfuffle was near. “He can really dance. I hope he’s as good a lover.â€
Director Zack Snyder reveals ‘Justice League’ posters featuring Batman and Aquaman
Director Zack Snyder has unveiled the latest sneak peeks at the upcoming Warner Bros. superhero smorgasbord “Justice League.â€
The first, a simple poster bearing the group’s logo and the one-word call to arms, “Unite,†was followed by two character posters.
Ben Affleck (Batman) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman) both star in their own posters, seen below.
The film’s other stars, namely Ezra Miller (The Flash), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Henry Cavill (Superman) and Ray Fisher (Cyborg), will no doubt appear on their own forthcoming posters.
Fans will have even more to see when the exclusive new trailer drops Saturday. Watch a teaser for the trailer, featuring Batman, below:
“Justice League†will be in theaters Nov. 17.
MORE: Superhero movies news
Oops! Kristi Yamaguchi wishes Nancy Kerrigan luck in the worst way possible
Word choice is important, particularly online where one slip-up can banish you to Internet infamy over a matter of keystrokes.
That’s the lesson gold-medal Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi learned Monday night when she sent a well-meaning tweet wishing former competitor Nancy Kerrigan luck on her “Dancing With the Stars†debut.
“So excited for you,†Yamaguchi wrote. “Can’t wait to see you grace that ballroom floor, break a leg!â€
Never has the theater idiom “break a leg†been more inappropriately applied, given that Kerrigan’s skating career was nearly sabotaged when rival skater Tonya Harding’s then-husband hired someone to club her in the knee with a baton.
A representative for Yamaguchi dispelled any notion that there’s bad blood between the skaters, telling E! News, “Kristi loves Nancy and has nothing but respect for her. No ill will was intended with the tweet, and Nancy herself has received and commented on the well wishes that were sent.
“Kristi is finding the reactions on social media humorous, but unfortunately for those who want it to have been shady, that’s not the case,†Yamaguchi’s representative concluded.
Or maybe that’s just what they want you to think.
Kerrigan, for her part, danced well on Monday’s episode, earning high marks for her Viennese waltz.
CBS renews 18 series, including ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ ‘Bull’ and ‘MacGyver’
CBS put its ratings prowess on display Thursday, renewing 18 series for the 2017-18 television season.
The shows include five first-year shows, including “Bull,†“Kevin Can Wait,†“MacGyver,†“Man With a Plan†and “Superior Donuts.â€
Though renewals for “The Big Bang Theory†and “NCIS,†the top-rated comedy and drama on television, were announced earlier, they join “NCIS: Los Angeles†and “Survivor†among long-running pick-ups for the network.
Missing among the early renewals are several stalwarts on the CBS schedule, including “Two Broke Girls,†“The Amazing Race,†“Elementary†and “Criminal Minds.â€
That doesn’t mean that they’ll be canceled, but it does suggest the series won’t know their fate until the announcement of the full schedule at the CBS upfront on May 17.
Here’s the full list of 2017-18 CBS renewals:
- “The Big Bang Theoryâ€
- “Blue Bloodsâ€
- “Bullâ€
- “Hawaii Five-0â€
- “Kevin Can Waitâ€
- “Life in Piecesâ€
- “MacGyverâ€
- “Madam Secretaryâ€
- “Man With a Planâ€
- “Momâ€
- “NCISâ€
- “NCIS: Los Angelesâ€
- “NCIS: New Orleansâ€
- “Scorpionâ€
- “Superior Donutsâ€
- “Survivorâ€
- “48 Hoursâ€
- “60 Minutesâ€
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride gets 4K-HD upgrade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios just got a little more immersive.
The ride, located within Hogwarts castle, combines a robotics ride system with filmed action sequences and visceral effects to create a full-sensory experience for guests.
Originally using 3-D film with the ride, Universal Studios has upgraded Forbidden Journey to 4K-HD, allowing fans to experience J.K. Rowling’s imagined world at a hyper-realistic 120 frames per second.
Forbidden Journey opened at Universal Studios Hollywood with the debut of Wizarding World in April 2016 and lets fans experience some of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley’s greatest film adventures alongside them, including playing Quidditch, escaping the Whomping Willow and a run-in with Dementors.
The updated ride is the latest upgrade at Universal Studios and the adjacent Universal CityWalk, which recently introduced a multimillion dollar remodel of its AMC theater.
‘The Walking Dead’ alum Steven Yeun is a new dad, report says
Steven Yeun, known to “The Walking Dead†fans as Glenn Rhee, has reportedly welcomed a baby boy with wife Joana Pak.
The couple’s first child arrived on St. Patrick’s Day, E! News said Tuesday. The actor, 33, married Pak, a photographer, in early December.
On the AMC show’s seventh season, which has two episodes left, Glenn’s baby with Maggie Greene has yet to be born. On Instagram in February, Yeun teased to his real-world son’s impending arrival with photo-booth snapshots of himself and a very pregnant Pak.
Todd Fisher reveals mom Debbie Reynolds’ state of mind after Carrie Fisher’s death
Todd Fisher, son of Debbie Reynolds and brother of Carrie Fisher, had some intense conversations with his mother in late December immediately following the “Star Wars†actress’ death.
“My mother said to me, the night that Carrie died -- I didn’t know what was happening but she was setting me up for her leaving the planet,†Fisher told “Entertainment Tonight†on Wednesday, just a few days before a memorial service for both women. “She literally looked at me and said, ‘I want to be with Carrie,’ and closed her eyes and went to sleep.â€
Reynolds discussed with her son her own end-of-life plans, he said, which shifted at the last minute from a low-key cremation for herself to the purchase of a tomb where she and her daughter could be buried together.
“She changed her mind that night,†he said. They talked about how hard it was dealing with Carrie’s death and Reynolds warned him it might get harder, because she didn’t know when she was going to die too. Fisher told her that they didn’t have to worry about that right away, but said he realized, “she was, like, asking my permission†to go.
FULL COVERAGE: The death of Carrie Fisher
Reynolds wasn’t overly dramatic after her daughter’s death, Fisher said. While he was the one crying after they left the hospital on Dec. 26, his mother “truly understood†what had happened, he said.
“[T]he next morning, we had a little further dialogue and she chose to leave the planet in front of my face two feet away. If you had told me this story and I wasn’t there, I would have a very hard time believing what I saw.†Reynolds died Dec. 28.
Added Fisher, “I’m really OK with Debbie’s exit, not so OK with Carrie’s exit, ‘cause Carrie was in the middle of what was, I thought, her finest hours. Her creativity was peaking, the ‘Star Wars’ thing was obviously back in spades. Everything that she was doing was turning to gold.â€
A joint memorial for mother and daughter will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles and livestreamed worldwide on DebbieReynolds.com. Spots in the 1,200-seat theater will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
As ‘Missing Richard Simmons’ podcast wraps, its creator has a theory about what happened to the fitness guru
With the “Missing Richard Simmons†podcast coming to an end, his brother and longtime manager have stepped up to join the chorus of those saying the fitness guru, who hasn’t been seen in public for three years, is fine, fine, fine.
Meanwhile, podcaster Dan Taberski wound up with a conclusion he hadn’t anticipated when he wrapped up his six-part series Monday, a couple of days earlier than scheduled.
“After 40-some-odd years, he just decided he wanted to rest,†older bro Lenny Simmons told People. “He’s 68 years old now and he’s in good health, but he just wants time for himself.â€
Lenny was repeating something he had shared with Taberski in the fifth episode of “Missing Richard Simmonsâ€: Lenny and his wife had visited Richard for five days around Christmas, and his brother was fine except for suffering from a cold. He didn’t understand what his brother was doing, Lenny told Taberski, but he had to respect it.
“These things about him transitioning to a woman are ridiculous,†the elder Simmons told People — as he had previously told Taberski — alluding to one of the big where-is-Richard rumors that has circulated in the past three years.
READ MORE: Richard Simmons ‘just fine’ according to LAPD wellness check >>
As for whether Simmons was being held hostage by longtime housekeeper Teresa Reveles, which was explored in the podcast? Taberski had a few things to say about that in his final episode, in a portion tinged with a just a splash of legalese.
(Spoiler alert: If you haven’t listened to the full six-part series and want to experience all of its twists and turns, you should stop reading this article now.)
People in a position to know came forward after the podcast went viral earlier this month, Taberski told his listeners. They included the LAPD detective who had done a wellness check at Simmons’ Hollywood Hills home March 10, he said.
“Based on all this information, I believe Teresa Reveles is just doing her job,†Taberski said after an I-want-to-make-this-very-clear setup. “Moreover, from what I hear now, she seems to be doing it well.â€
Taberski — who explained in the podcast that he and others had been very concerned since Simmons didn’t show up at the Slimmons studio that day in February 2014 — has his own theory about what’s up with someone he considers a friend: Basically, it has to do with how much of himself Simmons, whom Taberski had labeled an “empathist,†had given to others over the years. Like, way too much.
Also, longtime manager Michael Catalano told the podcaster, it turns out that many people who came into contact with Simmons — the one Taberski called that “short-shorts character†— may have overestimated the depth and significance of their relationships with him.
Ouch. That would mean that some or all of the people interviewed for the podcast, who were so worried about their “friend†because he left without saying goodbye, didn’t know he just wasn’t that into them in the first place.
“I think you’ve really created more worry and speculation,†Catalano said, implying that the podcast, which Taberski said was intended as a “grand gesture†to Simmons, had made the fitness icon’s life more difficult.
“Where is he?†the podcaster reflected as he wrapped up his final episode. “He’s home. Why has he done this? Because he just doesn’t want to be that guy anymore.
“And who was that guy?†Taberski asked. “He was Richard Simmons. And he was amazing.â€
The first trailer for Netflix’s ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ revival introduces the new Mads
Fans counting down to the April 14 premiere of the “Mystery Science Theater 3000†revival are in luck. Netflix has released the first trailer for the upcoming series.
Full of the camp that charmed viewers of the original series, the new trailer for “MST3K†introduces fans to Kinga Forrester, played by Felicia Day, daughter of mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester. Kinga has decided to revive her family’s “most legendary experimentâ€: Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The original “MST3K†experiments, of course, were designed to see how much bad movie-watching it takes to drive a person crazy.
Working alongside the new Mads is next-generation henchman TV’s Son of TV’s Frank (yes, that’s the character’s name), played by Patton Oswalt.
The human subject of these new “MST3K†experiments is Jonah Heston (Jonah Ray), who along with his robot pals Tom Servo (Baron Vaughn) and Crow T. Robot (Hampton Yount), is forced to watch B-movies.
The trailer gives fans a glimpse into what movies Jonah will be forced to endure during the new show’s 14-episode run, including the 1961 Danish American monster film “Reptilicus.â€
Created and co-directed by Joel Hodgson, “MST3K†is back thanks to one of the most-funded Kickstarter campaigns of all time, which raised $5.7 million in 2015.
Five ‘Gong Show’ moments that captured Chuck Barris’ gonzo magic
Whether you saw “The Gong Show†when it was on the air, through reruns, or simply remember it as a cultural artifact of the 1970s, it was clear that what made the show special was the ringleader of the circus, Chuck Barris.
Barris died Monday at his home in Palisades, N.Y., at the age of 87.
“The Gong Show†was a product of its time, the late ‘70s, and featured contestants showcasing their talent (or, in some cases, lack of). In front of a panel of judges, they competed to win the grand prize of $516.32 (rumored to be the Screen Actors Guild’s minimum daily wage for the time) and to avoid being gonged off the stage.
Steering the ship was Barris, who understood the show’s gonzo, kinetic aesthetic enough to know whether it was better to nudge a contestant into deeper waters or let them run themselves aground.
It was in 1965 that Barris launched “The Dating Gameâ€
Here are five moments that perfectly exemplify the wacky weirdness of “The Gong Show†and its maestro.
1. Gene Gene the Dancing Machine
Gene Gene the Dancing Machine was a “Gong Show†staple. An NBC stagehand whose backstage dancing caught Barris’ eye, Gene Patton was a recurring sensation, whose dancing to an arrangement of Count Basie’s “Jumpin’ at the Woodside†never failed to bring the audience, judges and Barris joy.
Like Gene, the Unknown Comic (Murray Langston) made several appearances on “The Gong Show,†telling crummy jokes while wearing a paper bag over his head. The man under the mask (or bag) would find his set inevitably brought to an end by Barris throwing him off the stage.
3. The Worms
Perhaps the most absurdist of all the “talent†that found a home on “The Gong Show†was a group called the Worms. The three men performed before throwing themselves on the floor to wriggle like their namesake. Barris always seemed tickled by the bit, coming out for each performance to yell, “One more time!â€
4. Oingo Boingo
In 1976, the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, the band that would eventually become Oingo Boingo and which featured future Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfman, won its episode of “The Gong Show.†It proved that while most of the show was ridiculous, true talent did lurk in the hearts of some contestants. That said, their performance also included a dragon costume.
But the best moments on the show always came when true talent met off-the-wall personalities, as it did with Hillary Carlip’s juggling and singing. Carlip, like “The Gong Show†and like Barris himself, showcased the wonderful weirdness of America.
Wyclef Jean recounts being detained in Los Angeles: ‘How can citizens trust the police?’
Wyclef Jean appeared Wednesday on “Good Morning America†to relay his account of being mistakenly detained by law enforcement officers in West Hollywood.
The Grammy-winning musician and former Fugees frontman elaborated on the incident, describing his brief detention as a case of racial profiling.
“I feel like I was targeted as a black man,†he said during a sit-down with Robin Roberts.
The 47-year-old posted a video of himself being handcuffed next to a patrol car on Twitter shortly after Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies pulled him over while they were investigating a nearby robbery. The suspect’s car, dark hoodie and bandanna were similar to that of Jean’s, officials later said.
“Another case of mistaken identity. Black man with red bandana robbed a gas station as I was in the studio working but im in handcuffs?†Jean wrote on Twitter. (He initially accused the Los Angeles Police Department, rather than the sheriff’s department, in a series of tweets, but the LAPD set the record straight with its own tweet.)
He also issued a statement calling on L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti to conduct “a formal investigation into racial profiling.â€
While Jean believed he was being subjected to police brutality, racial profiling and police bias, he explained that he saw the incident from both perspectives because he also has family in law enforcement. He said he remained civil so that he could set an example for his own children.
“I have family on both sides of the lens, but I got a chance to see what happens with a citizen versus a police first-hand. And I have to tell you, I was scared for my life to the point where I could have acted different. And if I acted different, something else would have happened to me,†he said in the “GMA†interview.
“Basically, I’m alive to tell my story and my story is not a citizen versus police or police versus a citizen. It’s the idea of how can citizens trust the police.â€
During his “GMA†interview, the Haitian artist said he was coming from the recording studio when authorities pulled him over without communicating with him.
“I feel that I was targeted as a black man. It’s clear and it was obvious because when I was getting out of the car and the way that the cops rushed me, the conversation that I was having with them, it was a silent and a deaf conversation,†he said.
“For me, this is bigger than a black-and-white issue,†he continued. “The part of the issue and the long conversation that we have to have is how do we establish real relationships with the police and the citizen.â€
Sheriff’s officials said that Jean was handcuffed “due to the violent nature of the call,†because of the similarity of their cars, the time of day the incident was unfolding and “Mr. Jean’s furtive movements and demeanor.†The suspects, who were later apprehended four blocks away, were driving an Acura while Jean was in a Toyota, officials said.
“It is unfortunate that Mr. Jean was detained for six minutes during this investigation, as he had no involvement whatsoever in this violent crime,†the department said in a statement. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is apologetic for any inconvenience this process caused Mr. Jean. We are grateful we were able to apprehend the robbery suspects and that no one was seriously injured.â€
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are on speaking terms again, and he has a new hobby
Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt have reportedly spoken to each other directly. Finally.
“He’s very relieved that things are not playing out in public anymore,†a source told People in an article out Wednesday, calling the estranged couple’s detente “a work in progress.â€
The two are still negotiating their split, the source said, but Pitt is “much happier.â€
The source would seem to be someone working on image rehab (no, not that kind of rehab) for Pitt, as the magazine also has a feature about how the “Moonlight†executive producer is totally into making sculpture these days. And who doesn’t like sculpture?
“People close to him are happy that he has found something new to be passionate about,†a source told People for the story about the new hobby.
The “Allied†actor, 53, had been taking it on the chin for a while in the wake of his September split from Jolie, his partner for more than a decade and wife since August 2014.
The two parted ways abruptly when Jolie, 41, filed for divorce — a Pitt source said at the time that it was a “complete shock†— after a family dust-up on a private plane. She accused Pitt of getting physical with their eldest son, Maddox, and involved the authorities. The “World War Z†star was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, but a temporary custody agreement struck by the couple limited his visitation and involved a therapist.
Pitt showed his face in a surprise appearance during the 2017 Golden Globes broadcast in January. A day later, after aggressively going back and forth for weeks in public court filings about custody, the estranged couple struck a deal to resolve their split in private, enlisting the assistance of a private judge.
Jolie made it clear late in February that family came first in their divorce drama.
“We are a family, and we will always be a family,†she told the BBC. “And we will get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it.â€
Dave Chappelle celebrated his Netflix specials with ‘secret’ stand-up show
As Netflix prepared to roll out the first of a series of specials from comedian Dave Chappelle early Tuesday, he was in front of an intimate crowd toasting his return with a mostly private gig at the recently opened Peppermint Club in West Hollywood late Monday.
“It’s like a show, but it’s a celebration — it’s a celebration,†the 43-year-old said at the top of the performance.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t have any new jokes,†he admitted to the packed crowd. “All my new jokes will be streaming on Netflix at midnight.â€
Dressed in a long black tank and ripped jeans, and taking puffs from a cigarette between sips of beer (or tequila, as requested mid-set), Chappelle moved through an extremely loose one-hour set.
Presented by Live Nation and Netflix, the concert was largely private — 85 tickets were sold to the public, and they went in approximately two seconds, according to venue owners — and heavily star-studded (Tobey Maguire, Don Cheadle, Aloe Blacc and Wiz Khalifa were among the guests). Hannibal Buress and Donnell Rawlings were surprise openers.
Monday’s show marked the arrival of his dual specials, “The Age of Spin: Dave Chappelle Live At the Hollywood Palladium†and “Deep In The Heart Of Texas: Live At Austin City Limits.â€
Backed by a small band, Chappelle riffed on his return to the spotlight following his “Saturday Night Live†debut late last year and a deal with Netflix that is reportedly worth $60 million. It will include a third special produced specifically for the streaming service (the other two were shot in 2015 and last year).
He’s admittedly nervous about how the specials will be received -- even if his teenage son told him not to care (albeit a bit more profanely).
“Much like American currency, I’m back by false confidence,†he revealed to the crowd. “I’m scared, they beat poor Amy Schumer up.†(Schumer’s recent Netflix special was inundated with hundreds of one-star reviews, with the comedian thanking trolls for the low rating.)
Chappelle spent the bulk of his set tackling the election and President Trump (“I believe [he] is here save America — by accidentâ€).
He chided Kanye West, who was in attendance with sister-in-law Kendall Jenner, about meeting with Trump. Then he warned Kendall that he discussed her parent, Caitlyn Jenner, in the Netflix special, and that his comments on the transgender community, while “not malicious,†might upset viewers — none of that exchange is printable here, and yes, it was quite brazen in its lack of political correctness.
At one point he put an audience member on the spot to see if she was upset that Trump claimed the White House — with the aide of soft jazz music — and whether she identified as a feminist. He playfully had the music cut when she said she didn’t identify as such.
There were searing musings on the women’s march, “Get Out,†Bill Cosby, race and the travel ban before he got serious by ruminating on the lie that led to the gruesome murder of Emmett Till and connecting it with recent comments from Trump.
Before Chappelle ditched the stage for an after-party, he had his band move through an impromptu jam session of one of his favorite songs, the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There†-- and surprised the crowd by having Stevie Wonder emerge to play the harmonica.
Expanded FYF Fest to feature Frank Ocean, Bjork, Nine Inch Nails, Missy Elliott
FYF fest will be a full day longer and significantly more diverse in 2017 than last year.
The Goldenvoice-produced summertime staple, which has grown from a tiny punk gig into an international destination festival, will host Bjork, Frank Ocean and Nine Inch Nails atop the bill this year.
Missy Elliott, Solange and a Tribe Called Quest will also perform, giving FYF its most genre-, gender- and racially diverse slate of headliners.
Schwarzenegger turns tables on Trump and ridicules approval ratings and budget cuts
Like many great celebrity feuds, the ongoing spat between former host of “The Apprentice†Donald Trump and former host of “The New Celebrity Apprentice†Arnold Schwarzenegger has persisted long after its prescribed expiration date (much like the TV series each man hosted).
The latest wrinkle has Schwarzenegger needling Trump over his lackluster approval ratings after the president lambasted Schwarzenegger for shoddy “Apprentice†ratings.
In a video tweet posted early Tuesday morning, Schwarzenegger mocked Trump’s low numbers while taking a shot at his budget blueprint.
“What do you expect when you take away after-school programs for children and Meals on Wheels for the poor people?†Schwarzenegger said. “That’s not what you call ‘making America great again.’ â€
Schwarzenegger went on to ask Trump, “Who’s advising you?†and suggested he visit a local D.C. middle school. He even offered to accompany the president.
The war of words between Trump and Schwarzenegger has been waging for months, sparked in October when the former governor of California announced he would not be voting for Trump for president.
In January, two weeks before he took office, Trump took aim at the reduced ratings for Schwarzenegger’s “Apprentice,†following up on his criticisms in February at the National Prayer Breakfast where he stated, “I want to just pray for Arnold, if we can, for those ratings, OK?â€
Schwarzenegger often made time to respond to the president’s criticisms and blamed Trump’s baggage for his decision to leave “The Apprentice†earlier this month.
Trump has yet to respond to Schwarzenegger’s tweet.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ to premiere in Malaysia with ‘gay moment’ intact
After initial controversy, Disney fans in Malaysia will soon be able to experience the magic of the box office behemoth “Beauty and the Beast.†Several major Malaysian movie chains announced Tuesday a new March 30 release date for the film.
Most notably, the announcements from Golden Screen Cinemas and TGV Cinemas acknowledge that the film will not feature the cuts originally made by the Malaysian censor board.
The film was scheduled to be released in the country on March 16, the global premiere date, before being indefinitely postponed when the Film Censorship Board cut “a gay moment†due to Malaysian laws condemning homosexuality.
Disney responded by stating that “the film has not been and will not be cut for Malaysia.â€
According to the Associated Press, an anonymous government official attributed the reversal to an appeal committee viewing the film and determining the scene in question was inoffensive.
Malaysia is not the only country where “Beauty and the Beast†is facing resistance. The film was pulled from theaters in Kuwait on Monday by censors concerned by some of the film’s content.
Duaij al Khalifa al Sabah, a board member for the National Cinema Company in Kuwait, which operates 11 of the country’s 13 theaters, told AP that a newly edited version of the film may be available later in the week.
Despite the censorship disputes, “Beauty and the Beast†is a monster at the box office, bringing in $350 million over the weekend, domestically and abroad.
Representatives for Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
READ MORE:
Why I waited two hours for an elusive ‘Beauty and the Beast’ cup
‘Beauty and the Beast’ roars to historic $170-million debut
Woody Harrelson no longer smokes weed. No, really
Woody Harrelson is done with weed.
Wait, what? Isn’t this the guy who was trying to get a medical marijuana dispensary license less than a year ago in Hawaii, the state he calls home?
“I am a party animal,†the 55-year-old actor, who’s currently promoting his upcoming film “Wilson,†told Vulture in an interview published Monday. “But on the other hand, I haven’t … I’m now extremely moderate and … I actually stopped smoking pot almost a year ago.â€
Dannnnnnng, son.
The cool teacher from “The Edge of Seventeen†blamed 30 years of partying too hard.
“I feel like it was keeping me from being emotionally available,†Harrelson said, adding, “I really don’t want this interview to turn into a whole thing about that.â€
Woops, too late. But the party’s not completely over.
“I still drink,†he said. “But I try to be moderate with the drinking, too.â€
READ MORE: Pete Davidson of ‘SNL,’ medical marijuana fan, has quit drugs >>
Gal Gadot welcomes newest wonder: another baby girl
Gal Gadot has welcomed her second child, a baby girl named Maya.
The “Wonder Woman†star announced Maya’s arrival via Twitter and Instagram on Monday, sharing a photo of her family as they appear to be leaving the hospital.
“And then we were four,†Gadot, 31, wrote. “She is here, Maya. I feel so complete blessed and thankful for all the Wonders in my life #family#newborn #gratefulâ€
In a black-and-white photo, Gadot holds hands with her husband, Yaron Versano, as their firstborn, Alma, whom they welcomed in 2011, pushes Maya’s stroller.
Gadot announced her second pregnancy in November. Last week, the former Miss Israel shared a snapshot of her growing belly as she was lounging in a black Wonder Woman tee.
“Looking at the beautiful clear blue sky & I realize I’m 9 months (!!) pregnant. SO grateful to the universe. Sending u guys positive energy,†she wrote.
The breakout star of last spring’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice†is headlining her own DC film about Amazonian warrior Diana Prince’s origin story. The film also stars “Star Trek†alum Chris Pine and “House of Cards†star Robin Wright and hits theaters on June 2.
After creating an anti-Trump billboard, Santa Monica-based artist says she’s received death threats
The message behind the 40-foot-wide billboard in downtown Phoenix’s arts district is clear.
On one side, President Trump sits, a Russian flag pinned to his lapel, flanked by mushroom clouds and dollar signs drawn in the style of swastikas.
On the opposite side, the word “Unity†rests above the sign language spelling.
It’s the latest piece of resistance art against Trump’s administration. And Karen Fiorito, the Santa Monica-based artist behind it, said there aren’t plans to take it down anytime soon. Even amid death threats.
“There have been a couple of people who have said they will come and get me, or that I should be sleeping with a gun underneath my pillow,†she told CBS Los Angeles.
Artist and historic preservationist Beatrice Moore owns the billboard and the property below it, which houses a clothing design store called 11th Monkey. Moore commissioned Fiorito to design the controversial work after Trump’s election. Up for less than five days, it has, unsurprisingly, already stirred debate.
According to Phoenix New Times, two protesters “with visible guns in tow†held pro-Trump signs outside the store on Sunday. Others have flocked to the area after hearing about the billboard.
In an email to The Times, Fiorito said that “due to security concerns,†she’s not discussing the matter further at the moment.
This isn’t the first protest piece Fiorito has created. In 2004, she was responsible for another billboard that criticized the Bush administration for invading Iraq.
Katy Perry says she used to ‘pray the gay away’ at ‘Jesus camps’
Katy Perry, who received the Human Rights Campaign’s 2017 National Equality Award, speaks at the LGBTQ group’s gala dinner in Los Angeles on March 18.
Katy Perry shared the journey from her evangelical Christian upbringing to her LGBTQ-activist present, explaining Saturday night that she used to “pray the gay away†at Christian camps when she was a child.
“My first words were mama and dada, God and Satan ...,†the “Roar†singer said while accepting the Human Rights Campaign’s 2017 National Equality Award at its gala dinner in Los Angeles over the weekend.
“When I was growing up, homosexuality was synonymous with the word abomination, and Hell,†she said. Right and wrong were taught to her courtesy of felt boards and the Trinity Broadcast Network. She wanted to wind up at the pearly gates, she said, so she did as she was taught.
“Most of my unconscious adolescence, I prayed the gay away at my Jesus camps,†Perry explained. Then, she said, she found her calling: singing.
“My gift introduced me to people outside my bubble. And my bubble started to burst,†she added. “These people were nothing like I had been taught to fear. They were the most free, strong, kind and inclusive people I have ever met. They stimulated my mind and they filled my heart with joy and they freaking danced all the while doing it.â€
Perry, who said it would have been easier for her to stay that girl who just thought more hugs would save the world, hoped her stance on equality was proof that people can change.
“Thank you for roaring on behalf of the LGBTQ community,†George Takei tweeted at the “Chained to the Rhythm†singer on Monday.
MORE: America Ferrera and Katy Perry’s passionate HRC speeches reveal their journey toward activism
Eric Trump and wife Lara are expecting a baby boy, their first
President Trump will soon be able to field a baseball team’s worth of grandchildren: son Eric Trump is expecting a baby boy with his wife, Lara.
“@LaraLeaTrump & I are excited to announce that we are adding a boy to #TeamTrump in September,†the father-to-be said Monday on Instagram. “It’s been an amazing year. We are blessed!â€
Lara Trump told People she was exhausted in her first trimester.
“It surprised me, because I’m a very active person, and until the fatigue hit, I didn’t believe it would actually happen to me,†said the former “Inside Edition†producer who’s now involved with animal charities.
The president retweeted the good news on Twitter, adding, “Congratulations Eric & Lara. Very proud and happy for the two of you!â€
The parents-to-be got married in October 2014. They dated for five years before getting engaged on the 4th of July in 2013.
The new baby will join eight other Trump grandchildren. Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Vanessa, have five kids: Kai, 9; Donald III, 8; Tristan, 5; Spencer, 4; and Chloe, 2. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have three children: Arabella, 5; Joseph, 3; and Theodore, who turns 1 in a week.
The president’s other two children, Tiffany and Barron, are 23 and 10, respectively. First Lady Melania Trump and her son, Barron, are finally moving to the White House in June, according to TMZ.
John Oliver breaks down Trump’s budget blueprint and gives America the gift of zebras
Sunday’s episode of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver†gave Oliver a chance to tee off on President Trump’s budget blueprint. And while his deconstruction was as pithy and pointed as ever, Oliver had something even better in store for America.
But first, the budget.
Oliver screened a brief CNN clip with Wolf Blitzer outlining the boosts and cuts in Trump’s budget, featuring a scrolling list of scads of departments having their funding slashed, to which the host quipped, “It is sort of fitting that the list of budget cuts scroll by like the end credits for America.â€
“The Daily Show†alum went on to expound on how many of those who will suffer the most from the president’s idealized budget are those who voted to elect him, as well as examining how many of the departments targeted make up a truly infinitesimal portion of federal spending.
Sadly, no video of Oliver’s arguments can be embedded thanks to premium cable’s free and furious use of explicit language.
Eventually Oliver moved on to more pressing matters, by which we mean dancing zebras.
The host shared with the audience his recent discovery that the country of Bolivia uses people dressed as zebras to encourage pedestrian and traffic safety on dangerous roadways, a delightful tidbit that was about to get even more useful.
In the greatest (and most humane) equid use in HBO history (sorry, “Luckâ€), Oliver created a 23-minute video in which one of his staffers, dressed in a zebra costume, posed in front of a green screen for enterprising video editors to bring a little joy into the daily news slog.
To give some idea of how effective green-screen zebras are, “Last Week Tonight†provided several examples, including the inclusion of a zebra at the inauguration of Trump.
The show also inserted a striped bystander into the background of a particularly gripping moment in Oscar best-picture nominee “Manchester by the Sea.â€
Do you need a Monday pick-me-up? Do you need a spring pick-me-up? Do you need a 2017 pick-me-up?
Great. Here’s 23 minutes of dancing zebra.
Kim Kardashian relives Paris robbery on ‘KUWTK’; French paparazzi reveal themselves to be human
Kim Kardashian West has finally shared her version of the robbery that altered her life last October — as well as a photo that a group of paparazzi in Paris sent her privately after the crime.
“I have always shared so much & I’m not going to hold back when this was probably one of the most life changing experiences for me,†Kardashian said Sunday on Twitter.
“I would never wish this experience upon anyone, but have learned some valuable lessons & feel so blessed to be safe home w my babies & husband,†she continued. “To my friends, family, and loved ones I can’t thank you enough for being there when I needed you the most.â€
Kardashian suspects that a group was watching the family during their entire Paris Fashion Week trip, she said on Sunday’s episode of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.â€
“I was Snapchatting that I was home and that everyone was going out, so I think they knew that [bodyguard] Pascal was out with Kourtney [Kardashian] and that I was by myself,†she said. “They had to have known that we were leaving that day. They had this window of opportunity and just went for it.â€
Her description of the robbery mostly echoed what has been reported previously. One new aspect, however, was what Kim was thinking after they duct-taped her mouth to keep her from screaming.
“He grabs my legs, and ... I have no clothes on under, so, he pulled me towards him at the front of the bed and I thought OK, this is the moment, they’re going to rape me,†she said. “And I fully, like, mentally prepped myself and then he didn’t.
“And he, like, duct-taped my legs together, then he had the gun up to me and I knew that was the moment, they’re going to totally, like, shoot me in the head, and I’m just praying that Kourtney is going to have a normal life after she finds my dead body there on the bed.â€
The episode concludes with a tear-jerking montage of scenes from Kim’s home life with husband Kanye West and their two young kids, North and Saint.
And yes, even the paparazzi got a little mushy about the whole thing, sending a photo with the message, “We don’t love you because we need you. We need you because we love you.â€
“We thought we should do something collectively to let her know we support her. It was just something we felt we wanted to do — something that we had to do,†the photographer whose idea it was for Kim’s “favorite French paps†to send her their wishes told People. Even a few shooters who prefer to stay anonymous posed for this one, he said.
“We did it to tell Kim how sorry we were,†he said. “She didn’t deserve this incredibly sad event in her life.â€
Zayn Malik says he’s anxiety-free since leaving One Direction
For Zayn Malik, formerly of the British boy band One Direction, anxiety was less a state of mind and more a state of being controlled.
“I now have no problem with anxiety. It was something I was dealing with in the band,†Malik told British newspaper the Sunday Times in an interview published Sunday.
That statement contradicts how Malik described his struggle with the disorder in his 2016 memoir, “Zaynâ€: “The only way I can explain the anxiety I experience is that there’s a certain level of expectation I put on myself, and a certain level of expectation I feel from the fan base and the public.
“When I don’t do what I’m supposed to, it’s not because I’m disrespecting [people’s] investment in me. It’s because I respect what they’ve invested in me so highly I don’t want to let them down by giving them something that’s second rate ... ,†Malik wrote, not of his performances with 1D, but of his solo gigs since departing the band in March 2015.
Malik’s new interview also addressed his struggle with disordered eating that cropped up near the end of his stint with the boy band, another issue revealed to fans in his autobiography.
“It wasn’t specifically an eating disorder,†he told the Sunday Times. “It was a control thing. Every area of my life was so regimented and controlled, it was the one area where I could say, ‘No, I’m not eating that.’ Once I got over the control, the eating just came back into place.â€
Fans of the singer will have to wait for new music. Malik continues work on his highly anticipated follow-up to “Mind of Mine,†his first solo album, released nearly one year ago.
Malik is at work in the studio, however, and may have dropped a snippet of an upcoming song on Twitter several weeks ago.
Judge for yourself with the tweets below.
Clintons and Obama mourn the death of Chuck Berry
Former president Barack Obama made a rare appearance on Twitter on Sunday morning, tweeting about the passing of rock ‘n’ roll forefather Chuck Berry.
“Chuck Berry rolled over everyone who came before him,†Obama said, “and turned up everyone who came after. We’ll miss you, Chuck. Be good.â€
Berry died Saturday at his home near St. Louis. He was 90.
Obama was not the only former president struck by the loss of of the music pioneer.
President Bill Clinton released a statement Saturday on behalf of himself and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“Hillary and I loved Chuck Berry for as long as we can remember. The man was inseparable from his music – both were utterly original and distinctly American,†Clinton’s statement read. “He made our feet move and our hearts more joyful. And along the way he changed our country and the history of popular music.
“Chuck played at both my inaugurations and at the White House for my 25th Georgetown reunion, and he never slowed down, which is why his legend grew every time he stepped on stage. His life was a treasure and a triumph, and he’ll never be forgotten. Our hearts go out to his family and his countless friends and fans,†the 42nd president concluded.
READ MORE:
Chuck Berry dies at 90, a founding father of rock ‘n’ roll
Chuck Berry was a master of detail whose music defined a genre
Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski are married: ‘We eloped,’ he says
Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski got married Sunday, he revealed Thursday on James Corden’s late-night show.
“We eloped,†the “Life in Pieces†actor explained after Corden was taken aback by the sight of a wedding band on Sadoski’s left hand. “We just took off into the country with an officiant, just the two of us, and we did our thing.â€
The couple, who got engaged in September, confirmed in late November that they’re expecting a child together.
The low-key ceremony was “everything it should be,†the 40-year-old newlywed said. “It’s great! It’s sort of perfect ... then you take the dog and you walk through the country and you go home. And you, like, have your life.â€
They also had dinner and a really great day in general, he joked.
“I know you guys are close friends and she would want you to know, so just, like, you know, keep it quiet,†said Sadoski, who was sitting next to “Powerless†actress Vanessa Hudgens in front of a studio audience. “Don’t tell anybody.â€
Just before the show aired on the East Coast, Seyfried, 31, had promoted Sadoski’s appearance, saying on Instagram, “This nice man is going to be on @latelateshow tonight to talk about nice things.â€
She wasn’t kidding.
Jimmy Kimmel says Trump could learn about sharing and telling the truth from ‘Sesame Street’ instead of firing Big Bird
Jimmy Kimmel cut to the heart of Donald Trump’s budget blueprint Thursday night with an “Apprentice†mock-up that featured the president firing beloved “Sesame Street†personality Big Bird.
“I say you’re fired,†said Trump in the spoof of his former reality show, whose footage was repurposed for the occasion.
“I guess we’ll have to find a new place to live,†Big Bird says sadly to his teddy bear, Radar.
Trump’s budget, announced Thursday morning, revealed plans to eliminated funding for 19 agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corp. for Public Broadcasting.
“Sesame Street,†a mainstay of public broadcasting since its debut in 1969, is an example of the type of beneficial educational programming supported by the CPB over the years.
Kimmel went on to suggest that maybe Trump should be forced to watch a few episodes of the beloved children’s show so he can learn some things.
“That show teaches so many things he needs to know: which thing is bigger than the other, how to spell, the importance of telling the truth and sharing, listening to others. Maybe throw in some ‘Schoolhouse Rock!’ He could find out how government works,†Kimmel quipped.
Sean Hannity, Juan Williams reject gun story as ‘sensationalized’; CNN defends report
Sean Hannity and Juan Williams are rejecting the context of a CNN report saying the Fox News host “once pulled a gun†on his colleague and pointed it at him while the two were off-camera.
“While discussing the issue of firearms, I showed my good friend Juan Williams my unloaded firearm in a professional and safe manner for educational purposes only,†Hannity said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
“Every precautionary procedure that I have been trained in since the age of 11 was followed. I’ve had a conceal carry permit in five states for all of my adult life. Any other interpretation of this is outright false reporting.â€
Meanwhile, CNN said Friday that it was standing by its story and its reporter Dylan Byers. “Fake news and inconvenient facts are two very different things,†a network spokesman told The Times.
The gun anecdote was touted Thursday in the headline on a CNN article that characterized the President Trump-supporting host as “spoiling for a fight†in the name of entertainment.
Attributed to three sources familiar with the situation, the incident was cast by CNN as flowing out of a regular on-camera argument between the men, and stated that Hannity had “pointed†the gun at his colleague. (A prime tenet in gun safety is always keeping the weapon pointed in a safe direction.)
“The situation was thoroughly investigated and it was found that no one was put in any danger,†Fox News said in a statement.
From CNN Money:
“Hannity’s version of entertainment can go too far. Last year, after ending one of his many spirited on-air arguments with liberal contributor Juan Williams, Hannity pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at Williams, according to three sources with knowledge of the incident. He even turned on the laser sight, causing a red dot to bob around on Williams’ body. (Hannity was just showing off, the sources said, but the unforeseen off-camera antic clearly disturbed Williams and others on set.)â€
Williams also disagreed with the story’s take.
“This incident is being sensationalized – everything was under total control throughout and I never felt like I was put in harm’s way,†Williams said in a statement via Fox News and on Twitter. “It was clear that Sean put my safety and security above all else and we continue to be great friends.â€
CNN defended reporter Byers’ story Friday.
“Our reporter contacted Fox News and Juan Williams before publishing and he included their statements in his piece,†the spokesman said. “He also reported that Fox News deemed the incident worthy of a thorough investigation by its HR and Legal departments. A network spokesperson confirmed these facts.â€
Updated, 9:55 a.m.: This article was updated to include comments from CNN.
The Trump budget would reverse JFK’s idea of the president as arts patron in chief
The proposed Trump administration budget announced Wednesday would eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 as part of his Great Society agenda. But it had its roots in the attention given to the arts by John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy. In this essay from Nov. 21, 2013, Times music critic Mark Swed writes about the Kennedy legacy in which one of the roles he saw as a duty of his presidency was to be the arts patron in chief.
THREE DAYS AFTER Lee Harvey Oswald’s bullet inconsolably blackened the mood of America, Leonard Bernstein tried to lift the nation’s spirits by focusing on a special legacy — one that is getting too little attention in the commentary around Friday’s 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Instead of performing a requiem Mass for a slain Roman Catholic president, Bernstein led the New York Philharmonic in Mahler’s Second Symphony, known as the “Resurrection.†JFK had, like no president before him, empowered artists, and that was expected to last
“American artists have for three years looked to the White House with unaccustomed confidence and warmth,†Bernstein said that day. “We loved him for the honor in which he held art, in which he held every creative impulse of the human mind, whether it was expressed in words, or notes, or paints, or mathematical symbols.â€
Washington has become so . . . impervious toward art that it seems like fantasy to recall a moment . . . when artists powerfully influenced how Americans felt about America.
Taking advantage of artists to inspire national optimism, the Kennedy White House made art glamorous. In return, art became a crucial factor in the new Camelot.
But it is hardly surprising that this aspect of the Kennedy administration is being overlooked.
Despite an unprecedented explosion of the arts in America over the last half-century, artists have never again been afforded such national prominence.
Washington has become so nervous about and impervious toward art that it seems like fantasy to recall a moment in this country when artists powerfully influenced how Americans felt about America, its identity and future.
That, in turn, fueled the support for great deeds. It wasn’t merely the advances in cold science that convinced the public we could go to the moon. This was also a poetic project, and that is how it was persuasively presented, as part of the pulse of America then. A desire to recapture something of the lost optimism after JFK’s assassination even helped allow Lyndon Johnson to put forward his proposal for a Great Society.
Art was there from the beginning for the Kennedy administration. The great, barrier-breaking, African American contralto Marian Anderson sang at the inauguration. My favorite photo of the Kennedy era is a picture of Bernstein and Frank Sinatra backstage at an inaugural ball as they waited to go on, each trying to appear cooler than the other and each looking like he had just been given the keys to the country.
John Steinbeck, W.H. Auden and Robert Lowell were on hand. In all, the president — no doubt at the urging of the first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy — invited 50 writers and artists and musicians to the inauguration.
I happen to have been among the millions of impressionable American teenagers the Kennedys helped turn on to the arts.
A few months before the assassination, I remember seeing JFK on the evening news at the opening of a National Gallery Leonardo da Vinci show. He attended with the French minister for cultural affairs, who was a novelist and art theorist. That got me, and many other students at my high school in Pasadena, not only fascinated with Da Vinci but also reading André Malraux. When since has a president dared pose with a leading public intellectual?
A brief history of the National Endowment for the Arts
President Trump’s first federal budget proposal is targeting the National Endowment for the Arts, threatening to cease funding to the agency and similar organizations, such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
It’s not the first time the NEA has been at the center of our culture wars.
Here’s a timeline of the agency’s accomplishments and controversies and previous attempts to shut it down:
1965: Congress creates the NEA as an independent federal agency “that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.†The American Ballet Theatre was the recipient of the very first NEA Grant.
1967: The NEA helps create the American Film Institute to promote and preserve cinema history.
1970: Alice Walker, who would later pen the seminal “The Color Purple,†receives the NEA Discovery award.
1976: Garrison Keillor’s long-running radio program, “A Prairie Home Companion,†is funded by the NEA.
1979: The Louisiana State University Press is given a small grant to help publish John Kennedy Toole’s acclaimed posthumous novel, “A Confederacy of Dunces,†which earned a Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
1981: President Reagan’s Cabinet flirts with idea of abolishing the agency in a money-saving effort, but instead its budget is temporarily decreased.
1987: The Joffrey Ballet is awarded a grant to reconstruct the original staging of Vaslav Nijinsky’s “The Rites of Spring.â€
1989: Photographer Andres Serrano’s work titled “Piss Christ†draws the ire of Republican Sens. Jesse Helms and Al D’Amato and prominent conservative figures Pat Robertson and Pat Buchanan.
1990: Performance artists Karen Finley, Tim Miller, John Fleck and Holly Hughes, later dubbed the “NEA Four,†had their grants vetoed by NEA Chairman John Frohnmayer. The four teamed to sue the agency and the case, National Endowment for the Arts vs. Finley, was eventually settled by the Supreme Court. The NEA eventually financially compensated the performers.
1991: Blues legend B.B. King receives an NEA National Heritage Fellowship.
1995: House Speaker Newt Gingrich resurrects the idea of dismantling the NEA, the National Endowment of the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Instead, the budgets are cut and certain grants are denied.
1997: The NEA supports the traveling exhibition “To Conserve a Legacy: American Art From Historically Black Colleges and Universities,†which unearthed and restored more than 1,400 artworks held by six schools.
2003: Working in tandem with six acclaimed theater companies, the NEA launches a nationwide tour of Shakespeare plays, in addition to workshops, symposia and “teacher toolkits†for use in schools.
2017: President Trump unveils his first federal budget proposal, which looks to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts.
Weather Channel trolls Stephen Colbert with plan to name a winter storm after him
Stephen Colbert gave the Weather Channel the business recently, joshing it about naming a winter storm Stella despite having no authority to name anything.
Apparently the folks at TWC are fans, or at least set their DVRs to catch “The Late Showâ€: The cable channel just declared its intention to dub 2017-18’s third major winter storm “Colbert.†For real.
“It’s impossible to say exactly how this storm is going to perform, but ... very early forecasts are indicating that the storm starts small, really small, but after a few false starts in Chicago area, the system will eventually move on toward to New York, where it looks like Colbert will build momentum on the back of a much bigger and better lead-in storm,†meteorologist Tom Niziol said Wednesday on air.
After unexpectedly becoming a major storm, Niziol explained, Colbert is “going to blow hard but it’s going to have little or no impact. All signs are going to point to just a nuisance storm. Nothing to take too seriously.â€
No worries -- Colbert’s feelings weren’t hurt.
Today’s forecast across the country? Shade, shade, shade.
Halleloo! RuPaul and longtime boyfriend George LeBar are married
BAM! RuPaul and his longtime boyfriend, Georges LeBar, are married.
The “RuPaul’s Drag Race†host broke the news Thursday in an interview with Hollywood Today Live.
They exchanged vows this past January on LeBar’s birthday, which was also the 23rd anniversary of the night they met in New York City, the Emmy winner said.
LeBar runs a 60,000-acre ranch in Wyoming — actually, it slops over into South Dakota too — but RuPaul said that when they’re together, they try to go somewhere “fabulous,†like Maui or New York. In Wyoming, the TV diva said, he dons great Western wear, but “nobody cares.â€
“Wyoming — God bless you in Wyoming — it’s very boring, and it’s the most isolated place on Earth,†he said. (Wyoming, consider yourself clocked.)
Though the wedding date was rather romantic, the reason for matrimony was practical.
“We never wanted to do it,†RuPaul explained. “We were looking into it for tax breaks and financial things.â€
Hollywood unions call for preservation of NEA, NEH, CPB
Hollywood’s big acting, directing and writing guilds are calling for the preservation of federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corp. for Public Broadcasting.
“As a source of inspiration, action and economic growth our country’s creative arts are integral to our culture, our American identity and our democracy,†the Directors Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild of America West and East and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said in a joint statement Thursday.
“Access to the arts has fueled generations of great Americans, uplifted communities and helped heal our nation’s greatest divides. Cutting federal support of these programs will not only hurt artists and those who benefit from their work, it will also send a damaging message to future generations about the power of art and its place in our culture.â€
The unions represent creators, performers, technicians and artists working in TV, radio, sound recordings and digital media. The elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB, in addition to 16 other independent government agencies, has been proposed by the Trump administration in its newly released “America First†budget blueprint.
Art museum directors speak out in support of cultural agencies targeted for elimination
The Assn. of Art Museum Directors spoke out Thursday against the proposed elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and Institute of Museum and Library Services, as outlined in the Trump administration’s newly released budget blueprint.
“The arts are a shared expression of the human spirit and a hallmark of our humanity. Art touches people throughout their lives — from toddlers first learning about the world, to those with Alzheimer’s disease reconnecting with someone they love,†the museum directors group said in a statement.
“Museums offer art programs to help teachers and homeschoolers prepare lessons, to train medical students to be better doctors, to ease the suffering of veterans with PTSD, and to share with people across the country the best of creative achievement.â€
Though association members receive only a small fraction of their funding from the federal government, the national organization called the NEA, NEH and IMLS “essential partners†in art museums’ work.
“These organizations, like all arts institutions, are catalysts for employment and increase the quality of life in their communities. AAMD urges the Congress, where there has been strong bipartisan support for the NEA, NEH, and IMLS, to continue funding these agencies, which play such an important role in our vibrant democracy,†the statement read.
In Southern California, museums affiliated with the AAMD include:
- Hammer Museum in Los Angeles
- Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, in Santa Monica
- J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles
- Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles
- Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla
- Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach
- Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs
- San Diego Museum of Art in San Diego
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art in Santa Barbara
- The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino
- The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles
Trump budget would eliminate funding for National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities are among the independent agencies earmarked for zero funding in the 2018 budget blueprint released Thursday by the Trump administration.
The NEA and NEH are among 19 agencies the proposal targets for elimination of funding, along with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, to name a couple.
Both endowments were created in 1965. The NEA has seen annual budgets ranging from just under $3 million in 1966 to $176 million in 1992. Currently, the annual appropriation amount is just under $148 million. The NEH requested just under $150 million for fiscal 2017.
“While recognizing this Blueprint is not the full Federal budget, it does provide lawmakers and the public with a view of the priorities of the President and his Administration,†said Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a preface to the proposal.
As a federal agency, the NEA cannot advocate for its own survival. However, it did issue a statement Thursday addressing the budget proposal.
“Today we learned that the President’s FY 2018 budget blueprint proposes the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts,†NEA Chair Jane Chu said. “We are disappointed because we see our funding actively making a difference with individuals of all ages in thousands of communities, large, small, urban and rural, and in every Congressional District in the nation.â€
Calling the budget request “a first step in a very long budget process,†the NEA said it is working with the OMB to provide documents and will continue to operate “as usual†until Congress enacts a new budget and would continue talking about the NEA’s role in national culture.
“We are greatly saddened to learn of this proposal for elimination, as NEH has made significant contributions to the public good over its 50-year history,†NEH Chairman William D. Adams said Thursday, echoing the NEA in explaining that as an agency of the executive branch of government, it had to answer to the president and the Office of Management and Budget as part of the budgeting process and would continue to operate normally.
The new fiscal year stars Oct. 1.
“We expect this news to be an active topic of discussion among individuals and organizations that advocate for the arts,†Chu said.
DOCUMENT: Read Trump’s budget blueprint
For the Record, 9:08 a.m.: An earlier version of this post said 20 agencies are targeted for funding elimination. Nineteen agencies have been targeted.
Marvel drama ‘Legion’ renewed for second season on FX
Two weeks before “Legion†wraps its first season, FX has picked it up for a second.
The “X-Menâ€-themed series, which stars Dan Stevens (in his non-â€Beastâ€-like form) as a mutant troubled by his superpowers, will return in 2018.
Hailing from “Fargo†mastermind Noah Hawley, the Marvel Comics-inspired drama opened to strong reviews from critics.
“More than a new series, ‘Legion’ is a wholly original take on the super hero genre,†FX original programming co-president Eric Schrier said in a statement. “Our thanks to Noah Hawley for taking the creative risks and shattering expectations.â€
The Sason 1 finale is set to air March 29.
Another win for spin-offs: ‘The Good Fight’ renewed for a second season
CBS All Access has reached a verdict on “The Good Fightâ€--in favor of a second season renewal.
The pickup comes halfway through the drama’s 10-episode first season. The new season will premiere in 2018.
The legal drama, a spin-off of “The Good Wife,†is the first original drama series for the subscription streaming service.
The series is led by Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart and picks up one year after the events of the flagship series, with Diane forced to rebuild her life after losing her savings in a Ponzi scheme.
It’s unclear how the show has been performing on the digital platform, but its premiere aired on CBS’ linear channel on Feb. 19 to 7.2 million viewers. The network seems at least pleased with how it’s transitioning on its digital home.
“We’re only a few episodes into the first season and the reaction from CBS All Access subscribers and critics alike has been phenomenal,†said Marc DeBevoise, president and chief operating officer of CBS Interactive, in a statement. “This series and its characters are just beginning and we can’t wait to see where Robert and Michelle King, their creative team and the amazing cast take ‘The Good Fight’ next.â€
CBS All Access, whose other original series will include ‘Star Trek: Discovery,†costs $5.99 a month ($.9.99 for the commercial-free plan).
Mischa Barton fights back as a ‘revenge’ sex tape is allegedly shopped to porn outlets
Mischa Barton has obtained a restraining order and has gone to the police about a “revenge porn†sex tape that’s reportedly being shopped around to the highest bidder.
The images and videos were taken in the last year without Barton’s consent by someone she had a brief relationship with, attorney Lisa Bloom said at a press conference Wednesday morning. With Barton at her side, Bloom labeled the materials as “revenge porn,†which is covered under domestic-violence laws.
The police report and court filing both occurred Tuesday.
“The court has blocked the selling, distribution, giving away or showing of any of these photos or videos of Ms. Barton,†Bloom said. “The orders are clear about what happens to violators. They state, ‘If you do not obey this order, you can go to jail or prison.’â€
On Wednesday, cease-and-desist letters were sent to those who’ve been reported as participants in attempts to buy or sell the images, Bloom said.
Because of the police investigation, the attorney was not naming the man believed to have shot the video. She and “The O.C.†actress hadn’t seen any of the images, Bloom said, and didn’t know how they’d been recorded.
“I came forward to fight them not only for myself, but for all the women out there,†Barton said in a brief statement at the start of the press conference. “I want to protect them from the pain and humiliation I have gone through.â€
“I know that at least three large online porn sites ... have reviewed it and they’re all seriously considering the offer,†celebrity sex-tape broker Kevin Blatt told the Daily Mail on Monday. Blatt told the outlet that he’d been shown stills.
The opening bid, he said, was a half-million bucks.
(The press conference can be viewed in the video that follows. Barton and Bloom enter the room slightly before the five-minute mark.)
Say hello to Bette Midler in the Broadway revival of ‘Hello, Dolly!’
Well, hello, Bette!
Bette Midler is starring in the Broadway revival of “Hello, Dolly!†and shared a sneak peek of herself in full costume — feathers and all — as iconic matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi on the eve of its first preview.
The show debuts at New York’s Shubert Theatre on Wednesday and will open officially on April 20. The production already has sold more than $40 million in advance ticket sales, which broke the record for highest pre-show advance sales of any Broadway production, according to Playbill.
The “Hello, Dolly!†revival also stars David Hyde Pierce as Horace Vandergelder and is produced by Scott Rudin.
Tony Award winner Carol Channing originated the Dolly role when the show first opened in 1964, and she also starred in two revivals.
Barbra Streisand famously played Dolly in the 1969 film opposite Walter Matthau; the film won three technical Oscars but lost in the best picture category. Ethel Merman, Mary Martin and Ginger Rogers also have played the famous meddler.
The Divine Miss M, 71, made her Broadway debut in 1964’s “Fiddler on the Roof,†returned to the stage over the years for one-woman shows and most recently starred in the acclaimed “I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers.†She won a special Tony Award in 1974 for “adding lustre to the Broadway season.â€
The veteran entertainer said in a New York Times profile last year that playing Dolly was “a big challenge.†It’s been some time since she appeared with a cast of actors.
“It’s a lot — I’m no spring chicken — but I’m curious, and I love to do all the things this character is required to do,†she said. “It keeps me thin, which I like, and it keeps me engaged.â€
A&E renews docuseries ‘Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath’
A&E announced Wednesday the renewal of “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath†for a second season.
The renewal includes 10 new hourlong installments of the series, which features Remini, a former Scientologist, meeting with individuals who have left the Church of Scientology to hear their stories.
“It became clear to us that although we were telling painful stories of former members of the Church of Scientology, this show was resonating strongly with people everywhere,†Remini said in a statement Wednesday.
“The show is really about standing up for what is right and not letting bullies have their way. I feel it is important for people to know that you can take action to bring about change, both for yourself and for others,†she said.
In her Times review of the premiere episode, Meredith Blake wrote that the series “takes a human-interest approach to its subject, barely delving into the origins of the religion or its more bizarre teachings.â€
The first season concluded in January, and no release date for the follow-up installment has been announced.
If Snoop pointed a gun at a clown Obama, he’d be in jail, Trump tweets
President Trump fired off five tweets early Wednesday morning: one about his tax return, one about tax cuts, two about rallies and one about, well, Snoop Dogg.
“Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama?†Trump wrote. “Jail time!â€
The president was referring to the rapper’s new “Lavender†video, in which he draws a gun, takes aim at the head of “President Ronald Klump†-- comedian Michael Rapaport dressed up as a clown -- and fires. Though the effect is a cartoon “Bang!†unfurling from the barrel of the gag weapon, the implication is clear.
“Shame on you, Snoop,†Trump lawyer Michael Cohen said Tuesday on TMZ Live. The rapper owes the president an apology, he said. He wouldn’t have accepted the video if it were directed toward President Obama either, Cohen said.
“If you have a protest, that’s fine,†the attorney said. “Make a point. But he has to learn that they have to respect the office of the presidency ... Just because you want to hide behind the guise of artistic capabilities or artistic freedom of speech doesn’t make it right, and Snoop knows that, and he played very close to the line here.â€
In the wake of Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s comments to TMZ criticizing the rapper, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told the website that he hadn’t seen the video yet but considered it to be “in poor taste,†especially given the nation’s history of presidential assassinations and attempted assassinations.
“I think it’s unfortunate. I wish he hadn’t done that,†Cruz said, noting that people “should not be advocating the murder of the president of the United States, and it’s sad that that is somehow deemed a controversial statement.â€
Exclusive: Jack Antonoff to ‘Bring the Noise’ to ‘The Breakfast Club’ at LACMA
It’s time to go back to detention.
Film Independent at LACMA will announce Wednesday morning that Jack Antonoff (of the pop band Bleachers) and “The Breakfast Club†are the next pairing for “Bring the Noise.â€
The series enlists modern musicians to select a classic film and replace the original score with their own live accompaniment.
The first installation of “Bring the Noise†featured Seth Bogart (Hunx and His Punx) replacing the score for “Welcome to the Dollhouse†in January, and dance-pop band Yacht took on the score for “Alien†last week.
Antonoff’s musical interpretation of 1985’s “The Breakfast Club†is slated for April 1.
“I chose ‘The Breakfast Club’ because I think about that film often when I write,†Antonoff told The Times. “There are certain films and feelings that remind me of where I’m from.
“I grew up in suburban New Jersey in a similar state of strange boredom as ‘The Breakfast Club.’ I constantly thought about getting out, and that feeling is so present in this film,†he added. “A lot of my world now is looking back at that time period from different vantage points.â€
“Bring the Noise†is sponsored by Audi, KCRW and the Hollywood Foreign Press.
Tickets will first be made available to Film Independent members, with general public tickets sales beginning March 23.
Unbeknownst to many, Ben Affleck is out of rehab for alcohol abuse
Ben Affleck has completed rehab for alcohol addiction, he announced Tuesday on Facebook, calling it something he has “dealt with in the past and will continue to confront.â€
Affleck, whose split from Jennifer Garner was making headlines again regarding whether they were giving their relationship another go or maintaining the status quo -- it looks like it was the latter -- said he has his eyes on being a good father.
“I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step,†the 44-year-old Oscar winner wrote.
The actor-director previously went through rehab in 2001.
Affleck thanked family and friends for their love, calling out Garner in particular for her support and for taking care of their three kids while he was in rehab.
“This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery,†he wrote.
At the end of January, Affleck stepped away from directing a planned solo Batman movie while remaining committed to playing the character in the film.
New Heinz ads brought to you by ... Don Draper?
What has been missing from ads for Heinz Ketchup? A dollop of “Mad Men.â€
Five decades after Don Draper and company pitched a “bold†ketchup campaign -- “I think I still want to see our bottle,†a reluctant Heinz exec said in Season 6 of the show -- the 2017 version of the company has signed off on the ads.
The ads are running on three billboards in New York City, in the New York Post and in Variety, according to Adweek. They’re credited to David Miami, which is Heinz’s current ad firm, and Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, the fictional 1960s firm from AMC’s “Mad Men.â€
Emblazoned with the simple line “Pass the Heinz,†the three ads feature ketchup-free shots of French fries, a bite of steak and a hamburger.
Unfortunately, the shots are also free of the dapper Draper. Pass the hottie, someone?
Sen. Marco Rubio criticizes Snoop Dogg for shooting a Trump-like clown in new video
Snoop Dogg shouldn’t clown like he does in his new video when it comes to the life of President Trump.
So says Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
Creepy clown characters populate the video for “Lavender†(Nightfall remix), which remixes jazz fusion group BadBadNotGood’s hypnotic 2016 song “Lavender,†featuring Kaytranada, with profane Snoop-style lyrics.
It includes a press conference by President “Ronald Klump†in which he announces plans to deport all “doggs.†Near the end, Snoop points a gun at the head of “Klump†and pulls the trigger. A cartoon “Bang†unfurls from the barrel of the gun.
“Snoop shouldn’t have done that,†the Florida Republican and former Trump rival told TMZ on Monday outside Reagan National Airport. “You know, we’ve had presidents assassinated before in this country, so people should be really careful about that.â€
The video was released Sunday, and in addition to the “Klump†shooting, it includes a scene echoing the shooting of Philando Castile in which a white, doughnut-eating cop shoots a man (played by comedian Michael Rapaport) during a traffic stop, sending confetti flying from the driver’s chest while a young black man captures the scene on cellphone video.
“Ronald,†meanwhile, winds up in chains at the video’s end as everyone gets high around him.
The official music video for BBNG’s “Lavender,†which has no lyrics, features a gun and poison prominently in a journey through a deadly game of Dungeons & Dragons.
YouTube sensation Jesse Wellen pitched his idea for the video to Snoop while the two, who share a manager, were smoking in the rapper’s van outside a video game event they were both working at last year, Billboard reported.
“I feel like it’s a lot of people making cool records, having fun, partying, but nobody’s dealing with the real issue with this ... clown as president and the ...[things] that we dealing with out here,†Snoop told Billboard about the video concept. “So I wanted to take time out to push pause on a party record and make one of these records for the time being.â€
The song will be part of his upcoming album, “Never Left,†he said.
The video -- warning: it’s loaded with profanity and racial slurs, in addition to the mock shootings -- can be seen here.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ pulled from Malaysian release after ‘gay moment’ censored
When Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast†debuts worldwide Thursday, Malaysia will no longer be among the invited guests.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the company had shelved its plans for Malaysian release after film censors there approved the film after cutting out its so-called “gay moment.â€
According to the chairman of the Film Censorship Board in Malaysia, Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, scenes promoting homosexuality are banned in the country.
“We have approved it, but there is a minor cut involving a gay moment. It is only one short scene but it is inappropriate because many children will be watching this movie,†Abdul Hamid told the Associated Press.
The censorship board does allow for the depiction of homosexual characters onscreen, but only if they are shown in a negative light or repent for their actions.
In Malaysia, same-sex sexual activity is illegal and carries a punishment of whipping and up to 20 years in prison.
Last week Russia approved showings of “Beauty and the Beast†for audiences ages 16 and above after concerns that the film might run afoul of the country’s anti-â€gay propaganda†laws.
“Beauty and the Beast†arrives in U.S. theaters Friday.
REVIEW: Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast†tries to reawaken that timeless magic
MORE: “Beauty and the Beast†stars perform with composer Alan Menken
MTV Movie Awards expand to include television
After 25 years, the MTV Movie Awards will make room for television.
In the newly christened MTV Movie & TV Awards, small-screen actors will join their big-screen colleagues for a shot at the prize in categories that have included best kiss, best villain and best shirtless performance, the network announced Monday in a statement.
The overhaul acknowledges a “golden age of content†and “will celebrate even more of the brightest, bravest, funniest and most shared films and TV shows resonating across youth culture,†MTV President Chris McCarthy said.
New this year: A day-long, fan-focused party featuring live music, food and more will be held outside the Shrine Auditorium. The fan event will wrap up with red-carpet arrivals at the May 7 show.
Long in the making, Ed Sheeran will make a cameo on ‘Game of Thrones’
“Game of Thrones†just got a little more soulful.
Executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss revealed that English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will be making a cameo appearance in Season 7 of HBO’s hit series.
The “GOT†show runners appeared Sunday on a SXSW panel for the series, moderated by the Stark sisters themselves, Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner.
Getting Sheeran on the show has been a years-long effort for Benioff and Weiss, who originally extended an invitation to the singer to appear in the third season.
The reason? To surprise Williams.
No details were offered about Sheeran’s role, but given the show’s history with musical cameos, including Sigur Ros and Of Monsters and Men, Sheeran will likely be a background player.
Even without specifics, the Internet had thoughts about the prospect of seeing Sheeran in the world of Westeros.
Season 7 of “Game of Thrones†premieres July 16.
Kim Kardashian recounts her robbery: ‘That’s when I saw the gun, like, clear as day’
When armed robbers entered her hotel room in Paris in October, Kim Kardashian had to make a crucial decision on what to do next to stay alive -- that’s what she explains to sisters Kourtney and Khloe in a promo for Sunday’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.â€
“I was like, I have a split second in my mind to make this quick decision ... am I going to run down the stairs, and either be shot in the back -- like, it makes me so upset to think about it,†she says, nearly breaking into tears, in her first public discussion of the crime.
“But they’re either going to shoot me in the back, or if I make it and they don’t, if the elevator does not open in time or the stairs are locked ... there’s no way out.â€
The robbers, who ultimately made off with her jewelry, first asked for money, she explains.
“I said I don’t have any money. They dragged me out to the hallway on top of the stairs. That’s when I saw the gun, like, clear as day.â€
In January, 10 suspects were charged in connection with the robbery, during which Kardashian was bound and gagged. Charges include robbery, kidnapping, conspiracy and possession of a gun, ammunition and fake documents.
ALSO
Paris police arrest 17 in Kim Kardashian jewelry heist
Kim Kardashian testifies to French investigators about Paris robbery
Kim Kardashian’s robbery ordeal, from begging for her life to dealing with the aftermath
Nick who? Tyra Banks announced as new host of ‘America’s Got Talent’
“America’s Got Talent†nabbed a new host over the weekend, and now NBC’s long-running reality series might as well be renamed “America’s Got Top Model.â€
The network announced Sunday that Tyra Banks, creator and executive producer of “America’s Next Top Model,†will be replacing Nick Cannon as host when the series returns for Season 12.
“Tyra is the complete package: Out-of-this-world talented, funny, brilliant and all heart. In whatever she has done, she has always connected with audiences around the world,†said Paul Telegdy, president of NBC Entertainment’s alternative and reality group. “Her vivacious spirit will infuse ‘AGT’ in a big way.â€
The move fills the vacancy after Cannon’s sudden departure from the series last month.
In a lengthy February Facebook post, Cannon announced that he would be leaving “AGT†after a dispute with network executives over a joke in his recent Showtime comedy special.
“I now have to set out on a journey of freedom as an artist,†wrote Cannon. “So I wish ‘AGT’ and NBC the best in its upcoming season but I can not see myself returning.â€
Banks returns to the realm of reality television after hosting “America’s Next Top Model†from 2003 to 2015, when it was canceled by the CW. When the series was revived a year later on VH1, Banks returned only as executive producer, with Rita Ora replacing her.
“Since I was a little girl, I’ve been obsessed with grandiose acts and performers who make the seemingly impossible possible,†Banks said in a statement released Sunday. “I love how ‘AGT’ brings that feeling into everyone’s home, capturing the best of people who come out and give it their all to make those big, fierce and outrageous dreams come true.â€
Now in production, the next season of “AGT†will return this summer.
Edgar Wright describes his SXSW movie ‘Baby Driver’ as ‘a car film driven by music’
Every year at the South By Southwest Film Festival, there is a screening driven by an excitement and anticipation, a palpable, ratcheting feeling in the air as the audience makes its way into the Paramount Theater. And every year it seems that energy couldn’t go any higher and then the next year it does.
As a playlist of music selected by the filmmaker, including Prince’s “Baby, I’m A Star†and other tracks with the word “baby†in the title, pumped through the theater, Saturday night’s world premiere of Edgar Wright’s “Baby Driver†took it up another notch.
The film, which might be described by the singular genre descriptor of a high-energy crime caper gangster picture romance musical car movie, played straight through the roof. Starring Ansel Elgort as a young heist driver known as Baby, he is trying to get out of the criminal life when he is hired for one more job. The cast also includes Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Eiza Gonzalez and Lily James. Among many cameos are filmmaker Walter Hill, musicians Paul Williams, Killer Mike, Big Boi and Jon Spencer and the unusual duo of the ATL Twins. (The movie opens Aug. 11.)
Joe Biden tells a SXSW crowd that they ‘could make a gigantic impact’ as he continues the fight against cancer
“You’re the future,†Joe Biden told a rapt audience Sunday afternoon at the South by Southwest Conference here, appealing to the brightest minds in tech and media to join him in his commitment to fighting cancer. “You could make a gigantic impact. We need your ingenuity. You could have a profound impact on cancer.â€
Introduced by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, the former vice president was greeted by a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd of 1,300 inside the Austin Convention Center, where he made an appearance to discuss the “cancer moonshot†initiative.
Biden was a late addition to an uncharacteristically politically loaded SXSW speaker lineup. On Friday, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker opened the conference — and took a few shots at President Trump — with a packed panel of his own. By early Sunday, Biden’s event had become such a hot ticket that wristbands ran out immediately and a nearby theater had to be opened to accommodate the overflow.
Watch Josh Gad and Luke Evans at the piano with Disney legend Alan Menken: ‘Perfect adored paragooooon’
In the alarmingly beige conference room of a Beverly Hills hotel, the man who helped launch six princesses, more than a dozen musical films, and a national songbook of singalongs sits down at a piano.
And immediately “beige†is no longer accurate.
With just a few immediately evocative chords from Oscar-, Grammy- and Tony-winning composer Alan Menken, an equally familiar voice rises in glorious crescendo.
“Perfect adored paragooooon,†sings Josh Gad, with that unmistakable combination of bravado and vibrato. It’s a sound he honed as Elder Cunningham in the original Broadway production of “The Book of Mormon,†made ubiquitous with his portrayal of “Frozen’s†beloved snowman Olaf and now brought to Disney’s new live-action film “Beauty and the Beast.â€
Gad, of course, is neither Beauty nor the Beast; he’s singing LeFou, the bumbling buddy of the story’s self-obsessed villain Gaston, played by Luke Evans, who gamely answers the musical call and harmonizes with Gad’s high note.
“Beauty and the Beast†actors Josh Gad and Luke Evans, along with composer Alan Menken, talk about the impact of the song “Gaston.â€
“We live in the clouds,†Gad jokes about their range. The many fans already following the duo’s singing Instagrams will not be surprised to know that the Evans and Gad pairing has already been praised as the film’s standout performance.
But before they can get into the next verse Evans stops; he’s forgotten the chorus. “So what’s the line?†he asks. “‘No one’s quick as Gaston, no one’s thick as Gaston’?â€
Menken, at the piano, shoots Evans a phony look of disbelief, and loudly reminds the room that he’d handed out the lyrics to everyone earlier. The composer, of course, not only wrote the score for “Beauty and the Beast†(with lyrics by the late Howard Ashman), but also “The Little Mermaid,†“Aladdin,†“Enchanted,†“Little Shop of Horrors†and many others.
“I don’t know the lyrics because I don’t sing them,†Evans pleads. Gad, as helpful as his on-screen character, rapidly recites the lyrics from his villainous tribute.
It’s a chain reaction that brings Menken back to the piano, and Evans into full Gaston mode. Chest out, head back, he blossoms into a man who most certainly would use antlers in all of his decorating. And, sheesh, were his shoulders this big a moment ago?
The magic is real; it feels like a rowdy 17th century tavern in here, if only for a while. That has been the concern all along, whether the live-action film could recapture the thrill of the original film. From the moment Menken’s swirling, delicate refrain danced with the foreboding bass of the animated film’s prologue, the audience knew something special was coming. Twenty-five years later, that same feeling of anticipation is back, conjured, with the aid of one piano, by three guys in a conference room having a grand time talking about the next generation of “Beauty and the Beast.â€
Because if it’s not baroque…
The elusive Terrence Malick makes a surprise appearance at SXSW with Richard Linklater and Michael Fassbender
After skipping the opening-night premiere of his latest film, “Song to Song,†an experimental love-triangle melodrama set against the backdrop of the Austin, Texas, music scene, notoriously reclusive filmmaker Terrence Malick made a rare public appearance Saturday morning to discuss the film with star Michael Fassbender and fellow filmmaker Richard Linklater.
The trio dove into Malick’s intensely immersive and improvisational filmmaking methods, in which no time is wasted and no opportunity for filming is missed. With the exception of a 30-minute break for lunch, Malick’s crew is constantly shooting, or recording the many voice-overs that float over scenes in the final film, shot in and around Austin.
“I don’t think we could have survived anymore,†Fassbender said. “Once we started going, there was no stopping.â€
Malick, who lives in Austin, was not expected to appear at SXSW — or anywhere, really, given his reputation for staying out of the limelight. Fassbender, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara and Berenice Marlohe flew into town for Friday’s opening-night world premiere of the film at the festival, where Malick was a no-show.
Then — surprise! — there Malick was, in the flesh at SXSW, seated next to Fassbender early Saturday morning.
As divisive reviews continued to roll in from critics who loved and hated the tres Malickian drama, the soft-spoken filmmaker, 73, revealed that his initial “Song to Song†cut ran a whopping eight hours.
The final film, which Broad Green Pictures is set to release March 17, runs a languid 120 minutes — and that’s without scenes featuring Christian Bale, Benicio Del Toro and Haley Bennett, who all apparently were left on the cutting-room floor.
‘My mantra has always been to scare the ... out of you’: Ridley Scott at SXSW ‘Alien: Covenant’ footage sneak peek
AS THE AUDIENCE filed out of Austin’s Paramount Theatre following the South by Southwest opening-night screening of Terrence Malick’s “Song to Song,†there was a line around the block waiting to get in for a screening of Ridley Scott’s 1979 film “Alien,†along with footage from Scott’s upcoming “Alien: Covenant.†Opening May 19, the film is the sixth in the series and the third directed by Scott.
Scott first took to the stage to introduce the footage from the new film, telling the ecstatic crowd, “My goals haven’t changed. My mantra has always been to scare the living … out of you.â€
And with that there were three scenes shown from the new film. The first featured a team that includes Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Amy Seimetz, Demian Bichir and Carmen Ejogo taking a craft from a main spaceship down to another planet. Among those seen on the main craft are Danny McBride, Jussie Smollett and Callie Hernandez.
Piloting the ship and about to enter rough weather, Seimetz’s character is asked whether it’s safe. Her response, part hard-boiled, part hesitant, is “Depends what you call safe.â€
‘Suddenly Patti Smith was there’: Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender at SXSW on working with Terrence Malick
IT WAS NO SURPRISE when the famously private filmmaker Terrence Malick (“Tree of Life,†“To The Wonder,†“Knight of Cupsâ€) was a no-show to the world premiere of his latest drama, “Song to Song,†the star-studded opening night film of the 2017 South by Southwest Film Festival.
Instead, his A-list cast took the stage Friday night in Austin, Texas, to describe what it’s like to work with the iconoclastic director: “rewarding,†“painful†and, yes, even “fun.â€
“It’s interesting, it’s challenging, it’s rewarding, it’s fun, it’s scary,†said Michael Fassbender, who co-stars in the very Malickian picture set against the backdrop of the Austin music scene. “He never stops writing.â€
Every day was different. Suddenly, Patti Smith was there.
— Ryan Gosling on working with Terrence Malick
“We all wanted to have this experience of working with Terrence Malick,†added Ryan Gosling, addressing a sold-out house at Austin’s Paramount Theatre alongside castmates Fassbender, Rooney Mara and Berenice Marlohe. “It’s like nothing else. He’s one of the few filmmakers where you could watch a few seconds of his movies and you know that he made it.â€
That’s certainly true of “Song to Song,†a torrid interrogation of love, longing, relationships and betrayal centered around a young musician, Faye (Mara), involved with two men — the successful and manipulative record exec Cook (Fassbender) and struggling songwriter BV (Gosling).
The SXSW creativity incubator turns to action films
Austin, Texas, is in for a lot of cinematic action this weekend, not just from the wave of film fanatics in town for this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival, which opened Friday, but also from many of the movies they will see.
Over the years, SXSW has become known for edgy comedies; “Bridesmaids,†“21 Jump Street†and “Sausage Party†all debuted in Austin. But this year’s lineup also includes a medley of marquee action movies. Edgar Wright’s cars-and-crime picture, “Baby Driver,†starring Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm; David Leitch’s hit man graphic novel adaptation “Atomic Blonde,†starring Charlize Theron; and Daniel Espinosa’s sci-fi thriller “Life,†starring Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal, will all have their world premieres, and Ben Wheatley’s intense shootout movie “Free Fire,†starring Brie Larson and Armie Hammer, has its U.S premiere.
Comedy is present, to be sure — James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist,†a look at the making of the modern cult movie “The Room,†will be shown as a work in progress — but it’s definitely a shift, a nod to the universal conundrum film festivals face: how to create a consistent identity while also trying to keep things fresh.
“We don’t set out with an agenda, we just respond to things,†said Janet Pierson, head of South by Southwest Film. “We specifically try to stay away from stuff that’s too broad. We’re looking for a filmmaker point of view, and we’re just looking for stuff that seems to fit in right with our audience.â€
The kind of stuff that happens at South by Southwest ... happens really organically.
— Laura Terruso, writer-director ‘Fits and Starts’
George Takei to talk Saturday, kicking off new L.A. museum exhibition on his life
George Takei has a lot to say these days.
The actor and activist’s Twitter account, where he has 2.23 million followers, is flooded with comments about President Trump, healthcare reform, jobs, LGBT rights and other issues of the day.
On Saturday, Takei will do more talking – this time in person, at a news conference at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. The event will kick off the museum’s exhibition “New Frontiers: The Many Worlds of George Takei,†which The Times previewed in November and which opens to the public Sunday.
The exhibition features Takei’s collection of personal ephemera that he donated to the museum. It includes family photographs and artworks, old TV scripts, Takei’s Mr. Sulu costume from “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country†– not to mention a letter from director Francis Ford Coppola who, Takei says, owes him $500 from when they were students at UCLA. The exhibition is the first in a series that the museum plans to present dealing with stereotypes of Asians and Asian Americans in the media.
In a Q&A with reporters, Takei will discuss “New Frontiers†along with his multifaceted life and career. He may also address the broader political landscape. It likely will be a conversation with Takei’s signature sense of humor, as evidenced in this recent Tweet:
Very pregnant Ciara is OK after a car crash
Ciara and the baby she’s expecting are fine after a car crash in Los Angeles, Russell Wilson said Friday on social media.
“Momma Wilson & Baby Wilson are feeling great! God is good!,†the Seahawks quarterback and father-to-be tweeted about his wife, who’s in her third trimester.
Witnesses told TMZ that the singer was making a left turn in Los Angeles when a Volvo SUV hit the passenger side of her Mercedes SUV. Police and the fire department responded.
Though Ciara was seen holding her shoulder and chest, according to TMZ, her rep told People, “She’s fine.â€
Richard Simmons ‘just fine’ according to LAPD wellness check
Despite years of theorizing and a new podcast dedicated to unraveling the so-called mystery around his disappearance, renowned physical fitness advocate Richard Simmons is just fine.
The latest update on Simmons’ condition comes from none other than the Los Angeles Police Department.
Sgt. Jack Richter told The Times that detectives undertaking the wellness check reported “he was fine†and attributed the fervor to Internet silliness.
Simmons has reportedly been taking a break from the public eye since February 2014. Former “Daily Show†producer Dan Taberski launched a new podcast, “Missing Richard Simmons,†last month to uncover the reason for Simmons’ disappearance.
Last week, Simmons rep Tom Estey told People, “As I have stated in the past, these claims are untrue and preposterous.â€
It would seem that the LAPD agrees.
‘Avatar 2’ release date pushed back again
A sequel to “Avatar†— the 2009 blockbuster that went on to become the highest-grossing movie of all time, bringing in $2.8 billion worldwide and winning three Oscars — was originally expected to hit theaters in December 2014. Now director James Cameron is saying the film has been delayed again, even past 2018.
“Well, 2018 is not happening,†Cameron told the Toronto Star. “We haven’t announced a firm release date.â€
Originally, Cameron expressed plans for a five-film franchise with sequels that would be shot simultaneously and premiere in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023. With filming yet to start but expected to begin sometime this year, it remains unclear whether the other proposed films’ release dates will be pushed back as well.
“It’s an epic undertaking,†Cameron told the Star. “It’s not unlike building the Three Gorges Dam. So I know where I’m going to be for the next eight years of my life.
“It’s not an unreasonable time frame if you think about it,†he added. “It took us four-and-a-half years to make one movie and now we’re making four. We’re full-tilt boogie right now.â€
Don’t you just hate it when your kids do this?
So how was your week? Probably better than this guy’s.
Professor Robert E. Kelly, of Pusan National University in South Korea, was in the middle of an interview with BBC News when he got some unexpected cameos.
Kelly was being interviewed on live television about the recent upheaval in South Korea that resulted in the removal of President Park Geun-hye when suddenly the door behind him opened.
“What will it mean for the wider region?†asked the BBC anchor as Kelly’s bespectacled daughter, armed with a snack, bounced into the room and stood by her father’s side.
“I think one of your children’s just walked in,†the anchor added as Kelly tried to gently cajole his daughter into leaving. Her compromise was to perch on a nearby bed just out of reach.
When Kelly valiantly tried to continue the interview, a surprisingly agile baby burst into the room via walker with a woman, likely Kelly’s wife as featured on his blog, in hot pursuit.
She flew into the room in a panic and immediately realized Kelly was still in the middle of his interview. So she dropped to the floor in an attempt to be less obvious and frantically tried to herd the children from the room. The coup de grâce? She crawled back into the scene to gently close the door.
Kelly handled it all like a champ and even seemed to realize later on that the interruption could be his viral moment in the sun.
Have a good weekend, professor Kelly and family! Hope your viral legacy doesn’t get too weird.
Charlie Rose will return to ‘CBS This Morning’ on Monday after heart valve replacement
Charlie Rose is ready to return to his hosting duties at “CBS This Morning†and will be back on the job Monday.
A co-anchor on the network morning show since 2012, Rose has been off the air since Feb. 8, the day before undergoing surgery for an aortic valve replacement.
“Almost 15 years ago skilled surgeons replaced my aorta valve with a new replacement valve. It has served me well, enabling me to live the vigorous, full, complete life you are all so familiar with,†Rose wrote in an official statement announcing his surgery last month.
“To continue to live this amazing life so full of challenges and friends, including so many of you in the audience, I have chosen to replace the valve with a new one,†he added. “The timing is my choice.â€
On Friday, Rose shared plans to return to “CBS This Morning†a little more than four weeks since his operation.
“I can’t wait to see my friends at ‘CTM’ who have been so gracious in sitting in for me and making up for the fact that I was not there, especially Gayle [King] and Norah [O’Donnell], and a special thanks to Anthony Mason, who not only has done such a remarkable job filling in for me but also on my PBS show,†Rose said in a statement shared on the show.
Rose also had kind words for fans who reached out during his convalescence.
“And for you – all of you – when I said that I was going in for the surgery I said to each of you, ‘stay close’ – and boy, have you stayed close. The messages, the heartwarming well wishing, the sense of recover soon has all been memorable to me,†said the veteran newsman.
Valve replacements have made headlines recently, after it was revealed that late actor Bill Paxton was recovering from surgery to replace a bicuspid aortic valve when he suffered the stroke that took his life.
Waka Flocka Flame found not guilty of charges linked to handgun in his carry-on bag
It took a jury only a half-hour Thursday to acquit Waka Flocka Flame, real name Juaquin James Malphurs, on charges related to a handgun that was found in his carry-on at a Georgia airport in October 2014.
After his arrest and throughout the four-day trial, Waka Flocka, 30, insisted it was all a mistake: Rushing for a trip to Dallas, he said, he had accidentally packed then-fiancee Tammy Rivera’s backpack instead of his own and didn’t know her gun and 30 bullets were still inside.
They were found as he went through security at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Attorney Drew Findling told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that a key piece of evidence backing his client’s story was a TMZ photo from before the incident that showed the couple walking around with identical backpacks.
“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta†fixture Rivera, who has a gun license and is now married to Waka Flocka, testified at trial but her husband did not, the AJC said.
Shortly after the arrest, Rivera told RumorFix, “He thought he took everything out of the bag, but it still had my headphones and my gun.â€
The rapper celebrated the not-guilty verdict -- he’d faced charges including carrying a firearm in an unauthorized location -- with a tweet sharing the news.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
What to see this weekend: ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ ‘Personal Shopper’ and more
Here’s what our critics are saying about this weekend’s new film releases:
“Kong: Skull Islandâ€
Kenneth Turan reviews “Kong: Skull Island,†directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, and starring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, John C. Reilly, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell and Jing Tian. Video by Jason H. Neubert.
Who doesn’t have a soft spot for beloved havoc-creator and peace-destroyer King Kong, misunderstood before it was fashionable, the beast that beauty killed once upon a time?
A fan favorite for combining ferocity with sensitivity since his 1933 debut opposite Fay Wray, the great ape survived assignations with Jessica Lange and Naomi Watts and returns to the big screen one more time in “Kong: Skull Island.â€
Even at 100 feet tall he ends up at times as an afterthought in his own film. Which can’t make him happy.
“Personal Shopperâ€
Justin Chang reviews “Personal Shopper,†directed by Olivier Assayas, starring Kristen Stewart, Lars Eidinger, Sigrid Bouaziz, Anders Danielsen Lie, Ty Olwin and Nora von Waldstatten. Video by Jason H. Neubert.
The movie is a quietly profound portrait of grief and loss, and perhaps writer-director Olivier Assayas’ most surprising attempt yet to grapple with the anxieties of modern life — a global condition in which strange new connections are forged and seemingly rigid boundaries are violated.
It is also, first and foremost, a testament to the eerie powers of Kristen Stewart, a movie star who has now twice pulled off the trick of chipping away at her celebrity and redefining the boundaries of her talent in the same instance.
MORE FILM REVIEWS: “Raw,†“My Scientology Movie†and more.
‘Game of Thrones’ sets date for its 2017 season debut
Hey, do you watch “Game of Thrones� It’s a sprawling fantasy drama (perhaps you’ve heard of it) on HBO that has swordplay, massive battles, dragons and all kinds of political maneuvering that’s made it the biggest show on TV.
So what better way to build upon all that action and intrigue than through a Facebook Live promotion that asks the show’s biggest fans to watch ... ice melt.
Thousands of fans tumbled to the Internet to find out the official release date for the 2017 series, which was announced on a Facebook Live stream inside a big ol’ block of ice. So when will the world get more dragons?
“Game of Thrones†will return on July 16.
For those in the know, George R.R. Martin’s popular book series “Game of Thrones†features the subtitle “A Song of Ice and Fire,†a nod to a few key elements (get it?) of the story.
As riveting as that sounds, the video was somehow even less so, apart from swells of music and the occasional cameo from Gwendolyn Christie (Brienne of Tarth) and Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), who breathed a little animated fire. Fingers crossed the next season has a bit more action.
Meanwhile the internet had an absolute field day after being asked to watch ice melt for their big reveal.
Brie Larson’s subdued reaction to Casey Affleck’s Oscar win was intentional
Brie Larson’s significantly underwhelmed reaction to Casey Affleck’s Oscar win was intentional.
“I think that whatever it was that I did onstage kind of spoke for itself,†the actress told Vanity Fair Wednesday at the premiere of her latest film, “Kong: Skull Island.†“I’ve said all that I need to say about that topic.â€
The 2016 lead actress Academy Award winner presented the “Manchester by the Sea†star with his lead actor award at last month’s ceremony but did not revel in his triumph.
After announcing his name, she hugged Affleck, handed him the golden statuette and stood off to the side without clapping -- similar to how she behaved at the Golden Globes the previous month.
And several took notice of the subdued exchange.
That’s because Affleck was accused of sexual harassment on the set of his 2010 mockumentary, “I’m Still Here,†in two separate cases -- details of which resurfaced when “Manchester†debuted.
Larson, 27, is an advocate for sexual-assault victims and the cause has been dear to her. It was also the subject of 2015’s “Room,†which featured her Oscar-winning performance.
Affleck, 41, has denied all charges and settled both cases out of court for an undisclosed amount. But the specter of the claims lingered during awards season, and he was vociferously called out by “Fresh Off the Boat†actress Constance Wu and several others in and out of the industry.
Move over, ‘The People’s Court’: Fox’s ‘You the Jury’ will allow viewers to settle civil cases
Fox is betting that the best way to battle “fake news†is with real drama.
On Thursday, the network announced “You the Jury,†a new prime-time, unscripted reality show that allows the audience to render a verdict in a civil case.
The series will feature prosecution and defense lawyers arguing ripped-from-the-headlines civil cases, followed by closing arguments from the plaintiff and defendant while sitting across from each other.
Viewers will have five minutes to vote from home via text or the Fox Now app, in an effort to determine whether justice will prevail.
If that weren’t enough drama, the show also has built in an override system based on time zones. Because the show will not be aired live on the West Coast, if the Pacific time zone votes are enough to change the cumulative total of the live airing, the verdict would be overturned.
Former TV judge and current Fox News host Jeanine Pirro will host, and retired Superior Court of California judge LaDoris Cordell will preside as the show’s judge.
“You the Jury†has gathered a number of high-profile litigators to serve as prosecution and defense on the show, including Casey Anthony attorney Jose Baez and Benjamin L. Crump, who represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.
Also serving as counsel on the series are California-based lawyers Areva Martin and Mike Cavalluzzi, as well as Charla Aldous and Joe Tacopina.
“You the Jury†will premiere on Fox on April 7.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez are dating, and the rumors are coming in hot
Jennifer Lopez and recently retired baseball hero Alex Rodriguez are dating, according to reports that have been bubbling up all week.
The rumors are all over the place: It’s been going on for “a few months,†and they were just together in Los Angeles, a source told Page Six on Wednesday evening.
“They are really into each other because they have so much in common — from their Latin roots, to their love of New York and their kids,†the source said.
However, a People source said Wednesday night that Lopez and Rodriguez have been dating for only “a few weeks.â€
“For now, it’s just fun. She is single and enjoys dating,†said that source, who described Lopez as “excited.â€
The actress-singer-dancer, 47, and the newly full-time Fox Sports broadcaster, 41, are said to be headed for a “romantic†vacation in the Bahamas soon with another couple, the Terez Owens sports-gossip blog reported Monday.
“He was with her in Vegas during this latest leg of her Planet Hollywood Vegas show,†LoveBScott.com reported Wednesday. “They were all coupled up behind the scenes, not public, but absolutely not hiding their relationship around close friends and family. It is definitely for real.â€
Rodriguez, who played his final Major League Baseball game in August, took a full-time analyst job Tuesday with Fox Sports, where he previously had been killing it as a guest host teamed with Pete Rose.
Of course, Lopez’s outings with Drake had dating rumors swirling earlier this year too, though she put the kibosh on that for real Monday night, telling Trevor Noah, “Let me clear this up: I am not with Drake.â€
Rodriguez and Lopez each have two kids from previous relationships. His daughters are 8 and 12; her twin son and daughter recently turned 9. A-Rod was married once, while JLo is a three-time divorcee.
Katy Perry, America Ferrera to be honored for equality efforts by LGBTQ group HRC
Katy Perry and America Ferrera, both known for their strong support of former presidential candidate HRC, are about to be honored by another HRC: the Human Rights Campaign, the United States’ largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.
Perry will receive the group’s National Equality Award and Ferrera will get its Ally for Equality Award for their advocacy work, with the latter honor presented by Lena Dunham, at HRC’s gala dinner in L.A. on March 18, the HRC announced Thursday.
HRC President Chad Griffin broke down a few of Perry and Ferrera’s contributions: The “I Kissed a Girl†singer’s “compelling advocacy, from the stage to the campaign trail, has had a profound effect on the lives of LGBTQ people -- and, in particular, young people,†he said.
Meanwhile, the “Ugly Betty†actress “has shown an unwavering commitment to advancing equality for all people and sets a stirring example for others to follow.â€
Dunham, Ferrera and Perry all participated in the Women’s March on Washington in February.
Hillary Clinton’s former running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), will be the featured speaker. And current and former L.A. mayors Eric Garcetti and Antonio Villaraigosa will be on hand for the event, which includes a performance by Troye Sivan and will be held at the J.W. Marriott L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.
Golden Globes set 2018 ceremony date; no host yet
Mark your calendars: The 2018 Golden Globe Awards have set a date.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., Dick Clark Productions and NBC announced Wednesday that the 75th Golden Globes will take place on Jan. 7. The party-style ceremony, which honors achievements in film and television, will again air on NBC live coast-to-coast.
This year’s telecast was emceed by “The Tonight Show†host Jimmy Fallon in January and honored the films “La La Land†and “Moonlight,†rookie TV series “The Crown†and “Atlanta†and featured a rousing speech from Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Meryl Streep.
The show increased its ratings from the previous year by averaging 20 million viewers, the HFPA said in a statement, making it the second-most-watched Globes ceremony in the last 10 years.
No word yet on who will host the 2018 show, which has notably been helmed by comedians Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
From social media blackouts to celeb tweets, Hollywood salutes International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is Wednesday, and it has taken on additional significance this year as people are marking the occasion with the A Day Without a Woman movement.
The protest, born from January’s Women’s March on Washington as well as worldwide sister marches, aims to promote awareness for gender inequality through an organized strike and spending boycott.
Hollywood is embracing the movement in a variety of ways.
The United Talent Agency announced Tuesday a slate of events for employees in recognition and support of the protest, including panels featuring community leaders and industry talent discussing gender equity and the arts.
Ryan Murphy, the creative force behind FX shows “American Horror Story†and “Feud: Bette and Joan,†shared with Twitter on Tuesday that women in his company, Ryan Murphy Productions, would not be working Wednesday.
“So in short, nothing will get done,†he added.
At MTV, the company flipped the M in its iconic logo upside down, making it a W. Additionally, the MTV social accounts have been automated for Wednesday, as the majority of its social staff are women. People who tag MTV on Twitter get a message explaining the strike.
Jezebel, a female-centric culture site with a staff made up primarily of women, is observing A Day Without A Woman by having men from Gizmodo Media Group run the site for the day.
“Our intent here is not to give men a platform or to allow them to ... with our website,†wrote Emma Carmichael, Jezebel’s editor-in-chief, in a Tuesday night post, “but to force them to think about the jobs they’re being asked to do and how they differ from their usual day-to-day work.â€
Film Independent, producers of the Spirit Awards and the LA Film Festival, tweeted Tuesday night that their social channels would be going dark Wednesday.
Wednesday’s support for women reaches far beyond just production companies and corporate entities. From Adele and J.K. Rowling to Madonna and Emma Watson, check out celebrities tweeting their solidarity.
Ben and Jen back again? Affleck and Garner haven’t reconciled but are ‘giving things another try’
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have bounced back from a recent “strained period†during which she almost filed for divorce and are working on their relationship again, according to a Wednesday report.
They’re not back together, People reports, but a source described as close to Garner said the actress has backed off after nearly filing for divorce. “She really wants to work things out with Ben,†the source said. “They are giving things another try.â€
The decision to keep working on it was a mutual one, a separate source said, adding, “There is always a chance of reconciliation.â€
“It is ... difficult to be in limbo about a relationship, not knowing if there will be a reconciliation or final split,†attorney Christopher Melcher, whose firm handled Katie Holmes’ divorce from Tom Cruise, told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.
“Celebrities have no privacy and rumors swirl about how they are dating now, making it much harder for the couple to maintain trust while they are working through the issues,†Melcher continued. “Ben and Jen have been going through that for two years and have managed to keep things civil, which is commendable for them as a couple and as parents.â€
Despite the People report, an insider told E! News on Wednesday that “nothing has changed†between Affleck and Garner. “They are not back together. They are co-parenting. The most important thing in all of this are their kids.â€
Shortly after announcing their split, in June 2015, Affleck and Garner were seeing a family counselor, and there has been no shortage of rumors about them officially ending it or officially getting back together. They’ve reportedly both been living in separate quarters at their Brentwood property for most of the time since their breakup, and have done things together as a family.
Regarding that recent strained period: Though a February tabloid report that Garner had gone ahead and filed for divorce from Affleck was debunked by Gossip Cop, People’s Garner source now seems to have offered an explanation for the rumor.
“Jen was telling friends that she plans on filing for divorce,†the source said. “She just wanted to move on and focus on the happy things in her life.â€
Affleck and Garner, both 44, have three children together: 11-year-old daughter Violet, 8-year-old daughter Seraphina and son Samuel, who turned 5 at the end of February. To celebrate, People said, Mom and Dad cohosted a birthday party at home.
[UPDATED, 4:03 p.m.: This article was updated to include quotes from attorney Christopher Melcher and information from E! News.]
Live updates: Disney shareholder meeting may feature ‘Star Wars’ and theme park news
Here’s what to expect at Walt Disney Co.’s annual shareholder meeting today in Denver: Investors will be asked to elect board members and consider two shareholder proposals, including whether the company should increase disclosure of its lobbying efforts. Disney may also offer peeks at its upcoming movies and theme park attractions.
Scarlett Johansson files for divorce from Romain Dauriac, wants primary custody of their daughter
Looks like Scarlett Johansson and Romain Dauriac’s split is for real.
The actress filed divorce documents Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to Page Six. The 32-year-old is seeking primary custody of their daughter, Rose Dauriac, who turned 2 in September.
The “Avengers†star was the one who pulled the plug on the marriage, a Johansson-adjacent source told Us Weekly in January, when the split went public. The two have been separated since summer, with Page Six reporting now that they’ve had an informal week-on/week-off custody arrangement since then.
Moving forward, given Johansson’s primary custody request, Dauriac’s lawyer told Page Six that he expected an “interesting process†as his client fought for shared custody.
“He would like to move to France with his daughter, and Ms. Johansson does a lot of traveling,†attorney Harold Mayerson said.
As for why the couple split — they married quietly in 2014, shortly after their daughter was born — a source described as close to Dauriac told People in January that the two “never made sense†as a couple.
“They aren’t equals,†the source said. “There’s always been something wrong with this picture.â€
This will be Johannson’s second divorce. She and first husband Ryan Reynolds split in December 2010, a little more than two years after their wedding.
‘He won, but he acts like he lost’: Alec Baldwin riffs (yes, again) on Trump
Kerry Washington and Alec Baldwin joined James Corden on “The Late Late Show†on Tuesday night in what rapidly became a makeshift dish session about the Trump administration.
“It used to be that on our show we were shocking. We did shocking storylines on ‘Scandal,’†Washington reminisced on life before President Trump. “We’re like ‘Little House on the Prairie’ compared to this administration.â€
But it was Baldwin who, unsurprisingly, had the most to say about Trump and the reception he’s received for his send-up of the president on “Saturday Night Live.â€
“People are very kind,†said Baldwin, referring to admirers who approach him in New York City. “They always say ‘thank you’; they think I’m having an effect on the political field of gravity.â€
He was less charitable about Trump, though.
“He’s president of the United States, and he still looks incredibly constipated. He looks terrible.â€
“I thought, when he won, he’d, like, relax and be more generous,†Baldwin continued. “He won, but he acts like he lost. … It’s inexplicable.â€
See all the quips and quibbles in the video above.
Ginger fans rejoice! Archie and the ‘Riverdale’ gang renewed for Season 2
It’s official: Archie Andrews and his “Riverdale†friends will be back for a second season. The CW announced the renewal of the series on Tuesday.
The new series is based on the characters from the pages of Archie comics. Starring KJ Apa as the famous redhead, “Riverdale†is a darker, broodier look at the denizens of the titular town, and how the mysterious death of Jason Blossom disrupted its wholesome image.
While the CW is no stranger to comic book-based television, “Riverdale†stands apart as a show not rooted in any superhero mythos. Instead of weekly superpowered villains, Archie must contend with high school life, his own aspirations, parental expectations, multiple romantic interests and the aforementioned mysterious murder.
In addition to Apa, “Riverdale†stars Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom and Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy.
This news follows the February announcement that Archie Comics Publications signed an exclusive production deal with Warner Bros. Television to develop new original programming based on characters from its comics catalog.
The next new episode of “Riverdale†airs Thursday.
TCM announces plans to honor longtime host Robert Osborne
Turner Classic Movies on Tuesday announced plans to honor longtime host Robert Osborne with a 48-hour tribute featuring a selection of long-form interviews from his 23-year tenure with the channel.
Osborne, who served as a host for TCM since its inception in 1994, died Monday. He was 84.
The tribute on March 18-19 will include interviews from Osborne’s interview series “Private Screenings,†including conversations with Liza Minnelli, Peter O’Toole, Debbie Reynolds and Ernest Borgnine. The network will also feature the 2013 installment of “Private Screenings†featuring Alec Baldwin interviewing Osborne.
“Robert was embraced by devoted fans who saw him as a trusted expert and friend. His calming presence, gentlemanly style, encyclopedic knowledge of film history, fervent support for film preservation and highly personal interviewing style all combined to make him a truly world-class host,†TCM general manager Jennifer Dorian said in a statement released Monday.
Here’s the full “TCM Remembers Robert Osborne†schedule (all times Eastern):
March 18
6 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Robert Osborneâ€
7:30 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Norman Jewisonâ€
9 a.m. – “Robert Osborne’s 20th Anniversary Tributeâ€
10:15 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Alan Arkinâ€
11:30 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Luise Rainerâ€
12:15 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Liza Minnelliâ€
1:30 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Robert Osborneâ€
3 p.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Eva Marie Saintâ€
4:15 p.m. – “Robert Osborne’s 20th Anniversary Tributeâ€
5:30 p.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Peter O’Tooleâ€
6:45 p.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Kim Novakâ€
8 p.m. – Robert Osborne introduces “Gone with the Wind†in his first-ever on-air appearance as a TCM host
8:05 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Robert Osborneâ€
9:30 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Debbie Reynoldsâ€
10:30 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Betty Huttonâ€
11:45 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Liza Minnelliâ€
12:45 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Robert Osborneâ€
2:15 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Norman Jewisonâ€
3:30 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Ernest Borgnine:
4:45 a.m. – “Robert Osborne’s 20th Anniversary Tributeâ€
March 19
6 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Liza Minnnelliâ€
7 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Eva Marie Saintâ€
8:15 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Kim Novakâ€
9:15 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Peter O’Tooleâ€
10:30 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Robert Osborneâ€
Noon – “Robert Osborne’s 20th Anniversary Tributeâ€
1 p.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Alan Arkinâ€
2:15 p.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Luise Rainerâ€
3 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Ernest Borgnineâ€
4:15 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Norman Jewisonâ€
5:30 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Robert Osborneâ€
7 p.m. – “Private Screenings: Liza Minnelliâ€
8 p.m. – “Robert Osborne’s 20th Anniversary Tributeâ€
9 p.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Eva Marie Saintâ€
10:15 p.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Luise Rainerâ€
11 p.m. – “Robert Osborne’s 20th Anniversary Tributeâ€
Midnight – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Peter O’Tooleâ€
1:15 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Kim Novakâ€
2:30 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Alan Arkinâ€
3:45 a.m. – “Private Screenings: Robert Osborneâ€
5:15 a.m. – “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Luise Rainerâ€
United Talent Agency highlights ‘A Day Without a Woman’ with employee events
One of the world’s largest talent agencies is planning a full slate of events honoring Wednesday’s A Day Without a Woman observance.
United Talent Agency announced events Wednesday for female employees in its New York, Los Angeles and Toronto offices.
“We consider it vital for UTA to be a part of the global dialogue about gender equity and underscore its importance,†UTA Chief Executive Jeremy Zimmer said in a statement Tuesday. “Women play a critical role in the workforce and are essential members of the UTA family, and we fully support this event and encourage women across the agency to mark the day.â€
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, A Day Without a Woman is intended as a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity, born from the Women’s March in January.
The events will vary by location, with Toronto holding a clothing and fundraising drive for local women’s groups, and Los Angeles and New York featuring community leaders and industry talent discussing gender equity and the arts.
“On the heels of our United Voices rally, it was a very natural decision to stand up for, and with, our own female employees,†Suzette Ramirez-Carr, UTA’s global head of human resources, said in Tuesday’s statement. “Every woman will have the freedom to spend the day as she sees fit — with the full support of her male colleagues — and I couldn’t be more proud of the conversations taking shape globally around this decision.â€
Though the events are for employees only, UTA released a list of speakers for both New York and Los Angeles.
A DAY WITHOUT A WOMAN: LOS ANGELES
- Isha Sesay, anchor and correspondent, CNN International
- Pae White, visual artist
- Laila Lalami, author of “The Moor’s Accountâ€
- Cathy Schulman, president, Welle Entertainment & Women in Film, LA
- Haifaa Al Mansour, filmmaker
- Stacy Smith, director, Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative USC
A DAY WITHOUT A WOMAN: NEW YORK
Conducted in partnership with Tumblr
- Yasmeen Hassan, global executive director, Equality Now
- Katie Danziger, Planned Parenthood of New York City Board chair
- Jordan Brooks, managing director and COO, United State of Women
- Rebecca Jarvis, ABC News Chief Business, Technology & Economics Correspondent and Host of the ABC podcast “No Limits with Rebecca Jarvisâ€
- Julie Alvin, executive editor at Bustle
- Danielle Maged, executive vice president of global partnerships, Fox Networks Group
- Katherine Barna, head of communications, Tumblr
- Nancy Gates, partner, co-head of TV talent, United Talent Agency
Coming soon to the Hollywood Bowl: ‘La La Land in Concert’
Big news for fans of “La La Land.†The film that would be best picture (before not being best picture) is taking its show on the road, and soon citizens of the City of Stars will be able to listen to “City of Stars†while sitting under a sky full of stars.
Lionsgate announced “La La Land in Concert: A Live-to-Film Celebration†on Monday, a stage spectacular featuring a viewing of the film with Oscar-winning composer Justin Hurwitz conducting the score with a 100-piece symphony orchestra, choir and jazz ensemble.
“La La Land in Concert†will debut in Los Angeles on Memorial Day weekend, May 26 and 27, at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.
“For me, one of the most thrilling and fulfilling parts of making ‘La La Land’ was scoring the film to a live orchestra: a hundred phenomenal local musicians playing in real-time to the Technicolor images, bringing Justin’s compositions to vivid life,†said Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle in a statement released Monday.
“I couldn’t be more excited to share that experience with audiences this summer,†he added, “let alone in a setting as epic and as quintessentially ‘L.A.’ as the Hollywood Bowl.â€
But fans eager to hear the live vocal stylings of John Legend, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, be forewarned: Though the orchestra will be live, the vocals will not be.
“By preserving the film’s unique recorded vocal performances of Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and John Legend from the film’s soundtrack and blending them with live musicians, we are able to build a one-of-a-kind concert experience, which becomes a hybrid of film, pre-recordings and incredible live musicianship,†said Richard Kraft, the concert’s director.
Kraft and fellow producers Laura Engel, Tim Fox and Alison Ahart Williams are responsible for previous Hollywood Bowl hybrid events including “Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ in Concert†and “Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Live in Concert.â€
Tickets for the Hollywood Bowl show will be available March 10 at 12 p.m. via Ticketmaster, with additional shows around the country and world to be announced after the May premiere.
‘Saturday Night Live’s’ Pete Davidson, medical marijuana fan, has quit drugs: ‘I ... am happy and sober’
Pete Davidson of “Saturday Night Live†just explained why he’s “kinda been missing†from the show and from social media: The medical marijuana fan was busy kicking drugs.
“Just wanted to let you guys know I’m okay...,†the 23-year-old comic said Monday night on Instagram. “I quit drugs and am happy and sober for the first time in 8 years.â€
“SNL†honcho Lorne Michaels told the New York Times in October 2015, “Pete’s really focused for someone who mostly talks about how much pot he smokes.â€
In April 2016, the comic taped a stand-up special that aired in October on Comedy Central. In it, he joked about going to rehab during his holiday break as a Christmas gift to his mom.
“I tried to go to rehab because I wanted to smoke weed less. I didn’t even want to quit,†he said. “Don’t tell anybody that in rehab, by the way.â€
Davidson has been very open about smoking weed, telling High Times last September that medical marijuana was the only thing that allowed him to function with the Crohn’s disease he came down with when he was “17 or 18.†(You do the math.)
He said weed worked better than the medicines he was being prescribed and was the only thing that allowed him to eat food — or do “SNL.â€
“Me performing not high has gone awful. It’s awful for me because I don’t feel well,†Davidson said, smoking a joint during the 2016 High Times interview, part of which you can watch below.
“I know everyone’s offended today, but I kind of do get a little offended when people are just like, you’re just a pothead watching cartoons,†he added. “I work really ... hard and I take care of my [life], and I need weed in order to do that because I have — I’m sick, I have Crohn’s, so it sucks.â€
Now it’s different, Davidson’s Instagram post would suggest.
“It wasn’t easy, but I got a great girl, great friends and I consider myself a lucky man,†he wrote. “I’ll always be here for you guys, I promise. Remember to never give up hope because sometimes that’s all we got. We are a family and I appreciate all your love and support. It’s nice to be back in action.â€
The High Times video is below, and includes some instances of profanity.
George Michael’s partner speaks out after cause of death revealed
Ten weeks after George Michael’s death on Christmas Day, a cause of death has been determined for the pop superstar.
Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter announced Tuesday that Michael suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. In layman’s terms, the singer died of natural causes and suffered from heart disease.
Fadi Fawaz, Michael’s partner at the time of his death, posted to Twitter after the news was announced, saying, “The truth is out...â€
Fawaz has been a staple of UK tabloids in the weeks since Michael’s death, facing suspicion in the face of original autopsy results that were deemed inconclusive and reportedly banned from Michael’s funeral, accusations that Fawaz denied.
“All the nasty comments, press and 999 were very cruel and unnecessary whatsoever,†Fawaz tweeted. “Now I hope to receive some real LOVE.â€
Emma Watson ‘quietly stunned’ by backlash over not-exactly-topless photo
Emma Watson considers herself a feminist. Emma Watson has breasts. Emma Watson doesn’t consider the two concepts to be incompatible.
“Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women,†the “Beauty and the Beast†actress told BBC News in an animated response to backlash over a Vanity Fair photo featuring her in a sheer Burberry top that doesn’t cover up the sides and bottoms of her breasts.
Feminism, she said energetically, is “about freedom. It’s about liberation. It’s about equality.†And what that has to do with the upper part of her body, she simply doesn’t know. “I’m confused.â€
Never mind that she’s covered practically to her chin in nearly every other picture in the spread. Never mind that in one shot she’s actually wearing a men’s suit. And never mind that, as Watson said, “Feminism is about giving women choice.â€
“I’m always just kind of quietly stunned,†the 26-year-old actress said.
Negative reactions to the image, which Vanity Fair promoted last week on its Instagram, sparked the hashtag #WhatFeministsWear. The answer? Whatever they want.
Kevin Kline offered his take on his “Beauty and the Beast†costar in the article that accompanied the Vanity Fair photos.
“When someone has a feminist point of view, we tend to think she’s no fun at all,†Kline said. “But a feminist can be feminine, delicate, vulnerable, sweet — and still demand to be taken seriously. Emma fits the bill perfectly.â€
With a grin, according to the magazine, he then asked, “Has anyone told you about the dancing scene yet?â€
Ben Carson said what? Samuel L. Jackson, Ava DuVernay can’t believe he just referred to slaves as ‘immigrants’
High-profile voices on social media were tweeting in shock Monday after Ben Carson, the new secretary of Housing and Urban Development, gave a speech in which he used the term “immigrants†to refer to people brought to the U.S. as slaves.
That after asking his audience to “take the niceness pledge.â€
“There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, who worked even longer, even harder for less,†said Carson, who is African American, “but they too had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great grandsons, great granddaughters might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land.â€
“And do you know of all the nations in the world, this one, the United States of America, is the only one big enough and great enough to allow all those people to realize their dream,†Carson said. “And this is our opportunity to enhance that dream.â€
Responses from high-profile voices on social media ranged from anger (see: Samuel L. Jackson, whose comment was far too profane to include here) to bewilderment, with many speculating that Carson may be in a “Get Out“-style state of hypnosis.
Call him Chance the Philanthropist: He’s donating $1 million to Chicago Public Schools
Chance the Rapper (a.k.a. Chancellor Bennett), the wunderkind who took home three Grammys last month without a formal record label, is defying expectations yet again.
After what he called an “unsuccessful†meeting with the Illinois governor to talk about education issues, the 23-year-old said Monday he’s donating $1 million to Chicago Public Schools.
“As a kid from West Chatham, from the South Side literally three blocks away from here, it’s pretty serendipitous to be here today. I’m proud to announce that I am donating $1 million to CPS to support arts and enrichment programming,†he said Monday at Chicago’s Westcott Elementary, where a cacophony of gasps and cheers followed his words.
The rapper met with Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday to discuss funding for CPS, but left the sit-down frustrated.
“The governor gave me a lot of vague answers in our meeting and since has called me over the weekend,†Bennett said Monday. “Our talks were unsuccessful. Gov. Rauner still won’t commit to giving Chicago’s kids a chance without caveats or ultimatums.â€
“Our kids should not be held hostage because of political position,†Bennet said. “If the governor does not act, CPS will be forced to end school 13 days early, which means over 380,000 kids will not have adult supervised activities in June and could be placed in harm’s way.â€
The bulk of the money will come from ticket sales from his upcoming tour, he said, thanking his fans. Watch the news conference below.
Bill Paxton died from a stroke after heart surgery
Bill Paxton died from a stroke that occurred 11 days after he had surgery on his heart and aorta.
Surgery to fix an aortic aneurysm and replace the 61-year-old actor’s bicuspid aortic valve was done on Valentine’s Day, according to his death certificate, which was published Monday by TMZ.
The document indicated that no autopsy was performed. Paxton died late on Feb. 25 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“Paxton was an actor’s actor,†The Times said in an appreciation after his death, “more journeyman than star, although he was most certainly a star. That square jaw and Texas drawl could be stretched or softened according to need, the eyes beneath the receding hairline cushioned or steeled, but always in service to character rather than brand.
READ MORE: Bill Paxton remembered: ‘Hands down one of the greatest guys I have ever met’ >>
Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne dead at 84
Robert Osborne, who displayed an encyclopedic knowledge — and love — of films and film history as the primary host of Turner Classic Movies, has died in New York, the network said Monday. He was 84.
Osborne was a former longtime columnist for the Hollywood Reporter and the author of the official history of the Academy Awards. The genial, silver-haired and dapper Osborne was a movie connoisseur who displayed his wide knowledge of films on TCM since the 24-hour commercial-free cable network’s launch in 1994.
Rumor no more: Adele tells concert-goers ‘I’m married’
Confirming speculation that had been swirling for months, Adele told Brisbane, Australia, concertgoers that she had married longtime beau Simon Konecki.
Before performing the international smash “Someone Like You,†the chanteuse spoke a little about love and the emotions it sparks.
“As bad as a breakup can be and as bitter and horrible and messy it can be, that feeling when you first fall for someone is the best feeling on Earth. I’m addicted to that feeling,†Adele told the crowd before adding, “Obviously I can’t go through with those feelings because I’m married now. I found my next person.â€
Rumors began in earnest after the first of the year, when both Konecki and Adele were spotted wearing rings on significant fingers. The singer added fuel to the flame (if not fire to the train) when she referred to Konecki as “husband†during her Grammys acceptance speech for album of the year.
The pair have been dating since 2011 and have a 4-year-old son, Angelo James.
Check out video from the concert below. Adele’s admission begins at 1:20.
Representatives for Adele did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.
Natalie Portman welcomes a daughter -- baby No. 2 -- with Benjamin Millepied
Natalie Portman’s second baby with her dancer-choreographer husband has arrived, mere days before the Academy Awards that the Oscar-nominated actress had to skip.
“Natalie Portman and her husband, Benjamin Millepied, welcomed a baby girl, Amalia Millepied, on Feb. 22,†her rep told The Times on Friday. “Mother and baby are happy and healthy.â€
The actress, 35, had cited her pregnancy last Saturday as the reason she wouldn’t be there on the red carpet for Hollywood’s biggest night. Sneaky lady, she didn’t dish that it was the end of her pregnancy she was talking about.
Portman was pregnant with son Aleph in 2011 when she took home her Oscar for “Black Swan,†the ballet-themed 2010 thriller. He was born in June 2011.
Alabama theater will not show ‘Beauty and the Beast’ because of gay story line
“Beauty and the Beast†is making history with its character LeFou (played by Josh Gad), but not everybody is ready to embrace the LGBTQ inclusivity.
On Wednesday it was revealed that “Beauty and the Beast†will include Disney’s first-ever “exclusively gay moment†on film. It turns out LeFou’s hero worship of Gaston is also tinged with an equal part of attraction -- feelings he comes to terms with through the course of the film.
In response to this revelation, the Henagar Drive-In will not screen “Beauty and the Beast.â€
“When companies continually force their views on us, we need to take a stand,†the theater in rural Henagar, Ala., a town of less than 2,500 in the northeastern corner of the state, wrote in a Facebook post announcing its decision, specifically citing LeFou’s sexual orientation.
“We are first and foremost Christians,†the Facebook post continued. “We will not compromise on what the Bible teaches. We will continue to show family-oriented films so you can feel free to come watch wholesome movies without worrying about sex, nudity, homosexuality and foul language.â€
According to the Facebook post, the theater transferred ownership in December, and some films were scheduled by the previous owner.
(Um, that might explain why the drive-in lists “Fierce,†a documentary about the drag community’s fight for equal rights, on its schedule of upcoming movies.)
“Beauty and the Beast†hits theaters March 17.
Tori Spelling, Dean McDermott welcome baby No. 5, a boy
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott now have their own basketball team: They welcomed a fifth child, a boy, on Thursday afternoon.
“The littlest McDermott has arrived,†the couple wrote on Instagram, posting a picture of the new guy’s tiny hand on his dad’s big one. “Welcome to the world Beau Dean McDermott.â€
Beau is 18.5 inches long and clocked in at 1:48 p.m. Thursday weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces, according to People.
He has two older brothers, 9-year-old Liam and 4-year-old Finn, and two older sisters, 8-year-old Stella and 5-year-old Hattie.
Spelling, 43, and McDermott, 50, weathered a storm in their marriage after she found out in late 2013 that he’d had a two-day affair with a Canadian woman while traveling on business. He went to rehab in January 2014 and by 2015 they were happily ever after again.
Patrick Stewart seeking U.S. citizenship: ‘Maybe it’s the only good thing as a result of this election’
Patrick Stewart seems to be wedged between a rock and a hard place, politically speaking — and it looks as if he’s ready to choose the hard place.
As he’s said on Twitter, “Brexit†has him “embarrassed†to be a Brit, and President Trump’s election has him losing sleep. So he’s applying for U.S. citizenship, he said Thursday on “The View.â€
“Maybe it’s the only good thing as a result of this election,†the “X-men†actor said. “I am now applying for citizenship because I want to be an American too. Because all of my friends in Washington said there is one thing you can do: Fight. Fight. Oppose. Oppose.
“But I can’t do it because I’m not a citizen.â€
Stewart’s new movie “Logan,†which stars Hugh Jackman, hit U.S. theaters Friday.
Cheryl Boone Isaacs keeps the Oscars celebration going with upbeat email to academy members
In a sort of pep talk to members, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs acknowledged the risky nature of live television and made a promise about the mix-up heard ‘round the world Sunday night: Never again.
She also praised best-picture Oscar presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway and laid blame for the end-of-show disaster pointedly at the feet of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“[W]e all know that that wrong envelope and the problems that ensued were caused by the failure of PwC’s accountants to follow established protocols and their delay in immediately remedying the situation,†Boone Isaacs said in the email, obtained by Deadline. “PwC has accepted full responsibility for the error. Rest assured changes will be implemented to ensure this never happens again.â€
Accountants Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz didn’t lose their jobs at PwC, but were axed earlier this week from their flashy Oscars-envelope gig. Cullinan was the one tweeting a backstage picture of Emma Stone around the time he should have been wrangling the best picture envelope, and Ruiz failed to react when the wrong winner was announced.
Boone Isaacs gave a shout-out to those who did react, praising “the professionalism of the crew and stage managers, led by Rob Paine, who handled everything remarkably from the set collapsing during dress rehearsal to the rather chaotic ending of the show.â€
The academy president was also lavish in her praise of the home team, thanking host Jimmy Kimmel and show producers Jennifer Todd and Michael De Luca.
“[W]e are all proud of the spirit and enthusiasm of all the presenters, including Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, and filmmakers, especially those from ‘Moonlight’ and ‘La La Land,’†Boone Isaacs said. “The grace and humility they demonstrated onstage, with the world watching, shows the strength of the bond that connects all the artists in our community.â€
Including a video recapping the show in two minutes, she said the 2017 Academy Awards “reminded people around the world why we love the movies.â€
Jane Fonda opens up about rape and sexual abuse in new interview with Brie Larson
Jane Fonda opened up about her history of sexual abuse and rape in a recent unflinching interview with Brie Larson.
The admission came after Larson asked Fonda how she came to identify as a feminist and Fonda mentioned being brought up with “the disease to please.â€
“To show you the extent to which a patriarchy takes
a toll on females,†Fonda continued, “I’ve been raped, I’ve been sexually abused as a child and I’ve been fired because I wouldn’t sleep with my boss, and I always thought it was my fault; that I didn’t do or say the right thing.
“I know young girls who’ve been raped and didn’t even know
it was rape. They think, ‘It must have been because I said ‘no’ the wrong way.’â€
The interview between the Oscar-winning actresses was published Thursday in the Edit, Net-A-Porter’s online magazine.
Fonda has spent much of her life as an advocate and activist, beginning in earnest with her controversial stance against the Vietnam War in the 1970s, which earned her the unfortunate nickname Hanoi Jane.
Asked about celebrity activism, Fonda told Larson: “Everyone has the right to speak up; it doesn’t matter what you do. Whenever there’s been an important revolution or social upheaval, artists, actors, writers and poets are always the people that can reach into areas that politics can’t.â€
Fonda is one of several celebrities who have recently shared their own experiences of sexual assault, including Rose McGowan, Minnie Driver and Amber Tamblyn.
NBC is bringing Ellen DeGeneres back to prime time with ‘Ellen’s Game of Games’
Ellen DeGeneres is packing up her games and heading to a new playground. NBC announced Thursday a six-episode order for “Ellen’s Game of Games,†a game show based on expanded versions of games already featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.â€
“I’m so excited to be hosting a huge prime-time game show for NBC,†DeGeneres said in a statement released by the network. “We’re pulling out all the stops — gigantic sets, hilarious games. It’s going to be like a combination of ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and a water park. OK, it’s nothing like that, but you should still watch.â€
Contestants on the game show will be pulled from the audience -- reminiscent of classic game shows such as “The Price Is Right†-- and given the opportunity to win cash prizes by performing stunts, answering questions and any variety of other tasks dreamed up by DeGeneres and her team.
“Ellen’s impact as a daytime icon is unprecedented, and we can’t wait to see her bring that amazing spirit to ‘Game of Games,’†said Paul Telegdy, president of NBC Entertainment’s Alternative and Reality Group, in a press release. “She is among the very best at engaging with her devoted audience and we are all in for a treat when her antics hit prime time.â€
“Game of Games†will be hosted by DeGeneres and produced by her production company, A Very Good Production, in conjunction with Telepictures and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television.
Want a taste of what “Game of Games†might look like? Check out the video from “The Ellen Show†below.
‘Gotham’ finds its Ra’s Al Ghul in ‘Game of Thrones’ actor Alexander Siddig
Alexander Siddig has been cast in the recurring role of supervillain Ra’s Al Ghul on Fox’s “Gotham.â€
Siddig is no stranger to genre TV, having played the ill-fated Doran Martell on “Game of Thrones†and Dr. Julian Bashir on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.â€
On “Gotham,†he’ll play a character who has a long and complicated history with Bruce Wayne and his Batman alter ego. Ra’a Al Ghul is the leader of the League of Shadows and subsequent mastermind of numerous plots and organizations cobbled together to amass power.
The Court of Owls is the organization that pre-Batman Bruce (David Mazouz) is currently attempting to take down, and it is during this investigation that he will cross paths with Ra’s Al Ghul. No word on whether his infamous Lazarus Pits will be involved in the plot, but the mysterious life-giving pools are a prominent part of the character’s history.
Siddig is joining a growing list of recurring villains on “Gotham†that includes Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), Edward Nygma/The Riddler (Cory Michael Smith), and Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Camren Bicondova).
New details reveal Martha Ruiz’s role in PwC’s Oscars flub
After Wednesday’s news that the two PricewaterhouseCoopers representatives responsible for Sunday’s best picture gaffe would not be working future Oscar ceremonies, some questioned what, if anything, was Martha Ruiz’s role in the matter.
While much of the focus on Sunday’s backstage blunder focused on Ruiz’s colleague Brian Cullinan, the PwC employee responsible for distributing the improper envelope to Warren Beatty, it was less clear why Ruiz was also held accountable for the mistake.
But Oscars stage manager Gary Natoli recently clarified the failure of both PwC accountants in an interview with the Wrap.
As Natoli explained, both Ruiz and Cullinan were supposed to have memorized all winners for the Oscars categories. And, if the wrong name were announced, they were aware that the appropriate response was to immediately rectify the situation.
That’s not what happened Sunday night when the worst-case scenario came to pass.
“I was in the wings stage left with Jimmy [Kimmel] when they announced ‘La La Land.’ We watched for about 10 more seconds, and during that entire time Martha [Ruiz] was no more than five feet away from us,†Natoli said. “When ‘La La Land’ was announced, she did not try to get my attention, she did not say anything.â€
Kimmel and Natoli then headed to the audience to prep for Kimmel’s final bit of the night, which involved Matt Damon. It wasn’t until the “La La Land†producers had begun delivering their speeches that anyone mentioned there might be a problem, at which point Natoli gave orders for Ruiz to open her envelope.
“She was standing there with the envelope in her hand, very low-key,†Natoli said of Ruiz. “And John Esposito said that Brian was very low-key too, no urgency. But we had Martha open the envelope, and it said ‘Moonlight.’â€
Natoli further detailed how even after discovering the error, the PwC representatives had to be forced into action. All told, more than two minutes elapsed before they corrected course.
Though the details were previously nebulous, Natoli’s account is in line with a statement PwC gave The Times on Monday, saying, “Once the error occurred, protocols for correcting it were not followed through quickly enough by Mr. Cullinan or his partner.â€
Despite being removed from future Oscars duty, both Cullinan and Ruiz will remain partners at PwC. According to NBC News, the pair have been issued security protection by their employer after personal information and photos of their homes had been posted online.
Star-Lord finally meets his dad in new ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ trailer
The newest trailer for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2†has been released, and in addition to doubling down on Fleetwood Mac, it features the long-awaited scene of Peter Quill meeting his father.
Star-Lord’s non-human parentage was teased in the first film, but the identity of his father was never revealed. Enter Kurt Russell, who appears in the final moments of the trailer (next to an unidentified, possibly female silhouette), and introduces himself to the assembled Guardians as Peter’s dad.
Russell plays Ego, who in the comics is a living planet, created in the ‘60s by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. That Ego is Star-Lord’s father is a departure from the character’s comic book origin story. (In the comics, Peter’s father is a character named J’son).
Family seems to be among the key themes explored in this latest trailer, which debuted on Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.â€
“All you do is yell at each other,†says Nebula. “You are not friends.â€
Which is true. The Guardians aren’t friends — they are family.
Although Baby Groot gets a bit less screen time this time around, the trailer does give fans a better sense of Nebula, Mantis and Yondu’s relationships with the original Guardians team.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2†will hit theaters May 5.
Watch the full trailer above.
New merch and a contest usher in 20th anniversary of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
With nostalgia for the 1990s at full volume, especially for TV shows -- hello again, “Gilmore Girls,†“Fuller House†and “Charmed†-- it’s no wonder “Buffy the Vampire Slayer†remains a pop-culture favorite.
As the show’s 20th anniversary approaches, a few fan-focused activities and merchandise -- including a Sunnydale High Yearbook Contest offering a trip to this year’s San Diego Comic-Con -- are being introduced.
Unlike the aforementioned reboots, “Buffy†creator Joss Whedon and series star Sarah Michelle Gellar have both denied new content is in the works. But that’s an excuse to get reacquainted with the show.
The Pop TV network will air the two-part premiere episode (“Welcome to the Hellmouth†and “The Harvestâ€) on March 10, which coincides with the anniversary date.
For the Sunnydale High Yearbook Contest, which also launches March 10, fans can upload their high-school class photos and provide their best “Buffy†caption in the form of a yearbook quote. More contest details will be posted at www.boxlunch.com.
But wait! There’s more! New “Buffy†merchandise, from the Fox Consumer Products folks, will showcase everything from apparel and accessories to board games and brand-new books and comics.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom back-burner their couplehood
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are taking a breather — from each other.
Yeah, forget that couple-ish-looking picture the two posed for on Sunday at this year’s Vanity Fair Oscars party.
“Before rumors or falsifications get out of hand, we can confirm that Orlando and Katy are taking respectful, loving space at this time,†their reps said Tuesday in a joint statement obtained by People.
Perhaps someone asked about blurry video showing him talking to a woman other than Perry at a pre-Oscars charity event? Because ... OMG, boy and girl talking. On its face, the chat hardly screams “scandalous,†but both parties apparently felt a need to clarify their status.
A little more than a year ago, when they were first A Thing, a source told Us Weekly that it was just “a fun hookup thing right now†rather than a long-term romance. Turns out the hookup thing had some legs.
Alas, we’ll have to soldier on from here without the unbearable cuteness that was Perry-Bloom — so here’s a holiday-themed flashback for the road:
New ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to feature Disney’s first ‘exclusively gay moment’ in film
There’s more going on in Disney’s new “Beauty and the Beast†adaptation than meets the eye in the trailers.
In an interview with Attitude magazine, director Bill Condon spoke a little about the character of LeFou (Josh Gad) and his complicated feelings toward his best pal Gaston (Luke Evans).
“LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston,†Condon said of the relationship.
“He’s confused about what he wants,†Condon continued. “It’s somebody who’s just realizing that he has these feelings. And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that’s what has its payoff at the end, which I don’t want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie.â€
Condon’s reveal is the second bit of recent news to suggest Disney is becoming more inclusive of LGBT representation.
On Feb. 23, Disney XD aired an episode of “Star vs. the Forces of Evil†titled “Just Friends,†which featured the main characters attending a concert. When the charismatic boy band performs a romantic song, the venue full of concert-goers starts smooching, including several same-sex couples in the background.
The episode marked the first-ever same-sex kiss in a Disney cartoon.
Casey Affleck addresses lawsuit settlements: ‘Nothing I can do about it, other than live my life’
Casey Affleck can’t really talk about those allegations leveled against him years ago by a couple of women on the crew of his 2010 mockumentary, “I’m Still Here.†The settlement between the actor and the women prohibits that, he says.
However, speaking to the Boston Globe on Tuesday, the “Manchester by the Sea†star did acknowledge the controversy that has dogged his awards-season run of wins for best actor, which culminated in an Academy Award on Sunday.
“There’s really nothing I can do about it, other than live my life the way I know I live it and to speak to what my own values are and how I try to live by them all the time,†Affleck told the Globe, which noted that he said it “wearily.â€
Among those values: people in the workplace and elsewhere deserve to be treated with respect, and nobody should be mistreated in general. That’s “unacceptable and abhorrent†when it happens, he said.
Two prominent female crew members on the Joaquin Phoenix vehicle “I’m Still Here,†which Affleck directed, sued him in July 2010. Both alleged, among other things, breach of contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and one listed sexual harassment in her complaint.
A spokesman for the Oscar winner and lawyer for the women told The Times later that year that a settlement had been reached.
READ MORE: Why are Nate Parker and Casey Affleck being treated differently?>>
Cuchi-cuchi! Simone Biles, Nick Viall and Charo join eclectic cast for new ‘Dancing With the Stars’
A “Bachelor,†a bull rider, a baseball player and, um, Charo and Mr. T are among the cast members for Season 24 of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,†as announced on Wednesday’s “Good Morning America.â€
Current star of “The Bachelor†Nick Viall, former Cubs catcher David Ross and bull rider-turned-model Bonner Bolton will all be competing for the coveted mirror ball trophy when “DWTS†returns on March 20.
They’ll face stiff competition on the dance floor, however, with not one, but two Olympic medalists angling for top marks as figure skater Nancy Kerrigan and gymnast Simone Biles have a chance to add new bling to their considerable trophy cases.
But if the incoming season of “DWTS†has a ringer, it would have to be in former “Glee†star Heather Morris. Though Morris came to prominence with her portrayal of Brittany on the hit Fox series, she has been dancing since she was 9 years old.
She also served as a backup dancer for none other than Beyoncé in 2007 and 2008. Which is to say she’ll be a formidable opponent on “DWTS.â€
“DWTS†returns with its 400th episode March 20 at 8 p.m. Pacific. Here’s the full cast list (with partners) for the new season:
• Bonner Bolton (bull rider and model) with Sharna Burgess
• Charo (singer and actress) with Keo Motsepe
• Chris Kattan (comedian and actor) with Witney Carson
• David Ross (two-time World Series champ) with Lindsay Arnold
• Erika Jayne (reality TV star) with Gleb Savchenko
• Heather Morris (actress) with Maksim Chmerkovskiy
• Mr. T (actor) with Kym Herjavec
• Nancy Kerrigan (silver medal Olympian) with Artem Chigvintsev
• Nick Viall (reality TV star) with Peta Murgatroyd
• Normani Kordei (singer) with Valentin Chmerkovskiy
• Rashad Jennings (NFL safety) with Emma Slater
• Simone Biles (gold medal Olympian) with Sasha Farber
Lady Gaga will replace Beyoncé at Coachella
After Beyoncé was forced to sit out Coachella per doctor’s orders, festival organizers have found a replacement: Lady Gaga.
Gaga will headline both weekends of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival — slated for April 14-16 and April 21-23 in Indio — festival promoter Goldenvoice announced Tuesday night.
Last week, Beyoncé, who is pregnant with twins, announced she had to pull out of the festival “following the advice of her doctors to keep a less rigorous schedule in the coming months.†She will instead headline Coachella next year.
Gaga recently appeared at Super Bowl LI in Houston, an event she followed with a performance at the Grammys alongside Metallica. The pop star will launch her Joanne World Tour in August and has booked a two-night run at the Forum as well as a December date.