ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Beyonce Gives Birth to Twins With Jay Z. The Carter household is officially a party of five! Beyonce has given birth to twins with Jay Z in L.A., multiple sources have confirmed to E! News. On Thursday, Jay Z and Blue Ivy were together spotted at a Los Angeles area hospital. While the twins' genders have yet to be revealed, on Friday, an unidentified woman carrying a bouquet of pink, purple and blue flowers with two giant baby foot-shaped pink and blue balloons that read, "Baby Girl" and "Baby Boy, was photographed dropping off the gift at the same Los Angeles hospital that Bey's husband and 5-year-old daughter were seen at the day prior. Upon inspection, the card attached to the flowers had a visible "B+J" written on the floral envelope. The Grammy winner famously revealed that she was pregnant with two back in early February with an Instagram post that nearly broke the internet (no, really). Queen Bey posted a photo of herself dressed in lingerie and surrounded by flowers and penned the following statement on behalf of her family: "We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two and we thank you for your well wishes.-The Carters." Shortly thereafter, Bey's mom Tina Knowles Lawson took to Instagram to express her excitement over her future grandchildren. "Wow I don't have the keep the secret anymore. I am sooo happy God is so good twin blessings." Yonce has made no secret of the fact that she and Jay have not only relished in raising Blue Ivy Carter, but have wanted to grow their family for years now. In a recent interview with Elle, the songstress opened up about motherhood and how much it's impacted her life. "I just want my child to be happy and healthy and have the opportunity to realize her dreams," she shared. But Bey noted that she's well aware that giving her daughter everything she needs to succeed in life may only be to her detriment. "Everyone experiences pain, but sometimes you need to be uncomfortable to transform. Pain is not pretty, but I wasn't able to hold my daughter in my arms until I experienced the pain of childbirth." Beyonce gave birth to Blue Ivy on Jan. 7, 2012 in New York City. The 5-year-old is already getting ready to be a big sister to her two siblings -- as is evident in the series of photos her famous mama shared of her kissing Bey's belly. And now that the family have met the newest additions, it's time to congratulate them on their little bundles of joy! Us Weekly was the first to report this story. (Eonline)

Beyonce has given birth to a boy and a girl, but an issue surfaced that has kept them in the hospital for nearly a week ... TMZ has confirmed. Sources connected with the family tell us the twins were born Monday in a Los Angeles hospital. We're told a "minor issue" surfaced, and as a result ... doctors do not feel comfortable releasing them. We do not know the nature of the issue. One source told us Beyonce also remains at the hospital, but as far as we know she's okay. The babies are expected to be okay as well. It's unclear when everyone will be released. (TMZ)

Josh Peck Is Married: Drake & Josh Alum Weds Paige O'Brien. One half of Drake & Josh is a married man! Josh Peck wed longtime girlfriend Paige O'Brien in Malibu Saturday in front of family and friends. The guest list included the actor's former Grandfathered co-star John Stamos, who was accompanied by girlfriend Caitlin McHugh, and Nicole Golfieri, mother of 4-year-old twins Layla and Emelia, who played Edie on the sitcom, which ended in 2016. Drake Bell, who starred with Peck on Drake & Josh during the '00s series' four-season run and reunited with him on Grandfathered last year, and other former cast members were not spotted in wedding photos posted on social media. Bell posted a cryptic message on Twitter Sunday morning, saying, "When you're not invited to the wedding the message is clear...." As seen in a photo Nicole posted on Instagram, the bride wore a cream strapless gown with an empire waist, sweetheart neckline and ivory floral embroidery, while Peck wore a black tux. "Congrats to two of our favorite people. Josh & Paige, we love you ?? #couplegoals," she wrote. O'Brien had announced her and Peck's engagement almost a year ago on Instagram, via a photo of her engagement ring. The actor teased his wedding tux in June, writing, "What do you guys think of this look? Getting ready for a big night coming up, plus I'll be able to wear this when I eventually become a waiter." (Eonline)

Eliza Dushku Engaged to Peter Palandjian. Hear that? That's the sound of wedding bells in Eliza Dushku's future. The 36-year-old actress -- known for her TV roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse and Tru Calling -- announced on Instagram Thursday that she's engaged to 53-year-old Peter Palandjian. The proposal took place in Boston, and the Watertown, Mass.,-born actress shared a photo of the happy moment with her 482,000 followers. "#Ayo..! 'YES!!' Absolutely, my love," wrote Dushku, who held hands with Palandjian. "#BostonBorn #BostonBred #BostonSoonToBeWed." Dushku did not share further details from the proposal, nor did she show a close-up of her ring. It's been a big year for the actress. Less than two months ago, Dushku's Boston Diva Productions optioned Glen Cook's series of fantasy novels, The Black Company. She will also star in the series, playing the dark sorceress The Lady. "The Black Company is vast in scope yet remains fundamentally relevant through the morally ambiguous choices it presents at every turn," Dushku told Deadline. "We are excited to bring Glen Cook's classic story to life with Mark [Stern] and David [Goyer], luminaries in the cinematic pursuit of science fiction and epic fantasy, who will inevitably assemble poignant characters embroiled in jaw-dropping action." Palandjian, meanwhile, has been keeping busy as the CEO of Intercontinental Real Estate Corp. A former professional tennis player, he graduated from Harvard in 1987 and was a two-time captain and four-year letter winner for the school, earning All-Ivy honors before he went pro. Dushku's fiance, who lives in Cambridge, Mass., is a father to four children: Madelon, Manon, Margot and Petros. The couple has kept their relationship relatively out of the public eye, as Dushku most recently shared a selfie of herself and Palandjian with friends in December 2016. A wedding date has not been set. (Eonline)

Victoria Beckham Is Not as Miserable as She Looks: "David and I Have a Lot of Fun Together." One of the most popular interview videos on YouTube is a mock one Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G character did in 2001 with Victoria Beckham and David Beckham for a charity fundraiser and the main reason for that is that she cannot stop smiling and laughing. Because Posh Spice rarely does, at least when photographed in public. And she knows people know. And she gives zero you-know-whats. "David and I have a lot of fun together," she told Vogue Netherlands in an recent interview, about her husband of almost 18 years and father to their four kids. "If I really was as miserable as I look in some of those paparazzi pictures, my children wouldn't be as happy as they are. And I certainly wouldn't be married anymore." And the Spice Girls singer and fashion designer also knows people make fun of her for not smiling, and she makes fun of herself for it. Because, as evidenced in her Ali G interview, Victoria has a wicked sense of humor. "I don't want to be seen smiling, having fun or eating," she said in an episode of her 2007 reality show Victoria Beckham: Coming to America. "Perish the thought." In 2013, she posted on Twitter a photo showing her walking, with the words "Look, I'm Smiling!" printed over it. This past March, she was photographed at LAX wearing a T-shirt that read, "Fashion Stole My Smile." In a 2015 video interview with Vogue, Victoria said she hates being asked why she does not smile. "I'm smiling on the inside," she said. "I feel that I have a responsibility to the fashion community." (Eonline)

Drew Barrymore, who divorced ex Will Kopelman in 2016, has found a new man. We hear the quirky actress has been dating David Hutchinson, the senior vice president of Maesa, which makes her Flower Beauty products. "They were in Palm Springs for a wedding last weekend," says a spy, who tells us they were also seen at Cheeky's restaurant in the tony California town. Hutchinson has been tagged in the "Santa Clarita Diet" star's recent Instagram posts. One is a picture of her and a friend holding up purses, and another is of her and fashion editor Zanna Roberts Rassi at a restaurant. Barrymore founded Flower Beauty in 2013, which has since started an -- e-commerce site and a print magazine, and has expanded into Mexico. Page Six exclusively reported in April 2016 that the actress separated from then-husband Kopelman after nearly three years. The divorce was finalized in August. Barrymore had short-lived marriages to bartender Jeremy Thomas and comedian Tom Green. Reps had no comment. (Page Six)

Jonah Hill and His Bulging Biceps Serve Up Major Fitness Motivation. Which way to Muscle Beach, Jonah Hill? The Oscar-nominated funnyman was photographed leaving a Los Angeles gym on Friday afternoon, and we couldn't help but notice he's looking superbuff (yes that's a Superbad pun) these days. Jonah's biceps were out for the world to see in a navy blue tank top, which he paired with black shorts, high socks and tennis shoes. Safe to say this celeb is laying out by the pool this weekend. The Wolf of Wall Street Star knows a thing or two about weight loss, and over the years has become famous for his fluctuating figure. After gaining 40 lbs. for 2015's War Dogs, Hill recruited his 22 Jump Street co-star for some fitness and nutrition tips. "I gained weight for this movie War Dogs, and then I wanted to get in better shape, so I called Channing Tatum, and said, 'Hey, if I ate less and go to a trainer, will I get in better shape?'" the comedian shared on The Tonight Show. To which he said the Magic Mike actor responded, "Yes, you dumb motherf--ker, of course you will, it's the simplest thing in the entire world. Jonah explained, "I went to this nutritionist, and he's like, 'Write down what you eat every day and email me.' I wrote down like yogurt, salad, chicken-whatever. He didn't email back. He usually says, 'OK' or something." Turns out instead of his nutritionist, Jonah was sharing his weight loss secrets with music's biggest rapper. "It must have been 'D-R,' cause it was doctor, and I sent it to Drake," Jonah revealed. Oops... Three years prior in 2012, he credited a strict (but delicious!) meal plan for helping him shed weight before shooting Moneyball. "It was just mostly diet," he shared with ABC News. "I wish there was some crazy thing that I did, like a pill or a genie or something. But it was, unfortunately, I went to see a nutritionist, and he told me what to eat to change my habits and stuff. I found that Japanese food was very helpful to me." Whatever Jonah is doing this time around, it's definitely working. Looking good! (Eonline)

Paige Turco -- who played April O'Neil in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' -- is coming out of her shell and calling it like it is ... marriage just ain't for her anymore. Paige filed divorce docs in L.A. to split from Jason O'Mara after a nearly 14-year marriage. She cites irreconcilable differences, and says they separated on May 1. Jason and Paige tied the knot in 2003, and they have a 13-year-old son. She's requesting joint legal and physical custody -- and wants Jason to pay spousal support. Translation: Send this marriage to the Shredder. (TMZ)

Scarlett Johansson Gets "Trashed" With Her "Grandma" Twin. Scarlett Johansson finally got to party with her "grandma" look-alike. In April, a Reddit user posted a photo of his 72-year-old grandmother Geraldine Dodd at age 22, writing, "My grandma looked like Scarlett Johansson when she was younger. He said he told her she looked like the actress and that she said she was "drunk as a skunk" in the picture. After it went viral, Johansson responded in a video, saying, "Let's have a drink, Geraldine." The two met in person this week and attended the premiere of the actress' latest movie, Rough Night, in New York. Johansson, 32, told Stephen Colbert the two had drinks together. "Oh my gosh, I have a doppelganger," Johansson said on The Late Show. "This grandson posted it on Reddit and I don't have any social media presence. This came to me purely because people were like, 'Oh my God, you have a doppelganger and its crazy. So I looked at this link online." Johansson said Dodd looks "exactly" like she did in the 2014 film Lucy. "She came...to the Rough Night premiere and we did get kind of trashed," Johansson said. "She is so nice! Geraldine! Can she party? Oh my God, she's a lush. She was such a nice woman though, honestly, it was wonderful to meet her." "She's from Arkansas and her daughter, of course, owns a bar and I will eventually make my way to Arkansas and continue this lovely family reunion," the actress said. "She's just, she's just awesome." (Eonline)

Lorde opens up about being body shamed. "It rocked my foundations". Lorde was just 16-years-old when she shot to fame for her critically acclaimed hit Royals in 2013 and she has now opened up about what that was like. In an interview with NME, the now 20-year-old, has spoken about how she dealt with the sudden challenge of being in the spotlight and how she had to deal with online trolls. "When it was happening, I was quite overwhelmed by it," Lorde said. "It rocked my foundations and could have fucked me, you know? I remember being made aware of my looks and my body in a way that I had never been. ... I remember all these kids online, I think I beat their favorite people to No. 1 [on the music charts], and they were like, 'Fuck her, she's got really far-apart eyes.' I remember being like, 'Whoa! How did I get all this way without knowing I had far-apart eyes?' Just weird shit like that." After four years, Lorde is has now released her second album, Melodrama. Is she nervous about the potential negativity that comes with being back in the spotlight? "That was a long time ago," she said. "If anything, I've slowly been getting less famous since Royals was really big. Which is totally cool for me. I suck at being famous. And that's fine." Speaking about what she did after she first shot to fame, she said: "I was able to return to my family and shelter against [the negativity] and get to where I am now. I feel so comfortable in myself." We're glad. Welcome back. (British Glamour)

Here's Why Leonardo DiCaprio Surrendered an Oscar to the Government. Leonardo DiCaprio had to give up an Oscar recently...but worry not! It wasn't the Best Actor trophy he won for The Revenant. A few years ago, the actor was gifted Marlon Brando's statuette by The Wolf of Wall Street production company Red Granite as a means of celebrating the film's wrap. However, similar to the DiCaprio's character in the film, Red Granite is allegedly tangled up in its own money-laundering scheme, which has lead to an investigation by the Department of Justice as well as a new government filing by the U.S. Attorney's Office's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. According to Deadline, the filing states that funding for Red Granite films -- such as Dumb and Dumber To and Daddy's Home -- allegedly came from stolen Malaysian funds. The filing also claims that some of the artwork Red Granite gifted to DiCaprio (including the Oscar) was purchased with the alleged embezzled money. Thus, DiCaprio was proactive and voluntarily surrendered the Oscar to the government as the investigation continues. A spokesperson for the actor released a statement, saying, "Last July, upon hearing of the government's civil action against certain parties involved in the making of The Wolf of Wall Street, Mr. DiCaprio's representatives -- working under his instruction -- initiated contact with the Department of Justice. This effort was to determine if there were any gifts or charitable donations originating from the parties named in the civil complaint, and to offer the return of any such gifts or donations with the aid and instruction of the government." The statement continued, "Prior to the government's filing of the civil pleading...Mr. DiCaprio initiated return of these items, which were received and accepted by him for the purpose of being included in an annual charity auction to benefit his eponymous foundation. He has also returned an Oscar originally won by Marlon Brando, which was given to Mr. DiCaprio as a set gift by Red Granite to thank him for his work on The Wolf of Wall Street. Mr. DiCaprio is grateful for the support of the government in this effort, and continues to hope that justice is done in this matter." A spokesperson for Red Granite also commented, saying, " As we have previously disclosed, Red Granite is actively engaged in discussions with the Justice Department aimed at resolving these civil cases and is fully cooperating. In the meantime, Red Granite remains an active production company, moving ahead to complete post production work on its next feature film while developing exciting new projects." (Eonline)

Ronan Farrow posts latest dig at Woody Allen on Instagram. Ronan Farrow is back to blasting his father, Woody Allen, just in time for Father's Day. Posting a reminder from OpenTable from Thursday on Instagram, which reads, "Ronan, Father's Day is 3 days away! Find a reservation," Farrow replied, "OpenTable, I have a few things to tell you." For those at OpenTable -- who perhaps only have food on their minds -- Ronan criticized Allen in The Hollywood Reporter for "his inappropriate conduct with children" and said he believes his sister Dylan Farrow's claims of sexual abuse, which Allen has strongly denied. Then there's the other theory that Frank Sinatra is Farrow's father .?.?. (PageSix)

Jermaine Jackson Is Protective of Paris Jackson: Show Business "Can Break You." Paris Jackson's uncle Jermaine Jackson is both proud and protective of his niece. The brother of the late Michael Jackson, one of his nine siblings, talked to the U.K. newspaper The Sun about the 19-year-old model, actress and activist in an interview posted Friday, a day before the launch of the U.K. leg of the Jacksons' 50th anniversary tour. "We're very proud of Paris," he said. "I just think we have to make sure she is OK because this business not kind to anybody. It can break you." "You have to know when to hold them, when to fold them, when to make your move and when to hold back," he continued. "She's had an incredible logic path -- she's had the entire Jackson family legacy as the logic." In March, it was revealed that Paris had signed a modeling contract with a top agency, IMG Models, joining the likes of Gisele Bündchen, Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio. The news came two months after she graced her first magazine cover -- Rolling Stone. Paris, whose net worth is estimated to be around $100 million, and her two siblings, Prince, 20, and Blanket, 15, attracted media attention throughout their childhood, when their dad made them wear veils in public. Before the days of social media, they tried to maintain a private life. Paris made headlines as a young teen when she attempted suicide several times. In recent years, she gained a fan following online, become involved in public activism and has begun to attend celebrity events more often. She wowed viewers at the 2017 Grammys and at her first Met Gala this year. She is also dabbling in acting and is made her onscreen debut on Fox's new series Star this past March. She is currently filming the action comedy film Gringo, which also features Charlize Theron and Amanda Seyfried. In May, Paris tweeted that a person mistook her for a homeless person on the set. Earlier this year, Paris talked about her fame and activism in an interview with Harpar's Bazaar. "Plenty of times I've thought about not doing anything in the public eye and having my own private life," she said. "Then I started seeing how everything in the world is going. And I feel like each year it's getting worse." "I know there are a lot of people who would feel very blessed to be in my position, so I want to use it for important things," she added. "I have a couple of ideas. I have a lot of ideas, but I'm still trying to figure out the right way to do it. I mean, I'm 18. I can't have it all together, but I do have a plan." (Eonline)

The man who called for help when Lionel Richie's bassist, Ethan Farmer, allegedly stabbed himself after eating marijuana edibles may have been under the influence himself ... based on the 911 call. We broke the story ... cops say Farmer was chowing down on pot cookies or brownies with friends when he turned violent and repeatedly stabbed himself. The shocking nature of the situation was apparently too much to put into words for the guy who called 911, who simply said "I don't know" and "I can't explain it" when trying to describe the scene. He also couldn't answer why a woman was screaming in the background or come up with Farmer's age. Last we heard, the 42-year-old musician is recovering from his injuries. (TMZ)

Janet Jackson and Wissam Al Mana Face Off in Divorce Court. It's the beginning of the end. Janet Jackson and Wissam Al Mana appeared in the Royal Courts of Justice in London Thursday to begin their divorce proceedings. The 51-year-old "That's the Way Love Goes" singer left with her assistant and her legal team and looked to be "in great spirits," an onlooker says. The 42-year-old Qatari businessman, meanwhile, exited without an entourage and appeared "somber." The former couple appeared in the only court where the media is not allowed. A source believes the exes had a private meeting with Justice Anna Pauffley that began at 10 a.m. local time. Wissam was the first to leave at 4:10 p.m., followed by Janet 20 minutes later. Janet and Wissam married in 2012, and five years later, they welcomed a son, Eissa Al Mana. Three months after Eissa's birth, Janet's rep told E! News the couple had decided to call it quits. A source tells E! News the pop star has "been under stress" since her springtime split. One of the main reasons they broke up is that she disagreed with how Wissam "wanted to raise their child." Luckily, "She has the support of her family and has a crazy good legal team behind her." Janet addressed her breakup on YouTube last month, telling fans, "I just want to keep it real with you guys for a second. Yes, I separated from my husband. We are in court. And the rest is in God's hands." This was Janet's third marriage, as was briefly married to singer James DeBarge in 1984; they split a year later and their union was later annulled. She then secretly married backup dancer turned music video director Rene Elizondo Jr. in 1991, but they split up in 2000. As her latest divorce proceedings continue, Janet is relying more and more on her family. A few of her brothers are currently in London, and they're excited to finally meet Eissa. "I haven't seen him!" Jackie Jackson admitted on ITV's Loose Women Friday. "While I'm here I'm going to see him. We've seen pictures." Jermaine Jackson added, "I've heard him crying on the phone!" After that, Janet will spend the rest of the summer prepping for the State of the World tour, a continuation of the Unbreakable tour (which was postponed due to her pregnancy). It will kick off Sept. 7 at the Cajundome in Lafayette, La., and wrap Dec. 17 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta. Says a source, "She is getting ready for a big comeback." (Eonline)

Juvenile's been busted in his hometown for failing to pay his baby mama $150,000 in child support ... and he's not going anywhere soon unless he forks over the money. The 42-year-old rapper is behind bars in a New Orleans where the judge gave him an ultimatum ... pay the dough or spend 30 days in the slammer. Seems Juvenile is grossly behind on payments owed to Dionne Williams, with whom he has a teenage son. For now authorities have backed that azz up ... in jail. (TMZ)

Combative Team Cosby declares mistrial a victory. Bill Cosby's legal team proclaimed victory outside the Pennsylvania courthouse where a judge declared a mistrial early Saturday in the disgraced funnyman's sexual assault case. "Johnnie Cochran is looking down, smiling. ... For all those attorneys who conspired, like Gloria Allred-tell them to go back to law school," Cosby publicist Andrew Wyatt boasted just minutes after the case ended. "Justice is real. It lives here in Montgomery County," Defense attorney Brian McMonagle crowed, channeling the Rolling Stones to add, "You don't always get what you want, sometimes you get what you need." Cosby stood still, his hands clasped in front of him and his face grim as another member of his team read a statement from his wife, Camille, which slammed the district attorney as "heinously and exploitively ambitious" and Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill as "overtly and arrogantly collaborating with the District Attorney." "I am grateful to any of the jurors who tenaciously fought to review the evidence, which is the rightful way to make a sound decision," she wrote. "Truth can be subdued but not destroyed." Cosby attorney Angela Agrusa blamed prosecutors for the mistrial. "This is what happens. Juries are stuck when a prosecutor seeks to put someone in prison for things that are simply not presented in the court room," she said. On the sixth day of deliberations that lasted longer than the actual trial, the jury of seven men and five women were "hopelessly deadlocked," said O'Neill as he declared the mistrial. Dozens of women have accused Cosby of slipping them pills and sexually assaulting them. Former Temple University basketball manager Andrea Constand, who accused the comedian of attacking her in 2004, was the only one whose case has gone to trial. The mistrial was treated as a positive by Cosby's team, who claimed his "legacy" was restored. "Mr. Cosby's power is back," Wyatt beamed. "The jurors have used their power to speak and Mr. Cosby's power is back." Allred, who represents other Cosby accusers, said, "It's too early to celebrate, Mr. Cosby. Round two may be just around the corner and this time, justice may prevail." Cosby accuser Victoria Valentino vowed to keep up the legal fight, and said society had "failed" Constand. "We are devastated. Society has failed her, and failed us. The victim was not looking for a hot lay. She is gay. It was not mentioned," Valentino said. "We're coming for you, buddy," she added of Cosby. (PageSix)

Carrie Fisher's Cause of Death Revealed: Star Wars Actress Died of Sleep Apnea and ''Other Undetermined Factors." Nearly six months after the untimely passing of Carrie Fisher, the cause of her death has finally been revealed. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to E! News that Fisher passed away from sleep apnea and "other undetermined factors." Back on December 22, 2016, Fisher went into cardiac arrest while on a plane traveling from London to Los Angeles. The actress was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead five days later. The Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on December 30. According to their report, the manner of the Star Wars actress' death has been ruled as undetermined. It went on to add that her cardiac arrest was caused by multiple drug intake along with "significance not ascertained." Shortly after the Medical Examiner's ruling was made public, Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd released the following statement to People. "My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases," she shared. "She talked about the shame that torments people and their families confronted by these diseases. I know my Mom, she'd want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles. Seek help, fight for government funding for mental health programs. Shame and those social stigmas are the enemies of progress to solutions and ultimately a cure. Love you Momby." (Eonline)

Stephen Furst -- actor and filmmaker known for playing Flounder in 'Animal House' -- has died due to complications from diabetes ... TMZ has learned. Stephen's son Nathan tells us ... his father died at his home in Ventura Country, CA early Friday morning surrounded by loving friends and family. He and his brother Griff said about their dad ... "He was a beloved husband, father and kind friend whose memory will always be a blessing." Furst battled with diabetes for years, and later became a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association. Along with playing Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman in the 1978 comedy classic, he also had starring roles on "Babylon 5" and "St. Elsewhere." He directed a few episodes of 'Babylon 5' as well. He was 63. RIP. (TMZ)

'Rocky,' 'Karate Kid' director John G. Avildsen dies at 81. John G. Avildsen, who won an Oscar for directing the original "Rocky" (1976), starring Sylvester Stallone, and also directed all three of the original "Karate Kid" films, has died in Los Angeles. He was 81. A rep confirmed his death. Avildsen also won the DGA Award for directing "Rocky," which also won Oscars for best picture and film editing and was nominated in multiple other categories. In 2006 Variety interviewed Avildsen, who said that a film with a boxing story didn't excite him at first, but he was "moved by the urban character study of Sylvester Stallone's script." He held out on directing part two in lieu of another project -- a decision that Avildsen said was "one of my greatest mistakes." He returned to the franchise to direct 1990's "Rocky V." In 1983 he was Oscar nominated again, this time for the documentary short "Traveling Hopefully." Avildsen developed a reputation for making movies about losers, or underdogs, who somehow become winners. Avildsen's other films included the critically hailed drama-thriller "Joe" (1970), starring Susan Sarandon and Peter Boyle. It was his first success as a director, and was praised for Peter Boyle's performance. "Save the Tiger" (1973), an issue-oriented drama sporting an outstanding starring performance from Jack Lemmon, was nominated for three Oscars, with Lemmon winning best actor. The three Oscar nominations for "Save the Tiger" and the win for Lemmon secured Avildsen's place on the list of go-to directors. His other films included comedy "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" (1975), starring Burt Reynolds; thriller "The Formula" (1980), starring George C. Scott and Marlon Brando; eerie comedy "Neighbors," starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd; pregnancy comedy "For Keeps?" (1988), starring Molly Ringwald; drama "Lean on Me" (1989), which helped launch Morgan Freeman's career; and bull riding biopic "8 Seconds" (1994), starring Luke Perry. Avildsen started in the business as a cinematographer, lensing seven films from the mid-'60s to the early '70s, including his feature directorial debut "Turn on to Love" (1969) and subsequent helming efforts "Guess What We Learned in School Today," "Joe," "Cry Uncle," "Okay Bill" and "The Stoolie" (1972), starring Jackie Mason. John Guilbert Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He graduated from the prestigious Hotchkiss School and NYU. He started out in the film business as an assistant director on movies by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger. A documentary on the director's life and career, "John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs" (2016), directed and produced by Derek Wayne Johnson, features interviews with Stallone, "Karate Kid" star Ralph Macchio, Martin Scorsese, Jerry Weintraub and Burt Reynolds. The documentary is a companion to the book "The Films of John G. Avildsen: Rocky, The Karate Kid, and Other Underdogs," written by Larry Powell and Tom Garrett. Avildsen is survived by a daughter, Bridget, and sons Anthony, Jonathan and Ashley. (PageSix)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Late artist gets big screen recognition. Maud Lewis -- the Canadian folk artist who sold paintings door-to-door before becoming an art-world favorite after death and whose work now goes for six figures -- was remembered by a VIP crowd at the American Folk Art Museum. Guests at a screening of "Maudie," starring Sally Hawkins as the artist, included co-star Ethan Hawke, Aidan Quinn, Piper Perabo and Sony Pictures Classics bosses Michael Barker and Tom Bernard. Self-taught, impoverished Lewis suffered from debilitating arthritis and lived with her fish-peddler husband in a 12-by-12-foot shack, where she quirkily painted nearly every surface. Richard Nixon bought two of her paintings for the White House. (PageSix)

Prince George Channels Dad Prince William at Trooping the Colour Parade 2017. Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte were not the only ones twinning at the 2017 Trooping the Colour parade. The duchess and husband Prince William's eldest of their two children, Prince George, channeled dear ol' dad yet again. The child, who will turn 4 next month, looked like the spitting image of his father as he showcased an adorable bored look while standing on a Buckingham Palace balcony in front of the large crowd. William, the third in line to the throne, had channeled the same look as a child at the annual event, a belated birthday celebration for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. She turned 91 in April. On the balcony, George appeared somewhat interested in the Royal Air Force airshow but more amused by his second cousins, Savannah Phillips and Isla Phillips. George has long been dubbed William's mini-me, while many fans say Charlotte most resembles the queen herself. At the parade, Kate and Charlotte, 2, both wore pink dresses. They, William and George were joined on the balcony by the queen, her husband Prince Philip, Prince Harry and other family members. (Eonline)

Katy Perry Becomes First Person to Reach 100 Million Twitter Followers. Katy Perry's resume already includes "The Most Followed Person on Twitter," and now she can add a bit more to that... Yes, the 32-year-old pop superstar just became the first person to hit 100 million followers on Twitter, shooting her to the No.1 spot of the social media platform's list of most-followed people. Twitter shared a post to honor Katy, using the title of her forthcoming album, writing, "Today, we #WITNESS history. Congratulations @katyperry, the first to reach 100 million followers! #LoveKaty." Twitter also shared a video of some of Katy's top tweets over the years, beginning with her very first in February of 2009. Katy followed up with a tweet of her own, writing, "Thank you, @Twitter, for always giving me an opportunity to have a voice! #LoveKaty." Meanwhile, Katy's rise (pun intended) to the top of Twitter comes after several big transformations in her life. She made a massive change to her appearance -- which was ironically inspired by her desire to distance herself from the larger-than-life persona that made her famous -- and she's let the world into her private life more than ever. Not only did partake in a 96-hour livestream event, taking her fans and followers behind closed doors with her, she also penned a revealing profile for the New York Times. "I used to be scared of intimacy, I used to use my sexualization as attention, I used to over sexualize myself because that was the only way I knew how," she revealed about her prior persona as the "old Katy Perry." She continued, "I didn't kill her, because I love her, and she is exactly what I had to do then. And I'm not a con artist, I didn't con people, like, that was just me. And this is me now." And no matter the scrutiny she may face from the public, Katy still believes in her new chapter. "It's a departure, and it's a necessary evolution that I have to take." (Eonline)

Tom Hardy Launches Fundraiser for Grenfell Tower Fire Victims: ''It Is Impossible to Be Unaffected by the Unnecessary Loss of Life." Tom Hardy is doing his best to help victims in need after the Grenfell Tower fire. The 39-year-old actor started a JustGiving fundraising page to raise awareness and money for residents, families and children affected by the tragedy, which has so far killed 30 and left 24 injured. "It is impossible to be unaffected by the harrowing, unnecessary loss of life, injury, sorrow and the continuing desperate and disturbing situation facing those that were residents of Grenfell Tower, Latimer Road West London," he wrote on the page. "It is impossible not to feel deep, profound shock and just stand by and not make the effort to help those who are innocent victims of a seemingly gross negligence." Hardy puts the blame on those responsible for providing safe public housing for U.K. residents and asks for a "dramatic change." "All of the people who lived in Grenfell Tower and survived have lost their homes and are displaced with uncertainty and suffering," he wrote. "Many traumatized are still in hospitals throughout the capital recovering from this tragedy. Many are in a critical condition. And many men, women, and children have lost their lives as a direct result of this gross negligence." Hardy continued, "This disaster feels like it could have been undoubtedly avoided. It is unacceptable in this day and age that men, women, and children are not safe in their homes - homes that are provided by public/social housing...It is shameful." He shared his love, thoughts and prayers with the victims of the fire and his hopes that responsibility falls on those "found guilty for the gross and criminal negligence." "In the meantime, there are families and children in crisis that desperately need our help and support," he concluded. "Please will you help them in any way you can. Every little helps." So far, Hardy has raised over $20,000. British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered a full public inquiry into the disaster, demanding that the "terrible tragedy" be "properly investigated". (Eonline)

The Arrangement's Christine Evangelista Covers Social Life Magazine: the Gorgeous Pics! Cover girl! Christine Evangelista is on the June cover of Social Life magazine! The star of E!'s hit series The Arrangement looks gorgeous in an off-the-shoulder jumpsuit on the cover, and inside the magazine Christine rocks some seriously sexy outfits. Back in April it was announced that The Arrangement will be coming back for a second season. So while wait to find out what's going to happen with her character Megan Morrison and her fiance Kyle West (Josh Henderson). (Eonline)

Mark Wahlberg Opens Up About His Daughter Dating and It's as Awkward as You'd Imagine. Mark Wahlberg is trying to play it as cool as he can when it comes to watching his kids grow up before his very eyes. The actor stopped by The Graham Norton Show this week and opened up about dealing with the next phase in his teenage daughter's life: dating. The popular Brit show host asked about a recent incident in which Wahlberg found himself completely caught off guard by his daughter's new beau. "The kid -- she had one that was not a nice boy and it was innocent enough -- but I was like, 'I wanna meet this kid.'" Wahlberg continued his story while Sienna Miller listened on the couch beside him. "I wanna meet him and then you can hang out with him in a safe environment and she was like, 'What's a safe environment, dad?'" He jokingly added, "Everything is the attitude." Wahlberg then explained how the unexpected took place upon meeting his daughter's date. "So all of a sudden this kid comes over and he one-ups me... he brings his mom! The genius thing is he was so sweet and [my daughter] is like steamrolling me all the time and he's seeing it, like she's being rude to me and she's being mean to me and she's like if you're not nice to him, he may not wanna be around you." The thing of it is, Wahlberg explained, the boy in question was actually "a keeper" and "really nice." "I'm like, okay, the perfect scenario is to find one boy that she's with forever but I don't know if she can hold him down!," he joked. And now that the dating story is out of the bag, we're fairly certain Wahlberg is going to have some explaining to do when he heads home from doing press in England. Just in time for Father's Day! (Eonline)

Hall & Oates rocker selling his $6M Colorado ranch. John Oates, the legendary guitarist who makes up half of the hit-making duo Hall & Oates, is selling his large log cabin outside Aspen, CO, for $6 million. He and his wife, Aimee, built the home in 1998. The 69-year-old musician designed the 4.3-acre Little Woody Creek Ranch for leisure, leaving the majority of the property open for horses or other livestock. Oates and his wife kept a small number of rescue llamas, alpacas, emus, and peacocks at the ranch, according to a 2009 interview. The 3,961-square-foot home has five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The Western style cabin with a red metal roof blends perfectly with its surroundings in Woody Creek. The home features an open-concept living room with a cathedral ceiling, natural wood finishes, large picture windows, and a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace. Oates furnished the room with deep leather couches and an oversize rug. The living room flows into the tiled dining room and kitchen, which features a breakfast island with built-in stove, black appliances, and custom wooden cabinetry. Large windows look out on the property and the surrounding mountain peaks. The master bedroom has a fireplace, and the master bathroom has dual sinks and a separate soaking tub. The home includes a separate unit with a kitchen, bathroom, and washer and dryer. Elsewhere, there are two wells, multiple outbuildings, a two-car garage, home gym, and game room. In the listing photos, the game room is adorned with Oates' gold and platinum records. "This would be perfect for an Aspen homeowner who wants a small ranch for horses," says listing agent Scott Davidson. "The full acreage is irrigated and fully automated, making it easy to care for and not requiring full-time ranch hands." Oates is selling the home to focus on his music career in Nashville, TN. He and his wife plan to buy a smaller ranch in the Aspen area, Davidson says. Oates and Daryl Hall have sold more than 40 million records to date. Their biggest hits came in the late 1970s and mid-1980s, when they saw six singles hit the top of the Billboard 100 chart. In 2014, Oates was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The post John Oates' Colorado Ranch Might Make Your Dreams Come True appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. (PageSix)

Lena Dunham Sheds All Her Clothes to Send a Strong Message About Her Body: "Love It All." If there's anyone to turn to for some comforting words about body image, look no further than Lena Dunham. The Girls creator sent everyone into the weekend with yet another empowering message about loving the skin you're in -- and believing everyone else does, too. While she often stripped down in character as Hannah Horvath on her hit HBO series, she touched on her private defense mechanisms for baring it all and why she's ready to let those go. "I spent so many years loving my body but thinking it wasn't lovable by others- its sole purpose was to be fodder for jokes. I performed the insult so no one else could," she began in a candid message on Instagram along with a photo of her bare torso censored with emojis of pears and a honey pot. "I don't regret any of it- that's my art and that was my truth." "But now, at age 31, having been through hell and back with my health and other people's perceptions of my physicality, I feel deeply comfortable with the idea that this pear-shaped pot of honey is equally good for making people laugh and laying out like a Suicide Girl circa 2004," she continued before concluding, "Love it all." The 31-year-old Golden Globe winner has been just as public of an advocate about her endometriosis diagnosis and its effects as she has been about body image. Last month, she took Us Weekly to task when the magazine included a photo of her on its cover with the promise of "20 Slimdown Diet Tips Stars Are Using." However, Dunham made it clear that she did not want to be included in such an advertisement, particularly because any of her apparent weight loss had stemmed from her medical conditions and the toll of current political affairs. Her personal tips included "1. anxiety disorder" and "2. Resultant constant nausea" as well as "5. Abdominal adhesions pinning ovary below uterus" and "10. A quiet rage that replaces need for food with need for revenge." "I have no tips I give no tips I don't want to be on this cover cuz it's diametrically opposed to everything I've fought my whole career for and it's not a compliment to me because it's not an achievement thanx," she concluded. Keep sharing your message, Lena, because we're all listening. (Eonline)

Corinne Olympios "Forced Herself" on 3 Bachelor in Paradise Men, Co-Star Jasmine Goode Says. Bachelor in Paradise contestant Jasmine Goode says co-star Corinne Olympios not only interacted with DeMario Jackson but also "forced herself on three male cast members when they were unable to consent" on the day of an alleged incident of misconduct, of which the latter woman has said she is a victim. Production on the ABC reality show was shut down last week. Production company Warner Bros. had said in a statement that it was suspended amid "allegations of misconduct" on the set in Mexico and that the group is "conducting a thorough investigation of these allegations." It did not provide details. A producer had filed a complaint questioning whether Olympios was able to give consent for a sexual encounter with co-star Jackson. Insiders told E! News that the producer did not witness the alleged incident. "The day of the incident under investigation, Corinne did not display any change in behavior from what was observed by the cast on her season of The Bachelor," Goode said in an exclusive statement to E! News. "Corinne forced herself on three male cast members, when they were unable to consent, in addition to engaging with DeMario. After the incident everything seemed fine. There was no mention about being hurt. However, when producers tried to cut her off from drinking, she got upset and said, 'Watch, watch what I'm gonna do.'" "The cast is not encouraged or forced to engage in any behaviors or to drink alcohol," Goode continued. "Producers check in to make sure the cast is comfortable and accommodate to the needs requested." Olympios' attorney, Marty Singer, told E! News, "Several cast members and producers have come forward confirming the facts disclosed by my client." "If nothing improper occurred on the set of Bachelor in Paradise, why was the production shut down within two days of production?" he said. "Shutting down production of a television series is almost unheard of. The investigation and subsequent shutting down of the series was initiated based on complaints made by producers on the set of Bachelor in Paradise." Olympios had said in a statement this week, "I am a victim and have spent the last week trying to make sense of what happened on June 4. Although I have little memory of that night, something bad obviously took place, which I understand is why production on the show has now been suspended and a producer on the show has filed a complaint against the production." "It's unfortunate that my character and family name has been assassinated this past week with false claims and malicious allegations," Jackson had said in a statement. "I will be taking swift and appropriate legal action until my name is cleared and, per the advice of legal counsel, will be seeking all available remedies entitled to me under the laws." (Eonline)

There's a fight of the century over the fight of the century ... with two major sporting events vying for the T-Mobile Arena on August 26th. In one corner ... Mayweather vs. McGregor. When the fight was announced, Dana White and Floyd Mayweather stated it will take place at the Vegas venue. Problem is ... Ice Cube's BIG3 basketball league already booked the location for the league championship game on the same night. Our BIG3 sources tell us they have no plans to move -- they still have the venue booked and expect to play there on August 26th. The league even tweeted about it on Friday evening and T-Mobile has game tickets for sale on its site. Sources connected to May-Mac tell us there are plans in motion to move BIG3 to the nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena ... it's just a matter of time before that becomes official. For now, both sides have dug in ... it's a standoff. (TMZ)

A former "Dr. Phil" producer broke into a database and stole footage all in an attempt to smear and extort money from Dr. Phil ... so says his production company in a new lawsuit. Peteski Productions -- which produces "Dr. Phil" -- is suing Leah Rothman for stealing a video shot on board a private plane back in 2014 ... and the company says she specifically targeted a portion of the footage. In docs, obtained by TMZ, the company argues Rothman accessed a database without authorization a year later ... and recorded a 9-second clip of Dr. Phil speaking to producers on her iPhone. The suit gives no specifics about what's in the footage. According to the suit, Rothman "copied and recorded only 9 seconds out of thousands of hours of Dr. Phil Show footage." She stopped working for the show in April 2015. Rothman and Dr. Phil have history -- she sued Dr. Phil in 2016 claiming he locked producers into a room in a profanity-laced meeting to figure out who was leaking stories to the media. It's unclear if this suit is related to Rothman's. The company's suing for unspecified damages. We've reached out to Rothman, so far no word back. (TMZ)

A family featured on "Wife Swap" is at the center of a double murder investigation after one of the kids allegedly shot and killed his mother, his brother and then turned the gun on himself. The Stockdale family, described on the show as "devoutly religious" ... appeared on an episode in 2008. Cops say on Thursday, 25-year-old Jacob Stockdale shot and killed his mother, Kathryn, and 21-year-old brother, James. He then shot himself, and was taken by helicopter to a hospital. He's still alive, but his condition is unknown. The family of 4 brothers made up a blue grass band with their dad. According to the family's website, Jacob was a renowned fiddle player in Ohio. Still unclear what led to the shooting. UPDATE: Law enforcement sources tell us Jacob is currently listed in critical condition. (TMZ)

The Met and Lincoln Center hired a wannabe Karate Kid who laid down a couple brutal strokes on a woman trying to enjoy the ballet ... so she claims in a new lawsuit. Linda Kirsch claims back in June 2016 she was enjoying a performance of "Swan Lake," when she was attacked by a guy who unleashed a karate chop from behind to both of her shoulders. She doesn't say what provoked the attack. Kirsch says she thinks the man works for either The Met or the Lincoln Center ... when in doubt, you sue both. She thinks there was a flaw in the hiring process and believes proper vetting would have revealed the dude has a propensity for violence. Kirsch claims she suffered great physical pain and mental anguish. We've reached out to both companies ... so far no word back. (TMZ)

Music

Ashanti brought her concert to a screeching halt to unleash a profanity-laced rant at her crew for royally screwing up. It all went down Thursday night as she kicked off the R&B Jam Series at the Alex Madonna Expo Center in San Luis Obispo. She was in the middle of performing "Baby" when, out of nowhere, she stopped the show and ordered the video board turned off. She followed up with a question -- "What the f*** they doing back there?" You gotta hear her explanation, which the crowd clearly bought as they cheered her on. Ashanti's rep told us there was a technical issue with the screen that was causing interference to her in-ears and choreography. Sounds like it wasn't the crew's fault but rather an equipment malfunction. (TMZ)

Ryan Seacrest will sign a rich deal to host the new version of "American Idol," but it's not nearly as rich as the one Katy Perry signed. Our ABC sources tell TMZ ... the deal is expected to be signed this weekend. The sources say the network offered $10 mil, Seacrest wanted $15 mil and they compromised somewhere in between ... but closer to $10M than $15M. TMZ broke the story ... Katy Perry snagged $25 million to appear as a judge on the show. We're told the network and Fremantle -- which produces the show -- have not picked the other 2 judges, but whoever it is they'll be relatively cheap ... because they have to be. (TMZ)

Calvin Harris Releases "Feels" With Katy Perry, Big Sean and Pharrell Williams. Calvin Harris has released a new single, "Feels," featuring Katy Perry, Big Sean and Pharrell Williams. It's the fourth track he's released from Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, available June 30. The musicians co-wrote the song and it was recorded in four different locations around the U.S. Before "Feels," Harris released the singles "Heatstroke, "Rollin" and "Slide." "Feels" is available now on iTunes, Spotify and Vevo. Harris' new album will feature 19 of today's hottest artists in all genres, including D.R.A.M., Future, Ariana Grande, Khalid, Kehlani, John Legend, Lil Yachty, Migos, Nicki Minaj, Frank Ocean, PartyNextDoor, Jessie Reyez, Schoolboy Q, Travis Scott, Snoop Dogg and Young Thug. While Harris' music has been well received by many critics (and "Slide" was certified platinum after its release in February), rival DJ Deadmau5 called him out in a series of tweets in May for having so many musical collaborations. "Anyone ever remember when Calvin Harris was just... Calvin Harris? Who the f--k are all these other people? Like... why? F--king hate watching what I love to do get raped by popular culture for the sake of selling stupid s--t for stupid people," the EDM producer tweeted. "I'm not anti-collab. Works well when it works well. But f--k, some of this s--t just reeks of 'I gotta do this to stay on top' not 'art.' Nothing new here. Just your typical sellout rant about people who obviously know how to pander s--t for the sake of capitalism. Moving on." Responding to a Twitter user, Deadmau5 added, "I don't need handouts nor do I feel the need to cling onto people with commercial success to make me feel like I'm better at what I do." He also joked that he plans to collaborate with Garth Brooks, Gloria Gaynor, Ghostface Killah, Barry Manilow, Steve Nash, REO Speedwagon...and a potato. Taking the high road, Harris didn't to Deadmau5's complaints. Weeks later, he tweeted, "Musical + lyrical positivity Chords and melodies and s--t f--kin vibes 2017 That's me God bless." After all, it's not as if Deadmau5 hadn't been prodding Harris in the past. "All this Twitter beef s--t, it's just funny -- to me, anyway. I love the predictability of it: a celebrity says something dumb at me, then this happens, then this plays out like that, then it's all forgotten the next day -- then the next dumb thing happens. That's why I'm never like, 'Oh man, this is really hurting my career.' Like, it's not," he told NME earlier this year. "I mean, it's not exactly helping it either..." (Eonline)

Lorde's 'Melodrama' Is Here. Almost four years after releasing debut album Pure Heroine, Lorde has risen with her follow-up album Melodrama, and it's no sophomore slump. Graduating from teendom, the 20-year-old explores recovering from the end of a long-term relationship, confiding in temporary vices for graceless relief, and embracing her mom, the woman that made her who she is today (literally and creatively). We got a sense of what Melodrama would sound like when Lorde debuted "Green Light," "Liability," "Perfect Places," and "Sober." We found out that her main office was the F train and that she allegedly used to review onion rings on Instagram. And, at long last, we get to experience the complete fantasy that we've been restlessly waiting for. To that, I say we rejoice and embrace our Lorde and pop savior. Amen. (Billboard)

Luis Fonsi Defends Justin Bieber for Not Knowing the Lyrics to "Despacito." Luis Fonsi says he does not blame Justin Bieber for not knowing the lyrics to their collaboration of "Despacito." In April, the Puerto Rican singer released a remix of his and rapper Daddy Yankee's hit single, which features Bieber singing in Spanish for the first time. In May, the Canadian pop star appeared to forget the lyrics while performing the song at the 1 Oak nightclub in New York City. He improvised; Instead of singing, "Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito," he sang, "Nos vamos pegando, I quit smoking ciggies." This past weekend, Bieber denied a fan's request to perform "Despacito" at the Summerburst Festival in Stockholm, saying, "I can't do 'Despacito. I don't even know it." Another fan pelted a water bottle at him in response. "I mean, obviously I would love for him to...learn it," Fonsi told ABC News Radio. "I don't blame him not knowing [the lyrics], and I think we have to give him a little bit of a pass because that's not his main language." "We can't expect the guy to just out of the blue get it perfectly," he added. "I mean, it's obvious when he was recording the song he had the lyrics in front of him." Fonsi said Bieber was the one who chose to record the chorus in Spanish "because he wanted to keep the originality of the song." "So I actually applaud the fact that he took the time in the recording studio to do it, and he did a great job," he said. (Eonline)

Bob Seger Hits Streaming for the First Time. After a long time of running against the wind of the streaming music market, Bob Seger is bringing his old time rock n' roll into the digital realm. The veteran rocker is now streaming 13 of his titles -- eight studio albums, three compilations and two live sets -- via Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, iHeartRadio, Napster and Slacker Radio. The albums will also be available for digital download. It marks the long-awaited arrival of Seger's music after a lengthy holdout during which fans have campaigned heartily on social media for the material to become available. "It's an exciting day," Amazon Music vp Steve Boom tells Billboard. "Our listeners love rock music and have been asking for Bob in streaming for a long time. We know they will love it. Bob Seger is an amazing artist with songs and albums that stand the test of time, and we're thrilled he is now making his catalog available to stream on Amazon Music." Troy Carter, Head of Creator Services at Spotify, adds, "Bob Seger wrote the soundtrack for generations of music fans lives. He's an American icon and true legend. It's exciting for us to not only be able to share Bob's music with his existing fans, but also to introduce him to new audiences around the world." Seger does have a reputation as a slow adapter to new technologies. He did not begin releasing catalog titles on CD in earnest until 1989, and he only arrived on iTunes in 2011. The streaming move comes as Seger and his Silver Bullet Band are preparing for their Runaway Train Tour, which kicks off Aug. 24 in Toledo, and amidst reports of Seger working on a new album in Nashville, though no release details have been announced yet. The Seger titles now streaming include Ramblin' Gamblin' Man (1969), Beautiful Loser (1975), Live Bullet (1976), Night Moves (1976), Stranger In Town (1978), Against The Wind (1980), Nine Tonight (1981), The Distance (1980), Like A Rock (1986), The Fire Inside (1991), Greatest Hits (1994), Greatest Hits 2 (2003) and Ultimate Hits: Rock And Roll Never Forgets (2011). Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, Beautiful Loser, Night Moves, Stranger In Town, Against The Wind, The Distance, Like A Rock, The Fire Inside, Greatest Hits and Greatest Hits 2 are making their digital download debuts as part of the campaign. The representative calls this just the beginning of Seger streaming campaign, with other titles to be added in the future. Since the "Nielsen Music era" began in 1991, Seger has sold 22.1 million albums in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music. His best-selling album in that span is Greatest Hits, which has sold 9.6 million copies. (It was released in 1994, so all sales are captured in the Nielsen window.) That album is also one of the 25 best-selling albums of the Nielsen era overall. (Metallica's self-titled album tops that list, with 16.6 million in sales.) (Billboard)

Movies

Jessica Biel Introduces Her Killer New Role in The Sinner. You've never seen Jessica Biel quite like this before. When the actress makes her long-awaited return to TV in USA's upcoming limited series The Sinner, the former 7th Heaven star will be taking a trip to the dark side. And we mean "happy wife and mother who randomly and brutally stabs a man to death and doesn't know why" dark. Meet Cora Tannetti, the aforementioned happy wife and mother who commits a heinous act during a family trip to the beach and has no idea why. "Cora initially is seemingly very normal. She has a family, has a son. She's doing well at her job. It seems like a pretty normal life," Biel says of the character in this sneak peek of the new series, exclusive to E! News. "We start to sense that there's unrest there. There's something that she's maybe battling with, internally." "I think that she believes that when she commits that crime and she's in prison, now she's almost safe. It's over," Biel adds. "She doesn't have to pretend anymore. There's a relief. It's easier to be here than it is to live in the real world." It's only when a dogged investigator played by Bill Pullman takes up the case, determined to figure out why Cora did what she did, that prison isn't so easy anymore. As they begin to examine what's going on in her mind -- and what went on in her past -- things will prove to only get darker. "She does not want to get into her past," Biel teases. "Her past is such a place of shame and of fear. She's living with these big secrets." The Sinner premieres Wednesday, August 2 at 10 p.m. on USA. (Eonline)

Fifty Shades of Grey Director Sam Taylor-Johnson Recalls Friction With E.L. James. There is no love lost between Sam Taylor-Johnson, who helmed the Fifty Shades of Grey film, and E.L. James, who penned the book and created the franchise. The director did not direct this year's sequel, Fifty Shades Darker. In recent interviews, recalled her and James' friction over the original film. "Two different creative visions," Taylor-Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter in comments posted Friday. "Her vision versus mine, and they were polar opposite. Every scene was fought over. It was tough. It was like wading uphill through sticky tar. Her thing was, 'This is what the fans expect.' I'd be like, 'Well, let's try and hit those marks but create a new universe at the same time.'" James, whose real name is Erika Mitchell, has not commented. "There was a tentative plan that I would be involved with the following two," Taylor-Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter. "[But the studio] wanted to see how the first one went before any discussion. It went well in terms of box office. But less well with my relationship with Erika." A source told E! News in 2014, while production on Fifty Shades of Grey was underway, that "E.L. James wants the movie to match the book exactly, but Sam has a different perspective. Sam is reminding E.L. she writes books and she makes movies. This has caused some tension between the two of them." In an interview with the U.K.'s Sunday Times earlier this week, Taylor-Johnson said making Fifty Shades of Grey was "a struggle" and that "there were lots of onset tête-à-têtes, with me trying to bat it into the [right] place." She added that she was "so confused" by James. "I like everyone, and I get really confused when they don't like me," she said. "I don't understand when I can't navigate a person, when there's no synergy." In 2015, Taylor-Johnson told Porter magazine that it was "difficult" to work with James. "We definitely fought, but they were creative fights and we would resolve them," she said. "We would have proper on-set barneys, and I'm not confrontational, but it was about finding a way between the two of us, satisfying her vision of what she'd written as well as my need to visualize this person on screen, but, you know, we got there." Taylor-Johnson told Red magazine she wanted to "protect" her "vision" while making Fifty Shades of Grey. "There are so many voices. You have to try and keep all those people at bay," she said. "You think, you hired me because I'm a creative artist with a vision. Don't try and knock it out of me." (Eonline) The guy who's playing Tupac Shakur is already calling it quits ... when it comes to reprising the role in any other movies. We got "All Eyez On Me" star Demetrius Shipp Jr. -- he was clearly excited about last weeks big Hollywood premiere and the positive reviews he's getting. So, we asked if he's down to do what his co-star Jamal Woolard has done ... playing Notorious B.I.G. in 3 movies. Demetrius explained why he's one and done, but basically ... the guy's got big plans, and Tupac is just the start. Of course, if he keeps getting props from random celebs on the street, Demetrius might change his mind. As we were talking to him ... this really cool Hollywood moment with Big Boi went down! (TMZ)

Jada Pinkett Smith Calls Tupac Shakur Biopic All Eyez on Me "Deeply Hurtful." Jada Pinkett Smith is not happy with the way her relationship to Tupac Shakur is depicted in the new biopic about the late iconic rapper, All Eyez on Me. The two were close friends while attending high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts. The rapper was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in 1996. He was 25. Demetrius Shipp Jr. plays the rapper in the All Eyez on Me film, while The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham plays Jada. The movie was released Friday on would have been Tupac's 46th birthday. "Forgive me... my relationship to Pac is too precious to me for the scenes in All Eyez On Me to stand as truth," Jada tweeted Friday. "The reimagining of my relationship to Pac has been deeply hurtful." "To @KatGraham and @Dshippjr this is no fault of yours. Thank you for bringing so much heart and spirit to your roles," she said. "You both did a beautiful job with what you were given. Thank you both." The actress pointed out several inaccuracies in the biopic. In one scene, Tupac reads a poem to Jada before he moves to California to concentrate on a music career. "Pac never read me that poem. I didn't know that poem existed until it was printed in his book," she wrote. "Pac never said goodbye to me before leaving for LA. He had to leave abruptly and it wasn't to pursue his career. "I've never been to any of Pac's shows by his request. We never had an argument backstage." She also included a personal message to the rapper. "Happy birthday Pac, you are cradled in my heart for eternity," she tweeted. "I love you." Jada had opened up about her and Tupac's relationship on The Howard Stern Show in 2015. "I think it's so funny, 'cause now, being older, I have more of an understanding of what that was between us because, you know, when you have two young people who have very strong feelings but there's no physical chemistry between us at all...there was a time where I was like, 'Just kiss me, let's just see how this goes.' And when I tell you, it had to be the most disgusting kiss for us both." "The only way I can put it just the higher power just did not want that because I feel as though if Pac and I had any kind of sexual chemistry, we might have killed each other because we were both so passionate and we love deeply," she said. "It was hard enough just with us being friends. We had a very volatile relationship." Jada said she and Tupac would have "very intense conversations" and at one point had a "very hardcore disagreement," in which she did not agree "with the direction he was taking in his life. In the '90s, the rapper was arrested several times and served eight months in prison for a sexual abuse conviction. After he was freed, Tupac released his hit All Eyez on Me album, which contained his such as the radio-friendly "California Love." The record also contained tracks with lyrics in which he threatened his enemies. "I just told him that it was a destructive direction, a very scary direction, and he felt as though I had changed, I'd gone Hollywood, I'd gone soft," Jada told Howard Stern. "And I understood all that. And looking back now, I totally understand where Pac was, 'cause at that particular point in time, that mentality was part of his survival for that moment and it was actually a mentality he started to come out of before he was murdered." "I felt just sadness for not having the opportunity to tell him that I loved him. But I know he knew that," Jada said, getting emotional. "It definitely taught me a lesson, which is, life is too short -- do not let disagreements stand in between you and people that you love and care about." (Eonline)

Annecy: Pixar Previews 'Coco'. Producer Darla K. Anderson screened a trailer, the opening sequence and other scenes from 'Toy Story 3' director Lee Unkrich's new feature, inspired by Mexico's Day of the Dead holiday. Before a packed house at Annecy's Bonlieu theater, Pixar producer Darla K. Anderson and writer Adrian Molina were on hand Friday to screen first footage of director Lee Unkrich's upcoming Mexican epic Coco, which opens worldwide in the fall. The film features the voices of Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Edward James Olmos and newcomer Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel, a 12-year-old boy whose love of music will set him on a journey into a hidden netherworld populated by the dead. According to Anderson, the movie was largely inspired by the colorful Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday that takes place in Mexico during the first two days of November, and during which families honor their departed ancestors with altars, prayers and gatherings. In Coco-which was written by Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and Molina (Monsters University)-Miguel, who goes against his family's wishes by teaching himself to play guitar, winds up accessing a magical land of "living" skeletons, crossing paths with his own departed kin in the process. "The story is rooted in the importance of remembering those who came before us," said Anderson, who then screened the film's trailer, opening sequence and a few other scenes that were still works-in-progress. Renderings of the magical underworld were especially impressive, making the Dia de Muertos myths and decorations come to life, with Bernal voicing a comic-relief skeleton named Hector and Bratt playing a famous cantador named Ernesto de la Cruz. Steeped in the traditions and sounds of Mexico, with a Latin American cast singing and performing in English, Coco represents an interesting gamble for Pixar and its parent company, Walt Disney. It's both a very Hollywood coming-of-age adventure story and a celebration of the morbidly joyous rituals of the Day of the Dead. And it's definitely the first animated film of this size to be so steeped in culture south of the border that it is building a bridge-which is actually used in the film to connect its two worlds-rather than a wall. "What if we could meet our dead relatives?" was, according to Anderson and Molina, the question that originally set Unkrich on the path to Coco. Audiences will answer when the film hits U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, with a release set for Mexico just before the Dia de Muertos kicks off. (Hollywood Reporter)

Box Office: Tupac Biopic 'All Eyez on Me' Takes $3.1M, 'Cars 3' Cruises to $2.8M Thursday. The four new films opening this weekend also include raunchy female comedy 'Rough Night' and shark thriller '47 Meters Down.' Tupac biopic All Eyez on Me earned $3.1 million in Thursday previews while Disney and Pixar's animated sequel Cars 3 cruised to $2.8 million. That number puts its previews ahead of the $2.6 million Thursday tally of Monsters University from 2013 (it went on to earn $82.4 million in its debut). Cars and Cars 2 have earned more than $1 billion in combined worldwide box office. Cars 2 opened in 2011 to $66.1 million domestically, and went on to earn $562.1 million worldwide. Cars, which hit theaters in 2006, earned $60.1 million in its North American debut, eventually hit $462.2 million worldwide. The third installment, helmed by Brian Fee, should earn $55 million or more in its North American debut this weekend, enough to finish at No. 1, ahead of holdover Wonder Woman. The film follows the legendary Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) as he's pushed out of the sport he loves by a new generation of blazing-fast racers. He enlists the help of a young race technician (voice of Cristela Alonzo) to help him get back in the game. Lionsgate's Codeblack Films is releasing All Eyez on Me, a Tupac Shakur biopic which is hitting theaters on the late music icon's birthday and includes over a dozen songs from Tupac's music catalog. Opening in 2,471 theaters, the film helmed by Benny Boom and starring Demetrius Shipp Jr. as the iconic rapper is expected to earn in the $20 million-plus range. Also opening this weekend are raunchy female comedy Rough Night and shark thriller 47 Meters Down. Sony's R-rated female comedy Rough Night earned 700,000 in previews Thursday, and is tracking to earn in the low to mid-teens in its domestic launch. The movie stars Scarlett Johansson, Ilana Glazer, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell and Zoe Kravitz as a group of friends who gather for a weekend-long bachelorette bash. Lucia Aniello directed the film. Shark thriller 47 Meters Down, starring Mandy Moore and Claire Holt, is the first major title from independent distributor Entertainment Studios. It isn't expected to swim past $6 million in its debut. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

William Shatner may have explored new worlds where no man has gone before, but now he's in Sweden ... running around with rabbits. The legendary "Star Trek" actor is in Stockholm shooting for his new comedy/reality show "Better Late Than Never" ... and showed off his skills as a bunny handler. Spoiler alert -- he wasn't great at it. Rabbit show jumping is big in Sweden -- kind of like the Westminster Dog Show in the U.S. Shatner and his fellow cultural icons on the show -- Henry Winkler, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman -- all took part in the rabbit racing and looked like they had a blast. As usual, host Jeff Dye was their guide. (TMZ)

Reign Series Finale Brings Mary's Journey to an End: Did The CW Follow the History Books? Queen Mary's reign has come to an end. After four seasons, Reign aired its series finale on The CW on Friday night, bringing Mary's (Adelaide Kane) story to an end. We'd say spoiler alert, but, like, read a history book once in a while, kids! As expected, and has it happened in real-life, Reign's finale ended just how Mary's life did: she was beheaded in 1587, with the show staging a 21 year time-jump in the final moments. And insanely enough, Mary and her cousin Queen Elizabeth (Rachel Karsten) never came face-to-face, despite Mary becoming Elizabeth's prisoner. Prior to the time-jump, and Mary's execution, viewers see her arrested for her hand in the murder of her husband Lord Darnley (Will Kemp), after he becomes sick with syphilis and kidnaps their son, James. (In real-life, she went on to marry Bothwell [Adam Croasdell], who murdered Darnley, prior to her imprisonment for being found guilty of plotting to assassinate her cousin.) And in the 21 years, Mary, then 44, never got to see James again, though he did plead with Elizabeth to spare his mother's life. "I often wonder what choice she had," he says, when a bitter Queen Elizabeth says Mary's choices "ruined" her. Despite James' pleading ("We both have what is rightfully hers!") and Elizabeth's clear struggle with the choice at hand ("I cannot have her blood on my hands and I cannot let her go"), in the end, Mary is beheaded, the end we all knew was coming when the series began in 2012. Fortunately, we are spared the actual sight of Mary's beheading, and instead are treated to quite the surprise. Mary wakes up in bed, across from Francis (Toby Regbo), who tells her, "I've been waiting for you." When she questions if this is real, he tells her, "Nothing is more real. I love you. I always have." What follows is a beautiful montage of Mary's life: her loves, her friends, her battles, her struggles, and her relationship with Francis. What did you think of Reign's series finale? (Eonline)

Michael Phelps Is Set to Race a Great White for Discovery Channel's Shark Week. We're guessing he's never seen Jaws. Or any other movie with a shark in it. As part of Discovery Channel's fan-favorite Shark Week, one of summer TV's most highly anticipated events, Michael Phelps is set to take on his greatest competitor ever: a great white shark. No, we're not kidding. Yes, our DVR just set itself to record this must-see TV event. The 23-time Olympic gold medalist will race the shark on Sunday, July 23, with Discovery Channel titling the special event, Phelps vs. Shark: Great Gold vs. Great White. "They are one of the fastest and most efficient predators on the planet: Sharks," Discovery Channel said in a press release announcing the special. "He is our greatest champion to ever get in the water: Michael Phelps. 39 world records. 23 Olympic golds. But he has one competition left to win. An event so monumental no one has ever attempted it before. The world's most decorated athlete takes on the ocean's most efficient predator: Phelps V Shark-the race is on!" Phelps, 31, is the most-decorated Olympian of all-time, so if anyone would be able to beat a shark, it's gotta be him, right?! In addition to his race against a great white, Phelps will also take part in Shark School With Michael Phelps on July 30, Shark Week's closing night, where he will join Doc Gruber and Tristan Guttridge of the Bimini Shark Lab to get a crash course on everything "shark." Hm...maybe he should be taking this source before the race? Phelps vs. Shark: Great Gold vs. Great White airs Sunday, July 23 at 8 p.m. on Discovery Channel. (Eonline)

Teen Mom OG's Amber Portwood and Matt Baier Check Into Marriage Boot Camp. It's off to Marriage Boot Camp for one Teen Mom OG couple... E! News can confirm that Amber Portwood, 27, and her fiance Matt Baier, 46, are checking into Marriage Boot Camp Family Edition after a rough couple of months in their relationship. We're told Amber and Matt will dive into their issues on the WeTV reality show alongside her mother, Tonya Portwood. The news comes just a month after we confirmed the couple decided to push back their October wedding plans. A source told us, "For the time being, Matt and Amber's engagement is on hold. They are working on their relationship." Neither Amber nor Matt publicly commented, but our insider explained, "A lot has come out through the course of filming and from various online stories. That has added extra pressure and made things difficult." The source added, "They've both been open about their personal struggles, but it hasn't been easy when their lives are under such heavy scrutiny. Despite their issues, they are still living together and are hopeful things can be fixed." Just last week, Amber stirred more speculation around their relationship when she tweeted about missing a book signing she was supposed to attend with Matt. "This was not my book signing and I'm pissed off I'm getting backlash for someone else's stupidity!!!" she wrote, reminding her fans it was for Matt's book You Have No F**king Idea. "I would never ever just not show up to see my fans. I'm very hurt that I was told it was cancelled and that was a lie." "I will make it up to everyone for free!!!" she tweeted again. "Free books or a meet anything! I would never do that on purpose!! Please know that!" In April, their relationship came under fire again after accusations emerged that Amber was allegedly physically abusing Matt. Amber denied the speculation, noting, "I'm saddened by the latest rumors, which are both untrue and unfounded, but plan to continue to stay focused on my recovery and being the best person I can be for everyone in my life." Matt also spoke out at the time, calling the rumors "both vicious and completely false" and adding, "Amber would never lay a hand on me and I can't wait to marry the love of my life in October." (Eonline)

Queen of the South's Jon Ecker Opens Up About His Role and Growing Up With a Famous Father. Jon Ecker is heating up Queen of the South with his role as Guero, but the actor has a great storyline on and off the camera. The 34-year-old star is all too familiar with TV sets given that his father is Guy Ecker, one of the biggest Spanish-Telenovela actors. "I think the most important thing that I learned from him wasn't about how to act, but how to stay sane being an actor. It has a lot of ups and downs and is filled with rejection. So I think from him I learned how to hang it all up at the door when I come home and how to separate my personal life and any feelings of contentment from whatever may be going on in my professional life whether it be good or bad," the actor exclusively tells E! News. "I"m his biggest fan!" We've seen Ecker in badass roles in both Queen of the South and Narcos, so we had to ask, how does he prepare to play these characters? "I look at my characters in a non-judgmental way. I try to understand why they make the decisions they make and what motivates them. People are very complex, and I just try to understand where they're coming from and ground it in things that are universally relatable, like love, ambition, insecurity, fear, etc...," he explains. "Guero is a charismatic drug trafficker who was motivated by the adrenaline rush until he met Teresa, the love of his life. In the second season, he's driven by a desire to get her back and to keep her safe." The Texas native, who recently took our E!Q, tells us that he's really excited about his character's development, especially his portrayal in a certain episode. "This season Guero is reunited with Teresa in episode 202, and it's intense, but it's not going to be easy. He has been gone for some time, and a lot has happened since new people are coming into Teresa's life. There is a lot of action and drama this season," he explains. Ecker also worked in Spanish television before heading to Hollywood, and he feels that speaking two languages has only strengthened his career growth. "I originally started getting roles in Spanish-speaking shows, and it's just recently that I've been reading for English-speaking shows. I think being bilingual was definitely a big advantage. Just like with most jobs, there are a lot of people competing for a limited number of spots, so anything that helps you stand out is a plus," he says. When Ecker isn't acting, he likes to spend his time off somewhere outdoors and probably on the water. "I love to sail and camp. I studied marine biology, and I really feel at home and peace near the ocean and away from the grind of the city," he says. You can catch Ecker and the rest of Queen of the South's cast every Thursday at 10/9c on USA. (Eonline)

ABC's 'The Toy Box' Renewed for Season 2. ABC is ready to dive back into The Toy Box. The reality competition series, hosted by Eric Stonestreet, has been renewed for a second season. ABC announced the pickup late Thursday, noting that production on the new episodes is already underway. The Toy Box sees amateur toy inventors compete to have their idea made. However, they first must get the approval from a team of kid judges (after first being approved by several adult judges). The series is produced in partnership with toy giant Mattel, which will make and distribute the winning toy from season one (liquid 3-D art) at Toys R Us stores nationwide following the season finale. The series was co-developed with Hudsun Media and Electus, with the latter handling international distribution. It's unclear when the series, which ran for an eight-episode first season, will return. The Toy Box joins a growing stable of unscripted hits at the network, which is getting to revive reality behemoth American Idol in 2018. ABC's alternative lineup also includes game shows such as To Tell the Truth, Celebrity Family Feud, $100,000 Pyramid and the recently premiered Steve Harvey's Funderdome. The network also boasts several long-running unscripted franchises, including Dancing With the Stars, which will spin off a kid-centered version next season, and The Bachelor, which is currently engulfed in scandal. Next week, ABC will unveil two more alternative entries with the singing competition Boy Band a reboot of Battle of the Network Stars. (Hollywood Reporter)

Julianne Moore, Tracy Morgan Set for Alec Baldwin Spike TV Special 'One Night Only'. The stars are lining up to roast pay tribute to Alec Baldwin. Julianne Moore, Tracy Morgan, Kate McKinnon, Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer are set to present at Spike TV's forthcoming special Alec Baldwin: One Night Only. Announced in March, the special will see Baldwin's friends and luminaries from the comedy, film and TV worlds pay tribute to the Emmy winner in a night that will also include music, personal stories and a few surprises along the way. The black tie event will tape at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on Sunday, June 25 and air on Spike on July 9. Frequent 30 Rock director Beth McCarthy Miller will helm the special, which is produced by Casey Patterson Entertainment (Lip Sync Battle). More talent for the special is expected to be announced shortly. Baldwin's connections to the first group of presenters run deep. He starred opposite Moore twice, first when she played his love interest on 30 Rock for six episodes and later when they played husband and wife in the 2014 film Still Alice, for which she won the Oscar. The veteran actor also starred alongside Morgan, Krakowski and McBrayer for all seven seasons of critical darling 30 Rock, for which Baldwin won two Emmys and three Golden Globes. He shared the screen many times with McKinnon this past season of Saturday Night Live, when she played the Hillary Clinton to his Donald Trump. The One Night Only special comes in the midst of a banner year for Baldwin. In addition to his Trump impersonation on SNL, he voiced the title character in the box office hit Boss Baby, released a memoir and hosted SNL for the record-breaking 17th time. He is next slated to appear in Hulu's 9/11 drama The Looming Tower and the upcoming sixth Mission Impossible film. Baldwin joins recent One Night Only honorees Eddie Murphy and Don Rickles. The decision to bring back One Night Only comes as Spike prepares for a major rebranding. The Viacom-owned cable network will move away from its guy-centered slate and towards the more broad lineup when it becomes the Paramount Network in early 2018. Patterson's Lip Sync Battle, the cable channel's current biggest hit, will remain on the channel, joining scripted programming including a Heathers TV anthology based on the beloved film and the period dramedy American Woman. Patterson will exec produce with Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare. Spike's svp, sports and special, Jon Slusser, will serves as the network's executive in charge. One Night Only: Alec Baldwin premieres Sunday, July 9 at 9 p.m. on Spike TV. (Hollywood Reporter)

Megyn Kelly interview completely overhauled after backlash. Megyn Kelly had completely overhauled her Sunday night show featuring Alex Jones, inviting Sandy Hook families on the program and editing her interview with Jones to be tougher on him, following all the backlash this week. NBC News execs were scrambling following the furor over Kelly's decision to give a platform to the controversial Infowars host, who claimed the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax. A contrite Kelly personally called the Sandy Hook families, we're told, to invite them on the show to counter Jones' rhetoric. A source told us, "NBC was scrambling to find a way out of this mess without having to back down and cancel Sunday's episode of Megyn's show. Megyn and her producers made numerous calls to the Sandy Hook families this week to ask them to appear on the show. Some refused because they didn't think appearing on her show would do enough to counter Alex Jones' venom." Another source added, "Everyone on the show believes it's vitally important that the piece conveys the immense pain that Jones has caused the Sandy Hook families." The source added it was normal to be editing right up until airtime. Page Six has learned that Neil Heslin, the father of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was slain in the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Conn., has agreed to be interviewed on Kelly's show. In 2013, he appeared at a Senate committee hearing and pleaded with senators to ban assault weapons such as the gun that killed his son. Reps for NBC and Kelly didn't comment on Thursday night. Even Jones himself thinks the piece will be deliberately cut to make him look crazy. He spent 13 hours with Kelly, but says he expects producers to pick the parts that make him look bad, to prove to Kelly's critics that she is a serious journalist. Jones now doesn't want the piece to air because "from the promos NBC has run, Megyn is distorting me," Jones told The Hollywood Reporter. "It has all the markings of a PR stunt." He added, "They just want me to be the devil because I'm the alternative media .?.?. Fake news lives at NBC. They basically made me look like a Halloween character." (PageSix)

"Infowars" host Alex Jones says he knew Megyn Kelly was going to screw him over ... so he's releasing his own behind-the-scenes footage from their interview before NBC airs the piece. Jones says he suspected Kelly would misrepresent him in the TV special, and feels the promos for the controversial interview prove he was right. Turns out he recorded his convos with Kelly ... some before the interview even began ... to have his side of the story documented. He's been asking NBC to cancel the segment -- scheduled to air Sunday -- because he thinks it's unfairly edited. He says the network refused, and that's why he's beating them to the punch. It's unclear if Kelly knew she was being recorded by Jones. We've reached out to NBC News. Rob Dew, a news director for Infowars, doubled down on Jones' promise to release the footage, which they say will include the full, unedited interview. (TMZ)

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