ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Kel Mitchell's Wife Asia Lee Is Expecting a Baby Girl. Kel Mitchell had a very special announcement to make on Valentine's Day. Posing with wife Asia Lee in a Good Burger-themed photo shoot that he shared on Instagram, the actor said, "We have a bun in the oven! Thank you @therealasialee for being the best wife to me the best friend to me and now the best mom to our blessed baby!! I love you so much!" Mitchell added, "#ThankYouJesus #Blessed #SpecialDelivery #MyWifeRocks." Dressed in cashier costumes, Lee held an orange soda during the shoot. Naturally. This will be the first child for the couple, who tied the knot on Jan. 8, 2012. Josephine Clarke snapped the happy couple, which showed Mitchell reprising his role as Ed. The last time Mitchell played the incompetent but lovable fast food cashier was in 2015, when he reunited with Kenan Thompson (as Dexter Reed) on NBC's The Tonight Show. As Mitchell later told E! News, "We've been wanting to get back together. It was just about the right project...it felt like home." Mitchell said it was "so fun" to re-team with Thompson, whom he'd met on the set of Nickelodeon's All That. "We're still texting each other -- still excited about it." Reuniting with Thompson was "cool," he said. "It was like we were right back into it with our characters coming up with even funnier stuff to do and just cracking up together and looking at each other in the outfits," he added. "When I put on [the wig], it was like it had never stopped." Is another get-together in the cards? At the time, Mitchell said, fans will "have to wait and see." In the meantime, Mitchell continues to star as Double G on Nickelodeon's Game Shakers. UPDATE: Asia Lee announced on Instagram that she and Kel Mitchell are expecting a baby girl. "Woooowww We are having a Girl! My wonderful hubby @iamkelmitchell and I can't wait to meet her!! We are beyooooonnnddd Happy & feeling blessed! Thank you to all the friends and family that came to celebrate with us on Saturday! You all are truly the best! Thank you Jesus for blessing us with a sweet baby girl. #genderrevealparty #mommydaughtertime #mommyslittlegirl #theMitchells #IlovemyHusband." (Eonline)

Blake Shelton Understands Why People Are Fascinated by His Relationship With Gwen Stefani. Blake Shelton understands the fascination over his relationship with Gwen Stefani, but he wishes it would calm down. The country crooner appeared on Today with his fellow The Voice coaches, including Stefani, Alicia Keys and Adam Levine. When Today's Carson Daly asked Shelton if the craziness surrounding his relationship has subsided at all, Shelton responded, "God, I hope so! "I don't think it's mellowed out, really," Shelton continued. "I think we don't pay as much attention anymore. We're numb to it." What continues to take Shelton by surprise, however, is the headlines that are constantly being made up. "Any time you see a story about us, it's either that it's a fake relationship or that we're already married. Or we're gonna get married, or she's on her second set of twins," he explained. "Or, you know, I'm sneaking behind her back to eat meat. I eat meat right in front of her face!" (Stefani has been vegan for years). Co-host Levine couldn't help but get in on the fun, quipping, "Every single one of those things is true." Even though the happy couple often find themselves baffled by the crazy headlines, Shelton admitted he could see where they were coming from. "In people's defense, I think it's so hard for people to wrap their head around why Gwen would want to be with me," said Shelton. "I don't blame 'em." "You're crazy, you're crazy!" said Stefani. (Eonline)

Jennifer Lopez Reveals How Her Romance With Alex Rodriguez Got Started -- Spoiler Alert: Cobb Salad Was Involved. It all began with a tap on the shoulder. As Jennifer Lopez recalled to Ellen DeGeneres Monday, the songstress and her "great guy," baseball star Alex Rodriguez, started dating thanks to a lunchtime run-in. The host would not let Lopez spare any detail -- she was eating a Cobb salad and tortilla soup when she spotted the athlete on his way out of a Los Angeles restaurant. "For some reason, I just felt like tapping him on the shoulder," she remembered. He recognized her (duh!) and they chatted for a bit, realizing they were both living in the city of stars and should hang out. Turns out -- he already had her number for some platonic reason. A text later, they were having dinner. "I don't remember what we had for dinner, but we had a nice dinner," she said. A nice dinner and a goodbye. "Mama don't sleep over on the first date," she joked. However, it was Ellen who had the last laugh since she secretly had someone dressed as a Yankee waiting in the side table to pop up and scare Lopez. It worked like a charm. The triple threat's 9-year-old son, Max, also had some fun hiding in the table when he and his sister were invited to greet the audience and hang out during the interview. While his sister Emme took a seat on her mom's lap, Max wasn't so keen on the spotlight and found his hiding spot. "This is the quietest he's been in nine years," Lopez quipped. (Eonline)

Ben Affleck stepped out in California on Sunday, in his first public appearance since he and Jennifer Garner officially filed for divorce. The 44-year-old actor took to the AutFest International Film Festival in Orange, just weeks after news broke that he and Garner, 45, had filed their divorce documents together. The stars initially announced their split in in June 2015. Affleck and Garner are both seeking joint legal and physical custody of their three children: Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8 and 5-year-old Samuel. The star chatted about his kids during a Q&A portion of the event, noting that he's unsure whether he'd want his little ones to take up acting. "I think it's a hard thing. I love being an actor, I got into it as a child and I wouldn't change that. But I also wouldn't want to take my kids and push them out there before they were 18," Affleck said. "If they are 18 and they want to make those choices and do that kind of thing, that's fine. But being a child actor, I just know too much of the downside of what that can be like." He added: "I had some great rewards, and I probably wouldn't have made it as an adult had I not built up that body of work as a kid, so it's a strange thing. My kids would be good in the school play. If they can handle that, they're in good shape." As for how he's survived so long in the movie industry, Affleck credited his "thick skin." "You know you have to have a certain thickness of skin in this business because success and failure, as a performer, are really two sides of the same coin," he said. "You're putting yourself out there and being evaluated, and it doesn't go one way, all the way, every time." Affleck appeared to be all smiles at the event, and a source previously told PEOPLE that both he and Garner seemed "happy" about spending Easter Sunday together as a family recently. Despite their split, the couple continue to live together in the L.A. area -- Affleck has been living in a guest house on the couple's property. "They are figuring out what to do about their future living arrangements," a source previously said. "For now, they are all living together. One thing they agree on -- the kids will stay at the family house. Jen and Ben will focus on making things as smoothly as possible for the kids. It's all about what's best for them." (People)

Justin Bieber Looks Back at His 2014 DUI Mug Shot With Hopeful Message: ''Thank God I'm Not Where I Used To Be." You're exactly where you are supposed to be, Justin... Justin Bieber had some deep thoughts when he took to Instagram earlier Sunday to post the 2014 mug shot from his DUI arrest alongside a recent photo of himself. In the post, the 24-year-old reflected on his troubled past and appears to be looking forward to a bright future. Along with the side-by-side photo, the Biebs, who has been on and off of Insta in recent months, wrote, "I LOVE THIS because it reminds me I'M NOT EXACTLY WHERE I WANT TO BE BUT THANK GOD I'M NOT WHERE I USED TO BE!! THE BEST IS YET TO COME. DO YOU BELIEVE IT?" We belieb it! On Jan. 23, 2014, the Canadian was arrested shortly after 4 a.m. after police caught the pop star drag racing in Miami Beach, Fla. The "Sorry" singer subsequently failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI, driving with an expired license and resisting arrest. Tests showed that his blood alcohol level was below the limit, but he did test positive for Xanax and for marijuana. In August 2014, the Grammy winner avoided jail when he reached a plea deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to reduced charges of misdemeanor careless driving and resisting arrest. Florida judge Bill Altfield ordered him to undergo a 12-hour anger management course, complete a program in which he'd meet people affected by drunk drivers, make a $50,000 charitable donation and pay fines. "Here is someone who is young, 20 years of age, his whole life is ahead of him and he just hopefully will get the message," said the judge at the time of the hearing. "He will grow up, he will use all of his talents positively." The following year, the superstar made a triumphant comeback with his fourth studio album, Purpose. The album, which boasted hit after hit, went on to break records and be the third best-selling album of 2015. He is reportedly working on his fifth album. Bieber has certainly not been drama-free since the DUI, but he seems to have outgrown his bad boy past after finding his "purpose." (Eonline)

Clint Howard -- you definitely recognize his face -- is saying deuces to his wife of 22 years. Clint -- the younger brother of Ron Howard -- filed docs to separate from wife, Melanie Howard, citing irreconcilable differences. Clint lists a bunch of stuff he says belong to him ... including a home in Burbank, CA, scripts from his old movies, his rights to a screenplay titled "Where's Little Louie?" and US Savings Bonds worth $24k. He says she can keep her jewelry and a bonds worth $10k. He also wants the court to figure out who keeps the 2006 Honda Accord and 2005 Chrysler 300. They got married in 1995 and have no kids together. (TMZ)

Mel B is not disputing what her former nanny claimed in her defamation lawsuit against the singer -- that Mel B, husband Stephen Belafonte and the then-nanny had 3-ways for 7 years ... but Mel B says the 2 of them crossed the line. Sources connected with the singer tell TMZ ... Belafonte hired Lorraine Gilles and then convinced both her and Mel B to have 3-ways, which they did over a period of 7 years. Mel B claims the deal was broken several years ago when Belafonte and Gilles had sex without her. According to Mel B sources, she claims sometimes they would have 3-ways, but other times Belafonte and Gilles would do it together without her knowledge. Our Mel B sources claim Belafonte convinced her to have 3-ways with numerous people over the 10-year marriage. In Gilles' defamation lawsuit, she calls BS on Mel B's claims that she had an affair with Belafonte, that he got her pregnant and that he convinced her to have an abortion. We're told Mel B has doubled down and continues to insist Belafonte got Gilles pregnant. (TMZ)

"Happy Days" actress Erin Moran refused help from fellow former child stars as her life spiraled out of control, a child-actor advocate said Sunday. Cops found Moran, 56, who played Joanie Cunningham on the iconic '70s sitcom, unconscious in New Salisbury, Ind., before she was pronounced dead on Saturday. "I am proud of our efforts over the years to help Erin Moran, whose troubles were many and complex," Paul Petersen, who runs the child-actor advocacy group "A Minor Consideration," said in a Facebook post. "At least a half-dozen 'formers' were actively reaching out to Erin in the last week of her life," he said. Petersen, who was a child star on "The Donna Reed Show," said Moran had friends in Paris, London, New York and Los Angeles all trying to help. "Erin had friends and she knew it. Abandonment was not the issue. The perversity of human frailty is at the root of this loss, not failure," wrote Petersen. "We did our best with the resources available to us, but it was a very dark room. Some don't find the light switch in time." Moran appeared in 239 of 255 "Happy Days" episodes between 1974 and 1984, and starred in the spinoff "Joanie Loves Chachi." She led a low-key post stardom life until 2012, when she and her husband were evicted from their Indiana trailer park. Reports chronicled Moran's drinking and odd behavior. Harrison County sheriff's deputies declined comment on Sunday, only saying that they got a 911 call at 4:07 p.m. on Saturday and found an unresponsive Moran. "It was determined that Erin Marie Moran Fleischmann was deceased. An autopsy is pending," according to a sheriff's statement. "Many people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal-loving soul," her co-star Scott Baio tweeted on Sunday. "I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin." Moran's "Happy Days" mom, Marion Ross, also said Sunday she wished to remember the former child star in better times. "This breaks my heart," Ross, 88, told NBC in Los Angeles. "She was the quickest, fastest little kid. Wonderful." Moran is the fourth regular cast member of the show to die since "Happy Days" went off the air in 1984 -- following TV dad Tom Bosley (2010) and Arnold's owners Al Molinaro (2015) and Pat Morita (2005). (Page Six)

Erin Moran -- who famously played Joanie Cunningham on "Happy Days" -- likely died from complications of advanced cancer. The Harrison County Sheriff's Office said Monday a "joint investigation into Mrs. Moran's death was conducted" and "a subsequent autopsy revealed that Mrs. Moran likely succumbed to complications of stage 4 cancer." The Sheriff also said "standard toxicology tests were performed and the results are pending, however no illegal narcotics were found at the residence." We broke the story ... Erin's dead body was found Saturday at her New Salisbury, Indiana residence after someone called to report about an "unresponsive female." She was 56. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Christina Grimmie's Family Gets Emotional as She's Honored at Humane Society Gala. Christina Grimmie's family was moved to tears Saturday as the late former The Voice and YouTube singer was honored at the Humane Society of The United States' annual star-studded To The Rescue! benefit in Los Angeles. Christina, 22, was signing autographs for fans in a theater in Orlando, Florida last June when a man shot her. She later died in a hospital. At the benefit, Rachel Platten, who Christina had supported on tour, performed her hit "Fight Song" as a tribute to the star. A video montage of her was also screened and guests became teary-eyed. Christina's mother Tina Grimmie, father Bud Grimmie and brother Marcus Grimmie, who witnessed her murder and had attempted to stop the shooter, as well as her friend Sarah Luebkemann then appeared onstage to accept the Impact Award on behalf of the singer. Christina Grimmie's family was moved to tears Saturday as the late former The Voice and YouTube singer was honored at the Humane Society of The United States' annual star-studded To The Rescue! benefit in Los Angeles. Christina, 22, was signing autographs for fans in a theater in Orlando, Florida last June when a man shot her. She later died in a hospital. At the benefit, Rachel Platten, who Christina had supported on tour, performed her hit "Fight Song" as a tribute to the star. A video montage of her was also screened and guests became teary-eyed. Christina's mother Tina Grimmie, father Bud Grimmie and brother Marcus Grimmie, who witnessed her murder and had attempted to stop the shooter, as well as her friend Sarah Luebkemann then appeared onstage to accept the Impact Award on behalf of the singer. "Got all dolled up for the @humanesociety gala tonight where they were not only honoring Christina for the simply incredible human she is, but celebrating her for the passion and heart that she poured into supporting their cause," Luebkemann wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of her and Platten. "It was simply beautiful. Lots of tears and hugs." "I've so enjoyed getting to know the people and causes Christina was pouring her heart into the last several years. And finally got to meet the very sweet @rachelplatten," she continued. "Christina toured with her last year and she absolutely loved Rachel. Rachel, thank you for being so kind and genuine, and for loving on & encouraging Christina. She admired your resilience and beautiful spirit, and had so much fun with you. We're rooting for you girl. #CGFOREVER @therealgrimmie." (Eonline)

Rihanna accused of disrespecting the Queen. Rihanna took a poke at Queen Elizabeth as the royal mum celebrated her 91st birthday this weekend -- posting Instagram pix of the monarch's head superimposed onto the singer's body. In one image, the Queen's head was on Rihanna's body as she strutted down the street wearing a bright green outfit and kinky thigh-high green boots. "Be humble," Rihanna wrote under the image, posted Saturday. Another image pasted Elizabeth's head onto a pic of Rihanna posing in a sequinned body suit. The postings were a hit with a lot of Rihanna followers, but some were offended. "This is SO disrespectful! Do not ask for respect when don't give any," read a comment posted by hek24. The posts come five months after the Barbadian singer joined forces with the queen's grandson, Prince Harry, in her native country to urge HIV testing during World AIDS Day. (PageSix)

Amanda Bynes Returns to Twitter, Stops "To Smell the Flowers." Amanda Bynes gave fans and followers a nice surprise Sunday when she returned to Twitter and shared a pretty photo of her and a friend posing next to bouquets of flowers. "Stopping to smell the flowers on a gorgeous Sunday!" she tweeted. Bynes looked happy and healthy, wearing jogger pants and a black camisole, which she paired with a pair of flats. She let her long blond tresses down. Bynes' return comes two months after she took to Twitter to slam reports that she was pregnant and engaged. Prior to those clarifying posts, Bynes hadn't been active on the social medium for six months. "I am not @persianla27. I am not getting married and I am not pregnant. I don't understand why twitter won't take @persianla27 down," she tweeted. She shortly followed up, "I have asked repeatedly. This person continues to impersonate and harass me and twitter needs to take the account down." Additionally, attorney David A. Esquibias told E! News at the time, "Amanda is neither engaged nor pregnant, and that is not her Twitter account." Despite the social media snafus from unauthorized accounts, Bynes' family attorney told E! News ahead of her 30th birthday last year that she was in a really good place. "She is doing great," Tamar Arminak, told E! News. "She is happy and healthy, and excited about the future." Bynes enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2014, but it's unclear if she still attends classes. Upon her enrollment, a source told E! News, "She seems to still be doing great and seems really focused on school." (Eonline)

Saddle up! Sofia Vergara posted a ridiculous video of herself attempting to ride an inflatable bull and somehow she still managed to look amazing! The Modern Family stunner showed off her silly side and her sensational figure in an Instagram post in which she's fooling around in a swimming pool. But rather than simply posing for a sultry swimsuit snap, Vergara, documented her hilarious attempts to clamber onboard a giant pool toy. With her arms flailing and her long hair getting completely drenched, the Colombian actress threw herself into every attempt, as she fell off time and time again. "Im getting very good at it??,"she captioned the video. "?? #Ihaveallsummer??" Vergara then shared a swimsuit-clad photo of her sitting casually on top of the bull. "Looks like I did it, but I didn't," she wrote alongside the picture. On April 18, the 44-year-old announced she had been cast as a flamenco dancer emoji in the new Emoji Movie. (US Weekly)

Elon Musk and Amber Heard strapped up and held on tight ... for a little semi-extreme fun in Australia. The couple went ziplining in the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. The actress and Tesla honcho had a lot on the line here, and not just because he was trusting his multi-billion dollar ass to a safety harness. Two of Elon's 6 sons came along, so Amber had the added pressure of being dad's cool gf. She probably scored some bonus points, since she's Down Under to shoot "Aquaman" with Jason Momoa. Looks like the couple -- coming up on 1 year together -- had a good time. Still, we gotta say ... no one, not even Elon with his riches, looks good in those helmets. It's just a thing. (TMZ)

Kathy Griffin is a game babysitter! On Saturday, Kris Jenner snapped a pic of her Emmy-winning standup comedian pal lying in the grass with dog treats scattered on her white top, surrounded by two dogs and North, 31/2, and Saint West, 16 months. "When @kathygriffin is babysitting my grandchildren but suddenly realizes she is outnumbered by toddlers and dogs ... OMG!! #atleastshelooksgooddoingit #friendship #kathygriffin #help! #saint #north," Jenner, 61, captioned the hilarious Instagram. Griffin is neighbors with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. "They're actually really dreamy neighbors because the last thing they want is trouble with their neighbors," Griffin explained to PEOPLE in August of her Bel Air home. "They're very busy with Taylor Swift and their lip kits and what have you. And she embraces her home's perks, including an infinity pool perfect for a topless photo op! "I c the kidz doin these kinda pics, so... " Griffin, 56, quipped on Twitter in addition to the photo of herself cupping her nude chest, staring upward into the sky and standing in front of the water in front of the luscious, green hillside. (People)

Migos' Quavo now has his own piece of bling based off one of the group's hit tracks, but unlike Offset ... he decided to big up the song, "Dat Way." Quavo threw down $35k for his new rose gold chain and Napoleon pendant covered in over 300 diamonds at a total weight of 10 carats. It was made by Atlanta's Icebox Diamonds & Watches, where owner Zahir Jooma tells us Quavo is a regular. Zahir says Quavo asked for Napoleon pointing "dat way" since it symbolized power and progress. Quavo was already rockin' the new bling last weekend at Coachella. Remember, Offset was at the festival, repping for "Bad and Boujee" with his raindrop chain. (TMZ)

Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was vandalized again, only this time with a magic marker ... instead of a pick ax. Someone scribbled "F*** Trump" on the President's star on Hollywood Blvd. at some point this weekend. Law enforcement sources at LAPD tell us tell us they were not aware of the vandalism. You'll recall ... James Otis utterly destroyed Trump's star with a pick ax back in October, and even copped to the crime. We broke the story ... he ended up avoiding jail time in a plea bargain. After Otis' handiwork the whole star had to be replaced -- and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce says they run about $30k. This time shouldn't take more than a little solvent and a lot of elbow grease. (TMZ)

Music

Ed Sheeran's 'Shape Of You' Breaks 22-Year-Old Chart Record Down Under. Ed Sheeran's "Shape Of You" (Asylum/Warner) has claimed a slice of chart history Down Under. The English singer and songwriter's comeback hit returns to the top of the ARIA Single Chart this week to log its 14th week at No. 1, breaking a record which stood for almost 22 years. With it 2-1 rise, "Shape" eclipses the previous longest streak set by Coolio's" Gangsta's Paradise," which ruled the tally for 13 weeks back in 1995. The ARIA Charts era covers July 1983 to present. In the early stages of the chart year, Sheeran has been close to untouchable. In January, he became the first artist to have simultaneous debuts at No. 1 and No. 2 with "Shape Of You" and "Castle On The Hill" (Atlantic/Warner), and on the release of his new album Divide, all 16 tracks charting simultaneously inside the top 40, also a new record. This week, Sheeran locks up another chart double with Divide holding off Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. (Interscope/Universal) to claim top position on the ARIA Albums Chart for a seventh successive stint. Sheeran clearly has a special connection with Australian audiences. His sophomore set X (Warner) spent six weeks at No. 1 in 2014 and finished the year as the market's biggest selling album. And at the 2015 ARIA Awards, Sheeran's album received the inaugural ARIA "Diamond" award in recognition of sales in excess of half a million. In that same year, Sheeran became the first artist to embark on a headline national arena tour completely solo (playing to 190,000 people along the way). He returned with his loop pedal and favorite guitars for a solo stadium tour later in 2015 and earlier this year returned to the market for a brief promo trip. The four-times platinum certified "Shape Of You" this week outpaces Kendrick Lamar's fast rising "HUMBLE.," which streaks 7-2 in its third week on the survey. The top five is completed by Sheeran's "Galway Girl," up 4-3; The Chainsmokers &Coldplay's "Something Just Like This" (Columbia/Sony), down 3-4; and Harry Styles' "Sign Of The Times" (Columbia/Sony), which slumps 1-5. With her first new single release of 2017, Lady Gaga's "The Cure" (Interscope/Universal) scores one of the week's highest debuts at No. 17. It's just one place below Lamar's "DNA," one of three tracks from DAMN. to enter the top 40 this week ("LOYALTY." is at No. 20 and "LOVE." is at No. 29). DAMN. starts at No. 2 on the albums list. (Billboard)

Common Debuts New Song, Discusses Chance the Rapper & the State of Hip-Hop at Tribeca Film Festival. Common has always been one to incorporate activism into his music, but perhaps one of his most moving works is the haunting "Letter to the Free" from his 2016 album Black America Again. He turned that song into an affecting visual, which he debuted a longer version of at Tribeca Film Festival Sunday night (April 23). The black-and-white piece -- which was filmed in a jail just outside of Queens, New York -- features Common's song presented by the rapper himself, along with singer Andra Day, their collaborator Bilal and other musicians playing everything from flute to xylophone to bongos. The clip also features a symbolic black box, which Common explained in a conversation with filmmaker Nelson George after the premiere: "It represents the infinite thing about blackness and blackness can't be defined in time or space." In their discussion, George and Common addressed the differences in hip-hop as activism now, with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper, versus when Common's career was just kicking off. "I definitely have to first say that it was music in the late '80s and '90s that was truly reflective of a movement. It was the movement of black empowerment, black love, consciousness, just being aware. It was all of the above," Common said. "Obviously, things go through evolution, it changes. I don't think, right now as a whole, we have that in hip-hop. At that time, the majority of the hip-hop was a pro-black movement -- Big Daddy Kane, Mo D, N.W.A had stuff that was saying something too. I don't feel like we have that as a whole in hip-hop, I don't think hip-hop is the place we go to listen for that voice of a revolution or to say 'this is how we're changing things.' But there are artists that do it, like Kendrick Lamar. I also think that Chance [the Rapper], though he may not speak in black consciousness, he has a consciousness about him, self-awareness and a spirituality. And I don't want to overlook that, because spirituality was something powerful in hip-hop ... I also believe that I do my best to put my spirituality and belief in the creator before anything because, that in itself, no matter where I go, if I carry that with me, then I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing." Along similar lines, an audience member asked Common his thoughts on the timelessness of art and the affects politics has on hip-hop, especially in the Donald Trump era. When it comes down to it (at least in Common's eyes), an artist's passion is what leads to truth and a positive outcome. "I think this era we're in now can be just as tough as the Reagan era in many instances but the artist is speaking up, they feel it and they feel it in their spirits. And I think one thing that we had in hip-hop that you have from that '80s era is a lot of people were kind of educated politically to a certain degree, socially and politically. I think even in this crucial era, the music can be more powerful if the people are passionate about it and they really do care." George added, "Often artists respond with some of their best work, because it touches their friends and their community in a way that's inspiring. And anger, as much as love, inspires art." After the conversation, Common took the stage once more for a performance of powerful tracks like "The People," "The Light" and "Letter to the Free," also premiering a new political-tinged song called "Black Kennedy." (Billboard)

Movies

Burt Reynolds, 81, Makes Rare Public Appearance While Promoting New Film. Burt Reynolds made a rare public appearance on Saturday when he attended the premiere of his new film, Dog Years, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The 81-year-old actor struggled to walk when he worked the red carpet, at one point needing to be given a chair while being interviewed by a group of reporters and taking photos with the cast. Reynolds was joined on the carpet by his Dog Years costar Chevy Chase, whose shirt was for some reason drenched in water, and Robert De Niro, who started the film festival. "Great to see Mr. De Niro, who I love, and ... you know, all the people that I know," Reynolds told the Associated Press at the event. "It's very sweet." Reynolds' costar Ariel Winter was also at the event, where she spoke to reporters about being viewed as a role model for young girls. Nikki Blonsky and Clark Duke also star in the film. It was a rare outing for Reynolds, whose last public appearance was when he was promoting his memoir, But Enough About Me, in April of last year. While attending a Q&A session for the book in Florida, the actor reunited with his "first kiss," Ann Lawlor Scurry. (People)

It's the question everyone who loves Sidney Deane wants to know -- will Wesley Snipes give his blessing for the "White Men Can't Jump" remake???? Snipes knew all about the project when we spotted him out in L.A. -- and cracked a bunch of jokes about the guy expected to star in the flick, Blake Griffin. He even pondered if Griffin would play the black guy or the white guy in the movie ... and gave a pretty hilarious idea about it. As we previously reported, Hollywood power player Kenya Barris -- producer of "Black-ish" -- is spearheading the project WITH Griffin and told us they are dead serious about making it happen. (TMZ)

Next year can't come soon enough! Chris Pratt dropped a few hints about 2018's Jurassic World sequel during a recent interview with Screen Rant to promote his other new blockbuster franchise film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Pratt, 37, played Owen in the 2015 dinosaur-filled sci-fi adventure movie. The film, directed by Colin Trevorrow, costarred Bryce Dallas Howard and picked up 22 years after the events of Steven Spielberg's 1993 classic Jurassic Park. It was the fourth installment in the franchise -- following 1997's The Lost World and 2001's Jurassic Park III -- and the most successful, with a worldwide gross of more than $1.6 billion. Plot details about the upcoming Jurassic World 2 are scarce, but both Pratt and Howard will reprise their roles as Owen and Claire. J.A. Bayona, who directed last year's A Monster Calls, has been tapped to direct. "Aw, man, J.A. Bayona? Do you know that filmmaker?" Pratt asked his Screen Rant interviewer during a Guardians press junket. "He's a remarkable filmmaker. If you haven't seen The Impossible or A Monster Calls, I mean, he's really visually masterful. Deep emotions and suspense." Those elements will play a big part in the upcoming Jurassic World sequel. "I think it's going to be a scarier version," the Parks and Recreation alum told Screen Rant. "A little bit darker. And [it] will continue to expand and carry the story forward in a way that is really unexpected and you wouldn't have imagined." Bayona hinted at some of that darkness in an interview with the U.K.'s Independent last December. "Jurassic is going to be much more scary than the previous films," he shared. "You need to think that these movies need to appeal to a very big, wide audience, and that is very tricky. But if you think about the first Jurassic Park, that was very scary." He went on to recall the scene in the original when a Tyrannosaurus rex starts attacking the car where Lex and Tim Murphy are waiting. "Remember that scene with the T. rex in the car and the kid? You see that scene again and it's quite dark and scary. Steven Spielberg was very brave doing that with kids. I think somehow you can bring that back for a blockbuster film." Jurassic World 2 is due to hit theaters in June 2018. (US Weekly)

The identity of Joss Whedon's Batgirl is a mystery -- even to Whedon himself. The Avengers filmmaker, 52, who has been tapped to write and direct the upcoming Batgirl movie for DC, mulled the idea of casting for the film in a recent chat with Variety, saying he doesn't have anyone specific in mind for the leading role. "I don't have my eye on anybody," he told Variety at the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 premiere in L.A. Wednesday, April 19. "I feel like I'm creating this character, I'm in a dialogue with her, and then we'll see who joins that later on." Previous Batgirls have included Yvonne Craig, who played the part in the third season of the 1960s TV series Batman, and Alicia Silverstone, who took on the role for 1997's Batman & Robin. Whedon suggested to Variety, though, that the next Batgirl might be someone less high-profile. "I doubt it'll be a name. I think this is somewhere where you go and find Batgirl, and then you cast her," he said. "I'm not against movie stars, they're great. But you need somebody who's going to be just right. And in a situation like this, the name [Batgirl] carries a lot of weight, so it's not as critical." For now, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer mastermind is focused on the character, not the actress who will play her. "I started getting obsessed with how a young woman could get hardcore enough to need to put on the cowl," he told The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision at the Guardians premiere. "Like, what's her damage?" He continued: "She didn't have her parents killed in an alley. Who is this person, who decides -- rather than being forced to by their childhood trauma -- decides to pick up this life? How intense and driven that person is ... I just couldn't stop thinking about it." (US Weekly)

Natalie Portman is back to being a working mama. Eight weeks after welcoming daughter Amalia with husband Benjamin Millepied, the 35-year-old actress took part in a photoshoot in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday. Donning a strapless pink dress with floral detailing, Portman posed in the middle of a residential street where traffic was stopped for the shoot. She wore her hair in loose waves, tucked behind her ear on one side. The Oscar-winner welcomed her second child on Feb. 22. "Mother and baby are happy and healthy," her rep told PEOPLE at the time. Portman and the French choreographer, 39, were already parents to son Aleph, 51/2. The couple were married in 2012 in Big Sur, California. The star made her baby-bump debut in September at the Venice Film Festival while promoting her movies Planetarium and Jackie -- the latter of which generated Oscar buzz for Portman's portrayal as former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis directly following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Although she attended the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards while expecting, Portman -- who was nominated for Best Actress -- skipped the February Oscars ceremony due to her delivery. Though Portman and Millepied, who met on the set of the actress's 2010 hit thriller Black Swan, are notoriously private about their family life, the actress opened up in a summer 2016 piece for The New York Times' T Magazine about how parenthood has changed her. "[Parenthood] made me much calmer under stress, because there's that weird parent thing you develop, that when things get really bad, your voice gets calm and your blood pressure slows, and you can make everything okay again," she wrote at the time. Added Portman of how time suddenly speeds up when you become a parent, "I hate saying it, cause ugh, we hated it so much when people said it to us. They always said it, and now we say it, and it's awful, and we're old. But it's also true." (People)

Tribeca: Jon Favreau on 'Lion King' Fans' Expectations, 'Cowboys and Aliens' Disappointment. Interviewer Scarlett Johansson, well-prepared with a legal pad full of questions, alluded to 'Ghost in the Shell's' box-office struggles in a frank aside. When Scarlett Johansson and Jon Favreau sat down for a Q&A at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, the two reminisced about their multiple collaborations, including Iron Man 2, Chef and The Jungle Book. And they opened up about dealing with failure. While Johansson was the interviewer for this exchange -- and the actress came well-prepared with a legal pad full of detailed questions -- she delivered a few noteworthy asides. In particular, she alluded to the poor performance of The Ghost in the Shell when she introduced a question about some of Favreau's poorly received films, name-checking Cowboys and Aliens. "It's happened to all of us, right? I just had that experience," she said, seemingly admitting to the box-office struggles of the film that has so far pulled in $162 million at the global box office despite its $110 budget. With Cowboys and Aliens, Favreau said, every time he "would start to get bummed out" by the film that wasn't received as well as he hoped it would be, he would try to take his mind off it by going swimming with his kids, and he ultimately realized he might be taking it a bit too hard. "By the end of the summer, I was so tan," he said. "I would look in the mirror and I'd say, 'I'm going out to the pool a lot.'" Favreau recovered by throwing himself into the well-received indie Chef. But he admitted Friday that he gets really invested in the films he chooses to direct. "When you direct it, you have to love it, especially one of those that takes like two or three years to do," he said. "Love it to the point of obsession. So there are things that I might want to see or be involved with or act in but that's a lot different than I have to live, breathe, sleep it, dream it. If I'm going to do my best work, I have to be completely immersed." Favreau is next set to direct a remake of The Lion King, building on the work he did on The Jungle Book to create a live-action-looking film using cutting-edge technology and a green screen. While he didn't tease any specifics of the film that already has Donald Glover and James Earl Jones in its cast, he did reveal that he's daunted by the prospect of taking on a title that people have watched multiple times on video. He said when he adapts an existing property, he thinks about what he remembers about the original, making sure to include those moments. With Jungle Book, for instance, he said, "I remember Mowgli and the snake. I remember the snake's eyes. I remember Baloo going down the river and Mowgli riding on him like a raft. I made a big list, and I said those are the images we definitely need. And I remembered the songs.... And then you go back and look at it and realize there's all these things that you don't remember, and you have more latitude to shift and change those things. Some things you look back at and they're very flawed but they're forgiven in your memory." "The Jungle Book was 50 years ago, Lion King was 20, and people grew up with it in an age of video where they're watching it over and over again," he added. "So, I have to really examine all of those plot points. Also, the myths are very strong in that, so you're hitting something even deeper than the movie sometimes. What I'm trying to do is honor what was there.... There are certain expectations people have." Indeed, he realizes that like a popular performer playing a Super Bowl halftime show, he has to deliver all the hits as well as the audience remembers or better. "It's about the audience having the experience they're hoping they have, and if you can surprise them along the way, they'll enjoy it even more, but you gotta live up to what they want, so you get greater pressure with these beloved stories," he said. Speaking of unexpected information, Johansson, a five-time host of Saturday Night Live, may have surprised audience members when she revealed, as an aside, that she's "afraid of improv." "I don't know why I'm afraid of it. I think it's because I don't know what's going to happen. It's a control thing," she added. Favreau argued that she "held [her] own with Robert [Downey Jr.]" on Iron Man 2. But she said she was "panicked: sweaty palms the whole time." He also shared that he was a fan of the Fargo third-season premiere and that he feels like TV is less heavily promoted with focus group-tested trailers. In fact, he says if there's a movie he knows he'll see, like Guardians of the Galaxy 2, he deliberately won't watch the trailer for it. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Reese Witherspoon Confirms Big Little Lies Season 2 Conversations Are Happening: "There's a Possibility There." "Did you ever want it? Did you want it bad?" Those are the opening lyrics to "Cold Little Heart" by Michael Kiwanuka, the song that serves as the theme for Big Little Lies, and they also apply to the feelings of many fans regarding a potential second season. The series, which was based on the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty, was executive produced by and starred Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. There is no sequel written by Moriarty... yet. Moriarty recently revealed there have been talks about a second season, something Witherspoon confirmed to E! News at Tiffany and Co.'s celebration of the 2017 Blue Book Collection. "Yeah, Nicole and I just spoke about it three days ago," Witherspoon told E! News about a second season. "We're talking to Liane Moriarty, who wrote the book, about how could these characters go on, what would happen? We definitely left it open-ended so there's a possibility there." Witherspoon previously told fans that a sequel would rely on whether Moriarty would return to the characters. "I have started to think about ways this could continue," Moriarty said. "The producers have asked me to see if I can come up with some ideas. I wouldn't write a new book but perhaps a new story and then we'll see what happens... I'm absolutely open to it because, once I started thinking, it was too much fun to see what I could do and to see these characters again. And there's definitely places you can go." The miniseries ended with Perry (Alexander Skarsgård) in an all-out brawl with wife Celeste (Kidman), Madeleine (Witherspoon), Jane (Shailene Woodley) and Renata (Laura Dern), with Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) swooping in and pushing Perry to his death. The ladies all decided to cover for each other in regards to the push and bonded. The last scene was the detective of the case watching the women frolic together with their kids on the beach. Moriarty said a sequel to Big Little Lies could focus on Bonnie's backstory and what happens for Celeste now that her abusive husband is gone. The series was a ratings and critical hit for HBO. "It's been extraordinary," Witherspoon told us of the reaction. "It's the biggest reaction I've ever had for any piece of work that I've ever done. I'm just thrilled that people love Big Little Lies that they wanted to watch it every single week. Nicole and I talk about it all the time, we can't believe the excitement about it." But despite the reaction, not everybody wants a sequel. "To do a season two, I'm not for it," Jean-Marc Vallee, director and executive producer of the HBO series, told THR after the finale. "Let's move on and do something else! If there's an opportunity to reunite with Reese, Nicole and these characters of course, I'll be a part of it, but Big Little Lies 1 is a one-time deal. Big Little Lies 2? Nah. The end is for the audience to talk about. Imagine what you want to imagine and that's it. We won't give you a season two because it's so good like this. Why spoil it?" (Eonline)

Danielle Campbell Is Returning to The Originals For a Visit. When all of New Orleans is in trouble, there's apparently only one young witch who can save the day. Danielle Campbell is returning to The Originals for one episode, E! News can exclusively reveal. She'll reprise her role as Davina Claire in the May 12 episode of the CW series, called "Voodoo in my Blood." In the episode, Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) and Klaus (Joseph Morgan) travel to the ancestral world after being summoned by the ancestors, and while there, they come face to face with Davina. She's the one person who holds the secrets to stopping the Hollow, also known as the creepy evil force that's taken over New Orleans. Davina was killed last season after the ancestors cursed Kol (Nathaniel Buzolic) to get revenge on Davina for her magical actions. After Freya (Riley Voelkel) tried to use her as a magical conduit, Davina untethered the ancestral world from the physical world and trapped herself there. Hayley tried to comfort Kol by saying Davina had found peace, but we'll just have to see if that's actually true. "Voodoo in my Blood" will also find Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) and Elijah (Daniel Gillies), forced into an uneasy alliance, meeting with The Vampire Diaries' Alaric Saltzman (guest star Matt Davis), who has tracked down a crucial artifact that could help in their fight against the Hollow. The Originals airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on the CW. (Eonline)

Second Wives Club's Veronika Obeng Is Already Nervous About Her Family's Reaction to the Show: ''My Auntie's Super Jesus!" Welcome to the world of reality television! Second Wives Club cast member Veronika Obeng is already feeling major jitters ahead of her TV debut on E!'s upcoming show about six women in relationships with wealthy and privileged men in Los Angeles. "I'm so stressed," she reveals to E! News exclusively. "My auntie's like super Jesus! I'm from a small town that's super, super Jesus all day, every day." She continues, "You just don't want to be portrayed in a light that's not your greater character. I don't have any regrets, but I'm definitely nervous for my family and close friends to see it. F-bombs are for the privacy of your own home not national TV. But I'll just move through it like everyone else." So, now that we know F-bombs are already on the menu, what else can the audience expect from the series? "I think the fans or just people watching the show are going to get a totally new take on what it's like to be a housewife in Los Angeles or Beverly Hills," Veronika explains. "We don't just shop and hang out and have no issues. There are issues -- family, professional and with your girlfriends -- especially when you're a second wife. I think it's refreshing to see the truth and I think the show is really honest." Veronika, whose costars in the club include Shiva Safai, Katie Cazorla, Shawna Craig, Tania Mehra and Morisa Surrey, also admits filming the show strengthened her relationships with the other women. Well, some of them. "I definitely leaned on Katie," she says. "She was definitely a good friend before and now we're closer than ever. It was great to do the whole process with her emotionally and also on super lighthearted stuff as well." But she adds, "I think the lesson I would take away from the show is that life is too short to waste your energy on things and people who aren't positive vibrations and positive energy. No matter what you have, the most important thing is being a happy, healthy, good person." So, what exactly is Veronika alluding to? You'll have to tune in to find out! Second Wives Club premieres Thursday, May 4 at 9 p.m., on E! (Eonline)

The Arrangement Betrayal Revealed: Megan Learns Her Best Friend Hope Leaked Her Nude Photos. "I can't have you in my life." Megan (Christine Evangelista) broke down in tears after learning her best friend Hope (Katharine Isabelle) leaked her nude photos on Sunday's The Arrangement. On the episode, Megan agreed to move in with Kyle (Josh Henderson) after a stalker broke into his house. But before she moved in, Megan decided to have one last night with her best friends Hope and Shaun (Carra Patterson) in her old house. While packing up her place with her BFFs, Shaun and Hope got into a heated argument over Terence (Michael Vartan) and Institute for the Higher Mind. Hope accused Terence of breaking into Kyle's house and Shaun defended him, which lead Shaun to reveal that she's been taking seminars at IHM. "Trust me Megan, Terence is not your problem," Shaun said. "Oh yeah no, for sure, totally not your problem," Hope said sarcastically. "He can manipulate your boyfriend into firing you off his movie, but no don't worry about him he's not your problem." After hearing this, Shaun told Hope, "How can you even just sit here and act like you're the one who has Megan's back. What did you just forget about what you did?" She then explained to Megan, "Hope's the one who gave your naked pictures to the press." A shocked Megan asked Hope, "You did that? Why?" Hope then tried to explain herself, "Kyle kicked me out of his party and I was pissed... listen, the people from the Institute like Kyle and Terence, I keep trying to tell you that they're dangerous and you're just not hearing me." She continued, "I thought that a scandal would make them leave you alone. It was the trade-off, right? No but it was a horrible idea, it was a terrible, bad, stupid thing to do and I'm really sorry that I hurt you, but it all came from love." "No I do not do that version of love anymore. I can't have you in my life," a distraught Megan said to Hope before telling her to leave. So what do the actors think about this OMG moment? The Arrangement Sunday at 10 p.m., on E! (Eonline)

Rob Kardashian Isn't Ready to Give Up on His Relationship With Blac Chyna: "I Definitely Do Love Her." Welcome to the ex-files. Sunday's latest episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians focused primarily on Rob Kardashian's on-again, off-again relationship with baby mama Blac Chyna. After a volatile fight occurred while the couple was staying together in one of Kylie Jenner's homes, Kris Jenner and his sisters became even more concerned about Rob's well-being and mental state. "We just want to help him be in a happy place. That's all we want for him," Kim Kardashian said. "I can't keep on rushing over there and helping him figure it out and then he goes right after to go be with her." But despite his explosive arguments with Chyna, Rob wasn't ready to call it quits with her for good, even though his sisters couldn't understand the "unhealthy" roller coaster of highs and lows. "I definitely do love her and want to be with her, so I'm not going to just give up," Rob told Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, adding, "We're both working on ourselves. I have a lot of s--t that I got to figure out, regardless or her or anybody, period. You can't like tell somebody how to live their life. They just have to experience it themselves." Meanwhile, Kris received an advance copy of Caitlyn Jenner's forthcoming memoir, The Secrets of My Life. But after reading it, she was extremely upset and saddened by what was written about her. "None of it makes sense," Kris said. "Everything she says is all made up. Why does everything have to be that Kris is such a bitch and an a--hole? I've never been so angry and disappointed in somebody in my whole life." In addition, Khloe Kardashian celebrated finalizing her divorce from Lamar Odom and legally changing her last name back to Kardashian. But since that chapter was now closed, she also contemplated throwing out her old wedding photos. However, in an effort to convince Khloe to save them as memories, Kim opened up her "ex box" filled with keepsakes she had saved from past relationships, including a McDonald's chicken nugget box from her first date with high school boyfriend TJ Jackson. LOL! In another lighthearted moment, Kim had "major beef" with Kylie for trying to steal her throne. "This thot, that ho over there, decides to try to copy me again," Kim jokingly told Kris. "She got f--king psoriasis!" But despite Kim's act, at the end of the day, it was still all love between the sisters. "Everyone thinks that I'm coming for Kim's throne, but we actually have a really funny, good relationship and we talk all day long," Kylie explained. "So, it's kinda funny that people think that and we like to play along." Keeping Up With the Kardashians Sunday at 9 p.m., on E! (Eonline)

Netflix to Raise $1.09B Via Debt Offering Amid Rising Content Spending. The streaming video giant will use proceeds "for general corporate purposes, which may include content acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, working capital and potential acquisitions." Netflix said Monday that it was planning to raise 1 billion euros, or $1.09 billion, via a bond offering outside the U.S. "Netflix intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include content acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, working capital and potential acquisitions and strategic transactions," the company said. In the fall, Netflix raised $1 billion in a similar debt offering. Wall Street observers have expected a latest debt offering or other financing round, saying that the streaming video giant would have to raise more money to fund its continued push into originals, which continues to boost its content spending. As the streaming giant's content spending has increased, so has the cost to promote its projects. For example, Netflix said as part of its latest earnings report last week that it would spend more than $1 billion in 2017 to market its content. Analysts also said the latest management commentary that day meant Netflix would likely continue to report free cash flow losses in the coming years, requiring additional funding. "Netflix is pacing to spending more on content than we have previously expected ($9.5 billion in cash in 2017)," Drexel Hamilton analyst Tony Wible said in a research report after the company's earnings report. "At the same time, we are seeing a decline in the use of payables that have historically helped finance content costs. Netflix has noted it is looking to soon raise debt. We estimate it may need more than $1 billion of capital by year-end." (Hollywood Reporter)

Megyn Kelly is ready to get back on TV. Page Six has exclusively learned that Kelly will officially start at NBC next month. "She will start in May, and her Sunday show will premiere in June," a network insider told us. Kelly had been expected to start in July after her Fox contract expired, but she was just released from her Fox deal two weeks ago. She will join Kate Snow as part of NBC News' Sunday night programming. NBC News vet and former "Dateline" executive producer David Corvo will executive produce Kelly's Sunday show with another longtime NBC producer, Elizabeth Cole. NBC News chairman Andy Lack flew to Russia earlier this month to meet with Vladimir Putin's spokesman, sparking buzz that a Putin interview may launch Kelly's show. But the former Fox News star's upcoming weekday morning program remains in shambles. We're told NBC is still scrambling to find a staff and executive producer for the weekday morning show, which will debut in the fall. "It's a very real problem. There's no staff in place. They have no idea what they're going to do with Megyn. Ideas range from talk show to studio audience to news show. It's a problem," another source said. Kelly's rep didn't comment. However, another NBC insider insists, "Megyn's morning show is almost entirely staffed -- and it doesn't air for another five months. They just haven't announced anybody." Meanwhile, "Today" is in a panic because "CBS This Morning" is catching up to them in the ratings after rival "Good Morning America" tripled its lead over the show last month. "They're close to falling into third place. CBS has never been this close to 'Today' in the entirety of the show. 'Today' is panicking, and there's a lot of infighting because NBC is starting to lose in the mornings and evenings. 'Today' has even launched a new promo campaign, which focuses on the newsy side to try to compete," a source said. "'Today' is the No.?1 morning show in viewers 25 to 5

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