ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Why a Break From the Public Eye Is Exactly What Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston's Relationship Needed. Was it just our wildest dreams, or did we go through a few weeks filled with a lot of Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift? It all started on the afternoon of June 15 when crystal clear photos surfaced of the "Shake It Off" singer and The Avengers star kissing on a rocky beach in Rhode Island. Days later, the duo danced the night away at Selena Gomez's Nashville concert. Dinner dates, meetings with the parents and matching outfits soon followed leaving some Swifties thinking this was the greatest "Love Story" ever told. Others, however, became a bit more skeptical. "I know. It's only been three weeks. And she's 26. That's old enough to understand -- like, you don't show your feelings on your sleeve in three weeks, you know?" Wendy Williams shared on her talk show. "And he's a 30-something." Even with a couple's trip to Rome, the tipping point for some loyal Swifties was during the Fourth of July holiday. Yes, we loved finding out who was invited to her Rhode Island beachside house for America's holiday. Yes, we liked way too many of the Instagrams posted by members of Taylor's squad. But after soaking up the weekend, some couldn't help but think to themselves: This is a lot for one Hollywood couple. In fact, The Hollywood Reporter felt it was necessary to ask Tom if he was "involved in some sort of publicity stunt" with Taylor. "Well, um," he answered, apparently with a laugh. "How best to put this? How best to put this? That notion is -- look, the truth is that Taylor Swift and I are together, and we're very happy. Thanks for asking. That's the truth. It's not a publicity stunt." In the same month, Taylor faced headlines for Calvin Harris' Twitter rant against his ex-girlfriend. And yes, there was the leaked audio footage Kim Kardashian shared that reignited the debate about how much the Grammy winner knew about Kanye West's infamous lyrics to "Famous." Safe to say it was the perfect time to take a break from the public eye. When Tom hit Comic-Con in San Diego to share a new Kong: Skull Island movie trailer, Taylor decided to stay home. When Tom finally joined Instagram, his first post wasn't about his girlfriend. And when Taylor scored an invite to a birthday celebration in the Hamptons, she still had a great time even if Tom wasn't a plus one. Today, Tom is hard at work filming Thor: Ragnarok in Australia while Taylor is lying low and escaping photographers much more frequently. And instead of thinking the lack of public appearances and PDA is a sign of trouble in paradise, perhaps it's just two people getting to know each other in private. Dinner dates may now be at home instead of in locations where diners can tweet away every detail of what they are seeing. Perhaps Facetime conversations are a regular habit where nobody needs to know if you're wearing an "I love T.S." t-shirt. And while some may still think they know everything about this couple, shall we remind you that Taylor is the one who went through an entire tour surprising fans night after night with unexpected celebrities. The Taylor that completely shocked a deserving couple this summer by attending their wedding. The Taylor that flew 1,200 miles to dance at Coachella and attend a Texas ceremony in one day. Let's not call this relationship over and done just yet. Instead, it could be growing into something stronger than ever. (Eonline)

Audrina Patridge previously revealed only her newborn daughter's toes, but now she's finally debuted baby Kirra's adorable face! "Alright... It's time! Everyone is asking to see baby Kirra, and I can't hold back any longer! We are so beyond in love with her!!" Patridge, 31, wrote on her blog Wednesday along with four never-before-seen photos of 8-week-old Kirra. "I never imagined I could love someone with all that I have, but my love for her grows each and every day. And since everyone has been so patient, I wanted to share a couple of pictures with you all," the mother of one continued. The former Hills stars and her fiance Corey Bohan welcomed their first child on June 24. "Kirra is the happiest, most beautiful baby with a constant smile and lots of goo-ing and gaa-ing! She loves giving Corey and I the biggest smiles, but I can't wait until she giggles for the first time -- right now she gives lots of expressions but no noise," Patridge said. "She sleeps 6-7 hours a night (only waking up once or twice) and is pretty laid back (unless of course she's hungry, has to burp, needs a diaper change, or gets restless!)" Audrina also opened up what's it has been like for her post-pregnancy. "If I'm being completely honest, the first month of no sleep, C-Section recovery, unpacking, and getting back into the swing of things was pretty grueling," she shared, adding, "But, at the end of the day, all I had to do was take one look at Kirra and none of that mattered anymore." And on her post-baby body, the reality star is getting back to her exercise routines. "I'm no longer experiencing pregnancy brain, a roller coaster of emotions, or a lack of energy -- In fact, I am officially back on my Pilates grind! But let me tell you, my core does NOT work out the way it used to... but I will get there!" she concluded. (People)

Chris Rock and Megalyn Echikunwoke sparked engagement rumors at a dinner "celebrating new beginnings" at Catch on Sunday when a pal posted a photo on Instagram of the lovebirds. Echikunwoke seemed to proudly display a ring on her ring finger a day before Rock finalized his divorce from wife of 20 years, Malaak. "Last night we celebrated new beginnings .?.?. #lovewins," the pal captioned the ring pic. Echikunwoke even appeared to take a dig at Malaak when she replied to the post with shade-throwing catchphrase, "Bye, Felicia." Her friend responded to the diss with crying laughter emojis. The social-media post has since been taken down. But another Rock source shot down any engagement rumors, telling us, "She always wears that ring." And Rock's rep added, "It's 100 percent not true. Chris Rock is not engaged." The couple's been dating nearly a year, and sources say Echikunwoke's staying at Rock's New Jersey home. (Page Six)

Chrisley Knows Best Star Lindsie Chrisley Files for Divorce From Will Campbell. The Chrisley family is cutting ties with one of their own. E! News can confirm Chrisley Knows Best star Lindsie Chrisley has filed for divorce from Will Campbell. People magazine broke the news of the split. The former couple, who share a 3-year-old son named Jackson together, started dating in 2009 before tying the knot in the two years leading up to the 2014 premiere of the USA reality television series. "He was my first love. We got together when we were 19-years-old, and over time we grew separately in different directions instead of together," Lindsie, 26, told the magazine. "I feel like I've become more independent, I've come more into myself, I'm more confident with myself and I just don't feel that relationship gives me what I need anymore. I've outgrown the relationship." The pair's relationship was a point of contention within the family, as patriarch Todd Chrisley openly disapproved of their decision to elope without his knowledge. When Lindsie gave birth to their first child 11 months after getting married, Todd continued to butt heads with his son-in-law. In the seasons that followed, Campbell appeared less and less on the series while their son has appeared in four episodes throughout Chrisley Knows Best's four seasons. "I take nothing negative from that experience because that's where I was at the time," she continued, revealing her and Will previously separated in 2014. "I feel like I had been struggling with this decision for a long time, and I didn't want to make an immature decision on the spur of the moment." Chrisley continued, "I did have hope that with him being around my family and maybe being able to come to some kind of relationship, especially with my dad, that would maybe spark a little bit of interest or fire, and unfortunately that didn't happen." As for her father's thoughts on the divorce, he tells People the exes only have Jackson's well-being in mind. "[Will] has been a very good provider and there has been no kind of anything going on in their marriage that I would tolerate, that Lindsie would tolerate or that Will has done that anyone could twist," Todd explained, adding, "He is a decent young man, and our family will always stand with him for the betterment of our grandchild." (Eonline)

Jana Kramer and Husband Mike Caussin Separate After More Than a Year of Marriage. After a little more than one year of marriage, E! News has learned that Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin are separating. People broke the news that the two have parted ways amid the former NFL star entering treatment for an undisclosed reason at a rehabilitation facility. A source close to the magazine tells them, "This has been difficult for Jana but her priority is being there for her [7-month-old daughter]." After four months of dating, the two got engaged on her 31st birthday back in December 2014 and were married in May of the following year. They now-exes have one child together, a baby girl named Jolie Rae Caussin, who was born on January 31. This will mark the One Tree Hill star's third divorce, should the couple decide to file papers. She married Michael Gambino in Las Vegas in 2004 and the two split a few months after. Then, on the Fourth of July in 2010, she wed actor Johnathon Schaech in Michigan after a whirlwind romance following the two meeting on the set of the film Prom Night. They announced that they were separating a month after their wedding day, and their divorce was eventually finalized in June 2011. Kramer was also previously engaged to country star Brantley Gilbert, but they split in August 2013. (Eonline)

The man who's been carrying on an alleged yearlong affair with Larry King's wife, Shawn King, is a public-speaking guru whose clients have included US senators, Arianna Huffington, Diana, Naomi, and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, according to a source close to the King family. Richard Greene -- dubbed "the master of charisma" by the Sunday Times of London, and whose Website lists the aforementioned stars as customers -- has also appeared as a talking head on endless TV news reports. And the National Enquirer -- which broke the story of the affair, but didn't name Greene -- claims that Shawn is trying to groom him as "the next Larry King." Attorneys representing Shawn and Larry, as well as a rep for Greene, called the story of the affair "inaccurate." Meanwhile, insiders tell Page Six that Larry, 82, was blindsided by the revelation of the alleged tryst. Sources say that Larry believed his wife of 19 years was faithful to him and only learned about her romance with Greene when the Enquirer contacted his reps for comment. Shockingly, an insider told us that Shawn, 56, met Greene when he was a guest on a podcast she co-hosts with her husband, "Back and Forth With Shawn and Larry." "He's heartbroken," a friend of Larry's told us. "He's embarrassed and furious." The source added that although Shawn -- whom the Enquirer reported on Wednesday had sent nude pictures and had "steamy afternoon sex sessions" with her boy toy -- is still living with Larry after the news hit, the veteran broadcaster hasn't made a decision on whether to file for divorce. In fact, the insider said that before the scandal broke, Shawn "was ready to divorce Larry for this guy, but the guy was hesitant about it." The insider further revealed that Shawn and Larry's marriage has effectively been over since about 2010 and that the couple sleep in separate rooms in their Beverly Hills, Calif., home. (Page Six)

Billionaire Tesla titan Elon Musk has been trying to court newly divorced actress Amber Heard for four years. Page Six exclusively reported that the pair spent a weekend together in June at the Delano South Beach in Miami. "I believe your sources are mistaken," Musk's rep told us at the time. But years ago, before Heard married -- and quickly divorced -- Johnny Depp, Musk was already angling to meet the actress. The mogul and the movie star both appeared in cult director Robert Rodriguez's 2013 film "Machete Kills," but never met on the set. According to the Hollywood Reporter's new issue, Musk repeatedly e-mailed Rodriguez and others to try and meet Heard, even though she was dating Depp. "If there is a party or event with Amber, I'd be interested in meeting her just out of curiosity," Musk wrote in an e-mail, before oddly adding, "Allegedly, she is a fan of George Orwell and Ayn Rand .?.?. most unusual." In another message, he clarified, "[I'm] not angling for a date. I know she's in a long-term relationship, but .?.?. Amber just seems like an interesting person to meet." During Heard's divorce drama, Musk and Heard were also seen out together in London this month with "Suicide Squad" stars Jared Leto and Cara Delevingne at nightclub the Box. In Miami in June, Heard and Musk were seen leaving the same hotel room at different times, with one source claiming Musk did a "walk of shame." Musk's rep also said, "Don't think that last bit is true, unfortunately." Reps for Musk and Heard, who just settled her divorce from Depp for $7 million, did not respond to a request for comment. Musk's going through his own divorce from Talulah Riley. (Page Six)

Days of Our Lives' Kassie DePaiva Reveals Leukemia Battle. Soap star Kassie DePaiva has gone public with her leukemia battle. The Daytime Emmy nominee, who was set to return to Days of our Lives as Eve Donovan, took to her personal site and revealed that she has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. "I know that I have been quiet lately and I want to let you know what's been going on in my life. I was asked back to play Eve on Days and had begun my exciting return," she wrote. "During the 3 week July hiatus I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and have spent six of the last nine weeks in the hospital." DePaiva said she is poised to continue treatment over the next three months and that her prognosis is good and she will likely not need a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. "We expect a complete cure," she wrote. DePaiva is a veteran of soaps such as Guiding Light and General Hospital. She played the role of Blair on One Life to Live for 20 years starting in 1993 and later played the role of Eve on NBC's Days of our Lives starting in 2014. She exited the series in September 2015 with her final appearance in February of 2016. She was poised for a return this summer. "I consider this just a bump in the road. I have amazing prayer warriors, family, and friends that have been extremely supportive and life affirming throughout this. I have a strong faith that strengthens me every step of the way. This has been a private matter but with Eve's return coming soon I felt it was time to let my loving fans know what's been going on. The Days and OLTL family love runs deep," she wrote in her blog post, which can be read in full at her site. "Although I'm unable to be 'camera ready' now... my goal is get back to stirring up trouble in Salem soon. Keep me in you thoughts and prayers." Request for comment from NBC was not immediately returned. The soap was just renewed for its 51st season and surpassed 13,000 episodes. "This is truly a staggering achievement. We have 13,000 blessings to be thankful for today. My deep and abiding appreciation to NBC and Sony Pictures Television for their unwavering support throughout the decades," Ken Corday, executive producer, said in a statement in July. "I am so grateful to the generations of artists, craftspeople and faithful viewers who have devoted much of their lifetimes to Days of our Lives, falling in love with the people of Salem each and every episode. You have all made this breathtaking milestone possible." Days of our Lives airs Mondays-Fridays on NBC. (Eonline)

Scott Eastwood Apologizes to Late Ex-Girlfriend's Father Two Years After She Died in Car Accident. Scott Eastwood is continuing to relive a painful memory from his past. Just a day after the actor revealed to GQ Australia that a former girlfriend of his died in a tragic car accident, Eastwood called his late ex's father to apologize for never reaching out in the two years that passed since her death. Alexander Brangman, the father of aspiring model Jewel Brangman, who died at the hands of a faulty airbag, spoke to People magazine about the emotional conversation they shared. "[Scott] said, 'I didn't reach out because I didn't know what to say,'" Brangman said. "He was very apologetic." At the time of his daughter's death, Brangman said he was "hurt" by Eastwood's decision to never offer his condolences, explaining, "I was disappointed he didn't come to her celebration of life. Many people were actually disappointed. Many of her friends flew across the country to pay their respects and condolences. There wasn't even a flower sent." And although Brangman revealed Eastwood never asked for his consent to speak publicly on the accident, admitting, "I don't think he handled the situation properly," the 61-year-old has come to a better understanding of Eastwood's intentions. "I was angry -- but everybody grieves differently," Brangman continued. "You know, he's a kid, too. I didn't know what his grieving process is -- I'd like to get to know more of what he went through. Because that's a difficult thing." According to Brangman, Scott and Jewel split six to nine months before her 2014 death. Jewel's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Honda, the airbag manufacturer and the rental company of the 2001 Honda Civic she was driving. The 26-year-old was one of 11 people who were killed by the since-recalled airbags. In his GQ interview Eastwood told the magazine, "I've lost friends before; I've lost some great friends. But, I had never lost someone I had been really intimate with. Maybe it's made it harder for me to date." (Eonline)

Amanda Bynes Expresses Her Love and Appreciation for Fashion School in Surprise Twitter Return. If you're wondering where Amanda Bynes has been on social media, fear no more. After almost six months of staying quiet on Twitter, the former Nickelodeon star returned to share some good news with her loyal fans and followers. Instead of worrying about a 140-character message, Amanda is purely focused on completing fashion school in Los Angeles. "Hi everybody! I haven't tweeted in a long time and I want to say hi! I've been really busy at FIDM, and I just finished my midterms," she shared with her 3.4 million followers Wednesday afternoon. "I am really loving school and I feel that I am learning a lot. I enjoy all of my classes and my teachers are excellent." Amanda added, "I'm really appreciative of all that FIDM is giving me. I've been in school learning about the fashion business so I don't have time to tweet." The Amanda Show star first enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising campus near Orange County in spring 2014. She later transferred to the Los Angeles campus where even more courses are offered. "She is doing great," her family's attorney, Tamar Arminak, told E! News ahead of the star's 30th birthday. "She is happy and healthy, and excited about the future." As for all the speculation that Amanda has secret social media accounts or handles, the student set the record straight Wednesday. "FYI, this Twitter account is the only communication media that I am using," Amanda wrote. "No other Twitter accounts or websites are mine! I only have this one." She added, "This is me! The verified, real, authentic and actual Amanda Bynes. Accept no substitutes!" (Eonline)

Johnny Depp is heaping praise on Amber Heard for donating her $7 million divorce settlement to charity ... and he's so moved he's sending the checks directly to the 2 organizations she personally picked. Amber announced after striking her settlement she would donate every penny to the ACLU and Children's Hospital of Los Angeles -- $3.5 mil each. We checked with Children's Hospital Tuesday and they had not yet received any of the money. We've learned both the ACLU and Children's Hospital got checks Wednesday from Johnny, on behalf of Amber. The checks are the first in a number of installments that will eventually total $7 million. A rep for Johnny tells TMZ, "Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge." The rep adds, "Ms. Heard's generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected." Everybody happy now? (TMZ)

Amber Heard has just fired back at Johnny Depp, saying if he really cares about donating Amber's divorce settlement he'll ante up $14 million, not $7 mil ... and in fact she's insisting on that. Amber's team tells TMZ, Johnny is not being up-front about his latest move ... giving Children's Hospital of L.A. and the ACLU the $7 million earmarked for Amber. Amber said last week she would donate the settlement money to the 2 charities, but her people tell us if Johnny sends the money directly to the 2 organizations he's not really paying $7 mil, because he gets a charitable tax deduction. And we're told Amber's position is that the money is not Johnny's to give away. Amber's people tell TMZ, "If Johnny wishes to change the settlement agreement, we must insist that he honor the full amount by donating $14M to charity, which after accounting for his tax deduction, is equal to his $7M payment obligation to Amber." The team goes on ... "We would also insist that the full amount be paid immediately and not drawn out over many years." They blast Johnny's team, saying, "Anything less would be a transparent attempt by Johnny's counsel, Laura Wasser and Patti Glaser, to reduce their client's true payment by half under the guise of newfound concern for charities that he has never previously supported." (TMZ)

Frances Bean Cobain's Ex Isaiah Silva Requests Large Amount of Spousal Support. After announcing their split in March, Frances Bean Cobain and Isaiah Silva's divorce battle might turn ugly. According to court documents obtained by E! News, Silva is requesting $25,000 per month in spousal support from Cobain, who is worth an estimated $100 million. The documents give a detailed list of Silva's expenses, including what he spends on monthly rent ($4,500), clothes ($200) and even private schooling ($3,333) for his child from a previous relationship. Silva also states that his monetary income from his band, The Eeries, has "changed significantly" as a result of his divorce proceedings. "Due to break up of marriage and incidents of violence and harassment against me I have been unable to tour and record music," the documents state. Silva also claims that because he and Cobain did not have a prenuptial agreement, he is entitled to half of her assets earned during their marriage. In the original divorce documents filed earlier this year Cobain requested that Silva not receive any monetary gains from her late father's, Kurt Cobain's, estate. "Petitioner requests that all gifts, inheritance, bequests and all other pre-marital assets, and all of her post-separation earnings, and acquisitions, as well as her clothing, jewelry and personal effects, be confirmed and/or awarded to her as her separate property plus all credits, offsets and reimbursements to which she is entitled," the documents state. She did say, however, that she would be open to paying and receiving spousal support. Cobain and Silva do not have any children together. Cobain went under the radar and married her boyfriend of five years in a small and intimate ceremony on June 29, 2014, E! News reported, and even her famous mom, Courtney Love, had no idea it was happening. "Courtney loves Isaiah, but was devastated to learn that Frances had gotten married without her knowing," a source told us at the time, adding that, "Courtney really likes Isaiah and is very happy for Frances. Courtney is sad she wasn't at the wedding." The insider continued, "Frances called her after but understands why she did it. Frances needs a man in her life and has always craved stability. She's found it in Isaiah," and reassured that, "This has not caused a rift between mom and daughter. Courtney was sad, but she's cool and Isaiah is a great son-in-law." (Eonline)

Sarah Jessica Parker's so outraged about the price hike of the EpiPen, she pulled the plug on her relationship with the company ... and painted them into a corner. Sarah ripped the pharmaceutical company Mylan for increasing the medicine's price by 500% since 2009. Her son has a peanut allergy, and she not only depends on EpiPen, but also was a paid spokesperson. Thursday morning she posted a scathing announcement that she was done working with Mylan. It's pretty shocking, 9 years ago an EpiPen reportedly cost $57 -- today a 2-pack goes for around $600. Mylan felt the heat from Sarah and others -- including Hillary Clinton -- and hours after Sarah's post ... announced it would offer coupons, and take other steps, to help make the meds affordable. For the record, it's blaming health care system flaws for the price increase. (TMZ)

Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke are appealing against the Blurred Lines verdict. The result of the case saw them pay $5.3 million and 50% of songwriting and publishing revenues to the family of Marvin Gaye after a jury ruled they copied Gaye's track Got To Give It Up. Their lawyers asserted that "if left to stand, the Blurred Lines verdict would chill musical creativity and inhibit the process by which later artists draw inspiration from earlier artists to create new popular music". They argue that the judge wrongly compared the recordings of the two songs, rather than just the sheet music. Lawyers of Thicke and Williams state that Got To Give It Up was one of the last songs recorded before a change was made to copyright law to include sound recordings. They claim that, had only the sheet music been considered, the case would not have gone to trial. "What happened instead was a cascade of legal errors warranting this court's reversal or vacatur for new trial," the opening brief states. "At summary judgment, the district court entertained expert testimony by musicologists for the Gayes who based their opinions entirely on the sound recording, not the deposit copy. The court correctly filtered out non-deposit copy and generic musical features from their testimony, but then erroneously failed to compare what remained to Blurred Lines." And so the case concerning what is essentially the anthem to sexual assault rages on. (British Glamour)

Ryan Lochte Will Be Summoned by Rio Police. Ryan Lochte has apologized for his role in the Rio robbery scandal, but he hasn't fully moved on from the incident just yet. The Olympic athlete will be summoned to attend a hearing in front of the Brazilian justice, Rio civil police commissioner Clemente Braune confirmed to NBC News. A formal document will be sent to the United States asking for the cooperation of the U.S. judicial system in summoning Lochte to Brazil. If he is summoned and does not show up for the hearing, however, the process will continue without him. Per G1, who was first to report on the summons, the penalty for false communication of a crime is 1 to 6 months in prison. However, if Lochte does not appear before the Brazilian justice, he cannot be sentenced. E! News reached out to Lochte's attorney for comment but we did not receive an immediate response. (Eonline)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Prince's home is now the domain of the King -- as in Elvis Presley's people running tours at Paisley Park. The bank that manages Prince's estate -- Bremer Trust -- just announced the deal that puts the people who run Graceland in charge of public tours, which are set to begin in October. Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, is reportedly on board with the Elvis plan, but sources close to the heirs tell TMZ not everyone in the family agrees. We're told the dissenting family members objected, in part, because Graceland Holdings has previously had financial problems. As it stands, team Elvis would get 50% of revenue generated by Paisley Park tours. We're told Bremer's currently negotiating with the family in hopes of getting everyone on board, but that's more for PR purposes. Fact is, the tours are going to happen ... but it seems the bank just wants to make sure Prince family members don't publicly bad mouth the deal. (TMZ)

Jennifer Holliday joining The Color Purple revival. This time, Jennifer Holliday is following in Jennifer Hudson's footsteps. Tony and Grammy winner Jennifer Holliday, best known to theater fans as the iconic creator of Effie White in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls, has been tapped to board the cast of the award-winning revival of The Color Purple. She'll play Shug Avery, a role created in this production by Hudson (who played Effie in 2006's Dreamgirls movie) and is currently being filled by Heather Headley. Holliday will assume the part of the slinky, sultry singer who swerves the heart of neglected Celie (Tony winner Cynthia Erivo) on Oct. 4; Headley departs on Oct. 2. Director John Doyle issued a statement on the casting: "There is a rich and significant legacy to the line of women who have been part of The Color Purple, and I am very honored and excited to work with another major actress as she assumes one of its iconic roles. I am very taken with Ms. Holliday's approach to the character of Shug and I look forward to sharing how her integrity and experience will enrich this production of The Color Purple." Holliday commented, "Nothing compares to performing before a Broadway audience and I can't wait to return to the Broadway stage, where I started my career over 35 years ago." The Color Purple, which opened Dec. 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, also stars Tony nominee Danielle Brooks in her Broadway debut as the ferocious, strong-willed Sofia. (People)

Cadence Schutter just started kindergarten, but the pageant princess and reality star has already survived a tough battle with cancer. Diagnosed with neuroblastoma (cancer formed in immature nerve cells) when she was still in utero, Schutter had to undergo cancer treatment as an infant. Shocked by the devastating news, her parents Julie Dimit and Amy Schutter (who conceived using donor sperm) were in disbelief at the time. "I tried to be strong, but there's so much fear," recalls Dimit. "On the inside I was freaking out. My world was crumbling." When she was 3 months old, doctors successfully performed surgery on Cadence to remove the adrenal gland where the cancer was located. Now 5, Cadence is cancer free and the Toddlers and Tiaras star has found joy in the world of beauty pageants. Since she only has one adrenal gland, Cadence is unable to play sports or any activity where she becomes overheated. Instead, the family turned to beauty pageants. "It gives her an outlet to still feel like she can participate," says Amy. "She still gets the camaraderie and the support of friends." For Cadence it's just about having fun. "I love to be on stage," she says. "I don't get nervous at all when I do pageants. It makes me happy when I get to do them." Toddlers and Tiaras premieres Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on TLC. (People)

Birthday getaway! Ben Affleck, his estranged wife Jennifer Garner and their children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, visited Montana's Yellowstone Club to celebrate the actor turning 44 August 15. "There was a cake and they did the usual stuff: hiking and playing outside," an Affleck insider says in the new issue of Us Weekly. "They wanted to be together as a family." They chose one of their "favorite places" for the occasion: Affleck and Garner, 44, spent Christmas at the ski resort last year and returned in February with pals Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen. While the Boston native "got along great" with Garner throughout the weeklong birthday festivities, that won't lead to a permanent reunion. "They didn't sleep in the same room," explains the source. "And they are not getting back together." Still, spending the Batman star's birthday together seems to be a tradition that won't end simply because of the split. Last summer, the clan celebrated 43 years of Affleck at Orlando's Universal Studios, just two months after the parents announced their plans to divorce following 10 years of marriage. In a joint statement to Us Weekly, they said, "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time." Since then, the two have made great efforts in their post-split relationship for the kids. Following the Midwestern vacation, the children, who start school in L.A. in September, joined Dad in London August 18, where he continues to shoot Justice League (due out in 2017). The whole family also spent time in the U.K. earlier this summer, visiting Paris and Venice together when Affleck wasn't filming. The insider adds, "This situation is working for them." (US Weekly)

Keeping it hush-hush! Kendall Jenner revealed during Jimmy Kimmel Live! that only two of her family members knew ahead of time that she had landed the cover of Vogue's September issue -- Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian. "The whole family is famous. I can't imagine how embarrassing it would be to not be famous in your family," Kimmel, 48, said on Wednesday, August 24. "But when you share news like the Vogue magazine for instance, do you have to tell them right away before it's announced? Do people find out from other sources?" "This I really wanted to keep a secret from everyone," Jenner, 20, replied. "I think my mom was the only one who knew. I slipped up on Kim. I told Kim ... I wanted it to be a surprise. Not only for everyone, but also my family. I just wanted it to be super special." The fashion bible revealed Jenner's smoldering cover for its September 2016 issue on August 11. The photo features the model wearing a cleavage-baring mariachi-inspired Gucci ensemble. Following its debut, Jenner shared an Instagram video of herself celebrating with her family. "Do you ever wish there was fewer Kardashians so you get more of the attention?" Kimmel teased on Wednesday. "Never!" Jenner said, laughing. "I love having a big family. It's the best thing in the world. You always have someone to talk to." The late-night host might even be invited to the next Kardashian-Jenner bash. Earlier this summer, Jenner bought a $6.5 million Hollywood Hills mansion from Kimmel's former neighbors John Krasinski and Emily Blunt. The couple moved to NYC with their daughters, Hazel, 2, and Violet, 2 months. (Kimmel and his wife, Molly McNearney, are parents of daughter Jane, 2.) "Well, welcome to the neighborhood!" Kimmel said to Jenner. "If you need navigation, let me know. Are you available for babysitting?" (US Weekly)

Jennifer Lopez broke up with Casper Smart because he snubbed her by passing on a fancy Hamptons charity event in favor of hanging with his boyz at UFC 202 ... TMZ has learned. Sources connected with the former couple tell us ... J Lo told Casper it was super important for him to accompany her to Ron Perelman's Hamptons fundraiser Saturday night benefiting the Apollo Theater. Casper wasn't having it, because he desperately wanted to watch the Conor McGregor/Nate Diaz fight in Vegas with his friends. Casper had a great time in Vegas, hanging with Kanye and UFC announcer Bruce Buffer. J Lo, we're told, was enraged and ended the relationship ... no discussion -- simply, we're done. Here's the funny thing ... Casper was telling people at the fight he was going to NYC Sunday to meet up with Jennifer, who was there filming a show. He had no idea being a no-show Saturday would end things. Our sources add this ... J Lo and Casper have "broken up" several times before and gotten back together, and they say they would not be surprised at all if it happens again. (TMZ)

Lena Dunham has spoken out about her issues with retouching before and now she's making a bigger statement by starring in a Photoshop-free lingerie campaign with her Girls co-star Jemima Kirke The Girls creator and actress features in an underwear advert for New Zealand brand Lonely. The label aspires "to showcase women wearing underwear in a way that we usually don't see in mainstream advertising and the media". Lonely uses ordinary women to model its underwear in their own way - and without the unrealistic glare of Photoshop to help foster positive body image. "Instead of being objectified, the women who participate in these campaigns - in this case, Lena and Jemima - are empowered and exhibit real beauty that will hopefully help women everywhere feel a little more liberated," the brand said Wednesday. Dunham publicly criticized Spanish magazine Tentaciones earlier this year, accusing the publication of retouching her body beyond recognition. (British Glamour)

Thomas Gibson says he's just one of many Americans who got screwed by Volkswagen's massive recall last year, and now he wants to settle the score in court. In a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ ... Thomas claims an L.A. dealership, and VW by association, lied to his face when they told him his 2012 Audi Q7 offered him horsepower, fuel efficiency AND clean diesel. He says those claims were BS, noting the feds found VW -- Audi's parent co. -- passed government emissions tests under false pretenses ... which lead to its recall of roughly 11 million cars worldwide. Thomas -- who's freshly unemployed -- says he's opted out of the class action suit against VW. He's going all lone wolf, presumably because he thinks it'll net him more dough out of zee Germans. (TMZ)

The Oral History of Memes: Where Did "Show Me the Receipts" Come From? Memes are everywhere. They've taken over pop culture and began to find their way into almost every facet of our lives. From "Hey Girl" to "The Most Interesting Man" to "I Can Haz Cheezburger" -- to invent a meme is to live on forever in infamy. But as these sayings and slogans start to take on a life of their own, the rest of the world typically forgets how they even started in the first place...or what they mean at all. That's where E! News comes in. Show me the receipts! If you're under the age of, say, 40, you've probably said this to someone. And if you've ever made an outlandish claim, someone has probably said this to you. It's the ultimate way to call someone's bluff, and/or call someone's bluff. This meme has been making the pop culture rounds for years, but it's now started to seep into our everyday vernacular. Your friend insists you got drunk and broke their lamp last weekend? Show me the receipts! David Beckham showed up to your coworker's SoulCycle class? Show me the receipts! Justin Bieber's ex-girlfriend posted and then deleted a naked photo of him? Receipts, if you will. But as much as this saying is a part of our collective daily lives these days, most people have probably totally forgotten that this whole pop culture phenomenon actually has its roots in a very serious journalistic endeavor -- and the saying itself isn't even 100% correct. It all started with Diane Sawyer. The newscaster sat down with the late pop star at her Atlanta home way back in 2002 for a tell-all interview tied to her upcoming album Just Whitney. Much of the interview focused on her tragic addictions, to which Houston raised the question about a headline that claimed Whitney had spent an exorbitant amount of money on drugs. "This says $730,000 drug habit," questioned Sawyer. "This is a headline." To which Whitney gave an answer that would become the stuff of legends. "No way, no way," she began. "I wanna see the receipts. From the drug dealer that I bought $730,000 worth of drugs from. I wanna see the receipts." And thus, out of true tragedy, a meme was born. Initially it was the clip that viral, with viewers marveling at her ability to be so sassy to someone as intimidating as Diane Sawyer. That quickly morphed into GIF form, because if that's not a GIF-able moment we don't know what is. Then, thanks to the marvels of the Internet, the phrase grew and transformed into the meme behemoth it is today. Slowly but surely "I wanna see the receipts" was changed to "Show me the receipts," presumably because it just rolls off the tongue a bit easier. Cut to the summer of 2016, and it's perhaps the most ubiquitous comeback we have at our disposal. Blame it on the fact that our society is in the throws of a lot of questionable behavior, but something happens at least once a day that makes us want to see the receipts. Now, just wait until election season. (Eonline)

Slash is hoping a fresh coat of paint and a substantially lower asking price will finally attract a buyer for his Beverly Hills mansion. The GNR guitarist just relisted his Mulholland Estates home for $9.5 million ... about $1.5 million off the original listing for the 7 bedroom, 9 bath home. Slash put it on the market more than a year ago, after he and his wife of 13 years, Perla, filed for divorce. The 11k sq. foot home has been stripped of most of its rock 'n' roll qualities, but a stripper pole remains ... key selling point, no doubt. Looks like the backyard skate ramp's also been replaced by a beach volleyball court. Slash and Perla bought the mansion in 2009 for $7.3 million. (TMZ)

Hope Solo has just been benched by Team USA soccer for SIX MONTHS -- for trashing Team Sweden as a "bunch of cowards" after they beat the U.S. in an Olympic match earlier this month. (TMZ)

Music

Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj to Perform at 2016 MTV VMAs; Kim Kardashian, Jaden Smith & More Announced as Presenters. Attention all you Arianators out there! MTV has just announced that Ariana Grande will be taking the stage at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. But it won't just be all about Ms. Grande come Sunday evening, the network also shared that the 23-year-old crooner will be singing alongside the one and only Nicki Minaj to perform the hit "Side to Side" off of Grande's latest album, Dangerous Woman. Hear that? That's two more leading ladies of the music biz joining the ranks of some of the most well-known singers around who will be performing live at this year's award ceremony. The list also includes Britney Spears, Rihanna, Nick Jonas, Future and many, many more. Kim Kardashian, Rita Ora, Ansel Elgort, Alicia Keys, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jaden Smith, Fifth Harmony and Shameik Moore have also been announced as presenters Sunday night. Adele is currently in the lead with the most noms for her single "Hello" with Beyonce following closely behind for her album Lemonade. Meanwhile, bad gal RiRi herself is expected to receive the coveted Vanguard Award. The star-studded, highly anticipated event is slated to go down on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 9 p.m. live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Eonline)

Shakira Teases New Music With Some Serious Dance Moves in the Studio. Shakira, you just made our Wednesday! The mother of two teased new music and dare we say a different sound with a video on Instagram captioned, "Hard at work. Shak." In the post, we see the star showcasing her dance moves and saying to the camera, "I need cream all over my face." Staying true to her style, Shakira is just relaxed and fun during her studio session. This summer, the star debuted "La Bicicleta" with Carlos Vives, which bowed at No. 1 on Latin Airplay Chart, according to Billboard. The duo just recently released the remix of their song and featured fellow Colombian Maluma. But it was the song's music video that made us want to book a flight to Colombia immediately. In the clip, Shakira and Vives find themselves in some heavy traffic and decide to go on a scenic bike ride through the coast. We get to see the beauty of Vives' hometown of Santa Marta and Shakira's Barranquilla. For now -- don't mind us -- we'll be replaying Shakira's Instagram post on loop. (Eonline)

Britney Spears is heading to North London in September to take part in the Apple Music Festival. Yep, during the 10-night-long extravaganza, Britney will join the likes of Alicia Keys, Bastille, Calvin Harris, Chance The Rapper, Elton John, Michael Buble, OneRepublic, Robbie Williams and The 1975. As per usual the Apple Music Festival will be taking part in London's legendary Roundhouse, and it's the 10th anniversary of the annual event. Talking about her new gig, Britney Spears said: "I'm so excited to go back to London, which is a special place for me to visit and I'm really looking forward to performing at the Apple Music Festival. It's also their 10th birthday! It's going to be a great party." It sure is! Who is desperate for tickets? Join the club, Apple Music Festival runs from 18 September to 30 September. Fans based in the UK can apply to win tickets by entering prize draws on Apple Music, as well as through select media partners. More details on AppleMusicFestival.com. (British Glamour)

Florida Georgia Line know a thing or two about cutting loose. After all, their breakthrough party single, "Cruise," is the best-selling digital country song of all time. Which is why it made sense that Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard dropped by The Tonight Show on Wednesday night to play a friendly game of musical beers with host Jimmy Fallon, BoJack Horseman voice actor Aaron Paul and One Mississippi star Tig Notaro. But despite what you might think about the duo whose Dig Your Roots album will be released on Friday (Aug. 26), well, let's just say they ended up on the sidelines when it came down to the final cup. (Billboard)

Big Sean Joined by Children's Choir on 'One Man Can Change the World' for 'WE Day': Exclusive Preview. The rapper is backed by David Foster on piano for the special, which airs commercial-free Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. Big Sean might perform his song "One Man Can Change the World" on Sunday's WE Day broadcast, but he knows that one man's power is even stronger when he joins forces with others. So, for the poignant performance, he teamed up with legendary producer David Foster on piano and a talented choir and orchestra of kids to back him up. "Living WE, it means being the best version of yourself," Sean says of the WE Movement. "I know it says WE, but being the best version of yourself is a great way to help out and contribute to society, to your neighborhood, to your community, whatever it is." In addition to Sean, the WE Day broadcast will feature Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Ciara, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas and more stars. WE Day is a series of youth empowerment events that have been taking place since 2007. Sunday's broadcast will include performances and short films about young people making a difference around the country, and for every viewer who takes a WE Pledge -- committing to make a difference in his or her community -- $10 will be donated to the WE Charity. (Billboard)

Gene Simmons on the Epic Return of Kiss to Comic Books. For almost as long as Kiss has been making music, they've been appearing in comic books. From their debut in Marvel's Howard the Duck No. 12 in 1977 through series from Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing and even Archie Comics, the band has remained a surprising mainstay of the comic book medium for almost four decades. With a new series -- simply titled KISS -- launching from Dynamite Entertainment this October, Heat Vision talked to Gene Simmons about what to expect from the new series and what makes his band so successful in the comic medium. According to him, the appeal is very simple: "Kiss has never been just a band." Instead, he suggested, it's the fantasy element of the band that allows them to move from music to comics and back again with such ease. "I fly through the air at 8 feet per second. Yes, I spit fire. And yes, I wear bat wings and dragon boots," Simmons says, adding with mock scolding, "Don't be jealous." That crossover between reality and the fantastic has been fueled by what Simmons calls his "fascination with literature that has a sense of wonder." As he put it, "When you think about it, superheroes are really modern day versions of the great Greek gods of mythology: Mercury had wings and could fly. Vulcan was the god of fire." Kiss, then, fits neatly into that spectrum with their Catman, Starchild, Spaceman and Demon personas. The iconic, mythological approach is one reason why Simmons calls Amy Chu and Kewber Baal, the writer/artist team behind the new Dynamite series "a dream team" for chronicling the band's comic book adventures. "It's not just because they're both talented, but because they understand and respect the mythology of Kiss," he explains. "From the outset, we started the band with four separate and distinct personas, each with his own tone, each with their own cross to bear -- not always getting along together, but connected in a way none of them realizes." That idea -- of a group dealing with ideas and forces they don't fully understand -- is one that echoes the band's beginnings in the real world. "We were completely delusional and inexperienced and really had no idea what we were doing, except for one magical thought: Let's put together the band we never saw on stage," Simmons remembers. "And then we were carried away by our own self-imposed mandate, which then led us to completely ignore all the other bands, fans, fashion and especially what critics for Rolling Stone thought. We have always marched to the beat of our own drummer, and here we are, over 42 years later, America's number one gold record award winning group of all time. In all categories, I might add." The new comic book series, Simmons promises, will be a love letter to the fans who've stayed with the band for that time -- as well as newcomers who've never read a Kiss comic before. "The wonderful thing about the Dynamite team is that we are all of like minds," he says. Everyone involved wanted to take our personas and do a classic Kiss comic book, and to include deep fanboy references to [Music from] the Elder, our one and only concept album. With Amy Chu writing the books, this will be an adventure the fans will absolutely love. I've already seen the covers and artwork, and in the patois of the street, it rocks." Asked about the continued success of the band's comic book alter egos, Simmons puts it down to simply recognizing when to let the professionals do their thing. "When we get a great writer and artist team, we know better than to micromanage," he says. "We stay out of the way. Our comic book history has been long and proud and has spanned decades, and now with Dynamite Entertainment, we intend to go even further. We can't wait." KISS launches digitally and in comic book stores this October and is available for pre-order now. (Billboard)

Movies

A new gangland biopic about mob boss John Gotti includes scenes of a triumphant Dapper Don leaving a Brooklyn courthouse after his acquittal -- but the real-life drama unfolded a bit differently. John Travolta, portraying the godfather, will be shown defiantly strutting from the courthouse with his real wife, Kelly Preston, who portrays Gotti's wife, Victoria. In fact, after his trial in March 1987, Gotti snuck out a side door at Brooklyn federal court and was whisked away by one of his associates. "The Life and Death of John Gotti" also features the infamous hit on Gambino crime boss "Big Paul" Castellano at Sparks Steak House in Midtown. But the mob assassination, immortalized on the cover of The Post, was re-enacted for the film in Cincinnati instead of the gritty streets of Gotham. The 1985 shooting left Castellano's lifeless body in the gutter and signaled the rise of the Teflon Don as the most powerful mob boss in the city. Gotti waited in a nearby car with several associates as Castellano was gunned down. (Page Six)

'Doctor Strange' Script Gets Some 'Community' Help From Dan Harmon. The comedy creator has little experience writing for superheroes, but he's the latest to join Marvel's odd writing club for the comic book movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch. When Marvel Studios needed a writer to whip up some additional last-minute scenes for its latest movie, Doctor Strange, it called on a writer you wouldn't expect: Dan Harmon, co-creator of Community, the beloved but ratings-anemic sitcom about a bunch of community college misfits that was canceled by NBC in 2013 (but came back to life on Yahoo last year). Harmon, 43, has written for the big screen before (sort of -- he did uncredited work on 2008's Kung Fu Panda and has a credit on 2006's Monster House), but as far as THR can tell, the television comedy creator has zero experience writing for superheroes. The move follows the outside-the-box thinking that Marvel is known for. One of the best example is hiring Anthony and Joe Russo, best known as TV comedy directors for their work on Arrested Development, Happy Endings, and, yes, Community, to make the jump into superheroes. They have now directed two of Marvel's most acclaimed movies, Captain America: The Winter Solider and Captain America: Civil War. Harmon was brought on board after the movie had wrapped initial production; his pages were "for additional photography," according to one source. Harmon joins Sinister co-writers Scott Derrickson (who is directing the $165 million Doctor Strange) and C. Robert Cargill (who has his own unique story: He was formerly a movie reviewer for Ain't It Cool News under the handle "Masswyrm") in this Marvel film's odd writing club. The duo share story-by credit with Jon Spaihts, best known for writing Prometheus and who wrote the upcoming Jennifer Lawrence-Chris Pratt sci-fi movie Passengers. (Hollywood Reporter)

Oscars: Germany Selects 'Toni Erdmann' for Foreign-Language Category. Maren Ade's comedy about the relationship between a career woman and her jokester father, has been a critical smash on the festival circuit this year. Germany has gone for funny this year, picking Maren Ade's dark comedy Toni Erdmann to represent the country at the 2017 Oscars in the foreign-language category. The decision, announced by an independent jury on Thursday, is a bold move for Germany, which tends to select period dramas for the Oscars, most of them dealing with the country's Nazi past. With Toni Erdmann, Germany is going for something completely different. Ade's feature premiered to critical acclaim in Cannes this year. The film stars Sandra Huller as an ambitious, if somewhat cold, career woman whose upward trajectory is thrown off course when her estranged father, a tireless practical joker, turns up unexpected and starts actively disrupting her life in a bid to both shake her up and reconnect. Critics were bowled over by the movie, which was one of the best-reviewed out of Cannes. Earlier this week, Toni Erdmann received the film of the year honor from the international federation of film critics. But picking a modern-day movie, much less a comedy, is a risk for Germany. The vast majority of German foreign-language nominees have been period dramas, as have the three German films to win the Oscar in the category: Volker Schlondorff's The Tin Drum in 1979, Nowhere in Africa by Caroline Link in 2002 and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's The Lives of Others in 2006. The last time the country picked a non-period drama to represent them at the Oscars, it was Wim Wender's 3D dance documentary Pina in 2012. Pina did not receive a nomination in the foreign-language category, though it was nominated for best documentary. But it has been several years since Germany received an Oscar nomination, the last time was for Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon in 2009. Toni Erdmann, at least, enters this year's foreign-language race with substantial hype and critical acclaim behind it. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce its 2017 shortlist of foreign language nominees January 17, 2017. The final five nominees will be announced Jan. 24, 2017. The 2017 Oscars will be held Feb.26. (Hollywood Reporter)

'Awards Chatter' Podcast -- Hank Azaria ('Ray Donovan'). The 27-year 'Simpsons' vet discusses getting his voice insured, the acting teacher who convinced him he could do more than just voices, the challenges and rewards of guest acting (which he's previously done on 'Friends' and 'Mad About You') and more. "It's given me a lot of freedom," Hank Azaria, who has voiced characters on The Simpsons for 28 years, says of the Emmy-nominated Fox series as we sit down to record an episode of The Hollywood Reporter's 'Awards Chatter' podcast. The show pays a fortune and demands only two to four hours of his time each week, two things which have enabled Azaria to take on a wide variety of other projects, as well -- including the part of Ed Cochran on FX's Ray Donovan, for which he is now up for the best guest actor in a drama series Emmy. "I literally can afford to do that because of The Simpsons," he says with gratitude. . Past guests include Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Eddie Murphy, Lady Gaga, Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Louis C.K., Kristen Stewart, Harvey Weinstein, Amy Schumer, J.J. Abrams, Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson, Jane Fonda and Michael Moore.) "I was a mimic, really, ever since I was a kid," the 52-year-old says, and from that came a desire to perform. "I spent all my time in the theater in college, and by the time I graduated realized I'd regret it if I didn't give it a shot as a young man." He moved to New York and figured he "couldn't get arrested" in the theater, but landed a part on a TV show that came with few lines in a TV, and that is what brought him out to Los Angeles in the late '80s. From there, he says, "I had a series of very small, very lucky breaks." Two of Azaria's earliest breaks came courtesy of the then-fledgling Fox network. The first came in 1989, when he landed a job on The Simpsons, the first animated primetime show. (He auditioned for the part of bartender Moe, who he says remains the "closest to my heart," but wasn't made a regular until the middle of the second season, by which point he was voicing five to 10 characters.) Then, in 1991, he was cast on a live-action sitcom called Herman's Head. He was excited, but skeptical. "I didn't even think the Fox network would stick around, genuinely," he says with a laugh. He says his acting approach had been shaped a few years earlier by "a very passionate, awesome... egoless" acting teacher named Roy London, who forced him to get outside "my comfort zone" and do things other than voices (which he used even to get into restaurants by posing as celebrities). "Instead of just thinking, 'What's the funniest way [something] would sound,' sort of thinking about, 'What if I really were a cop having to deal with this?'" In short, he says, London helped him learn "to actually act and not just be a comedian," which improved his work all around. (Even so, he got his voice insured 15 years ago after blowing it out, something that "really scared the shit out of me.") In the mid-'90s, Azaria started to do more dramatic acting. His memorable performances include a TV producer in Robert Redford in Quiz Show (1994), Gwyneth Paltrow's fiance in a modern-day version of Great Expectations (1998), Mitch Albom opposite Jack Lemmon in the TV movie of Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) and the editor in Shattered Glass (2003). Always, though, he has jumped between the genres, doing Mike Nichols' uproarious The Birdcage (1996) and John Hamburg's Along Came Polly (2004), as well. "If I'm working heavily on a drama for a while, I really look forward to a comedy, and vice-versa." Through the years, numerous TV series were built around Azaria, but most failed -- a notable exception being Showtime's Huff (2004-2006), on which he played a therapist who seemingly could help everyone but himself. Mostly, though, his small on-camera screen success has come in guest appearances -- for instance, as David, Phoebe's scientist ex-boyfriend on Friends; as Nat, the dog-walking neighbor, on Mad About You; and now as Cochran on Ray Donovan, on which he's appeared in 14 episodes since 2014. (He received Emmy noms for all three, which come on top of his seven for The Simpsons, one for Huff and one for Morrie.) "This is a guy who obviously always had this dark side," Azaria says of the character. "It came out in his work, it just was quite well hidden... Now he's sort of full-blown, 'Screw it, my life has been completely ruined. I might as well do whatever I feel like doing. My name couldn't be worse. There's no reputation to lose." Some actors find guesting on a series to be intimidating, since it involves stepping into an ecosystem that already is up and running, but not Azaria. "In a way, it's kind of an advantage 'cause you can sort of objectively look at the world of the show and go, 'You know, here's what I feel like the show can use.'" (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Returning As Dancing with the Stars Pro for Season 23. Double the Chmerkovskiys, double the DWTS fun! After several seasons away from Dancing with the Stars in an official pro capacity, E! News has learned that fan fave Maksim Chmerkovskiy is making his return to the ballroom for season 23! His return to the show was made official on Good Morning America on Thursday, Aug. 25. He said doing the tour with his brother has put him in the best shape of his life. "I feel great," he told the anchors. "I just wanted this to continue, the feeling, the positivity, so much love out there," he said. "I'm just excited." Sources previously told us that the 36-year-old dancer will be back for the first time as a pro since season 18, while his pregnant fiancee (and fellow pro) Peta Murgatroyd sits the season out to prepare for the birth of their son. The couple, who have been dating since 2012 and engaged since December, announced their pregnancy earlier this summer. Chmerkovskiy was also busy this summer on tour with his brother, Val, who has already been confirmed as a returning pro this season, along with Gleb Savchenko, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Sharna Burgess, Lindsay Arnold, Allison Holker and Sasha Farber. Val teased season 23 on Good Morning America earlier this week, saying, "It's going to be amazing. We're going to have an incredible cast as always, but I'm also excited for the pros. We have a lot of different pros coming back. Some pros from back, back in the day, so I'm excited." "It's a new show," Val added. "It's constantly evolving and we have a nice mix and balance of young kids that are inspired and very motivated to bring out the essence of this generation, but also we have some more classic, conservative dancers from the past as well, so I'm excited." Maks took first place in season 18 with his partner, Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis. That was his first win, but the third time he made it into the top three. He returned to the show last season for one week as a guest judge. So far, no stars have been announced, but sources tell us that Jake T. Austin, Amber Rose, and Ryan Lochte will all dance this season, with Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher also being eyed by producers. ABC does not comment on casting rumors. The full cast, celebs and pros included, will be announced on Good Morning America on Aug. 30, with the season set to kick off on Monday, Sept. 12 on ABC. (Eonline)

Britney Spears TV Movie In the Works at Lifetime. Lifetime wants a piece of Britney Spears. E! News has confirmed that the cable network is developing an original movie about the princess of pop's life and career, entitled Britney. The two-hour biopic will tell what the network is calling the "tumultuous story" of her rise to fame at a young age, her fall from grace and her eventual triumphant return to the spotlight. Of course, telling Spears' story means telling the story of plenty of other famous faces, as well. As the movie follows the pop star's early career and early years in Louisiana, it'll also take a look at her relationship with (and eventual breakup from) none other than Justin Timberlake. The film will also look at Spears' failed marriages to childhood friend Jason Alexander (famously annulled after 55 hours) and Kevin Federline (famously documented in the truly tragic reality series Britney and Kevin: Chaotic), before forcing us all to relive those dark days when her life spiraled out of control, placing under her father's conservatorship. You know what that means: A head-shave scene. There are so many iconic moments in Spears' career that the movie could probably be 10 hours long and not show us everything, but we've got to have at least one scene with young Britney sharing the Mickey Mouse Club stage with young Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling, another with her making out with Madonna at the VMAs, and another of her filming Crossroads with a then-unknown screenwriter by the name of Shonda Rhimes, right? We can't wait to get started dream-casting this thing! E! News has also learned that Britney will heavily feature Spears' parents Jamie and Lynne Spears, whose divorce plays a major role in the pop star's downfall. One role that's already been filled, per THR, is that of Spears herself. The website reports that Natasha Bassett (Hail, Ceaser) will play the pop star. It's something of a busy time for Spears. Her Carpool Karaoke segment with James Corden premieres on The Late Late Show on Thursday, Aug. 25, while her new album Glory hits shelves the next day. Are you looking forward to the Lifetime version of Britney Spears' life? Britney goes into production next month with an anticipated 2017 premiere. (Eonline)

Edinburgh TV Fest: Former 'Top Gear' Producer Says "Everything Went to Shit" at BBC. Andy Wilman also discussed 'The Grand Tour,' his new motoring show with Jeremy Clarkson at Amazon. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, former Top Gear producer Andy Wilman-who left the show after his long-term collaborator Jeremy Clarkson was fired for punching a producer in early 2015 – was in town to discuss The Grand Tour, his new big-budget motoring show with the SVOD giant. But it was inevitable that he'd be questioned on the situation that led to him leaving his old position, and he didn't hold back. "I think it was a perfect storm that was coming. That show got bigger and bigger, we were collapsing under the weight of the work we were doing," Wilman said. "Some people [at the BBC] weren't great with us and didn't want us there. It became confrontational. When everything went to shit in March, that was the crux point. Some didn't have the will to make it work on management side. I didn't have the maturity to make it work, to mend it. We were all entrenched." As to what the BBC should have done with Clarkson, Wilman suggests the BBC should have hit him with "big fines." Instead, Wilman and Clarkson, plus co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond, left the show, signing a deal with Amazon estimated to be worth some $250 million, a figure the producer described as "bollocks." Footage from the show-due out in the fall (Amazon's Roy Price refused to offer a definite launch date)- was shown in Edinburgh, featuring the same international motoring hi-jinx that had become synonymous with Top Gear. However, Wilman revealed that there had been extensive involvement in the legal team to ensure The Grand Tour didn't copy elements from his old show. In one episode, the new show goes to Namibia, meaning lawyers had to pour over a similar episode of Top Gear, requesting that Clarkson didn't say "this is beautiful" while admiring a view. "'For legal reasons, this scenery is shit,'" Wilman said was the alternative line used. (Hollywood Reporter)

'Narcos' Premiere: Boss, Cast Promise Deadly Second Season of Pablo Escobar Drama. Season two of the cartel drama hits Netflix on Sept. 2. Who killed Pablo Escobar? That was the big question at the premiere for season two of Narcos ?on Wednesday night -- and the big question surrounding the next 10 episodes when they are released Sept. 2. A series based on true events, it's not a spoiler to say that the Netflix drug cartel drama is going to kill Escobar. The legendary cocaine kingpin was gunned down in Medellin, Colombia, in 1993. While the first season spanned over two decades of the Escobar story -- detailing his rise and reign of the Medellin cartel, and eventual prison escape on the finale -- season two will focus on the year-and-a-half hunt for Escobar, which, as history tells it, ends in his demise. "This will be the end of the Pablo Escobar story so enjoy him while he lasts," executive producer Eric Newman announced ahead of the screening of the first episode at Arclight Hollywood, where castmembers including Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook and Pedro Pascal were in attendance, as well as the real DEA agents portrayed on the series, Steve Murphy and Javier Pena. He then added, "Viva Colombia!" In July, Moura, who plays Escobar, announced that Escobar will be killed off the show and that he will depart Narcos after season two. When speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere, Newman admits that the marketing campaign teasing Escobar's death might be "controversial," but he stands by it. "I remember the Titanic argument: Who's going to see a movie where everyone knows the ending?" he said. "The decision to be able to actually invest time spent with Pablo Escobar knowing that the end is near will allow people to experience it in a different way." He continued, "We love Pablo. We don't love the man, but we love the character we've built, who Wagner has played so well. We want people to join in mourning him right away, because it's hard to say goodbye to them." As he puts it, season two is about the journey as much as it is about its destination: "I think it's even better than season one." Narcos will continue to follow President Cesar Gaviria and his Search Bloc as other outside forces, including vigilante group Los Pepes and the rival Cali Cartel, join in on the manhunt. The Search Bloc, the Colombian police force organized to bring down Escobar, remains at the heart of the Narcos story, as do its two leading DEA Agents Murphy (Holbrook) and Pena (Pascal). "I didn't know much at all about the details of Pablo's death," Holbrook told THR. "Not until I started hanging out with Steve [Murphy] and getting in there with him. It was just shocking, all the death and violence. It's iconic." With so many Escobar enemies looking for payback, everything boils down to who will get to Escobar first -- an ending that history won't spoil in its entirety. While the Search Bloc is credited with killing the drug lord, the identity of the person who fired the final shot to Escobar's head has never been confirmed. On Dec. 2, 1993, Escobar was lured out of his hideout in Medellin and gunned down in a rooftop shootout between himself, and his bodyguard, and the Search Bloc. He was shot in the leg, torso and died from a fatal shot in his ear. After his death, several family members claimed Escobar's fatal shot was self-inflicted. Escobar's son, Juan Pablo Escobar Henao, said his father always told him that if he ever found himself surrounded, he would shoot himself to avoid capture. The Escobar family even exhumed his corpse for DNA testing in 2006. Narcos uses the real Murphy and Pena as show consultants to separate fact from fiction. "I just read Juan Pablo's book," Murphy told THR. "For him to stand back and say that his father committed suicide because he said this or that, it's all bullshit. None of that is true. I think that's just him trying to save the legacy of his family. I've got a real issue with that." Murphy knows who pulled the trigger, something he relayed for the creation of season two: "I was there. I'm the only American who was there that saw Pablo's body." The Colombian police troops, including Murphy, posed for photos with Escobar's bullet-riddled corpse, images that remain famous today. "The reason I was smiling is because we knew, effective that moment, that every citizen in Colombia was safer, simply because one man died," he said. Though the season will bring an end to Escobar's reign over Narcos, it will also set up its next chapter. (The show has not yet been officially renewed for a third season.) "We plan on stopping when cocaine stops," Newman has said. "I think there's a reason why we call this show Narcos and not Pablo Escobar. It's very much about the trade. There are other drug dealers and there are alliances formed against Pablo, so there are a multitude of stories we could tackle." Season two of Narcos releases ?Sept. 2 on Netflix. (Hollywood Reporter)

It's her prerogative. Britney Spears is apparently not happy that Lifetime is making a TV movie about her life. Her rep released a statement about the project on Thursday, August 25. "Britney Spears will not be contributing in any way, shape or form to the Lifetime biopic," the rep tells Us Weekly, "nor does it have her blessing." Lifetime announced on Wednesday that a two-hour biopic about the pop star, 34, is in the works with Natasha Bassett as its leading lady. The made-for-TV movie will focus on Spears' roller coaster of a career, her parents' divorce and famous split from Justin Timberlake. The cable channel has previously based movies on late stars such as Whitney Houston and Brittany Murphy, and on the casts of Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills, 90210. Spears, meanwhile, is keeping busy with other endeavors. She continues to perform in Las Vegas as part of her Planet Hollywood residency and is hitting the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, August 28. Additionally, the "Clumsy" singer will be taking part in the Apple Music Festival in London for its 10th anniversary. Other musical acts scheduled for the event include Calvin Harris, Alicia Keys, Bastille, Chance The Rapper, Elton John, OneRepublic, Robbie Williams and Michael Buble. "I'm so excited to go back to London, which is a special place for me to visit and I'm really looking forward to performing at the Apple Music Festival," Spears said in a press release. "It's also their 10th birthday! It's going to be a great party." "Coming for ya, Apple Music Festival," she added via Twitter on Wednesday. "Performing at the Roundhouse on September 27th #AMF16." (US Weekly)