ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

George Clooney Skips Humanitarian Award Ceremony to Be Home With Amal Before She Gives Birth. The countdown is on! George Clooney wasn't able to travel to Yerevan, Armenia over the weekend because he was at home with wife Amal Clooney while the two prepare to become parents in the coming days. The actor turned activist gave a video address at the award ceremony of the Aurora Price for Awakening Humanity when he joked about his current self-imposed travel ban of sorts. "I really would have been [in Yerevan] but if I came there and my wife had twins while I was there, I could never come home." Last year, however, Clooney was able to be on hand at the ceremony and serve as the co-chair of the award's prize selection committee. E! News previously reported that the Clooneys are in full-blown nesting mode while they await the arrival of their little ones. "They're counting down [the days] and pretty much at the edge of their seats," a source shared with us just a few weeks ago. "Every day, one of them is like, 'It's going to be today. I can feel it' and then it doesn't happen." Our insider added, "Amal is great. She's healthy, excited and looking forward to becoming a mother. She is taking it very easy. She's officially on maternity leave now." Well, there's no doubt about it -- it's an exciting time in the Clooney household! (Eonline)

Ed Sheeran Is "Not Engaged" to Girlfriend Cherry Seaborn. Contrary to reports, Ed Sheeran has not popped the question to girlfriend Cherry Seaborn. The engagement rumors came courtesy of Russell Crowe, who mistakenly referred to the hockey player as the singer's "fiancee" during a recent Facebook Live chat. "[Ed] was on tour here and he was getting a bit burned out, so he came up and stayed at the farm for a couple of days to get some sleep and then we became conversational mates," the Oscar winner said. "He has subsequently gone back to the farm with his fiancee for more time." Sheeran was asked about the alleged engagement Tuesday on Australia's Fitzy & Wippa radio show. "You know, he's only met Cherry once and I didn't introduce her. I didn't say anything," the "Shape of You" singer told the hosts. "I think he just assumed. But no, we're not engaged." Here are some deets about singer's lady love: The 25-year-old works as a senior advisory consultant at Deloitte in London. She previously held the job in New York City. She went to Durham University in the United Kingdon, where she played hockey. Amazingly enough, Seaborn and Sheeran both attended Thomas Mills High School together (she was a year below him) in Suffolk, England, but they didn't start dating until July 2015. Last summer, friend Taylor Swift gave the couple a one-year anniversary shout out on her Instagram. The engagement may not have happened, but settling down is something that Sheeran has openly admitted that he's been looking forward to for a while. In January, he told Zane Lowe on Beats 1 that he was able to fall in love during his break from music. "This has been the first time I've ever actually had the time to fall in love properly," he said. "'I've always got into relationships very passionately. I'm a redhead and also Irish.'' In the interview he also said he wants kids ASAP. "I wanted to be a dad, like, last year. I'm ready, let's go -- tour bus babies, little fat, chubby babies that just walk around," said the "Galway Girl" singer. The redhead also told Lowe that his romance with Seaborn is the reason he took a year off of music. "The catalyst of taking a year off was also the fact that my partner quit her job in New York -- which she's now got back in London, which really cool -- but we were just basically like, let's quit our jobs and have a year of forming a tight bond. So we went traveling and spent every day for a year together." (Eonline)

Robert Pattinson Was Nearly Fired From Twilight. Try to imagine Twilight without Robert Pattinson. Playing the vampire Edward Cullen made Pattinson a household name, but as he recalled in an interview with The New York Times over the weekend, he was nearly fired while making the first film, released in 2008. His agents intervened, flying to the Canadian set to calm him down. "I didn't have to kiss anybody's [butt] the entire time," he recalled. "I don't think I did, anyway." (The movie star told Yahoo! Movies in 2012 that he took his method acting to so seriously that he "was fighting with everybody in control all the time...to the point where I almost got fired.") In hindsight, Pattinson said, shooting the five Twilight films was "an amazing luxury." It was "amazing luck, as well, to just have fallen into it with the group of people I worked with on it." And if he's forever associated with Edward Cullen, so be it. "I think one of the best things, basically, about being a bit of a sellout, is if you've done five movies in a series, you've had to accept some responsibility for playing the same character," Pattison, 31, told the newspaper. The actor is particularly proud of 2012's Cosmopolis, the first movie he made after Twilight ended. "I think it was the first time when I worked on something that was quite complex," Pattinson said. "I especially love the fact that it came out really at the height of my popularity." It was "the big turning point for me," he added. "I just realized that was what I wanted to do." Pattinson was a fan of director-producer-writer David Cronenberg's style, which was unlike that of anyone else he had ever worked with before. "I think it's so rare for something to break a pattern," he explained. "I feel like almost everything in the world is designed to be predictable." The Good Time actor, whose next projects include High Life and The Souvenir, is at his best when he's operating outside of his comfort zone. Just don't ask him to watch his work, as it makes him very self-conscious. "I've never seen anyone give themselves such a hard time. I'm beating myself up afterward. And I think there's some weird perverted energy that comes out of when people criticize previous work or think you represent this certain thing; it gives you this energy," Pattinson said, joking that he's "almost scared of anyone saying anything I do is good." (Eonline)

Alicia Silverstone and Breckin Meyer Are Anything But Clueless at Film's Special Screening. As if she wasn't going to show up?! A whopping 22 years after Clueless rocked the world with its bright colors, quotable dialogue and head-bopping soundtrack, Alicia Silverstone, who played the film's central role of Cher Horowitz, booked it to the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Los Angeles on Sunday to make a surprise cameo at a very special screening of the film. The 40-year-old actress, who was decked out in a baby pink sleeveless top and floral skirt (which would have absolutely been in Cher's repertoire) also treated the crew of fans to a mini reunion with her co-star, Breckin Meyer, who famously played Travis Birkenstock in the movie. Before the movie began, Alicia took center of the cemetery's lawn to speak to the crowd about the iconic 1995 film, which made her a household name. "I really love the film and I'm so happy you all do too!" Instead of taking her rocker husband Christopher Jarecki as her date to the outdoor event, the actress brought along her 6-year-old son Bear Blu. Alicia and her hubby began dating in 1997 and dated for eight years before marrying at Lake Tahoe in 2005. Amy Heckerling, the film's director, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter last year about how she came up with the film's most iconic phrase, "As if!" "I am always compiling slang words because I am just interested in how people use language," she told THR. "At that time, which was like early '90s, 'As if!' was floating around in the gay community. and I thought it was really a multiuseful, multipurpose word. I thought it would be a good thing for teenagers to be saying." Heckerling also admitted that by the time "As if!" made it into Clueless, a lot of her crew were already shortening it to "Zif!" (Eonline)

Ariana Grande's mom has spoken out following the Manchester attack. Joan Grande paid tribute to those who helped the victims in a Twitter message on Monday, May 29. "Thank you to all those who helped out in any way that night in Manchester," she wrote. "I continually thank those who are & were in service protecting our freedoms every day all over the world! #MemorialDay." Last week, 22 people were killed and more than 50 others were injured during a suicide bombing after the singer's concert at the Manchester Arena on May 22. A source confirmed to Us Weekly that Joan helped escort fans backstage to safety at the time. Ariana, who was physically unharmed, flew back to her hometown in Boca Raton, Florida, hours later. She announced on May 26 that she would soon be returning to Manchester for a benefit concert. "My heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester Attack and their loved ones. There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better. However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way," Ariana wrote in a statement. "The only thing we can do now is choose how we let this affect us and how we live our lives from here on out." The singer's brother, Frankie Grande, also took to social media after the tragedy. "My prayers, thoughts, meditations & strength has been focused on those families and victims affected by the horrific tragedy in Manchester," the Big Brother alum, 34, tweeted on Sunday, May 28. "I echo my sisters sentiment & say we can't allow hate to propagate hate & fear to propagate fear but rather come together & spread a message of love, unity, & empowerment." (Perez Hilton)

Scott Disick is dead to the Kardashians -- with one big exception -- after what they believe is a vicious campaign against Kourtney. People close to Scott tell us ... the cavalcade of women he's been with since touching down in Cannes is a well-planned offensive to hurt his baby mama and make her jealous. They say he had no interest in Bella Thorne ... she was just his opening salvo. We're told Scott's been livid Kourtney's been dating 23-year-old Younes Bendjima. Scott felt he was on the verge of getting back with her and then learned she'd been seeing Younes on and off since October. The Kardashians, especially Kourtney, are done with him. No more family dinners, vacations, and as we reported, Kourtney will not let Scott see their 3 kids until he proves he's sober. One of the things that especially irks the Kardashian brood ... Scott is trying to be photographed with these women, and the pics and stories will live online for their kids to read one day. As for the big exception ... we're told Kris is still all-in trying to sell a house-flipping pilot starring Scott. Hey, business is business. (TMZ)

Sean Penn and Robin Wright are back together in NYC ... although it's probably not a romantic getaway. The exes, who divorced back in 2010, flew into JFK Airport Tuesday morning, and walked out together. They also left in the same SUV. Sean does have a good track record when it comes to making peace with his exes -- just ask Madonna -- but this one seems to be more related to co-parenting. Robin and Sean's 23-year-old son, Hopper, lives in NYC and recently opened up about a stint in rehab. He's publicly thanked his dad for helping him clean up. (TMZ)

Tiger Woods Breaks Silence After DUI Arrest. Tiger Woods is breaking his silence just hours after it was revealed that he was arrested for a DUI in Florida. The professional golfer addressed the incident and blamed an "unexpected reaction to prescribed medications" as the reason behind the event that took place in Jupiter, Fl. "I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions. I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn't realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly." He continued, "I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too. I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again." Ultimately, Woods thanked the officers who handled his arrest. "I fully cooperated with law enforcement, and I would like to personally thank the representatives of the Jupiter Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office for their professionalism." E! News previously reported that Woods was booked at 7:18 after having been arrested at 3 a.m. for driving under the influence. The booking sheet noted that the golf star had an unlawful blood alcohol level. Palm Beach County Jail records indicate Woods, who lives in Jupiter Island, was released from custody at 10:50 a.m. (Eonline)

Paul O'Neill -- the founder of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra -- died from a combination of prescription drugs ... TMZ has learned. TMZ obtained a copy of O'Neill's autopsy report, and it says he died of intoxication from a mix of methadone, codeine, diazepam (generic Valium) and doxylamine (an antihistamine). According to the doc, the cause of death is intoxication ... but it also mentions other ailments O'Neill was battling ... such as mild heart disease, hypertension and moderate hardening of the arteries. The medical examiner determined the death to be accidental. When O'Neill died last month, the band released a statement saying he'd died from a "chronic illness." Paul was 61. (TMZ)

The Bachelorette Contestant Michael Nance Dead at Age 31. Monday marked a somber day for Bachelor Nation. E! News has learned that 31-year-old Michael Nance, a contestant who vied for Emily Maynard's love in season eight, has passed away. "At this point it is not a suspicious death and the manner will be determined by the medical examiner," a spokesperson for the Austin Police Department Homicide Unit in Texas tells E! News. Officers were dispatched at 2:10 a.m. May 29 in reference an unresponsive male. Upon their arrival, officers located the unresponsive male, who was later identified as Nance. He was pronounced deceased at 2:54 a.m. Chris Bukwoski posted the following tribute on Twitter shortly after hearing the tragic news: "Extremely difficult learning the news of Michael Nance's passing. He was a gentle man with a huge heart. He'll be missed but not forgotten." Meanwhile, other Bachelor stars rushed to social media to honor the late reality star. Arie Luyendyk Jr. penned a touching message to his followers about the loss of Nance. "I will always remember my friend Michael Nance for his kind and fragile soul. Addiction is a terrible disease, may he finally find peace." Sean Lowe also weighed in on the difficult news of Nance's death, writing, "My heart breaks to hear about the passing of my friend Michael Nance. He was a sweet man with a kind soul. We all loved him on Bachelorette." Maynard has yet to take to Twitter about the news. "My fondest memories of Michael were when he would sing and play guitar in the Bachelor house," cast member Tony Pieper tells E! News. "You could tell that was his happy and joyous place. He had such a big heart and was such a genuine guy. We lost a good one in Michael. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. RIP, buddy." Fellow cast member Kalon McMahon adds, "He was one of the nicest and most genuine guys in the house. We kept in touch after the show and I'm just really sad. His music was amazing. He was amazing. He was a gentle giant." (Eonline)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Beyonce shows off her baby bump on Insta with daughter Blue Ivy. OMG! So cute... Beyonce is of course pregnant with twins and we've been following her style journey with fervour. Her pregnancy has been celebrated on Instagram with regular photoshoots, and her latest snap might be our fave yet... The star posted the picture with first daughter Blue Ivy, and she's looking amazing as ever! It's fair to say she looks like the coolest pregnant woman EVER. Beyonce, whose due date is fast approaching (the twins are expected in June), also recently posted a series of photos to her Instagram of herself having ALL the fun at the Carter Push Party. An insider told E!: "The party was very family friendly with Blue Ivy and lots of her friends running around the grounds of the estate. "There was a huge tent erected on the property where most of the shower took place. (British Glamour)

Days before the 50th anniversary of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," The Beatles' remaining members were spotted celebrating with some fellow legends in Hollywood. Spies said that on Friday night, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were sitting at a corner table at LA Italian eatery the Ponte with Eagles rocker Joe Walsh, country star Vince Gill and Jack Nicholson. McCartney and Starr were next to each other in the group. The Ponte is the new hot spot opened by NYC chef Scott Conant. The album's 50th anniversary is June 1. McCartney said last week on his Web site of creating the classic, "What really happened was, I was coming back from a trip abroad with our roadie .?.?. and we were eating and he mumbled to me, asked me to pass the salt and pepper. And I misheard him. He said, '[mumbles] saltandpepper.' I go, 'Sgt. Pepper?' I thought he said, 'Sgt. Pepper.' I went, 'Oh! Wait a minute, that's a great idea!' So we had a laugh about it, then I started thinking about Sgt. Pepper as a character. I thought it would be a very interesting idea for us to assume alter egos for this album we were about to make." As far as which historical faces made the iconic cover, Macca revealed, "Someone brought [up] Hitler. And that was vetoed immediately." (Page Six)

Bella Thorne took to Instagram on Monday, May 29, to wish her ex Gregg Sulkin a happy birthday, just days after she hooked up with Scott Disick in Cannes, France. "Happy birthday Gregg!!!! I love you :)) always been such a wonderful person:) glad we are here through thick and thin. Let's party you old man!!" the actress, 19, captioned the picture, in which she wears a black bra and cuddles with the shirtless actor, 25, on a pool float. The former couple dated for a little more than a year before they called it quits last August. "After much thought and soul-searching, we have made the difficult decision to end our relationship," the pair told Us Weekly at the time. "We will always love each other and have a deep respect for one another, as we have each grown to be better people because of our time together. Our schedules made seeing each other difficult, and we decided that for now this would be best." Thorne returned home to Los Angeles over the weekend after her PDA-filled trip to Cannes with Disick, 34. The pair sparked romance rumors when they were photographed kissing in the pool on Wednesday, May 24, before he moved on to a bevy of other women days later. Thorne later clarified on Twitter that she's "not talking to scott or anyone else." (US Weekly)

Melania Trump is proving to the fashion designers who said they wouldn't help her that dressing well is the best revenge. The first lady's trip to Saudi Arabia, the Vatican, Belgium and Sicily -- wearing mostly Dolce & Gabbana -- was a fashion tour de force that has forced many naysayers in the rag trade to rethink. The list of designers who said they wouldn't dress Melania is long, led by Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Christian Siriano and Sophie Theallet. But Melania has managed to look smashing in dozens of different ensembles, from her white Ralph Lauren jumpsuit on election night to the D&G 3-D floral coat she wore in Sicily on Friday. Defending the former model against critics who harped on the garment's $51,500 cost, the Washington Post's Robin Givhan opined, "Frankly, the floral coat is beautiful." "There is a softening, a melting," stylist Phillip Bloch told me. "Fashion people are fickle and fake. They are starting to see she is a beautiful woman who is married to the president, and it is an honor to dress her." Deliveries to Trump Tower have picked up. "Most days, the lobby is brimming with wardrobe boxes delivered for Melania," a source told me. "Once she tries on the outfits and decides what she will keep, the boxes come back downstairs." Not since Jacqueline Kennedy has there been a first lady who needs less help. "She doesn't need couture. She can buy off the rack, and it looks beautiful," Bloch said. "She knows her size, and she knows what works on her. She luxuriates in minimal." (Page Six)

Carole Radziwill and her chef boyfriend Adam Kenworthy had a romantic weekend in Puerto Rico, where they were spotted at the El San Juan Resort. On Friday, they were seen attending a party in the hotel's new lobby for businessman Michael Capponi's birthday. "They danced all night," says the spy. They kept things going Sunday at the opening of the property's beach club. "They were very loving," says the source of the "Real Housewives of New York City" star and her beau, who recently won the Food Network cooking competition, "Chopped." They were playing in the pool and enjoying some PDA." They were also seen smooching during a sunset walk on the beach and heading into a couples massage. (Page Six)

The hills have eyes. And a new set of them just moved in. Singer-songwriter The Weeknd recently purchased a home in the posh enclave of Hidden Hills, CA, according to TMZ. The final sale price? $20 million. The nine-bedroom, nine-bathroom mansion is a massive 13,391 square feet and sits on a 2.94 acre lot. Once you step inside the estate, a 25-foot grand entry greets you. The house features a wine cellar, a home theater, gym, study, and a recording studio for The Weeknd to produce a few more hits. Solid plank, French oak, and limestone floors cover the interior throughout. Outside, the property boasts a saltwater pool with a 12-foot water feature, an outdoor kitchen, a barbecue center, an entertainment pavilion with two fire pits, and a covered patio. Also on the property is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,200-square-foot guesthouse. And if The Weeknd ever wants to spend his weekend doing what others in his income bracket do -- raise horses -- then he's got an eight-stall barn attached to his property to indulge in equine dreams. The Weeknd joins a long list of celebrities who have called the gated community of Hidden Hills home, including Kylie Jenner, the Osbourne family, Miley Cyrus, Tyson Chandler, and Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian. The Weeknd first rose to prominence thanks to his work on three popular mixtapes: "House of Balloons," "Thursday," and "Echo of Silence." He released his most recent album -- "Starboy" -- in 2016. His previous albums, "Beauty Behind the Madness" and "Kiss Land," were released in 2015 and 2013, respectively. With two consecutive No. 1 albums to his name, The Weeknd has definitely earned his multimillion-dollar home. (Page Six)

Chris Brown's daughter, Royalty, was treated to every 3-year-old's birthday dream ... an epic pool party, plus a trip to Six Flags. CB posted a bunch of pics of Royalty's birthday weekend -- which included what looks like a kid-filled poolside bash, and a day at Bugs Bunny World at Magic Mountain. Chris was front and center during the toddler turn up ... showing everyone his #1 dad side. Big diff from the guy Karrueche Tran's been accusing of domestic abuse. What can we say? He's complicated. (TMZ)

Carmelo and La La Anthony are in a limbo stage of their relationship ... but they're perfectly fine with that. Sources close to the ex-couple tell TMZ ... neither one is in any hurry to file divorce papers because they're happy with the way things are right now. We're told they're definitely not getting back together, but are working together to be there for their 10-year-old son. As our source puts the situation ... "Divorce isn't on the horizon." When we last saw them together, Melo and La La were co-parenting on Mother's Day ... dinner and fro-yo style. (TMZ)

Music

We've confirmed Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Niall Horan will also be performing. Ariana Grande's Manchester concert this Sunday will feature huge acts, including Coldplay and Miley Cyrus ... TMZ has learned. Sources connected with the event tell us the charity concert will be held at the Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester ... the same place Beyonce performed last July. In addition to Coldplay and Miley, Pharrell and Take That will perform at the event headlined by Ariana. We're told as many as 10 acts will take the stage. TMZ broke the story, Ariana is returning to Manchester for the concert less than 2 weeks after the terrorist attack at her concert at the Manchester Arena. Proceeds will go to the victims' families. (TMZ)

"Saved by the Bell" is going the way of "High School Musical" and the show's famed producer already has the perfect singing Zack Morris in mind. Peter Engel tells us, ideally, Justin Bieber would slip into the role for the new musical version of 'Saved,' but there are a couple issues. First, it would have to be JB circa 2012 ... believe it or not, he's kinda aged out. Secondly, he's just too big now. So, the search is on for someone Bieber-esque, and Engel says the good news is he already has another famous musical creator on his side. Someone who happens to be a huge 'SBTB' fan. (TMZ)

Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged Little Pill' Musical Gets 2018 Debut. Directed by Diane Paulus, the show features a book by Diablo Cody, revolving around a modern and multi-generational family and touches on issues of gender identity and race. You oughta know -- a stage musical featuring Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill is officially a go. The singer-songwriter's iconic 1995 album will be the basis of a new production debuting at Cambridge's American Repertory in May 2018. Directed by Diane Paulus (Waitress), the show will include orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and a book by Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Juno who also co-created the series United States of Tara and One Mississippi. It will be Cody's Broadway debut. "This team that has come together for this Jagged Little Pill musical is my musical theatre dream come true," said Morissette in a statement. "The chemistry between all of us is crackling and I feel honored to be diving into these songs again, surrounded by all of this searing talent. Diablo and Diane are already taking these deeply personal songs that are part of my soul's marrow to a whole other level of hope, freedom and complexity." Created by Cody in close creative consultation with Morissette, the show's storyline revolves around a modern and multi-generational family and their complex dynamics, touching on issues of gender identity and race. Songs from Morissette's groundbreaking album like "Ironic" and "Hand in My Pocket" will be performed in the musical, which will also feature melodies from the singer's extensive body of work. "I am so excited to tell a modern story through these iconic songs. Alanis's music is full of powerful narratives that lend themselves organically to this process," said Cody. Added Paulus, "Jagged Little Pill defined a generation and yet the raw, emotional honesty of Alanis' songs feels more needed now than ever." Released in 1995, Jagged Little Pill was co-written with Glen Ballard and has sold more than 33 million copies worldwide to date. The album won five Grammy Awards out of nine nominations, including Album of the Year, making Morissette the youngest artist in history to receive the honor at the time. A.R.T.'s production of Jagged Little Pill is produced by special arrangement with Vivek J. Tiwary, Arvind Ethan David and Eva Price. (Billboard)

Ludacris Says Drake Beef Was Squashed Before Billboard Music Awards Shout-Out. Ludacris speaks onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. After receiving a special shout-out during Drake's victory speech at the Billboard Music Awards earlier this month, Ludacris confirmed that the two made peace even before then. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Luda said, "Yeah, everything is good" concerning his relationship with the Toronto rapper, who indirectly called out the Atlanta MC for jocking the "Supa Dupa" flow made popular by Big Sean, Drake, Nicki Minaj and others. "A bunch of rappers started doing it, and using the most terrible references in the world," Drake told AllHipHop in 2010. "I don't want to offend somebody. I hate that rappers picked that flow up. I wish they had left that for people that know how to use it. [They go like], 'It's a parade! MACYS!'" The quote referenced Ludacris' 2010 hit "My Chick Bad" featuring Minaj. Drake then showed love to Ludacris during his BBMAs acceptance speech. "Ludacris, we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I've always been a big fan of yours and I got a lot of love for you," he said. "I want to let you know that face to face, while I'm still here." "We had a conversation before he even did that," added Ludacris, who is currently on the promo trail for his upcoming hosting gig on MTV's Fear Factor reboot, premiering Tuesday, May 30 at 10 p.m. (Billboard)

Movies

Scarlett Johansson and Her Raunchy Friends Have a Killer Time in New Rough Night Trailer. Friends forever! There's a brand-spanking new trailer for the sure-to-be hilarious new all-lady comedy, Rough Night, starring Ghost in the Shell's Scarlett Johansson, Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon, Workaholics star Jillian Bell, Broad City's Ilana Glazer and Big Little Lies actress Zoë Kravitz. It's been 10 years since graduating from college, but these five friends are going to have the time of their lives -- if it kills them (or someone else!) In the R-rated comedy, Jess (played by Johansson) reunites with her four college friends when they rent a beach house in Miami for her wild and raunchy bachelorette weekend, but all goes awry (aka the stripper they hired ends up dead) during this life-changing night. Ty Burrell, Colton Haynes, Hasan Minhaj, Demi Moore, Enrique Murciano and Karan Soni round out the ensemble cast. The film-driven comedy is also a female-directed comedy. Turns out, that the movie's director (and co-writer, along with Paul W. Downs), Lucia Aniello, is the first female director this century to direct an R-Rated comedy for women. Initially titled Rock That Body, the film was included on the 2015 Black List of unproduced screenplays. Aniello and Downs produced the comedy alongside Dave Becky and Matt Tolmach, while Matthew Hirsch served as its executive producer. Downs also has a role in the ensemble movie. The "edgy" movie features plenty of shocking moments that sure to have people talking and laughing out loud. But more than anything, Aniello told BuzzFeed, "It's a movie about friendships. It was really more about honing in on our experience of having friendships from high school and college that have evolved and maybe gotten a little bit distant. What does it feel like when you reconnect with those people? Are people excited to be reunited? Are they resentful? What is that experience like?" After the movie comes out, she adds, "Hopefully it will have people reflecting on their own lives and their own friendships and relate to friendships that maybe should be worked on." Rough Night hits theaters on June 16. (Eonline)

How is Sofia Coppola only the second-ever female Best Director winner at Cannes? Meanwhile, Jessica Chastain's speech about the "disturbing" portrayal of women in Cannes films has gone viral Sofia Coppola has won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival for her film The Beguiled-a period thriller with a megastar cast including Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst. So it's kind of jaw dropping that, in Cannes' 71st year, Coppola is only the second female director ever to win that prize. The news comes as Jessica Chastain, who was sitting on the jury this year, made an eloquent, emotional speech about her disappointment at the "disturbing" portrayal of women in this year's entries, and made a call for more female directors- only three films out of the 19 in competition were made by women. Appearing to be shaking with nerves, she said that female storytelling led to more authentic female characters. "This is the first time I watched 20 films in 10 days, and I love movies. The one thing I really took away from this experience is how the world views women, from the female characters that were represented. It was quite disturbing to me, to be honest," she said. "I do hope that when we include more female storytellers, we will have more women that I recognize in my own day-to-day life. Ones that are proactive, have their own agency, don't just react to the men around them. They have their own point of view." Her fellow juror Will Smith also jovially, but accurately, flagged up the complete lack of minority nominees (and films) in competition this year, saying: "A couple black folks [on screen] next year wouldn't hurt." To find the first female Best Director winner at Cannes, you have to go all the way back to 1961 when Russian director Yuliya Solntseva won Best Director for her film Chronicle of Flaming Years. But however woeful this figure at Cannes is, it doubles the number the Oscars has awarded: Katheryn Bigelow remains the only woman to win the Best Director Academy Award, for The Hurt Locker in 2009, although only one woman has won Cannes' most prestigious prize, the Palme D'Or-The Piano director Jane Campion, whom Coppola thanked in her speech. The Palme D'Or this year went to Ruben Östlund's art world satire The Square, starring Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West. Elsewhere, We Need to Talk About Kevin director Lynn Ramsay had one of the festival's most talked-about films this year in crime-drama You Were Never Really Here, which saw Joaquin Phoenix win Best Actor (which some critics thought might actually go to Adam Sandler, who has made his first good film in years. Ramsay won Best Screenplay in a tie with the male Greek writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos, whose film Killing of a Sacred Deer was one of four films Kidman starred in at the festival, leading to her winning a specially-created 70th anniversary festival prize. Diane Kruger took the principal Best Actress prize for the German drama In The Fade. The next major female-directed film this year is Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, which has so far trounced Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Man of Steel and Suicide Squad to earn the best reviews of any of the DC Extended Universe films. So, you know - that. Women can and do make brilliant films, but unless the studio support is in place to get them into roles of power, these films can't get made. (British Glamour)

Don Cheadle Defends Women-Only 'Wonder Woman' Screenings. "There's no point to men making a point about celebrating themselves. That's called 'the planet.'" Don Cheadle doesn't understand why some men are getting so bent out of shape over a handful of women-only Wonder Woman screenings. The actor defended the screenings on Twitter, replying to multiple commenters who decried the screenings as sexist. "An all women screening of Wonder Woman pits men against women? How?" asked Cheadle, responding to a Twitter user who spoke sarcastically about how we need more division in America. She later clarified to Cheadle that she herself was replying to someone who suggested that if there are women-only screenings there should be men-only screenings as well. Men-only screening requests have popped up amidst the outrage that movie theater chain Drafthouse invited women to a women-only screening of Wonder Woman in Austin. The screenings sold out quickly and the theater expanded it to other cities across the U.S., including New York. Cheadle spent Tuesday morning tweeting about the backlash, writing about institutional sexism and why a men-only screening is not a rational response. "There's no point to men making a point about celebrating themselves. That's called 'the planet.' Claro?" wrote Cheadle. "You guys really have to stop with this stupid analogy. It's apples to carburetor parts." He appreciated one Twitter user's suggestion that not only should there be women-only screenings, the ticket prices for those screenings should be 85% of the normal price to reflect the gender wage gap. The actor also reflected on the lack of representation for minority women, calling for diversity on the studio level. (Hollywood Reporter)

'Paddington 2' Trailer Debuts Hugh Grant's and Brendan Gleeson's New Characters. The sequel reunites Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi and Madeleine Harris, as well as Ben Whishaw as the voice of the titular bear. The first teaser trailer for Paddington 2 includes a glimpse of the sequel's fresh faces, played by Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson. In the film, based on a series of children's books by Michael Bond that launched in 1958, Grant plays a vain, charming acting legend whose star has fallen somewhat in recent years. Meanwhile, Gleeson plays a notorious safecracker and strongman who becomes Paddington's unexpected ally. The sequel also stars Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi and Madeleine Harris, as well as Ben Whishaw as the voice of the titular bear. Paul King again directs the Heyday Films and StudioCanal follow-up, which sees the beloved bear -- now a popular member of his local community at Windsor Gardens -- embark on a series of odd jobs to buy a book for Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday. But when the book is stolen, it's up to Paddington and the Brown family to unmask the thief. Released in 2014, Paddington grossed nearly $270 million worldwide. The Weinstein Company will release Paddington 2 in the U.S. on Jan. 12, 2018. (Hollywood Reporter)

Jessica Chastain "Disturbed" by Representation of Women in Film at Cannes Film Festival. Jessica Chastain calls it like she sees it. At the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, during a press conference following Sofia Coppola's Best Director win for The Beguiled, Chastain took the opportunity to share what she'd learn during her time as a juror. "I do believe that if you have female storytelling you also have more authentic female characters. This is the first time I've watched 20 films in 10 days, and I love movies, and the one thing I really took away from this experience is how the world views women from the female characters that I saw represented. It was quite disturbing to me, to be honest," the two-time Oscar nominee said. "There are some exceptions, I will say. But, for the most part, I was surprised by the representation of female characters on screen in these films." "I do hope that when we include more female storytellers, we will have more of the women that I recognize in my day-to-day life: ones that are proactive, have their own agencies, don't just don't react to the men around them," Chastain said. "They have their own point-of-view." Many in Hollywood -- including Aidy Bryant, Lena Dunham, Ava DuVernay, Mindy Kaling and Debra Message -- tweeted a video clip from Sunday's press conference and thanked Chastain. Fellow jurors Agnès Jaoui and Maren Ade also shared Chastain's sentiments. Jaoui, a French actress, discussed the importance of the Bechdel Test, admitting that "few movies pass the test." Ade, who directed the Oscar-nominated movie Toni Erdmann, claimed that it was "the first time" a woman had won n the Best Director category. "So for me, I really have to say I am always so happy meeting other female directors, just because I found out after a while of always being surrounded by men, especially men doing this job, the impression comes up that it's not the right job for a woman but that's completely wrong. We all want to the film industry to reflect modern society," Ade said. "We're missing a lot of stories, not just female characters." Coppola was actually the second woman to win the award in 71 years; the last to do so was Yuliya Solntseva, a Russian director who won the award for 1961's Chronicle of Flaming Years. Ruben Östlund's The Square won the Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded at the film festival. "First, I want to say I'm really happy to present this award to Sofia Coppola, because she did amazing work to the audience," Chinese actress and fellow juror Fan Bingbing added. "We just want to advocate to focus on female filmmakers in the future. This is not something I want to judge; I want to advocate, and we want to encourage, filmmakers to present more female characters. I have to say she won this prize not because she's a female filmmaker, but because [of] the film itself." (Eonline)

TV

The Brady Bunch Cast Reunites on Today to Talk Aging, Modern TV and Losing Florence Henderson. They became the Brady Bunch -- and nearly 50 years later, here they are again. In a special reunion interview for alum of the beloved sitcom, Barry Williams (Greg Brady), Christopher Knight (Peter Brady), Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady) and Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady) reminisced about the show that made them everlasting TV stars. "You don't grow old for yourself until you see yourself in a photo -- somehow you just don't see it. It's as though the show keeps us young in everyone's mind," Knight, 59, described to Today's Matt Lauer. "Everyone always refers to us as kids, so no matter how we mature, we're still the kids," Williams, 62, added. While fans of the longtime series may continue to picture the Brady kids no older than teenagers, it's clear they've grown up and moved on -- but the spotlight of their characters has always followed them. "A teenage girl came over and asked me to sign an autograph -- for her mother," Williams recalled, referring to it as the moment he realized he would never shake the character. "Our fans have grandchildren," Lookinland quipped. While the child stars might not have always welcomed the attention the show brought them after the fact, the group does agree -- what they created is a TV rarity today. "What you have on The Brady Bunch is something you're not going to see these days, which is a family where the parents and the kids respect each other," Olsen said. The country is also missing the family's on-screen and off-screen matriarch, Florence Henderson, who passed away in November 2016 from heart failure. "She was great humanity," Knight described. "Everyone she met felt better about themselves and the world around them after spending a moment with Florence." While she may not have been their real mother, Henderson imparted lessons behind the scenes. "We learned how to interact with the public [from her]," Williams recalled. "She was so gracious with her fans and we learned how to do that graciously." "Mostly she loved to make people laugh," he added. "She made people smile." (Eonline)

Maci Bookout is worried about the father of her oldest child. On Monday's all-new episode of Teen Mom OG, Maci, Amber Portwood and Catelynn Baltierra all traveled to Puerto Rico with their beaus for Catelynn's birthday. During a reflective moment on the tropical vacation, the three MTV stars had a heart-to-heart about Maci's ex, Ryan Edwards, with whom she shares 8-year-old Bentley. "I don't think Ryan and I would have ended up together no matter what. Even if we didn't get pregnant," Bookout admitted to Portwood and Baltierra. When Baltierra asked how Ryan was doing, Bookout admitted, "He's okay," "Ryan's f -- ed up," Portwood chimed in. "I watch it, I see it, I know it," she continued as Bookout shook her head in agreement. Portwood continued: "Where he's at right now, when I see him, I know where he's at and I'm like, 'Wow, he needs some guidance.' " Upon Baltierra questioning whether anyone close to Ryan has "talked to him about going to a treatment center," Bookout admitted that, "[Ryan] would do it. It's everyone else around him that's too afraid to admit it." When Portwood suggested that Ryan have somebody that he can turn to, Bookout revealed that "he's got me." "What I'm saying is that everyone else around him is too afraid of what it will look like more than his health," said Bookout, who confirmed to Baltierra that everyone is in denial about his battle. "Absolutely, it's all denial. They all know." Honestly, the hardest thing is for me to see Ryan not love himself because he is a person worth loving. He deserves to love himself," Bookout explained. Portwood added, "People forget that. You are so in love with the drugs that you feel that if you wake up in the morning without them you want to die. So, should I die? It's a feeling that you can never f -- ing feel unless you've really been to the bottom. He needs to find where his bottom may be." While reflecting on Ryan's struggles, Bookout broke down in tears and revealed the fears that she has about her ex, including him dying. "I'm just sick of cleaning up his mess," an emotional Bookout said. "I get tired of dealing with the s -- . Just being the only one that f -- ing sees everything and cares," she said wiping away tears. "I talk to Taylor about it like, 'I wonder if today's going to be the day that Ryan does something that he can't come back from?' " she continued. Later that same day, Bookout and her husband, Taylor McKinney, enjoyed a sunset stroll on the beach, where she opened up to him about her chat with the Teen Mom OG stars. "That's exactly what I needed was two people that have been there on both sides of it that have my back no matter what," said Bookout. "They were genuinely just there for me." When McKinney asked if Portwood and Baltierra had any advice for his wife, she responded, "Yeah they did: to do it. Stop being scared." "I'm just going to be like, 'You have to go to rehab,' " she said about what she plans to tell Ryan, who is engaged to his girlfriend, Mackenzie. "Right now is legitimately about saving his life," she continued. "Most nights I'm crying in our bed talking to you about whether or not today is the day that he's going to die or when I'm going to do something about it or how I should do something about it. And you've always just been there for me. Thank you for being there for me and for not making me feel like that's not what I should be doing. I appreciate it." Teen Mom OG airs Mondays (9 p.m. ET) on MTV. (People)

LA Screenings: How the Surplus of Military Shows Will Fare. International buyers are split on this year's crop of patriotic dramas. A week after the broadcast networks peddled their new fall slates to advertisers in New York at the upfronts, television studios did the same for some 1,600 international buyers at the LA screenings. And at this year's annual event, held at the various studio lots in and around Hollywood, one trend was hard to miss. Whereas almost every network had a time travel show last year, the narrative that's emerged this time around is the surplus of flag-waving dramas. "There's definitely been a real militaristic, patriotic direction this year," explains Jeffrey Schlesinger, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution, whose studio was one of the few that didn't develop any such series. On tap is NBC's The Brave from Jason Katims, CBS's David Boreanaz-led drama SEAL Team and The CW's Valor. And though it wasn't ultimately ordered to series this season, Fox had been developing a Behind Enemy Lines reboot. The trend is perhaps an attempt to reach the country's many viewers between the coasts in the wake of the presidential election -- but do the America-touting series appeal to the international community? "It's tricky because everybody at the studio has said, 'Eh, we don't know if it will work.' Nobody can really answer the that question," says Rüdiger Böss, head of acquisitions at German free TV network ProSiebenSat1, who adds that producers he spoke with at the screenings weren't even sure if the shows would hit in the U.S. "If you want escapism, it's the wrong thing. It could work but I doubt it." Sky UK's head of series acquisitions Lucy Criddle has a more optimistic take on how the shows might fare overseas. "I think they can play well even if they're very American," she says. "They just have to have some sort of international twist, which the three shows have." With Valor and SEAL Team, CBS Studios International's president and CEO Armando Nunez has two military-themed shows in the mix. He's betting on the latter's familial elements and the international cache of the former Bones star to make it a draw to foreign buyers. "It is a military drama but it is also a family drama with a big star in David Boreanaz," he says. "It isn't just about American soldiers going around the world and doing what they do in the interest of global security -- it's more about what they sacrifice as a result of what their jobs are and their relationships with their families." Boss, too, agrees that it's less about the main characters being in uniform and more about the emotion the show evokes. "In the first episode, they all rescue a hostage, and it [plays on this idea of] rescuing the weak. They've very well produced," he adds. "If they make it emotional, it's also about the story behind the gun." "There's no 'rah-rah America' shows in our slate," laughs Gina Brogi, president of Global Distribution at Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, adding that she thinks it's refreshing for clients to come to the Fox lot and not have to watch one after seeing so many. "I think there was a time where shows touting the might of the American military were popular and might have done well internationally, but I think with today's political environment it just sort of depends on the country." Apart from the patriotic streak, this year's screenings set itself apart from last year's in that there was no singular breakout show among the offerings, whereas Lethal Weapon and This Is Us were the talk of the buyers in 2016. "In past years, you always hear about this studio or that one had a terrible slate or a really great one," adds Brogi, "and I'm not hearing any overwhelming negative response. I think people are really positive and upbeat about the market." That being said, there were still a few standouts. Exciting buyers were, of course, the few reboots on hand, including the Will & Grace revival and The Big Bang Theory and Grey's Anatomy spin-offs. "When you see the promo for Will & Grace, you immediately think, 'Oh my god, it's a coming home again.' I think it's a great idea," says one European buyer, who adds that the actors look like they haven't aged. "Either that or it's CGI, I don't know," he says, laughing. Warner Bros.'s Young Sheldon is certainly generating heat and should be a no-brainer to the handful of buyers who have already profited from the global success Big Bang Theory. "You're coming off an existing and well-known franchise, which makes it easy to market the show," says Schlesinger, who notes that the studio has yet to determine if the spin-off will land at the networks that air Big Bang or if it will go elsewhere. In addition to existing IP, the international community continues to look for procedural-style shows -- and there were plenty to choose from this year. "The procedurals seemed to make a tentative return, which the international buyers will always welcome," says Criddle. Among the noteworthy ones, according to several buyers, is CBS' Instinct, Warner Bros.' Deception, ABC's For the People, NBCUniversal's Reverie, Sony's SWAT and Fox's The Resident. With broadcast networks seeing ratings and ad venue continue to decline and the syndication market weaken with the growth of SVOD, it's no question that studios are relying on international sales more than ever. The shift in the market excites foreign buyers, who are already seeing networks program more toward a global audience. "The trend that we're hearing from our clients and are experiencing at our own studio is that the offering is probably more broad than ever," adds Brogi. "I really think our production executives are getting more and more in tune with what the international community wants." (Hollywood Reporter)

CTV Picks Up 'Young Sheldon,' Marvel's 'Inhumans' and 'The Gifted'. The Canadian broadcaster also nabbed the 'Roseanne' revival and Shondaland's 'For the People' after shopping on studio lots during the Los Angeles Screenings. The Canadians have unveiled their first U.S. rookie series purchases at the Los Angeles Screenings. Canada's CTV has scooped four comedies and nine dramas for its 2017-18 primetime campaign, including CBS' The Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon and ABC's Inhumans and Fox's The Gifted, both Marvel dramas. CTV already has the superhero dramas like Arrow and The Flash in its stable north of the border. Parent Bell Media's annual Hollywood shopping expedition this year also netted Me, Myself & I, the single camera comedy starring Bobby Moynihan and John Larroquette, the revival of Roseanne, and the untitled spin-off of Grey's Anatomy, a mainstay of CTV's Thursday night schedule. Bell Media, a traditional buyer of ABC Studios product, again did package buying with that studio as it picked up The Mayor, executive produced by Tony winner Daveed Diggs (Hamilton), For the People, from Shondaland's Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, The Gospel of Kevin and The Crossing. Despite a soft ad market and splintering audiences at home as broadcasters compete against Netflix and Amazon in the streaming space, the Canadians are avid buyers at the Los Angeles Screenings, chasing the next Survivor or Modern Family as they debut networks series mostly day-and-date with the U.S. Bell Media also picked up The Good Doctor from Sony Pictures Television. CTV, Canada's top-rated broadcaster, also bought from Warner Bros. International Television, Lionsgate Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox. The new buys included the mystery-thriller Ten Days in the Valley, from showrunner Tassie Cameron and starring Kyra Sedgwick, and the police procedural Deception. Bell Media will unveil its new and returning U.S. series on June 7 in Toronto during the Canadian Upfronts. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV Ratings: Stanley Cup Edges Out 'Bachelorette' on Memorial Day. 'Still Star-Crossed' struggles in its ABC debut, rough even by summer's lower standards. NBC managed to topple ABC on Memorial Day with Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Early returns have the Pittsburgh Penguins' win topping the night in the key demo -- as The Bachelorette audience opts not to stick around for Shonda Rhimes' latest drama. The Stanley Cup Finals averaged a tentative 1.6 rating among adults 18-49 on Monday night. That put the hockey game just a tenth of a point above ABC's The Bachelorette. The dating show, shifting into its regular time slot, slipped to a 1.5 rating in the key demo on the holiday night. (The Bachelorette typically sees its season low on Memorial Day.) The real bad news was saved for Still Star-Crossed. ABC's delayed drama, from programming powerhouse Rhimes, limped in with a 0.5 rating among adults 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers. The period drama hasn't gotten a particularly aggressive pitch, but the numbers are disappointing all the same. Fox's scripted efforts -- Gotham and Lucifer, each with a 0.9 rating -- put it at No. 3 for the night. The CW put out a new season of Whose Line Is It Anyway to the tune of a 0.2 rating in the key demo. (Hollywood Reporter)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fall Book Discussion and Movie Series

Book discussion group to meet

City Page Survey