ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The Voice Winner Cassadee Pope and All Time Low Member Rian Dawson Are Engaged. This relationship update is music to our ears. E! News is happy to report Cassadee Pope is engaged to All Time Low band member Rian Dawson. "The love of my life is now OFFICIALLY the love of my life," Rian shared on Instagram Friday evening. "Never been happier. :)" Cassadee added, "WE'RE ENGAGED!!" The news comes just days before The Voice winner is set to attend the 2017 Grammys where she is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her duet with Chris Young called "Think Of You." "It's crazy, I'm beside myself right now," Cassadee previously told The Boot of her nomination. "It's so amazing to be coupled in with all these incredible artists, and I get to go to LA to hang out with even more incredible artists." She added, "I have to thank The Voice for everything they've done for me. The real work started after the show, so I'm really glad I stuck with it." Fans easily remember Cassadee from winning Season 3 of The Voice in 2012 when she competed on Blake Shelton's team. Most recently, she released her latest EP titled Summer. As for Rian, he's been rocking out as drummer for the rock band All Time Low. Their U.K. tour begins in just one short month where they will perform their biggest hits including "Dear Maria, Count Me In" and "Weightless." Music careers aside, fans can easily spot the romance between one another on social media. In fact, the couple recently enjoyed a trip to Aruba where love was in the air. "Happy sun people :):)," Rian wrote in one PDA shot from the ocean blue water. Congratulations to the happy couple! (Eonline)

Teen Mom Star Jenelle Evans Is Engaged to David Eason. Jenelle Evans is officially a bride-to-be! The Teen Mom star took to Instagram on Saturday with one special announcement -- she's engaged to boyfriend David Eason. "We've decided on forever! #PerfectTiming @easondavid8," Evans captioned a sweet photo of the pair taken shortly after David popped the question. In the photo Jenelle also showed off quite the stunning pear-shaped diamond engagement ring. Safe to say Eason has great taste, or just knows what his ladylove likes! What a time it's been for Jenelle and David, who welcomed their first child together in late January. The couple named their newborn baby girl Ensley Jolie Eason, and told E! News exclusively at the time, "We are doing great. It was a quick delivery and only had to push twice. We are already in love with her, and she's so beautiful!" Evans, who has two sons from previous relationships, started dating Eason in September 2015. Since becoming parents, the lovebirds have shared multiple photos of their newest bundle of joy, and it seems her boys, Jace Evans and Kaiser Griffith, are getting the hang of the big brother life. After documenting the birth of her first son on the popular MTV series 16 & Pregnant, Jenelle endured years of highly-publicized ups and downs. Despite multiple run-ins with the law, the reality television star has since turned her life around and committed to sobriety. Congratulations, you two! (Eonline)

Father-To-Be Jordan Peele Looking at My Little Pony For Baby Names. Jordan Peele and Chelsea Peretti have baby names on the brain. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star recently announced that she is pregnant with her and Peele's first child with an Instagram post. "We want to pick a name that has a certain positivity that will counter this barbaric negative time that were are in right now," Peele told me while promoting Get Out, the new horror thriller he wrote and directed. When I suggest Rainbow, Unicorn or Sparkles, Peele laughed. "All these could work," he said. "I am just going to look at My Little Pony and just go through the catalog...Everything we are searching for has a positivity and I think probably if we had a baby a couple of years ago, we would have chosen something cooler and more bad ass. But now, it's like let's move into the future in a positive way." Peretti's pregnancy reveal included a pic on Instagram that showed a clear shot of her baby bump inside the Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirrored Room exhibit at L.A.'s The Broad museum. She captioned the photo, "beyonce schmonce." Peele admitted to me, "We are very excited, nervous and scared." Get Out, in theaters on Feb. 24, follows a young black man (Daniel Kaluuya) whose white girlfriend (Allison Williams) brings him home to meet her creepy -- and seemingly racist -- family. For more on Get Out, make sure to check back at E! Online next week. (Eonline)

Exes Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield Reunite With Warm Embrace During Pre-2017 BAFTAs Party. We cannot get enough of this former couple. Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield have made it perfectly clear they still have so much love and respect for each other, and that was even more obvious Saturday night when they greeted each other with the warmest of embraces at the pre-2017 BAFTAs Nespresso Nominees' Party. The Hacksaw Ridge star looked elated to see his former love as they wrapped their arms around each other. If this isn't pure love, we don't know what is. Each time these two reunite at an award show or red carpet, fans swoon. Their reunion at the 2017 AFI Awards in January was just the start of more heartwarming moments to come this award season. Garfield, 33, walked over to Stone's table and sat in an empty seat next to her. The two chatted and the 28-year-old actress was heard telling him, "I feel so much better." We can only hope it was because they laid eyes on each other. Stone and Garfield met on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man in 2010 and dated for four years. A source told E! News in October 2015 the two broke up two months prior. But a year later they were photographed for the first time, walking and laughing on the streets of London. At the time, a source told E! News, "There is definitely still love for each other there. They remain close and are on good terms." (Eonline)

Amber Rose and Val Chmerkovskiy Split Up. Amber Rose and Val Chmerkovskiy are a thing of the past. E! News has learned the couple have split up after dating for nearly five months. The pair met while Amber was dancing with Val's brother, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, on Dancing With the Stars last year and first sparked romance rumors after being spotted together at a birthday party in October. After spending many holidays and big family events together, including Maksim and Peta Murgatroyd's baby shower, Amber came into 2017 feeling great about their relationship. In early January, she gushed over her man, telling her co-host Dr. Chris Donaghue on Play.it'seline, "It's amazing. It's so good. It's been four months now, and it's awesome. I love his family and everyone's so great. He's great." She continued, "Right now, it's just absolutely amazing and I'm super, super happy." The pair was not shy about flaunting their relationship on social media either, posting several back-to-back photos of one another throughout their romance. However, those photos have since slowed, and the last time they shared anything was on Amber's Instagram three weeks ago. On Friday morning, Val posted a bit of a cryptic quote on Instagram, which read: "What the superior man seeks in himself, what the small man seeks in others." He captioned the quote, "Enlightenment is within." Perhaps he's suggesting he needs to do some digging within himself before continuing in a serious relationship, but we may never know. (Eonline)

Amal Clooney doesn't have to worry about someone booting her from her law office while she's on maternity leave, because she's fully protected. Turns out, barristers in jolly 'ol England who take time off work after giving birth are protected way more than in the U.S. The org that regulates the legal profession there allows women up to 12 months off and their job is fully protected. Amal works with a group of barristers who champion human rights cases. BTW ... if she's paying for her space in the law office, she doesn't have to cut a check for 6 months after delivering the twins. That's gotta be a relief. (TMZ)

Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughter Maddie Aldridge Is All Smiles as She's Released From Hospital After ATV Accident. Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter Maddie Aldridge is headed home after suffering serious injuries in an ATV accident. The 8-year-old was released from a hospital and left with her family via helicopter. Jamie Lynn and her husband Jamie Watson, Maddie's stepfather, revealed the news Friday on Instagram, alongside a photo showing the child sitting in the aircraft and smiling, with her mom standing by front of the open door and smiling as well. "Thanks to the amazing first responders, and medical teams at University and Children's Hospital in New Orleans, LA, we are headed home with our baby girl as she continues to recover," the couple wrote. "Above all else we are so thankful for each and every prayer, because we know that is what truly made the difference. Thank you again to everyone. We are truly blessed." Maddie was riding in an ATV in Kentwood, La. Sunday when it flipped over into a pond. She was reportedly submerged under water for several minutes and unconscious before being airlifted to the hospital. On Tuesday, a family rep released a statement saying Maddie was "awake and talking." "Maddie continues to receive oxygen and is being monitored closely but it appears that she was not suffered any neurological consequences from the accident," the statement said. Her aunt Britney Spears said on Instagram Wednesday the little girl was "making progress," adding, "Thank you all for sending thoughts and prayers our way. Let's all keep praying." On Friday, she thanked fans for their support. "Grateful that Maddie was able to go home today... it's truly a miracle. Our prayers were heard, and they were answered!" Britney wrote. "Thank you so much for all of your love and support this week. My family appreciates it more than you will ever know." (Eonline)

Mischa Barton crashed into an apartment building Saturday night ...literally, with the help of a U-Haul. Mischa moved out of the West Hollywood building in which she had been living ... this after a meltdown caught on video which resulted in her hospitalization late last month. The 'O.C.' star put all her stuff in the U-Haul and drove to another WeHo building right below the Sunset Strip, but she misjudged the height of the carport and the top of the U-Haul slammed into the overhead support. She was clearly shaken after the crash, saying everything she owns is inside the vehicle. It's a little weird ... she moved out of her old apartment Wednesday but it seems she was driving the U-Haul around town for several days before landing at her new digs. Misha's old neighbors had complained she was disruptive to the point cops were called every few months. (TMZ)

George Michael's boyfriend calmly called 911 on Christmas Day and informed the dispatcher, "I've been trying to wake him up for the last hour but it's not possible. He's gone." Fadi Fawaz discovered Michael's body in bed and told dispatchers the singer was "cold and he's blue ... and he's very stiff." Fawaz sounds distressed but held it together. He was under a cloud of suspicion after he reportedly said he had spent Xmas Eve sleeping in his car and not at George's home. After the first autopsy proved inconclusive, cops interviewed Fawaz for hours but cleared him of any wrongdoing. He still has not been buried as authorities continue to investigate cause of death. FYI ... in England, emergency calls are 999, not 911. (TMZ)

Al Jarreau, famed R&B and jazz singer died Sunday morning ... according to his reps. The 7-time Grammy winner had been hospitalized recently in Los Angeles. Amid his medical battle ... he announced he would be retiring. He'd been touring almost non-stop for 50 years. A message on his website says he passed away while in the hospital. Just last week, Al's son said his father was singing "Moonlighting" to one of his nurses. Jarreau won 7 Grammy's for a slew of hits through the '70s and '80s including "Mornin'," "After All, "We're In This Love Together" and, of course, that theme to the immensely popular "Moonlighting" TV show. #RIP. (TMZ)

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch -- who also founded Little Caesars pizza -- has died at 87 ...his family confirmed. Ilitch was worth a fortune -- reportedly more than $6 BILLION -- he also owned the Detroit Red Wings. Ilitch's family says he died at a local hospital. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Why George Clooney and Amal Clooney's Casual Pregnancy Announcement Wasn't as Weird as It Seemed. These days, celebrity pregnancy announcements tend to go one of four ways: Social media. A rep arranges for the news to break with a particular outlet or otherwise confirms the news to inquiring outlets. The celebrity reveals the news in an interview. And, sometimes, the celebs never officially confirm and just let the eventual presence of the baby reveal as much. But it was none of the above for George and Amal Clooney. In case you were wondering just how big of a star George Clooney is, you now have your answer. After presumably letting her in on the family business during Scrabble night in Lake Como last month, Clooney today -- out of the blue, yet not -- gave Julie Chen the go-ahead to announce on her CBS morning show The Talk that he and Amal are expecting twins. "Congratulations are in order for George and Amal Clooney!" Chen said -- after the news was actually first mentioned during the show's opening teaser, just sitting there in between mentions of a video of a fight over an airplane seat armrest that went viral and Aretha Franklin's retirement. "The Talk has confirmed that the 55-year-old superstar and his highly accomplished 39-year-old attorney wife are expecting twins," she continued. "Give her the armrest, by the way. She's pregnant! Now, what we did find out, that no one else is reporting, is that the twins are due this June." True, this wasn't the first mention of Amal's pregnancy (photographers have been zooming in on the lawyer's stomach for a while now) or even the first 100-percent-guaranteed report, Yahoo having reported the news, citing a "family friend." But with Clooney's rep staying silent, Chen's straight-from-the-source reporting won Thursday. According to the details released by The Talk, Julie got the scoop from George himself late last month -- so perhaps the Clooneys, in deciding that today was the day, figured that they may as well let their longtime friend's show get the glory, since most everyone was onto them anyway. Then along comes Matt Damon, who tells ET Canada a couple hours later that Clooney told him months ago! "I was working with him last fall and he pulled me aside on set and I mean, I almost started crying. I was so happy for him," Damon, who attended George and Amal's wedding in 2014, said. "And I was like, 'How far along is she?' And he goes, 'eight weeks.' And Damon told him, "'Are you out of your mind?! Don't tell anybody else! Don't tell anybody else! Don't you know the 12-week rule?' Like of course he doesn't." So he advised George, "'Just shut up, man.' And then four weeks later, I'm like, 'We're good right?'" And Clooney confirmed, "We're good." Wow. That's a lot of personal Clooney information from Matt Damon in one fell swoop. Not that he's never chatted about his pal and occasional co-star, but not usually off the cuff like that at a press junket. Which seems to be only further evidence that Clooney ultimately decided to make the news of this major life milestone just another chapter in the ongoing series George Clooney Is Winning at Life More Than Everybody Else. He's got a trustworthy family, in-laws included, and close A-list pals like Damon who had no problem keeping a sealed lid on the secret until the timing was right and Chen, who's so up there in the Hollywood stratosphere she makes the news -- that George Clooney is going to be a dad -- sound casual. Lest we forget, in addition to having this show and hosting Big Brother, Chen -- also a veteran TV anchor before than -- is married to CBS chairman and chief executive Leslie Moonves, one of the most powerful people in all of the entertainment world. And while Chen has known Clooney for 20 years, Moonves helped Clooney get ER. Basically, Aunt Julie and Uncle Les helped spread the word. "I was one of the first to read the ER script and the good news is George Clooney still gives me credit for helping to launch his career," Moonves, who was CEO of Warner Bros. Television when ER came into being, told The Guardian in 2006. "I had George Clooney under contract for four years in a row before ER happened. He's one of the few who remembers the people who helped him." When Clooney made Good Night and Good Luck, about CBS News legend Edward R. Murrow, he was asked a lot about the revamp that CBS Evening News was undergoing under Moonves at the time. He said in 2005, "Les is a dear friend, and I hope that making it more palatable doesn't mean making it more entertaining and less informative. I don't think so. He's a smart guy, and he's a pretty honorable guy, so I don't think he will. But those are always questions, and it's good that he sort of gets his feet held to the fire." Smart, honorable, dear friend. Sounds like a guy who's been in the inner circle for some time. And there's no way that at this level of the game, the official dissemination of the pregnancy news wasn't carefully calculated. The most A-list, insidery scoop we can think of that comes close is when Howard Stern was the one to dish a few details from Jennifer Aniston's surprise Wednesday wedding when she married Justin Theroux. While Stern isn't one to let anyone rein him in, he is quite discreet when it comes to his nearest and dearest, a group that also includes Jimmy Kimmel and wife Molly. So, Stern presumably got the go-ahead from the newlyweds to share a little scoop from the super-private party -- after he and the couple's other high-profile pals passed the loyalty test with flying colors by keeping the entire affair a secret going in. Some betrothed celebrity couples don't even tell their friends that they're going to a wedding for fear of word getting out. But it seems that, the higher up in the food chain you get, the more those around you breathing that same rarefied air are able to keep secrets -- and the less tethered you are to having to do something hopelessly ordinary, like sharing a photo of a baby bump on Instagram or having your rep make a statement. Instead, you entrust the news to your best, closest friends and everybody wins. So, now that we know for certain that George and Amal Clooney are expecting -- and it's twins! -- we can move onto the important question: What is Uncle Bill Murray planning to get the babies? (Eonline)

John Legend Encourages Couples to Consider IVF. John Legend has encouraged other hopeful parents to consider IVF after he welcomed his daughter Luna with Chrissy Teigen following years of struggling to conceive. The singer opened up on the pair's difficulties starting a family in a tell-all chat, and admitted he's happy they chose to seek help. The pair welcomed nine-month-old daughter Luna through In-Vitro Fertilisation, which involved eggs being collected and fertilised in a lab. Speaking to Newsweek, he said: "There are some who look down on people that have fertility issues and need to use IVF. We have had fertility issues for years and had to use IVF. "Some people can't reproduce naturally. We're glad we had Luna the way we did, and hopefully we'll have a few more kids through IVF. "We think it's a viable issue for people having fertility issues and encourage people that can't have kids the old-fashioned way to do it the way we've done it." The star added that having "control" over reproduction is an important right for women, in particular choosing when to start a family. And it comes after Chrissy revealed the couple hope to add to their family in the future using IVF. She tweeted: "Since this is coming up again, I said our next baby would be a boy because that is the embryo we have left. A boy. So. Yeah. "And no, I am not pregnant. (sic)" Meanwhile, Chrissy was recently praised by fans when she proudly showed off her post-baby stretch marks on her legs. The mum-of-one posted a picture of her inner thigh revealing the marks and captioned the pic: "Whatevs"-which went down as storm for those who felt it promoted healthy body positivity. Chrissy, 31, became a mum for the first time nine months ago, and has made no secret of the love of her family and the changes her body went through while pregnant. The picture has been shared more than four-and-a-half thousand times on Twitter as those who suffer from similar issues flood her comments with messages of praise. One wrote: "this (and your wit) is why you are my favorite" Another added: "you're real as f***. thanks for reminding everyone that not everyone is 100% flawless (even tho you are and stuff)" (PageSix)

Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa got divorced in June ... but that didn't seem to stand in the way of their relationship. The exes hit up multiple parties Saturday night and were not shy about showing affection toward each other. Amber was hooked up with Val Chmerkovskiy recently, but they apparently split last month. Amber and Wiz have gone back and forth with each other for years now. Goin' back to what you know. (TMZ)

Anna Wintour Wants Melania Trump for Vogue. Despite many designers refusing to dress her, Melania Trump may still make an appearance on the cover of Vogue. "We have a tradition of always covering whoever is the first lady at Vogue," editor-in-chief Anna Wintour told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday. "I can't imagine that this time would be any different." Melania, 46, appeared on the cover of Vogue in 2010 to show off the gown she wore for her wedding to now-President Donald Trump. The move is somewhat surprising, because the magazine, as well as Wintour herself, endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. "Obviously we felt it was a moment in history for women," Wintour, 67, said of the fashion mag getting political. "At times like that you need to take a leadership position ... To me, it was in support of women." Wintour also saw a silver lining to the political climate, even though her candidate of choice lost. "[Designers will] be inspired by what they see and that will come out in their work," she said. "The next few years are going to be incredibly creative." (PageSix)

Why Sara and Erin Foster Won't Ever Be Models. Despite their ex-stepsisters, Gigi and Bella Hadid, being the most sought-after models in the world right now, Sara and Erin Foster will probably be sticking to their comedy chops. "I wasn't a very good [model], but I did for a few years," Sara, 36, told Page Six at Milly New York Fashion Week show on Friday. "I fell into that 5'8-and-a-half category. It's a dead zone. You do not want to be 5'8-and-a-half. Either be 5'6 and Kate Moss or be 5'10, and there's no in-between." Her 34-year-old sister, Erin, on the other hand, has even less modeling experience. "I was in a magazine called Lemonade about 11 years ago. It's a free magazine and the pictures were really bad," she told us. The sisters teamed up with The Outnet during New York Fashion Week and are hitting some of the shows to create a satirical series called "#PrettyInfluential." So what's the most ridiculous part of Fashion Week? "I think it's ridiculous when something that's atrocious looking ... if anyone tells you it's trendy, it's immediately very chic," Erin tells us. "If you wear like a boot-cut jean that's cropped one day it's fashionable and the next day it's hideous and it's just dictated by what the person next to you tells you." Sara added, "I don't know I have a whole newfound respect for fashion ... It's not easy looking put together and chic and I have whole new respect for women that do this every day and look so amazing. I just gravitate toward sweatpants." And while their music producer father, David Foster, was recently spotted at Tommy Hilfiger's show to support the Hadid sisters, Erin and Sara tell us they, unfortunately, won't have time to see them on the runway. (PageSix)

Andy Garcia's Daughter is a Hot Plus-Size Model. Talent runs in Andy Garcia's family. His 25-year-old daughter, Alessandra Garcia Lorido, is making waves as a plus-size model. The brunette bombshell is currently represented by four different modeling agencies, including IMG New York and Natural Models LA. The Cuban-American stunner has also graced the pages of Vogue Italia and appeared in ads for Lane Bryant, Simply Be lingerie and Wet n' Wild's latest mascara campaign. Alessandra is "The Godfather Part III" actor's youngest daughter. He is also the proud father of Dominik, 33, Daniella, 29, and son Andres, 15. (PageSix)

One of Kylie Jenner's eye kits has become a real pain for customers who've filed complaints about chemical-induced headaches. At least 15 people filed complaints within the past 2 weeks with the Better Business Bureau, claiming they smelled "chemicals and glue" when opening Kylie's Royal Peach Eyeshadow Palette. Customers described the odor as "spray paint" or "paint thinner," and one said it stunk so bad she put the whole package outside her house. There's also at least one complaint of the makeup causing "a horrible headache." The BBB tells us Kylie Cosmetics launched an investigation immediately and found an adhesive in the packaging was causing the smell. Kylie's company insists it's safe to use ... according to the BBB. No word if the packaging has been changed, but the BBB says it got fewer complaints this week. We reached out to Kylie Cosmetics ... but no word back. (TMZ)

Nick Cannon pissed off some NBC execs with a joke he made during a stand-up comedy special -- and it nearly cost him his job on "America's Got Talent" ... TMZ has learned. While Nick was recording the special more than a month ago, he joked with the audience that NBC was making him lose his "black card" -- strongly insinuating the network wanted him to show less swagger on 'AGT.' Sources familiar with the situation tell us NBC execs got wind of it when Nick was promoting the special on "The Howard Stern Show" ... and thought he was disparaging the network -- a violation of his contract. We're told his deal has a clause that bars him from talking about the network without approval. There were serious discussions about axing him for breach of contract, or simply because ... if he's so miserable, why not just let him go? Ultimately, the execs decided Nick had simply made a passing comment. We're told they like him and didn't want to blow the relationship. He'll be shooting 'AGT' next month. As for the comedy special, it airs Friday night on Showtime and we're told the "black card" comment is in it. (TMZ)

Charles Ogletree -- the man who taught law to Barack and Michelle Obama -- says she was the real star. The legendary Harvard constitutional law professor was at LAX Friday when our photog asked who was the better student, and Ogletree didn't hesitate ... it was Michelle. He then drops the bombshell, flatly saying she should have ended up in the Oval. (TMZ)

Syracuse basketball standout Fab Melo has died unexpectedly in Brazil. According to reports out of the country, 26-year-old Melo died Saturday in his sleep ... an official cause is not yet known. Melo recently began a career playing professionally in Brazil, where he was from. Melo played two seasons for The Orange and was named the Big East Defensive Player of The Year after his sophomore season. He was drafted by The Boston Celtics 22nd overall in the 2012 NBA draft but struggled as a pro. Melo's college coach, Jim Boeheim tweeted, "I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of Fab Melo. He was a kind, genuine person who was committed to doing his best while he was at Syracuse." (TMZ)

Music

Vanessa Williams Proud of Daughter's Singing Career. Vanessa Williams is proud her daughter Jillian Hervey has been making a name for herself as part of the indie R&B duo Lion Babe -- but says she wouldn't be against helping Hervey's career if needed. "I love that Jillian is doing her thing on her own," Williams told us at New York Fashion Week. "I have never heard anyone say she reached where she is because of me -- or nepotism." The proud mom added, "But if needed I would be ready." Williams said of her own career, "I am still doing my thing." (PageSix)

Ed Sheeran Says Taylor Swift Takes Extreme Measures to Keep Her Music From Getting Leaked. We've never really heard of a Taylor Swift song leaking because she basically makes it impossible to happen, according to Ed Sheeran. The red-headed singer says Swift goes to great lengths to keep her music protected, including hiring people to transport songs in a briefcase across the country. "She would never send new songs, no," Ed said in a new interview, reported by Just Jared. "I hear them but it has to be with her." And if he can't get to her? Well, that's when she hires said people. "I remember when I did a song with her for her album, I was in San Francisco, and they sent someone with a locked briefcase with an iPad and one song on it, and they flew to San Francisco, and played the song I've done with her," he recalled. "And they asked if I like it and I was like, 'Yeah,' and then they took it back, that's how I hear it." Meanwhile, other than making sure her music never leaks, Sheeran recently revealed another factor that he believes helped make both him and T.Swift successful: being unpopular. "There's an underdog element to it," he explained. "Taylor was never the popular kid in school. I was never the popular kid in school. Then you get to the point when you become the most popular kid in school -- and we both take it a bit too far." He continued, "She wants to be the biggest female artist in the world and I want to be the biggest male artist in the world. It also comes from always being told that you can't do something and being like, 'F--k you. I can.'" (Eonline)

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Are Asked About Sex Life While Playing "Never Have I Ever" on Ellen. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw aren't into nudes. But that doesn't mean their sex life is a snooze. The two, who celebrated their 20th anniversary a few months ago, stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show in Los Angeles. They are in town for this Sunday's 2017 Grammy Awards, in which they will appear as presenters. Ellen DeGeneres took the opportunity to have Hill and McGraw play the popular "Never Have I Ever" game, and the two were asked about some rather intimate topics. Both answered "I Have Never" to "Never Have I Ever fallen asleep during sexy time." Score! Literally! "Sexy time? Like I'm bringing sexy back, baby or something? I'm sure I have never, ever," Hill said. But while the two remain active while physically intimate, it appears they keep their sex life off mobile. Both answered "I Have Never" to "Never Have I Ever texted a nude selfie." Hill seemed pretty entertained by this statement: "Never Have I Ever waxed my partner." "I Have Never but I'm gonna try!" Hill said, laughing. Both also answered "I Have" to "Never Have I Ever used my spouse's toothbrush without telling them." Tasty! "All the time, actually," McGraw said. The two also talked about their three daughters -- Gracie, 19, Maggie, 18, and Audrey, 15 -- and how protective they are of them. "There was a winter formal or something, there was a bunch of kids in a limousine and I had a sledgehammer over my shoulder. But that was on purpose," McGraw said. "You don't want to be mean, but when somebody's taking your daughter somewhere, you want to induce a healthy amount of respect -- and fear!" "I agree with that," Hill said. "I was a little soft on it but then after you go through it for the first time, for those of you who have daughters out there, all of a sudden I became this animal, like, 'Do it. Take the sledgehammer...whatever you have to do, do it.'" In a 2015 interview with E! News, McGraw talked about being the sole guy in their household. "I'm always outnumbered. I've learned to shut up and not say much," he joked, adding, "I'm outnumbered but I'm pretty well taken care of, being the only guy in the house, too so that's a plus." Catch McGraw and Hill on their joint Soul2Soul tour, which starts in New Orleans on April 7. (Eonline)

Drake Suggested to Muslim Woman to Remove Her Hijab? Rapper Responds to Accusations. Drake wants to set the record straight after being accused of disrespecting a Muslim woman at his concert. The alleged incident is said to have taken place earlier this month at one of his shows in London. A viral concert video shows a man who sounds like the rapper saying, "I see you four girls right there, I hope you're having a good time. You got on that hot ass scarf right there, you might want to take this off...you don't have to come out with that s--t." No person's face is shown. Scores of people have expressed outrage, maintaining that Drake told a devout Muslim woman to remove her hijab. The Canadian rapper took to Instagram Friday to respond to the backlash. He said the woman was wearing a winter scarf, not a hijab. "I make a point every night to end my shows on tones of unity and love so, to find out that I am being utilized in a fake media story about me disrespecting Muslims is devastating to me," Drake wrote. "At my show in the 02 in London I was talking to 4 women one of whom was wearing a jacket and a winter scarf, I made a comment about taking off the scarf because I enjoy friendly banter with the fans." "I am well aware of what a hijab is and I would never make a disrespectful comment like that in my life towards someone who is wearing one," he added. "I am proud that my closest friends and fans come from all different religions and races, perhaps whoever made up this story should spend more time learning about other cultures and less time trying to divide us." (Eonline)

Katy Perry's New Single "Chained to the Rhythm" Will Have You Dancing Into the Weekend With a Message. Katy Perry's newest music will have you chained to the dance floor. After four years without a new studio album, the 13-time Grammy nominee officially launched the buildup to her fifth record with a new track, "Chained to the Rhythm," hitting the charts early Friday. Though the song sounds like a soon-to-be party classic with its easy pulse and disco elements, layered underneath the upbeat veneer, Perry delivers a strong message about awareness and activism -- and, according to her, how it's lacking. "Are we crazy? Living our lives through a lens, trapped in our white-picket fence like ornaments -- so comfortable, we live in a bubble, a bubble. So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, the trouble," she sings. "Aren't you lonely up there in utopia where nothing will ever be enough? Happily numb." As fans dance to the blasting track, there's a political play on words peppered throughout the chorus. "So put your rose-colored glasses on and party on. Turn it up, it's your favorite song. Dance, dance, dance to the distortion Come on, turn it up, keep it on repeat. Stumbling around like a wasted zombie. Yeah, we think we're free. Drink, this one is on me. We're all chained to the rhythm." The single, which Perry co-wrote with Max Martin, Sia, Ali Payami and Skip Marley, also features a rap by Marley aimed at people in high positions of power. "It is my desire, break down the walls to connect, inspire. Ay, up in your high place, liars. Time is ticking for the empire. The truth they feed is feeble as so many times before. They greed over the people. They stumbling and fumbling and we're about to riot. They woke up, they woke up the lions." Now that the star is confirmed to take the stage at the Grammys this weekend, we have one guess what song she'll be singing Sunday night. (Eonline)

Drake Tells Fans He's 'Two Weeks' Away From Finishing 'More Life'. Drake is definitely in the midst of the long tease. For the second time in as many weeks the OVO boss has hinted that his long-rumored More Life playlist project is imminent. During a show in Leeds, England, on Thursday night (Dec. 9), Drizzy took out time from the latest date on his Boy Meets World Tour to give the audience an update on the mystery project. "I'm excited because I'm about like a week and a half, two weeks away from finishing this project I'm working on called More Life," he told the crowd at the First Direct Arena. "All that means is I get to drop a new project and at some point I get to come back and be with my people in Leeds... I go by the name of Drake and I can't wait to see you again." Drake has been dropping mentions of More Life all along the road on his European tour, giving fans in Amsterdam last week a sneak peek at a bouncy new record that features such lines as "studio right in my yacht" and "I'm in the penthouse but still nothing is sweet." More Life was originally penciled in for a December release before Drake started telling his overseas audiences that they should hear it before he returns to Europe for his next set of dates. "I know we got three more shows in Amsterdam, but the best part of that is, if you coming back to any more shows, More Life is gonna be out and we can do some whole new s--t," Drake told a crowd two weeks ago in Amsterdam. Drake previously released the advance cuts "Sneakin'" featuring 21 Savage, "Two Birds, One Stone," Dave's "Wanna Know (Remix)", and his newly named No. 1 song on the Rhythmic charts, "Fake Love." In October, Drake announced that he'd be releasing More Life during an episode of OVO Sound Radio. His close collaborator and OVO signee, producer Nineteen85, also teased that More Life would be a compilation. "More Life is interesting because this is [Drake] right on the peak of his biggest project yet [with Views], doing his biggest tour and still having so many good ideas that he just wants to put out without making it a big ordeal," he told Billboard. "That's why he's trying to call it a playlist because he has a bunch of people in a space, hanging out.... He's so aware of what everybody else is doing musically that he likes to introduce new music and new artists to the rest of the world." (Billboard)

'Blackstar' Saxophonist Donny McCaslin Recalls David Bowie's Appraisal of Final Album: 'The Joy on His Face Was Beautiful'. Saxophonist Donny McCaslin will never forget the last time he saw David Bowie. He got a hug from the rock legend as they listened to the finished version of his last album, Blackstar. Bowie had unexpectedly chosen McCaslin's cutting-edge, New York-based jazz quartet to record Blackstar. After mixing and mastering the album, Bowie invited McCaslin to his lower Manhattan home for a listening session in November 2015. McCaslin was sitting and listening to the music with his eyes closed when Bowie walked into the room and embraced him. "I told him how much I loved the record and how beautiful it was to me to hear it .... and just what a brilliant piece of art it is. And he was so happy that I was happy," McCaslin recalled. "The joy on his face was beautiful." At the time, Bowie had talked about recording more songs and sitting in with McCaslin's band at an upcoming gig at the Village Vanguard jazz club. But Bowie died of liver cancer on Jan. 10, 2016, just two days after Blackstar was released on his 69th birthday. A year later, McCaslin said he's happy to see Blackstar nominated for multiple Grammys at Sunday's awards show, including best alternative music album. The song "Blackstar" is up for best rock performance and best rock song. "I wish David was here to see all the love and appreciation for the record," said McCaslin, who plans to attend the Grammys. "It's been a privilege for me to meet so many of his fans this past year who love the record and whose lives he touched deeply with his art. I know for all of us in the band working with him was a transformative experience that we'll carry with us the rest of our lives." McCaslin's band - with keyboardist Jason Lindner, electric bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Mark Guiliana - channeled the grief they felt over Bowie's death through music. Just weeks later, in every set at the Village Vanguard, they played "Warszawa," the hauntingly brooding anthem that Bowie co-wrote with Brian Eno for the 1977 album "Low." McCaslin says his band's new album Beyond Now, released in October, was very much influenced by their experience working with Bowie. It includes covers of two Bowie tunes - "Warszawa" and 1995's "A Small Plot of Land," featuring guest vocalist Jeff Taylor. beyond Now also features covers of tunes by Deadmau5, MUTEMATH and the Chainsmokers, reflecting the band's interest in "exploring this intersection of improvisation and electronica music," McCaslin said. McCaslin says Bowie was into "exploring new territory and doing something cutting-edge" on Blackstar, and it was his quartet's willingness to push boundaries that attracted the rock legend. Tony Visconti, Bowie's producer, said McCaslin's band "was told to do their 'thing,' and not think of it as a commercial rock record." McCaslin received two of his three Grammy nominations for his soaring solos with the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, and it was Schneider who brought Bowie to Greenwich Village's tiny 55 Bar in June 2014 to hear McCaslin's band. McCaslin first worked with Bowie on the single "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)," for which Schneider won an arranging Grammy last year. Bowie began sending the saxophonist demos of his new songs and invited him to record "Blackstar." McCaslin says Bowie was "no diva type" and was "gracious, warm and humble," creating an environment that "brings out the best in those around him." "It was really inspiring to see him at that stage of his career ... his fearlessness as an artist just going for realizing his musical vision," the 50-year-old McCaslin said. "That's the way I want to live and be when I'm 68 years old." (Billboard)

Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and Alabama Head All-Star Tribute to Randy Travis. A near fatal stroke couldn't take away the signature baritone of country star Randy Travis, and dozens of his friends, from Garth Brooks to Kenny Rogers, used their voices and his songs to honor the legend. Travis watched from the side of the stage Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee, as country stars from multiple eras sang his classics, from "Forever and Ever, " to "Three Wooden Crosses." Performers included Wynonna, Alabama, Chris Young, Travis Tritt and Jeff Foxworthy. By the end, he had joined in the celebration by singing "Amazing Grace" and leading others in singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." Travis, whose multiplatinum debut album Storms of Life in 1986 made him a star, suffered a stroke in 2013 that initially took away his ability to speak or read. But he's been steadily recovering his voice through rehabilitation, said his wife Mary Travis. "We sing a lot in the car," said Mary Travis, backstage beside her husband. "We sing a lot at home. Music is his soul. Music is just what he is made of." She said that it's clear that her husband still remembers how to sing and play the guitar, but the stroke caused a condition called aphasia that makes it difficult for him to communicate. "He knows all the words and he can chord every single song with his left hand," Mary Travis said. Travis, who wore a yellow jacket embroidered with flowers, was all smiles as he watched the performers, who each ended their performances with a hug or a handshake for the singer. The concert was held to raise proceeds for a new foundation set up in his name to help stroke victims. Travis suffered from a viral infection of the heart and was in a coma when the stroke occurred. He spent over five months in the hospital and underwent two brain surgeries, but battled back through years of rehabilitation. During his recovery, many of his fellow singers including the Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, Josh Turner and Jamey Johnson, would come for visits to sing for him and pray for him, said Mary Travis. Tanya Tucker said every time she visited Travis, she saw how far he had come in his progress. "Someone told me that I am the only one that really made him laugh, so I would go in there and tell him every dirty joke I could think of," said Tucker, who performed "I Told You So." Many artists talked about how Travis opened the door for a neo-traditionalist wave in country music in the late '80s with his unmistakable voice. "The bottom end of his voice is so wonderful," said Rogers, who sang his classic "The Gambler," for Travis. "Most people sing well in the middle of their range, but he got down in the bottom of his range and would just hold it. I never heard anything like that." "There isn't anybody in country music today that doesn't owe their career to Randy Travis," said Brooks from the stage. "I am one of those guys, man." At the end of a rousing version of "Forever and Ever, Amen," Brooks ran over to Travis to hold the microphone so Travis could sing a soft, but still deep "Amen." (Billboard)

Macklemore Didn't Submit 'This Unruly Mess I Made' to the Grammys. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, the mainstream rap duo that swept the rap Grammys in 2014 and received backlash after besting Kendrick Lamar, didn't submit their latest album for contention at the 2017 Grammy Awards. A person close to the nomination process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not allowed to publicly talk about the topic, said Macklemore & Lewis didn't submit This Unruly Mess I Made when submissions were due last September. The album, the group's second, was released last February. Like Macklemore & Lewis, Frank Ocean also didn't submit his two latest albums for Grammys. Representatives for the rap group and the Grammys, which will be presented Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, didn't immediately reply to emails seeking comment. In 2014, Macklemore & Lewis won best rap album for their multiplatinum debut, The Heist; best rap song and rap performance for the crossover pop hit, "Thrift Shop"; and best new artist. The group almost didn't compete for those rap honors after the Recording Academy's rap committee felt the duo should compete for pop awards instead because of their mainstream breakthrough, which included No. 1 successes with "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us." Another single, the same sex anthem "Same Love," peaked at No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100. But that decision was later overturned, and Macklemore & Lewis went on to win big in the rap categories, beating out Lamar, who walked away empty-handed that year. But drama ensued a day after the Grammys when Macklemore said Lamar's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" should have won best rap album instead of "The Heist. The Grammys spectacle was at the center of the group's latest album title-called This Unruly Mess I've Made - and Macklemore was part of the conversation about contemporary white artists appropriating black culture, along with Iggy Azalea and Miley Cyrus. On "White Privilege II," from This Unruly Mess, Macklemore raps about a white person's position in society with black people fighting injustice, and even namechecks Azalea for appropriating black culture, along with himself. This Unruly Mess didn't make a splash on the charts or on streaming platforms like The Heist. It only sold 382,000 units (based on a combination of album sales, song sales and on-demand audio streams) according to Nielsen Music. ("The Heist" sold a combined 4.3 million units). The album's first single, "Downtown," did reach No. 12 on the Hot 100 and featured Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee and Grandmaster Caz. Nominees for this year's best rap album include Drake, Rapper, Kanye, De La Soul, DJ Khaled and ScHoolboy Q. (Billboard)

Movies

Mary Poppins Returns Plot Details Revealed. At last, Walt Disney Studios has revealed what fans can expect from Mary Poppins Returns. Production has commenced at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England, the studio announced Friday. The film -- scheduled for release December 25, 2018 -- stars Emily Blunt in the title role. Directed by Rob Marshall, Mary Poppins Returns features an all-star cast that includes Colin Firth, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Emily Mortimer, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and Ben Whishaw. Additionally, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson and Nathanael Saleh star as three new Banks children. Best of all, Dick Van Dyke -- who played Bert in 1964's Mary Poppins -- stars as Mr. Dawes Jr., the chairman of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, which is now run by William Weatherall Wilkins (Firth). Mary Poppins Returns -- a sequel to the Oscar-winning classic starring Julie Andrews -- is set in 1930s depression-era London. In a press release, the studio shared key details for the first time. "Michael (Whishaw) and Jane (Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane," Walt Disney Studios said. "After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives." Along the way, Blunt's character will also introduce the Banks children "to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Streep)." John DeLuca, Marshall and Marc Platt are producing Mary Poppins Returns. David Magee wrote the screenplay, based on The Mary Poppins Stories by author PL Travers. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman created brand new songs, while Shaiman also composed an original score. For Blunt, playing the iconic character is a "dream" come true. "She's such an iconic nostalgic figure for people. It's a gift to give to my kids that I get to be this generation's Mary Poppins." "I'm learning the songs," Blunt told E! News' Marc Malkin in October. "We did an incredible workshop of the script a few weeks back. It's so heart racing, so exciting. It's a complete different re-imagining of the whole thing. And I'm scared and thrilled to be in it and it's cool." Miranda is similarly ecstatic about continuing Mary Poppins' story. "It's incredible so I'm proud to be a part of it," the Tony winner told E! News last summer. "And could you imagine a better Mary Poppins than Emily Blunt? Are you kidding me? I'm just so thrilled to be in that room." (Eonline)

'The Ice Cream Truck' Clip a Sweet Tooth's Worst Nightmare. Uncork'd Entertainment has acquired distribution rights to the film, said to mix the art house and horror genres. This friendly neighborhood ice cream man isn't so friendly. The Ice Cream Truck tells the story of a woman (Deanna Russo) who moves back to her hometown when her husband is relocated for work. While she waits for her husband to join her, she lives in the home alone, and encounters a strange ice cream truck man, who in addition to selling sweets, is going around town murdering people. Uncork'd Entertainment has acquired the distribution rights to the film and has provided a chilling clip. This is the second film from writer director Megan Freels Johnston, who is the granddaughter of famed crime writer Elmore Leonard. "Megan Freels Johnston has made a very scary but also very smart film," says Uncork'd President Keith Leopard. "The film also offers us a unique and refreshing take on a genre dominated largely by men." The acquisition come ahead of European Film Market in Berlin, where in 2014, Johnston debuted her first film, Rebound. She is also known for developing the Joseph Gordon-Levitt short Sparks, based on a story from her grandfather. The Ice Cream Truck also stars John Redlinger, Emil Johnsen, Hilary Barraford, Jeff Daniel Phillips and Lisa Ann Walter. (Hollywood Reporter)

Berlin: Susan Sarandon Animated Feature 'Spark' Sells Wide. Patrick Stewart, Hilary Swank and Jessica Biel also star in the space odyssey. Double Dutch International has unveiled a slew of new deals for animated feature Spark as the European Film Market in Berlin kicks into high gear. Susan Sarandon, Jessica Biel, Patrick Stewart and Hilary Swank will lend their voices to the space odyssey film earlier picked up by Open Road for U.S. distribution. DDI in Berlin added deals with Roadshow for Australia, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Baltic Top Film for the CIS, MVP for India, Best Film for Poland, Five Stars in Israel, Blitz for the ex-Yugoslavia, and ATM Film for the West Indies. DDI in Toronto announced earlier territory deals, including a U.K. deal with Kaleidoscope, a Latin America sale to California Films, Middle East to Eagle Films, Pan Asia Pay to Fox International and Iceland to Sam Films. Spark follows a teenaged monkey and his friends who embark on a mission to save their planet from an evil dictator. Open Road plans to release Spark in theaters April 14. Canadian filmmaker Aaron Woodley directed the film from a script he co-wrote with Doug Hadders and Adam Rotstein. Spark is a co-production with ToonBox Entertainment, Redrover Co., Ltd, Shanghai Hoongman Technology Co., Ltd. and Gulfstream Pictures. Hoe Jin Ha, Hong Kim, Jay HJ Ahn, Daniel Woo, Mike Karz and Bill Bindley executive produced the feature. Double Dutch International is handling worldwide sales, excluding China and Korea. (Hollywood Reporter)

Berlin: Watch the Press Conference for 'The Dinner' With Richard Gere, Steve Coogan, Laura Linney. Oren Moverman's latest unspools in the Berlin festival's competition lineup. Oren Moverman's The Dinner is one of the star-studded competition titles at the Berlin Film Festival. Stars Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Steve Coogan are speaking during a press conference at 2:15 p.m. Berlin time (5:15 a.m. LA time) on Friday. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Tracy Morgan Returns to Saturday Night Live as One of Beyonce's Twins. Surprise! Tracy Morgan showed up unexpectedly on the set of Saturday Night Live and played one of Beyonce's unborn twins. Yes, you read that correctly. Not only did the funnyman surprise the audience but he also played one of Queen Bey's babies. Does it get any better than that? "Beyonce" was attending an appointment with her OB-GYN (played by host Alec Baldwin), who couldn't help but gush about delivering a celebrity baby. "I haven't had a hit since Suri Cruise," he joked. Baldwin began the sonogram so Queen Bey could "see inside" her womb, only to discover Kenan Thompson and Morgan playing the in-utero babies. Connected by an umbilical cord and sitting on plush red couches -- even Bey's womb gets the luxury treatment -- the two babies discussed their famous mom. "That one will be strong," Baldwin noted as Thompson kicked. "That one won't be an athlete, but he will be hilarious," he added of Morgan. Thompson and Morgan also discussed how each of them feels like they're more Bey or Jay Z. "I'm definitely my mom's kid because I'm pure sex," Morgan said. "I'm going to be the first person ever who gets somebody pregnant while they're inside somebody pregnant. I'm old school I don't pull out." (Eonline)

Allison Williams Reveals the Girls Moment She's Afraid to Relive. Over the years, the Girls characters have had many loves, many hairstyles and many embarrassing moments. However, there are some moments and looks that stand above the rest. "I mean, her performance of 'Stronger,' I still can't watch it in its entirety," Allison Williams told E! News when asked about Marnie's most cringe-worthy moments. Yep, she's talking about Kanye West's "Stronger," her character performed it in front of a crowd at the party for her then-boyfriend. "Literally, I cannot watch it. They did this clips collection on HBO Go and I went through and watched it and the 'Stronger' one ended just in the knick of time, literally in the moment where I was like, I might pass out from secondhand and firsthand embarrassment the clip ended and I was very relieved," Williams dished. In the hair department, Zosia Mamet's Shoshanna has had a wide variety of styles, from braids, to bobs to twists and everything in between. Yet there's one hairstyle that has come iconic and Mamet's favorite. And it's the same hairstyle that can be seen during Marnie's "Stronger" performance. "It's pretty predictable, but I think that the -- I called it the bagel, but everyone called it the donut. To me it was bigger than a donut, which is why I called it the bagel," Mamet told E! News. "I think that was my favorite because it was the most -- it was the most ridiculous." Or was it the most ridiculous? It took a lot of construction, Mamet explained. "I don't even really own a brush, so that was wild to me," she said. That bagel hairpiece will have to live on in memory, it didn't come home with Mamet. "No, but I didn't really want to. That can live where it lives," she said. Watch the video above for more from Williams and Mamet, including Williams' favorite Girls love interest -- the answer will surprise you. Girls' final season premieres Sunday, Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. on HBO. (Eonline)

TGIT Forever! ABC Renews Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder. TG for TGIT. Prepare for another year of making no plans aside from live-tweeting and making an indent on your couch on Thursday nights because the entire TGIT line-up has been renewed for another season, ABC announced on Friday. Praise, Shonda Rhimes! Grey's Anatomy will be returning for its 14th (!) season, while Scandal and its gladiators will return for its seventh outing of political drama and How to Get Away With Murder will be heading into it fourth season. Feel free to break out the celebratory tequila shots and popcorn at any time. "Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder continue to keep viewers on the edge of their seats and wanting more. I'm thrilled to bring back these shows and the OMG moments that come with them," ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said in a statement. After Scandal's sixth season was delayed by Kerry Washington's real-life pregnancy, the TGIT line-up returned on ABC on Jan. 26, and proved to be a winning trio for the network. The line-up has led the night in ratings in the adults 18-49 demo, with Grey's actually taking the title of ABC's highest rated show in the all-important demo. Aside from the entire TGIT line-up, ABC has also picked up The Middle for another season. Grey's Anatomy airs at 8 p.m., Scandal at 9 p.m., and How to Get With Murder airs at 10 p.m. on Thursdays on ABC. (Eonline)

How Playing Undead Made Drew Barrymore Feel More Alive. For Drew Barrymore, playing a human flesh-hungry zombie real estate agent and mother came at just the right moment. Barrymore stars in Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet, a comedy from Better Off Ted's Victor Fresco, and told press she was particularly low when she read the part of Shelia, a mom who suddenly becomes a zombie, it helped her though a low point in her life. "I think every woman could use an awakening in her life at some point," Barrymore told E! News. "It's so true," her costar Timothy Olyphant joked. "It is," she said. "Sometimes we lose our confidence or our life goes one way when we thought it was going to go another. If you can make that empowering, and have this sort of great feminist excitement and enthusiasm that you had maybe previously lost -- I got to have that through Shelia and I love her for it. And she was so fun to be -- she is fun." Shelia, after throwing up massive amounts of green vomit and what looks like an organ, becomes a zombie. She loses all of her self-consciousness and lives with abandon, whether that means telling off a neighbor or saying yes to a night out. But back to that vomit for a second. There was a ton of it, which you can see in the trailer, a whole room worth. And it covered Olyphant and Barrymore. Not even those involved are entirely sure what it was made out of. "I don't really know," Fresco said. "There was some organic matter in it that made it very smelly as it fermented." "It smelled way worse than real vomit," Barrymore said. "It curdled, so it smelled far worse than regular vomit." But that wasn't the end of it. "Tell me, there was a soup that they put in your mouth," Olyphant said. This soup came from a big company, which Barrymore had no problem with, until it had to stand in for her vomit. "Every time I'm going to look at a 'A,' I'm going to think [vomit noise]," she said with a laugh. All episodes are now streaming on Netflix. (Eonline)

This Is Us Fans Say Goodbye to Milo Ventimiglia's Beloved Facial Hair. What has happened to our beloved Jack Pearson? As This Is Us continues filming new episodes for their first season, executive producer Ken Olin delivered a tease about what's to come later this spring. Prepare yourselves fans because Milo Ventimiglia is about to undergo a fresh new look. "The last 4 episodes of This Is Us will go places we've never been before," Ken teased on Twitter. "Here's a taste." What came next was a clean-shaven Milo without his scruffy beard and signature mustache. So what could this look be about? Plot lines continue to be top secret. Ken, however, decided to share another short video of his co-worker working on a classic car. "Milo needed a second job," Ken wrote on Twitter. Let the fan theories begin! As many fans know, This Is Us has become the breakout hit drama of the season. Back in January, NBC announced the show had been renewed for not one but two more seasons. And whether it's Milo performing a Big Three chant with his on-screen children or surprising unsuspecting viewers at home, fans can't get enough of the actor and his talented co-stars. "I think at this point in time, people were really hungry for cathartic entertainment," Mandy Moore told E! News of the show's success. "People want to feel their feelings and they're able to connect with these characters and the stories and the challenges and obstacles in a way that maybe not a lot of other network shows present to people." This Is Us airs Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. only on NBC. (Eonline)

Grey's Anatomy Explains Alex's Fate But Starts a War. All is well in the land of Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). After Bailey (Chandra Wilson) told Ben (Jason George) about Karev's plan to take the plea deal and go to jail, Ben told DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti), and DeLuca kindly dropped the charges. That's why, at the end of a week ago episode, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) finally found Alex asleep in his bed, and that's also why Bailey has now reinstated Karev in his job at the hospital. He even had a chance to talk things out with DeLuca, who said that if Karev had simply talked to him like a human being and maybe apologized, none of this would have had to happen. And then, Jo (Camilla Luddington) showed up at the house, and they hugged. That's all they did, but they said a lot in that hug. And so Alex is fine, and back at work. Meredith, however, has been suspended, and April (Sarah Drew) has replaced her as interim chief of surgery, all thanks to this annoying business with Richard's (James Pickens Jr.) replacement as the head of the residency program. Everybody was refusing to allow Dr. Minnick (Marika Dominczyk) to bring her students into their OR because they were supporting Dr. Webber, but Bailey didn't do anything until Meredith tried it. Since Meredith's the chief of surgery, Meredith got suspended, and replaced (for now) by April. Meanwhile, Minnick is hoping this all works itself out soon or that she gets fired, because she seems to want to date Arizona. We, on the other hand, just want everyone to understand what's going on so we can move on from all this passive aggression. It is getting old. Finally, we met Maggie's mother, who was interested in a plastic surgery consult to see if she could get rid of something weird on her skin. Maggie wanted her gone immediately, and kept apologizing to everyone for her mother even existing, even though her mother wasn't doing anything particularly embarrassing. Then, Maggie's mom was diagnosed (by Jackson) with a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer, and before she could tell her daughter, Maggie flipped out on her, calling her selfish. So mom flipped out back, and it was all very sad. Basically, congrats to Alex, but everyone else could do with a chill pill or two. Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)

How to Get Away With Murder's Billy Brown Has a Warning for You: It's Only Getting Darker From Here. If, after watching Thursday night's new episode of How to Get Away With Murder, you thought things couldn't much darker than Wes' body going missing -- and Nate getting framed for it -- while Annalise had to incite violence against herself to finally get released on bail, Billy Brown has some bad news for you. "I can succinctly say it gets darker and more treacherous and there's more suspects than ever," the actor told E! News. It's clear after Thursday night's episode that the desire conspiracy at the D.A.'s office to destroy Annalise (Viola Davis) has a wider reach than we initially thought -- and whoever is pulling the strings has no problem with taking down poor Nate in the process. "Whatever Nate has been forced to deal with and made to confront up until now... it gets darker and more twisted and more testing for him to keep his cool and remain on course," Brown teased. "All of these forces are really trying to pull him off of where he needs to be and ultimately derail him." That said, don't expect the strapping former cop to collapse under the pressure. "In all areas, when Nate has been up against it, it's been his own motivation to press on, move forward. If he has to go it alone, so be it. He will. He will not crumble upon the weight they have placed on his shoulders," Brown explained. "All the most recent actions from the forged signature to other suspicions with the [medical examiner] have emboldened to stay on this trajectory and do what he needs to go to get where he's headed next." Where is he headed, exactly? Brown wouldn't say, but he did offer up one eyebrow-raising tease. "I'll share this with you: Lahey has, and he always has had, his own motivation. Not just to clear his name, that's sandbox dialogue," he revealed. "He's got bigger things that he's going after and each of them, we'll slowly discover what those are." As for where the show is headed, even Brown admitted that the pressure mounting on Annalise and those in her orbit is beginning to seem insurmountable. (Seriously, what chance does she have at having any sort of career ever again, should she clear herself of this?!) "Maybe Viola knows how the board looks in [creator] Pete [Nowalk's] vault, so to speak, in the secret chambers. But for me, number nine on the call sheet, I've got no f--king idea what's coming up," he said, laughing. "At the table read, we get the material and, yes, to answer your question, I walk out of the table read and go, 'Wow. Where the f--k are they going to go from here?' It's crazy." That said, Brown's keeping his faith in Nowalk and the creative staff behind the show. "Pete has the glean and the wink in his eye," he said. "And he and our writers get back to the war room and make it happen." Who do you think forged Nate's signature to have Wes' body moved? How to Get Away With Murder airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)

NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak won't get a warm welcome from their fellow 'RHOA' cast members, who think the former dynamic duo is too messy and too expensive. Sources close to 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' tell us the women are saying there's no need to bring back NeNe and Kim because all they bring is over-the-top drama just to get camera time. As one source put it, there's "no substance." We're told there's also a financial concern -- that Kim and NeNe's bloated salaries might chew up the budget, resulting in lower raises for the current cast. Our sources say certain housewives called production Thursday to complain about the infamous frenemies returning. We're told some of the current housewives feel dissed after working hard to keep ratings up -- which they have, and now producers want to "add bulls***." Ironically, it sounds like all this dissent would create real drama ... with substance. However, Sheree Whitfield told us Thursday ... she'd welcome them with open arms. You buyin' it? (TMZ)

Chevy Chase Agrees With Trump: Alec Baldwin's 'SNL' Impression Is Rough -- And He Loves It. Chase, who played Gerald Ford in the first season of 'SNL,' shares his thoughts with THR about the current presidential portrayal. Chevy Chase knows what it takes to turn a president into a laughing stock, and he thinks Alec Baldwin is doing a marvelous job with his portrayal of Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live. Chase, 73, became a household name thanks to both "Weekend Update" and for playing a bumbling President Gerald Ford during the first season of SNL. Now, he takes delight in watching Baldwin skewer Trump on air weekly, and the president's claim that the show is nothing more than a hit job is accurate, Chase told The Hollywood Reporter. "That is exactly what Lorne [Michaels] is trying to do, make him look like an ass because he is one, for God sake," Chase tells THR. "He's an ass, and he is looking like an ass and hurting our country." Baldwin took over as Trump last year during the election season, his impersonation becoming an instant hit with viewers, except a few, including the president. For his commander-in-chief portrayal, Chase didn't try to look or sound like Ford. The comedy was in the wit and falls, of which there were plenty. "Here's a guy who, unbeknownst to himself, is clumsy," Chase said of the Ford character creation. "That was just funny to me, like this is him punishing himself for being a Republican." Turning the president into somewhat of a boob was done for Chase's personal political feelings, which was fine with the show's brass, the actor said. "I thought, 'This [clumsiness] is funny and whatever I can do to get [Jimmy] Carter elected, by God I am going to do it.' And it helped a lot, Gerald told me that," Chase said, adding "I was a very liberal Democrat at the time, and I have not changed much." Carter went on to defeat Ford to become the 39th president. Baldwin's way of playing Trump is different than Chase's approach to Ford because this current president has to be presented as a somewhat over-the-top character, Chase said. "Trump's a tough guy to spoof," he said. "Now, I am not trying to compare Alec and myself -- there is no comparison, I am much better looking -- but the way I dealt with it was make no attempt to look anything or sound anything like Gerald Ford. I just wrote the stuff that was funny and then would be clumsy when it was the right time." Trump has made it clear he hates Baldwin's impression. There have even been reports that it has rattled the former reality star. Ford, on the other hand, was hurt by Chase's impression, the SNL veteran said, but not hell-bent on stopping it. "I was compassionate about Ford's feelings being hurt, but it's like, you're the president, you're going to get a lot of shit," Chase said. "I met Ford, and he was a lovely guy, a really nice person. He had no really hard feelings." Radio/TV Correspondents' Dinner -- Pictured: Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, John Belushi, Jacqueline Carlin Chase, President Gerald Ford on March 25, 1976. Chase, like practically everyone else, also loved Melissa McCarthy's recent impersonation of current White House press secretary Sean Spicer. "For me, that was the best skit in what was a great show [last week]," Chase said. "I didn't know who the hell she was at first, then I realized and oh my God. I am sure it affected Spicer a lot." Ford's press secretary, Ron Nessen, actually hosted an episode of SNL back in the day in an attempt to curb Chase's presidential impression, the actor said. "I kind of surprised him because I still went thought a series of falls and comedy in the 'Oval Office' and it was pretty hilarious," Chase said. As for whether the show should pump the brakes now over the president's ire, Chase said, "I don't think they should stop at all doing what they are doing." (Hollywood Reporter)

TV Pilot Season: Which Stars Are Getting All the Offers? Damon Wayans Jr., Lizzie Caplan, Maya Rudolph, Nathan Fillion and newly available leading stars are in big demand as casting season heats up. Next week is poised to be a busy one for pilot castings as the first wave of (largely) far-fetched offers is coming to a close and broadcast networks hone in on top stars. With about 20 fewer pilots to select from this season, the competition is especially fierce among the broadcast networks, who again are forced to compete for talent against cable networks and streaming services who offer shorter orders, cache and big bucks. Happy Endings favorite Damon Wayans Jr. has again emerged as one of, if not the most sought-after star this pilot season, juggling multiple comedy offers from Fox, CBS and NBC. SNL grad Maya Rudolph has received offers for pretty much all of the buzziest comedy pilots this season, despite the fact that she's unlikely to accept any of them in favor of developing for herself. Among proven TV stars fresh off signature shows, Castle grad Nathan Fillion has been offered both high-profile genre dramas as well as comedies following his recurring role on ABC's Modern Family. Bloodline star Linda Cardellini, The Strain's Corey Stoll, Bates Motel's Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga, The Walking Dead's Michael Cudlitz and Steven Yeun, Masters of Sex's Lizzie Caplan, Salem's Janet Montgomery, Rizzoli and Isles' Sasha Alexander, Grey's Anatomy's Sara Ramirez and newly minted Golden Globe winner John Lithgow of The Crown (and NBC's upcoming Trial and Error) are all juggling multiple offers from various networks. Gilmore Girls favorite Lauren Graham is also said to have been offered half-hour projects. Other in-demand leading men who are fielding offers for dramas include Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey, Dennis Quaid, Limitless alum Jake McDorman, John Cho (Harold and Kumar), Josh Duhamel (Battle Creek), Demian Bichir (the Bridge), Anders Holm (Workaholics), Chris Messina (The Mindy Project), Glenn Howerton (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Ramon Rodriguez (Gang Related). Perennial pilot season favorite Christina Applegate has also received interest for a pair of high-profile comedies from established producers though it's unlikely she'll engage. Sarah Shahi, who did CBS' Nancy Drew last year, has emerged as perhaps the most in-demand drama actress. Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men), Pitch Perfect's Anna Camp, Natalie Morales (The Grinder) and Jennifer Connelly are also receiving multiple calls. Westworld breakout Jimmi Simpson is also in demand at broadcast and cable, as is Good Girls' Genevieve Angelson and The Martian's Michael Pena. Then of course there's offers for stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dustin Hoffman, Zachary Quinto and Andy Garcia that, given the way the line between film and TV is blurring, almost seem like they could happen. (Hollywood Reporter)

Josh Elliott's CBS 'Farewell' Stuns His Bosses. In a bizarre series of events, Josh Elliott stepped down from CBS's digital channel on Friday for a larger role at CBS News -- shocking his own bosses. Elliott, who had served as CBSN's lead daytime anchor for a year, bid an emotional farewell to viewers, saying that it was to be his "last day." "It has been by any measure a great stay here at CBSN," he added. It was surprising news -- not least to CBS News execs, who had no idea he was announcing his plan to leave the online station. "This is a mess of epic proportions," said a network source. "Nobody at the top at CBS News knew that Josh was going to do that." It seems Elliott -- who joined the network from NBC in 2016 -- had recently met with Laurie Orlando, the network's head of talent, who told him that she wanted him to take on a bigger role at CBS News. The plan is for him to file reports for "CBS Evening News" and "CBS This Morning," and help fill in for Charlie Rose, who has just undergone heart surgery. We're told the surgery was a success and Rose is expected back at work in three weeks. "Then Josh announced his departure without warning," said the insider. "Executives at CBS were stunned." Meanwhile, sources close to Elliott claim that his executive producer dropped the ball for not alerting higher-ups, including Orlando and CBS News president David Rhodes. "They totally bungled their own announcement," said the source. "There was no communication." There was a flurry of meetings Friday at CBS News to work out how to handle the debacle. Finally, they announced Elliott would be reporting on a national level for CBS News. Insiders say the move is part of a plan for Elliott to take on a bigger role down the line. There are rumors CBS could move Scott Pelley off "CBS Evening News," which network chiefs have denied. On Friday, a CBS rep told us, "Josh is going to be taking field assignments and reporting long-form pieces as well. He will appear across CBS News programs, including CBSN." (PageSix)

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