ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Jana Kramer Suffers Miscarriage: "I Just Don't Want to Feel Alone." Jana Kramer took to Instagram on Saturday to share some devastating personal news: She suffered a miscarriage, and it was not her first. The 34-year-old One Tree Hill alum, mother of 1-year-old daughter Jolie, also posted a photo of herself holding a sonogram. The ultrasound picture indicates she was early in her first trimester when she suffered her pregnancy loss, and was likely to initially be able to identify a heartbeat. "1-3," Kramer wrote. "Today I am 1-3. I debated posting this for the exact reason why it's a silent struggle. I don't want I'm sorry or sympathy. I just don't want to feel alone. And I know I'm not. This unfortunately isn't my first loss. When I first found out I was pregnant I wanted to shout it from the rooftop but I know for reasons like this we have to wait. So because we don't tell many, we have to suffer silently...and suffering silently was my thing in the past, but it's not now." "For the women out there who have miscarried in the past and need support and a place to grieve their little one lost or to those in the thick of it like me who are currently grieving and in pain, let us all be there for each other," she wrote. "You don't need to feel alone and maybe that's me talking to myself but if you need a place to share, I'm here for you...and all of us are (and guys too. We sometimes silence your voice because you feel bad to express how it's made u feel so let this be a safe place for you too). And because I don't have all the words to say because I'm knee deep in crying and trying to listen to God, my girlfriend @alittlebitfancy says them for me." Her friend also recently experienced a miscarriage and wrote about it on her blog. "I love you guys. #yourenotalone," Kramer wrote. Kramer did not identify the father or offer more details about her personal life. Her sad news comes more than a year after she separated from husband, Mike Caussin. It was later revealed that the former NFL player had cheated on her "multiple times with multiple women" and spent time in a rehab center to treat sex addiction. He and Kramer were last spotted together this past April at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium, where Kramer threw out the ceremonial first pitch. (Eonline)

Justin Bieber's Mom Pattie Raves About Selena Gomez: 'We Have a Special Bond'. Selena Gomez has the official seal of approval from Justin Bieber's mom, Pattie Mallette. Speaking with PEOPLE at the Justice Speaks Holiday Benefit Luncheon in L.A. on Saturday where she was the keynote speaker, Mallette had nothing but high praise for Gomez, who's been dating Bieber on and off since 2010. "I don't know so much about their personal relationship because he doesn't share a whole lot, but I love her," she said of Gomez, 25. "I support anything [he does], if he loves her I love her, and I've met her and we have a special bond so I think she's precious. I can't really speak on their relationship, that's between them." Bieber, 23, was in attendance at the Justice Speaks -- a L.A. based non-profit organization to end human and sex trafficking internationally by providing services to at-risk children -- event to show support for his mom. He arrived at the event with Mallette and appeared in great spirits while posing on the red carpet and briefly chatting with photographers. He wore a white t-shirt, black pants, red sneakers and carried a Bible with him the whole time. "I think he's just keeping his focus on God, and really trying to figure out what counts and what matters," Mallette said about how the "Despacito" singer is doing, adding that he is trying to find balance in his life and learn how to deal with the constant pressures of fame. "I think he's trying to be somehow normal in such an abnormal world, trying to find that balance," she said. "I feel like he's growing up and I'm really proud of him." Although Mallette didn't go into any specifics about her son's rekindled relationship with Gomez, she said that having love in his life keeps him more grounded, especially with someone like the "Wolves" singer, who cares deeply for him. "I think anyone with real love in their life is more grounded," said Mallette. "I think there's so much confusion sometimes and facade in this Hollywood world, and so it's important for us to find the ones that truly care and stick with them." A source close to Bieber previously told PEOPLE that the couple are making an effort to keep things more "low key" this time around. "They are great and very happy," said the source. "Justin canceled his tour to take care of his mental health and he wants to continue to focus on this. He didn't like the chaos," the Bieber source continued, adding that "they agreed to stay more low-key." Of her involvement in Justice Speaks, Mallette told PEOPLE, "I am just so honored to be able to come here and be a voice for the voiceless." "I had never been trafficked personally but I think so many people that are sexually abused and silenced for so many years, I think that I can relate in some ways," she said. "So I just want to come back and be a voice of strength for those that are vulnerable, and they haven't been able to speak for themselves." (People)

Proof Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet's Offscreen Relationship Is Even Cuter Than Their Onscreen One. You don't need to watch Call Me by Your Name to see the friendship that has grown between Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet. (Although, it definitely wouldn't hurt.) The two co-stars play lovers in the Italian countryside, but in real life, they're just two guys that have grown into great friends. While on the red carpet at the GQ Men of the Year Party, the actors told E! News' Melanie Bromley that their friendship is "exactly" like their characters. Armie, being the jokester, added, "Almost exactly -- except we hate each other." Jokes aside, Timothee told Bromley that they often hang out together, saying, "The structure of our relationship is I'll go over and like just wait until I feel like everybody wants me to go and then I'll go." Armie assured his friend, who he has become a sort of mentor, that "the answer is never. We never want him to leave." Unfortunately, Timothee won't be able to host Armie and his family at his New York apartment any time soon since Armie "could put out both of his arms and hit both sides of the rooms," but the buddies find plenty of time to eat together and chat about their lives, both personal and professional, over dinner. During those dinners, Armie has given Timothee advice on navigating the world of Hollywood, telling his friend, "Come the end of March, all of this is going to be over and there is like a real world that you go back to once this whole kind of machine is done." Whether the 21-year-old returns to acting or his rapping profession -- Armie calls his rap alter-ego "Timmy Tim" -- after March is yet to be seen, but Timothee undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him, especially with Call Me by Your Name being called the Best Picture of 2017 by the L.A. Film Critics Association. (Eonline)

Rose McGowan Feuds With Alyssa Milano for Supporting Harvey Weinstein's Estranged Wife. Rose McGowan and Alyssa Milano may have played sisters on TV, but now there is bad blood between them. McGowan recently slammed her former Charmed co-star after she publicly voiced support for Georgina Chapman, the estranged wife of producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused by dozens of women of sexual assault and harassment amid a growing #MeToo movement of victims of many alleged perpetrators speaking out. McGowan is one of several woman who has alleged that Weinstein raped her. He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. Milano, who helped make the #MeToo movement popular by tweeting about it in October, said on Megyn Kelly Today on Friday that Chapman, a fashion designer, deserves to "come out on the other side of this" and is "a good woman." "You make me want to vomit. You actually gave me a body flashback. Well done, fake one - People," McGowan tweeted, alongside a link to an article citing Milano's remarks. She later wrote, "Alyssa, maybe you and Georgina can call up Camille Cosby," referring to the supporting wife of Bill Cosby, who was tried earlier in the year for three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault. The jury was deadlocked and the case ended in a mistrial. He faces a new trial next year. Milano did not respond to McGowan's remarks. She has since then tweeted continuously about unrelated topics. The latter star later expressed agreement with a Twitter user who posted that Weinstein's wife "knew who and [what] she married and why." Weinstein and Chapman, who left her husband amid the scandal and whose Marchesa fashion line is partially funded by him, have not commented. (Eonline)

Carrie Fisher's French bulldog, Gary, is one of the most popular pooches on the planet, but his public appearances have upset Carrie's family ... TMZ has learned. As you'll recall ... when Fisher died, Gary went to her assistant, Corby McCoin. There have been numerous stories out that Carrie's daughter, Billie Lourd has the pooch, but it's not true. Corby has had the dog since Carrie died. Now here's the conflict -- Corby wants to take Gary to various functions, including ComicCons, where people can interact with Gary and somehow feel closer to Carrie. We're told people over at Lucasfilm contacted the folks at ComicCon and asked them to block the appearance, which they did. There was another event last April in Orlando which held a "Star Wars" celebration. We're told Mark Hamill wanted Gary to come out on stage with him. We're told the P.R. Dept. for "Star Wars" shut it down because Billie didn't want it ... and there have been other failed attempts as well. Sources connected to Billie tell TMZ ... she and her dad, CAA head Bryan Lourd, fully understand how much Gary meant to Carrie, but when she died Gary was really nothing more than a dog, and they didn't want the animal to define the memory of Carrie ... they felt it cheapened it. We're also told Bryan asked Corby to delete Gary's Instagram, which has more than 160,000 followers ... again, because he feels it cheapens Carrie's legacy. We're even told Bryan offered Corby $250 a month in return for not parading Gary around, possibly for money, but Corby declined. We broke the story ... 'Last Jedi' director Rian Johnson says the upcoming film will pay homage to Fisher's beloved dog, so no matter what -- he's still got some time left in the limelight. (TMZ)

Dustin Hoffman Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Third Woman. Dustin Hoffman faces fresh allegations of sexual misconduct from another female accuser, the third in a little more than a month. Kathryn Rossetter wrote in an essay published by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday that the alleged incidents began while the two starred together in a Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman in 1983. Hoffman played main character Willy Loman, while she played his mistress. Hoffman's reps declined to comment. Several other people who worked on Death of a Salesman -- Hoffman's brother-in-law and then-assistant Lee Gottsegen, and actors Anne McIntosh, Debra Mooney and Linda Hogan, Michael Quinlan and Andrew Bloch, and production stage manager Tom Kelly -- did not recall witnessing any of the conduct Rossetter described and questioned her account, The Hollywood Reporter said. Kelly told the outlet, "Given my position, it's insulting to say this kind of activity would go on to the extent of sexual violation." Rossetter said that he allegedly began to put his hand under her slip on the inside of her thighs while they waiting in the wings during almost every show and then "got more and more aggressive." "One night he actually started to stick his fingers inside me," she wrote. "Night after night I went home and cried." She cited more examples of alleged sexual misconduct. She said that at after parties, he would grab her breast as they would pose for photos together and then drop his hand before the shots were taken. She said she has one picture "where the camera caught him in the act." A photo of the two posing while embracing, with Hoffman cupping her breast and her smiling, was posted by the Hollywood Reporter. "Everyone around always laughed when he did this," she wrote. "Everyone standing around laughing worked for him." She said that Hoffman also allegedly pulled her slip over her head and exposed her breasts and body to the crew while she was backstage. She said he told the people to "come backstage at that time for a surprise." She said the prank made her miss her cue and that she was reprimanded for it. She said she confronted Hoffman one day about his behavior towards her. "I pushed Dustin up against the wall screaming, 'F--k you! How would you like it if someone did that to you before you walked out on stage every night, Mr. Method Actor? Leave me alone!'" she wrote. "He did...for three days. And then it was back to groping as usual." Rossetter said she considered reporting Hoffman to the Actors Equity labor union but was cautioned by some "respected theatre professionals" that she would probably lose her job if she did. The two reprised their roles in a TV movie, which was released in 1985. Rossetter said in her essay that at a screening, she and another female cast member were asked to pose for a photo with Hoffman. She said he stood between them and grabbed their breasts. "Without thinking, a knee-jerk response built up over two years, I grabbed his crotch," she wrote. "How would he like some of his own medicine?" She said she was "terrified and humiliated" and feared "horrible repercussions." She said months later, she saw a photo of the three in Playboy, showing her grabbing Hoffman's crotch. In November, a woman named Anna Graham Hunter wrote in a Hollywood Reporter essay that Hoffman sexually harassed her when she was a 17-year-old intern on the Death of a Salesman TV movie. The actor responded at the time, "I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am." Also in November, producer and playwright Wendy Riss Gatsiounis told Variety that Hoffman sexually harassed her in 1991 when she was in her 20s, after the two met with a screenwriter to talk about adapting her script into a movie. She said Hoffman asked her if she had ever been intimate with a man over 40, telling her, "It would be a whole new body to explore." She also said he allegedly asked her to go with him to a nearby hotel to do some clothing shopping and that she declined. She did not end up working with him. His spokesperson declined to comment. Screenwriter Murray Schisgal told Variety, "Dustin Hoffman and I took many meetings with writers and playwrights over many years. I have no recollection of this meeting or of any of the behavior or actions described." The allegations against Hoffman come amid a rise of public discourse about sexual assault and harassment and growing accusations of sexual misconduct against powerful men, such as producer Harvey Weinstein. Earlier this week, Time magazine named the "silence-breakers," anonymous and non-anonymous, as its Person of the Year. Earlier this week, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver put Hoffman on the spot at a Wag the Dog 20th anniversary Q&A event, asking him about Hunter's allegation and his response to it. "It's that part of the response to this stuff that pisses me off," the HBO host said. "It is reflective of who you were. You've given no evidence to show that it didn't happen." "You've put me on display here. You have indicted me," Hoffman later told him. "That's not innocent until proven guilty." (Eonline)

David Cassidy accused of groping by ex-model. A former model claims late "Partridge Family" star David Cassidy was a "first class creep" who groped her and tried to put his hand up her skirt when she was 19, according to a report. Samantha Fox claims Cassidy, who died earlier this month from liver failure, followed her into a public bathroom and got handsy in May 1985, she told The Daily Star. "When he grabbed me and pushed his tongue down my throat, I just kneed him in the b -- ks," the model-turned singer said. Fox, 51, claims she'd originally agreed previously to appear topless in a music video at the actor's bequest for his single "Romance," but became disgusted when she realized he had an erection. "Whenever he pressed himself against me, I could clearly feel his d–k," she writes in her a soon-to-be released autobiography, "Forever." "David seemed to be deliberately drawing out the photoshoot, which took an eternity, and he had an erection the entire time- something he did absolutely nothing to hide," said Fox. Uncomfortable, she still agreed to accompany him to dinner later that evening, but had her father come along. "In the middle of dinner, I got up to go to the toilet, and as I was standing alone in the women's toilets, washing my hands, the door flew open and David Cassidy came storming in," The Star reports, citing an excerpt from the book. "Before I really had time to process what was happening, he had pushed me up against the wall and his hands were all over me. I shouted: 'Get off me, David!' in an attempt to stop him. But instead, he just stuck his tongue into my mouth and shoved a hand under my skirt, while the other kept a firm grip on one of my breasts," she wrote. "I reacted quickly and instinctively by bringing my knee upwards, striking him right in the balls." "David jerked back with an 'Ouch!' and grabbed his crotch with both hands. I took a deep breath and shouted, 'Get away from me!'" She says she then elbowed him in the face, and returned to the table. "In that moment, the handsome, sweet guy from 'The Partridge Family' had transformed into a first-class creep," said Fox. She added that, growing up, she "had a big poster of David Cassidy on my wall, and I used to kiss him every night before going to bed." (Eonline)

Bryan Singer Denies Sexually Assaulting 17-Year-Old Boy. Bryan Singer is facing a lawsuit for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in 2003. In court documents obtained by E! News, Cesar Sanchez-Guzman alleges that the Hollywood director invited him to a party on a yacht where he offered to give a tour. "During this tour, Bryan Singer lured Cesar into a room, shut the door and demanded that Cesar perform oral sex," Cesar's lawyers allege in documents. "When Plaintiff refused, Bryan Singer forced him into acts of oral and anal sex." In addition, Bryan allegedly told Cesar that he was a producer in Hollywood and that he could help the teenager get into acting "as long as Cesar never said anything about the incident." Cesar's team claims that their client experienced shame, humiliation and mental injuries following the incident. A rep for Bryan, however, denies all the allegations made in the new lawsuit. "Bryan categorically denies these allegations and will vehemently defend this lawsuit to the very end," his rep said in a statement to Variety. The statement says that the suit was filed by the same lawyer who represented Michael Egan. Several years ago, he accused Bryan and others of sexual misconduct, only to withdraw the claims. "Notwithstanding his track record, this same lawyer is coming after Bryan again," the statement said. "We are confident that this case will turn out the same way the Egan case did. And once Bryan prevails, he will pursue his own claims for malicious prosecution." The lawsuit comes after Bryan was fired from 20th Century Fox's upcoming Queen biopic titled Bohemian Rhapsody for unrelated reasons. In a statement to Deadline, the Hollywood vet tried to set the record straight on his sudden departure. "With fewer than three weeks to shoot remaining, I asked Fox for some time off so I could return to the U.S. to deal with pressing health matters concerning one of my parents. This was a very taxing experience, which ultimately took a serious toll on my own health. Unfortunately, the studio was unwilling to accommodate me and terminated my services. This was not my decision and it was beyond my control," his statement read. "Rumors that my unexpected departure from the film was sparked by a dispute I had with Rami Malek are not true... I wanted nothing more than to be able to finish this project and help honor the legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen, but Fox would not permit me to do so because I needed to temporarily put my health, and the health of my loved ones, first." Bryan also served as a director for the X-Men franchise and producer for shows like House, Legion and Battle Creek. TMZ was first to report the lawsuit. (Eonline)

Charlie Sheen is suing the National Enquirer for an article it published claiming he raped a then 13-year-old Corey Haim. According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Sheen says the Enquirer article that ran on Nov. 8 claimed Sheen sodomized Haim while they were filming the movie "Lucas" back in the 1980s. Sheen was 19 at the time. The article claimed Charlie and Corey smoked pot and had anal sex. The article blames Sheen for putting Haim on a path of drug abuse, which sent him to an early grave. Charlie has publicly denied the story, and in the lawsuit he points out Corey's own mother has also denied it. Charlie says Enquirer exec Dylan Howard has a vendetta against him. Charlie believes Howard is pissed because his publication didn't break the story that Charlie has HIV. He's suing Howard, the National Enquirer and actor Dominick Brascia for defamation and false light. Brascia was quoted in the article, saying Haim told him about the alleged rape. (TMZ)

Geoffrey Rush Sues Newspaper Over "Inappropriate Behavior" Allegation. Australian Pirates of the Caribbean actor Geoffrey Rush has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph over a report it had published about a complaint alleging inappropriate behavior by him. Last week, in an article that was later deleted, the outlet had reported that the Sydney Theatre Company had received the complaint after the 66-year-old star had starred in a 2015-2016 production of King Lear. A company spokesperson later told E! News in a statement that the "Sydney Theatre Company received a complaint alleging that Mr. Geoffrey Rush had engaged in inappropriate behavior. The Company received the complaint when Mr. Rush's engagement with the Company had ended." In his defamation suit, Rush claims the Daily Telegraph made him out as a "pervert" and "sexual predator" with their "KING LEER" headline, according to Australia's ABC Radio. "Today I have filed defamation proceedings against The Daily Telegraph in the Federal Court of Australia," Rush, best known for playing Captain Hector Barbossa in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies, said in a statement on Friday at a press conference in Melbourne. "It is an action I am taking in order to redress the slurs, innuendo and hyperbole they have created around my standing in the entertainment industry and greater community." "The Daily Telegraph has made false, pejorative and demeaning claims -- splattering them with unrelenting bombast on its front pages," he said. "This has created irreparable damage to my reputation, been extremely hurtful to my wife, my daughter and my son; to my extended family -- and to many colleagues in the Film, Television and Theatre industry. The situation is intolerable and I must now seek vindication of my good name through the courts." In a statement posted by the newspaper's website, The Daily Telegraph Editor Chris Dore said, "The Daily Telegraph accurately reported the Sydney Theatre Company received a complaint alleging that Mr. Geoffrey Rush had engaged in inappropriate behavior. We will defend our position in court." A hearing at the Federal Court in Sydney has been set for February 8, the newspaper said. Details about the complaint have not been made public and no charges have been filed against Rush. After the allegation was first reported, Rush denied them via a statement from his legal team, which said, "In this current environment, 'inappropriate behavior' may mean abuse, bullying or other forms of reprehensible activity. These are matters that deserve forthright and objective levels of discussion. It must be made clear from the outset that Mr. Rush abhors any form of maltreatment of any person in any form." "Mr. Rush has said, 'The moment I became aware of rumors of a complaint I immediately phoned and spoke to senior management at the Sydney Theatre Company asking for clarification about the details of the statement. They refused to illuminate me with the details. I also asked why this information was being withheld, and why, according to standard theatre practice the issue had not been raised with me during the production via stage management, the director, my fellow actors or anyone at management level. However, no response was forthcoming.'" "At this stage, Mr. Rush can only reiterate his statement that he denies having been involved in any 'inappropriate behavior' whatsoever,'" the statement had said. "Until there is the decency afforded to Mr. Rush of what the 'inappropriate behavior' actually is then there is nothing more that can be said at this stage." A couple of days after the allegation was made public, Rush stepped down as the president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). "Certain recent media reports have made untenable allegations concerning my standing in the entertainment community," he had said in a statement last week, posted by numerous outlets. "It is unreasonable that my professional colleagues should be somehow associated with such allegations. In the circumstances, I have decided to step aside in my ambassadorial role as president of AACTA effective immediately and until these issues have been resolved." "This decision has not been made lightly," he had said. "However, in the current climate of innuendo and unjustifiable reporting, I believe the decision to make a clean break to clear the air is the best for all concerned." The AACTA said in a statement posted on its website on December 2 that the organization "acknowledges the decision today of Geoffrey Rush to voluntarily step aside as President of AACTA and accepts and respects his decision to do so. We have been deeply concerned about the situation and support a course of action that both respects Geoffrey's rights to the presumption of innocence and due process, but also acknowledges good corporate governance in these circumstances." In his defamation suit, Rush claims he was forced out of his role, rather than voluntarily stepping aside, ABC Radio said. (Eonline)

A home owned by Chris Bosh was the target of a police drug trafficking raid -- with the NBA star's mother named as one of the suspects ... TMZ Sports has learned. According to official documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the DeSoto Police Dept. raided the home Friday morning after obtaining search warrant in a drug trafficking investigation. One of the suspects listed on the search warrant is Freida Bosh -- who allegedly lives in the home, which cops believe is owned by her son. A rep for the DPD tells us a bunch of evidence was seized from the home -- "a large amount of drug paraphernalia was recovered consistent with narcotics trafficking." Officials believe crack cocaine and heroin were being trafficked through the home. We're told no one has been arrested at this point -- but that could be coming soon. As for Chris, one law enforcement source connected to the case told us, "We don't believe Chris has any connection short of owning the house." (TMZ)

The Texas home owned by NBA star Chris Bosh had all of the hallmarks of a traditional drug trafficking den ... from iron gates to security cameras -- this according to the cops who raided the joint. TMZ Sports broke the story ... Bosh's mother, Freida, is listed as a suspect in an alleged crack cocaine and heroin trafficking operation based out of the home Chris owns in DeSoto, Texas. Cops conducted an covert sting operation to obtain evidence -- which included sending an undercover officer to the home on Tuesday to snatch and grab trash bags that had been left outside of the home. Officials say investigators sifted through the trash and found tons of evidence -- including baggies with cocaine residue, weed paraphernalia, burned joints and mail with Freida's name on it. As for the drug trafficking den -- cops say the home was guarded by a large iron fence and outfitted with security cameras ... "a common tactic for drug traffickers" for obvious reasons. Cops say one of the suspects has a rap sheet that includes violent crime -- including an incident where he was arrested for allegedly shooting a guy in the face during a drug deal. One law enforcement source tells TMZ Sports ... Chris is not suspected of any wrongdoing and his only real connection is the fact he owns the property. So, how the hell did Bosh's mother get mixed up in such a dangerous situation? Unclear at this point. We're told no arrests have been made at this point -- but they could be coming soon. (TMZ)

Della Reese Memorial Held in Celebration of Touched by an Angel Star's Life. A celebration of life was held for Della Reese. On Saturday, the late actress and singer's Touched by an Angel co-star Roma Downey took to Instagram to share a photo of the program from the memorial service. "We just gave Della a beautiful send off," Roma wrote. "She would have loved it. We celebrated her life with love and laughter and tears, great stories and fond memories with music and prayer and beautiful uplifting readings from the Bible. (Psalm 27 and John 3.16) this was a loving memorial fitting for the beloved star she was and a joyful celebration of her wonderful life well lived." The caption continued, "2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." "On behalf of her husband, Franklin Lett, and all her friends and family, I share with you the news that our beloved Della Reese has passed away peacefully at her California home last evening surrounded by love. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people," Downey told E! News last month. She continued, "She was a mother to me and I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on Touched by an Angel. I know heaven has a brand-new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest In Peace, sweet angel. We love you." (Eonline)

Lil Peep's Cause of Death Revealed. Lil Peep's cause of death has been revealed. According to a toxicology report from the Pima County Medical Examiner and obtained by E! News, the 21-year-old rapper died from an overdose of Fentanyl and Xanax. His death was ruled accidental. Mixing these two drugs can result in fatal side effects, as well as respiratory issues and coma. Lil Peep's manager found the up-and-coming artist unresponsive in his tour bus on November 16, hours before he was set to take the stage at a Tuscon, Arizona nightclub. Authorities found drug paraphernalia and evidence of an overdose, but foul play was not suspected. In the aftermath of his shocking death, artists including Post Malone and ex-girlfriend Bella Thorne paid tribute online. "F--k I don't know what to say," Thorne tweeted in response. "Peep you deserved more out of life. Life didn't do your greatness justice." She added on Instagram, "Anybody out there who is a Lil Peep fan, you guys know how talented he was. You guys know how great he was. Well, he was even more f--king great as a person." In early December, Peep's family and friends gathered for an emotional memorial in his hometown of Long Beach, Calif., which was broadcast live on YouTube. The artist's (real name Gustav Ã…hr) mother eulogized her son's unconventional ways of life. As she put it, "[Peep] saw how the cool kids who lived in the fancy neighborhoods looked down on his friends -- and looked down on his own family who lived in an apartment and drove an old Nissan. Gus got fed up with that world. He rejected it and he rejected being molded into a box. When he locked himself in the garage and got his first tattoo, he began to make his rejection of the box public." Lil Peep's first and only studio album, Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1, was released in August. After his death, he re-entered Billboard's Social Top 50 Chart at No. 9. TMZ was first to report the news of Peep's cause of death. (Eonline)

'Fargo' actor Steve Reevis dead at 55. Actor Steve Reevis, known for his roles in "Fargo" and "Last of the Dogmen," has died. He was 55. Reevis passed Thursday at a hospital in Missoula, Montana. The cause of death was not immediately clear. The actor, who was a member of northwestern Montana's Blackfeet Tribe, also appeared in "Dances With Wolves," "Geronimo," and the 2005 release of "The Longest Yard." He also appeared on television shows, including "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Jag," and "Bones." The actor left behind his wife, Macile, and four children. (PageSix)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Ashley Olsen and Bob Saget Reunite for a Good Cause. Ashley Olsen and Bob Saget had a Full House reunion! While it looks like Mary-Kate Olsen wasn't able to make it to the event, Saget was able to reunite with one of his TV daughters this week at his Scleroderma Research Foundation Event. Saget took to Facebook after the Dec. 5 reunion to thank Ashley for her support, sharing that he's "so honored" she attended. The actor posted a photo of himself with Ashley and John Oliver at the event and wrote, "So honored my dear friend Ashley Olsen came to support my Scleroderma Research Foundation Event as she has all these years -and here we share a photo with my friend John Oliver generously and hilariously performing at #CoolComedyHotCuisine - Thank you for your support, John and Ashley!!" Ashley and Saget have reunited many times over the years, usually in the fall or winter months. In Nov. 2015, Ashley attended his Broadway play Hand to God. "Loved having my dear friend Ashley Olsen at my welcoming opening of @HandToGodBway last night with the brilliant cast I get to act with: Steven Boyer, Geneva Carr, Sarah Stiles, and Michael Oberholtzer. Loving this show," he posted on Instagram after the reunion. In Dec. 2014, Ashley and Saget also reunited at the Stand Up for Scleroderma Research event. (Eonline)

Meghan Markle is going full Karate Kid ahead of her Royal nuptials -- because she's hired Michael Jackson's former bodyguard to learn how to defend herself ... TMZ has learned. Our Royal sources tell us Meghan has hired celeb security adviser and trainer Matt Fiddes to teach her martial arts and self-defense -- as well as to get her in shape ahead of her wedding with Prince Harry in May. Meghan just landed back in L.A. Wednesday to spend time with her mom ahead of the holidays -- and we're told Matt booked a last-minute flight to Hollywood this week, so the training could begin STAT. Matt's a natural fit for Meghan. He owns one of the biggest martial arts franchises in the world -- Matt Fiddes Martial Arts -- and works with tons of celebs, including Tom Cruise. He's also got close ties with the Royal Family -- MJ was tight with Princess Diana, and he became part of her inner circle. Plus ... he's a Brit, so he'll be geographically desirable. We're told Meghan's endgame is not about fitness -- sources close to Matt tell us Meghan hired him specifically to learn self-defense. Sounds like she's supplementing her hostage training. Hi-ya! (TMZ)

Meghan Markle's Dad Finally Speaks About Her Engagement to Prince Harry. Meghan Markle's father couldn't be happier for her engagement to Prince Harry. While that's not a surprise -- who wouldn't be thrilled? -- it's the first time he's spoken in an interview about the couple's upcoming wedding. When Clarence House announced Nov. 27 that the prince had proposed, Meghan's parents issued a statement through the palace. "We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents," Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, who are divorced, said at the time. "We wish them a lifetime of happiness," they added, "and are very excited for their future together." While Meghan has been photographed in public with her mother many times in the last year, her father -- often described as "reclusive" -- left L.A. for Mexico and lives a relatively quiet life. The U.K.'s Daily Mirror tracked him down in Rosarito Beach, as he was buying a four-pack of beer and cigarettes. Asked if he will be at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in May 2018 to give away his daughter, Thomas "beamed" and told the newspaper reporter, "Yes. I'd love to." "I'm very pleased," the 73-year-old added. "I'm delighted." Thomas was unable to say more about the engagement, however. "I'm sorry," he told The Daily Mirror. "You know I can't talk." Harry's father is just as pleased to welcome Meghan into the family. "We're thrilled," Prince Charles said last month. "I hope they'll be very happy, indeed, is all I can say. It's marvelous." Charles' wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles, was more animated when asked about their upcoming nuptials. "It's brilliant! America's loss is our gain. We are absolutely delighted. As you can see, they're so happy," the Duchess of Cornwall said last month. "Sometimes, in a climate where we're surrounded by a lot of bad news, it's a real joy to have a bit of good news for once." (Eonline)

To say Meghan Markle is trading up is a gross understatement. This is the place Meghan called home while filming "Suits" in Toronto. The house is perfectly nice, but it doesn't compare to her new digs, although the square footage of the cottage she and Harry will be calling home is roughly the same. Meghan was renting and the house is now up for sale for just under $1.4 million. Prince Harry frequently visited Meghan and stayed with her in the house. We don't know if the seller is asking for a premium given that it has tinges of royalty, but that wouldn't be wholly surprising. There was an open house Saturday and tons of lookiloos came by. There's a sign posted warning "No photography or video." (TMZ)

Don't let these Santa's fool you ... they're freezing their asses off. More than 100 runners braved the 30-degree Boston temp Saturday to participate in the 2017 Santa Speedo Run. Lucky for them ... the run coincided with the first snowfall of the looming Winter season. The run is for charity and they did well, raising more than $76,000 for the PlayBall Foundation, which benefits local children in need. The charity makes sports activities available for middle school students in the Boston area. (TMZ)

Music

Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise Surprise Fans at Jingle Ball and Introduce Taylor Swift. Katie Holmes and daughter Suri Cruise surprised concertgoers on Friday when they appeared at Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 at Madison Square Garden and introduced closing performer Taylor Swift. It marked a rare onstage appearance for the actress and ex-husband Tom Cruise's 11-year-old daughter, their only child together. "She's one of our favorite performers and, who is it tonight?" Katie asked Suri, who replied, "Taylor Swift!" The actress dressed casually in an ivory sweater and black jeans, while her daughter wore a sleeveless black dress covered in white stars and a big red ribbon in her hair. The concert marked the latest stop on the annual Jingle Ball tour, which features a slew of popular acts. Performers at Friday's concert included Ed Sheeran -- who performed "End Game" with Taylor, Sam Smith, Niall Horan, Fallout Boy, Demi Lovato, The Chainsmokers and Logic, who sang "Happy Birthday" to a 13-year-old girl in the front row. The whole crowd sang along as she beamed. Taylor performed a recent recurring set list, which also includes new tracks such as "...Ready for It?" and "Look What You Made Me Do" from her new Reputation album, as well as old favorites "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space." "New York YOU WERE AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!" she wrote on Instagram. Thanks Z100, what a night." "Fun night at #jingleball ?? @taylorswift," Katie wrote on her own page. (Eonline)

Madonna's Pre-Concert Ritual Is Just as Wild as You'd Imagine. Nothing that Madonna does is low-key, including how she goes about preparing for a concert. The 59-year-old Queen of Pop stopped by Live! With Kelly and Ryan where she discussed everything that goes into her tours. "It's like putting on a Broadway musical that is then going to tour the world," she explained to Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa. "I have to plan every aspect of it -- from the music to the visuals -- and design the stage. But then I have to physically prepare myself for it, which requires a lot of different exercises and workouts, depending on what I do in the show. I get my stamina up." In fact, Madonna's pre-concert ritual includes training right up until she takes the stage. "I warm up," she explained. "The warm up usually lasts about 20 minutes. It's ridiculous because I do my sound check, which is exhausting and drives everyone crazy. Then I leave, and I get my oxygen treatment, and I usually have me cranial guide do something or my physical therapist adjust something, [like] tape my ankles. Something's always wrong." At that point, Kelly chimed in and noted she'd be happy to take on the role of taping Madonna's ankles...LOL! Meanwhile, Madonna also got to chatting a bit about her kids and their many artistic talents, growing up with her as their mother. "There's music. There's art. There's dance," she said. "My kids are all drawn to playing one instrument or another. My oldest daughter dances. My son, Rocco, paints. David is a soccer player, but he says his fallback career is being a singer/songwriter. He's self-taught. Whereas my daughter, Mercy, is classically trained, and she does gymnastics." However, Madonna said Mercy recently decided she wants to go another route with her career, and she might end up competing with Kanye West! "She announced to me the other day that she wants to be a designer of sportswear and lougewear -- basically the next Kanye!" You go, Mercy! (Eonline)

Eminem Raps About White Privilege in "Untouchable" Song. In his new song "Untouchable," Eminem raps about two hot social and political topics; white privilege and racial profiling. The track, released on Thursday, is featured on his upcoming album Revival and samples Cheech & Chong's 1974 comedy rock song, "Earache My Eye." "No one's ever indicted you / Why?" Eminem raps. "'Cause you're a / White boy, white boy, you're a rock star / (My momma talkin' to me, tryna tell me how to live) / White boy, white boy, in your cop car / (But I don't listen to her, 'cause my head is like a sieve) / White boy, white boy, you're untouchable (The world's coming to an end, I don't even care) / Nobody can tell me s--t 'cause I'm a (big rock star)." Eminem also raps, "Wait, why are there black neighborhoods? / 'Cause America segregated us / Designated us to an area / Separated us, Section-Eight'd us / When we tear it up's the only time attention's paid to us" and says, "Bad cops f--k it up for the good cops." Also on Thursday, Eminem unveiled the album cover for Revival, which shows him burying his head in his hand from behind an American flag. Eminem has gotten political with his music before. In October, he voiced his disapproval of President Donald Trump with a freestyle rap performance that aired during the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards. Revival, Eminem's first major record his 2013 album The Marshall Mathers LP 2, is set for release on December 15. It also contains tracks such as "Walk of Water" featuring Beyonce and "River" featuring Ed Sheeran. (Eonline)

Calvin Harris Has to Remix This Spice Girls Song Now That Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal in Australia. Calvin Harris could be one step closer to spicing up our lives. After Australia's Parliament voted overwhelmingly to legalize same-sex marriage today, the Internet is being reminded of a reported promise Calvin made to one fan. According to Filip Odzak, he met the famous DJ during the 2012 Stereosonic Tour in Australia where a possible remix was brought up. "During your appearance at Marquee in Sydney... we made a deal -- sealed with a hand shake -- that you would remix Spice Girls '2 Become 1' when marriage equality was finally legalized in Australia," his reported text message stated. "Well it just happened today. For five years I've been waiting for this!" the text continued. "A deal is a deal." While Calvin hasn't publicly commented on the possibility, it certainly received excitement from music fans. "This needs to happen," one fan wrote on Twitter. Another music lover added, "It will be a hit for sure." Another user was a bit more skeptical. "He didn't give no random sydney dude his phone number to text him in damn 2012," a follower stated. Whatever happens, many celebrities couldn't help but send love and congratulations to Australia when the Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull announced that 61.6 percent of people who responded to a voluntary survey voted in favor of same-sex marriage. "Today is a great day for human rights. #Australia says YES to marriage equality. BRAVO!" Ricky Martin shared online. "This makes me so happy." Kylie Minogue added, " #Australia ... #MarriageEquality Love is love, always was love, always will be love." (Eonline)

Julian Casablancas & The Voidz Announce Name Change With 1980s Horror Spoof. The band formerly known as Julian Casablancas + The Voidz will now be known simply as The Voidz. We know this because the group fronted by the Strokes singer Julian Casablancas announced the name switch -- and plans to release their second full-length album in 2018 -- via a Warren Fu-directed video that pays homage to their favorite cheesy 1980s horror movies. And to the ridiculousness of a band making a video to announce a name change. The four-minute retro clip finds the band watching a truly terrible midnight movie called Sly Boots: The Last Blood Rites of the Crystal Mindgoblet, which has something to do with the search for the sixth crystal for the magic cup with the mystical liquid that will transform the hero (Casablancas) into some kind of undead rock star. Confused? Good. What's in a name anyhow? (Billboard)

Stream Big Sean & Metro Boomin's 'Double Or Nothing' Album. Big Sean and Metro Boomin are shaking up the hip-hop world with the release of joint album Double or Nothing, arriving today (Dec. 8). Not only are both Sean Don and Metro present on every one of the project's 10 songs, but other heavy hitters such as Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, 21 Savage -- whom Metro Boomin teamed up with in 2016 for joint mixtape SavageMode -- and Young Thug are also featured. With so many artists making their marks on this one album, you'd be correct in expecting to hear different flavors throughout. For example, opening track "Go Legend" (featuring Travis Scott) starts off with a hazy '70s pop sample. "In Tune," the eighth track, similarly eases listeners in with a smooth, tranquilizing sound. Skip to "Pull Up N Wreck," though, and you have no time to brace yourself before beats and verses are in your face. Big Sean has been very reflective on Twitter ahead of the album's release. (He has also shared a video of LeBron James listening ahead.) On Wednesday (Dec. 6), the Detroit native tweeted three times explaining, "Man I'm too hype to drop 2 projects in one year, this the perfect way to finish 2017 strong! I'm honored to be able to do this 4real! The world is based off the energy you give. So if u love me I love you, if you hate me I still love you, cus I ain't got time to hate. Facts. Get in tune with yourself." (Billboard)

Disney music exec charged with sexually abusing two teen girls. Jon Heely, the director of music publishing at Disney, has been charged with three felony counts of child sexual abuse. Heely, 58, of Santa Clarita, is accused of sexually abusing two underage girls approximately a decade ago. He allegedly victimized the first girl when she was 15. According to the charges, he began abusing the second when she was about 11 years old and continued until she was 15. In a statement, a Disney spokesman said the company suspended Heely late on Friday, after being informed of the charges. "Immediately upon learning of this situation tonight, he has been suspended without pay until the matter is resolved by the courts," the spokesman said. Heely was arrested on Nov. 16 by deputies from the Santa Clarita station of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. Booking records indicate he was later released on $150,000 bail. On Wednesday, prosecutors charged him with three counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child. Heely pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at the San Fernando courthouse on Thursday. He is due back in court on Jan. 10. If convicted, he faces up to nine years and three months in prison.Heely's attorney, Robert Helfend, denied the charges. "He vehemently denies these allegations and we will be fighting until the end to clear his name," Helfend said. "It's a shame, that's all I've got to say." Heely has been with Disney since 1981, and oversees licensing of the vast catalog of music from Disney films. He also produced a series of Disney concerts around the world, such as "Fantasia Live in Concert," that feature orchestral performances and film clips. Heely could not be reached for comment. His Twitter bio reads, "Disney Concerts and living to glorify God in all things." (PageSix)

Movies

John Boyega Makes It to Star Wars: The Last Jedi Premiere in L.A. After Snow Delay in Atlanta. He made it! John Boyega attended the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere on Saturday evening in Los Angeles, hours after tweeting about being delayed in Atlanta. The city received major snowfall on Friday morning, which led Boyega to tweet, "Wow ATL. Looks like no one's leaving! Guess I'll start a family now...." He then shared with his followers, "Trying to get back for the LA premiere! I actually NEED a pilot !!!" But eight hours later, Boyega, who plays Finn in the movie, tweeted he "made it" to L.A., however his luggage wasn't so lucky. And even after the long snowy day, Boyega showed a huge smile on the red carpet at the premiere! (Eonline)

"Ant-Man" actress Abby Ryder Fortson's paycheck ain't shrinking like her superhero dad in the movie, because she's bringing home twice the dough for the sequel ... TMZ has learned. We got a hold of her minor's contract for the 'Ant-Man' franchise and Abby -- who's only 9, mind you -- was guaranteed $140k if she gets a role in an "Ant-Man" sequel. That's more than twice the $67.5k she got for the first film. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" hits theaters next July 2018. Might be too soon for buzz, but IF Abby makes it into a third flick, she'll haul in $215k. In this case, the small guys are winning big. (TMZ)

Sebastian Stan Says I, Tonya Co-Star Allison Janney ''Definitely Deserves'' an Oscar Nomination. The 2018 Oscars race is officially on, and Sebastian Stan thinks Allison Janney is a strong contender. The two co-star in I, Tonya, Stan as disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding's (Margot Robbie) ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and Janney as her eccentric mother, LaVona Fay Golden. E! News caught up with Stan at GQ's Men of the Year party, where he dished his take on why the actress finally deserves recognition from The Academy. "First of all, the fact that Allison Janey has not been nominated for an Oscar up until now is a travesty," Sebastian told us. "It's unreal. She definitely deserves it. And Margot basically killed herself doing this movie." Janney nabbed the Supporting Actress Award for I, Tonya during last month's 2017 Hollywood Film Awards, and many predict she'll be up for a Golden Globe when nominations are announced Monday. (She has seven Emmys for her work on The West Wing, Mom and Masters of Sex, but has never won a Globe.) As for the critical acclaim I, Tonya is receiving, Stan added, "We had such a special collaboration. All of us have gotten along so well. We're proud of it and we're proud of the story. We got the real Tonya's Harding blessing so at this point we're just excited to see what happens." So is Allison confident in her winning chances? When chatting with E! News the Mom star became visibly flustered at the possibility, but explained she is "cautiously optimistic" about the months ahead. In her words, "I've never been bandied about in this arena before so it's pretty exciting I have to say. As an actor this is the world I chose to be in. That's a dream to be in that circle. I'm cautiously optimistic and so happy." On the topic of transforming from red carpet royalty to Tonya Harding's larger-than-life mom (who carries a real-life parrot on her shoulder), Janney shared, "I felt empowered. I felt so free of Allison Janney. I didn't have to care about how I looked and it was really liberating." I, Tonya hits New York and Los Angeles theaters today and expands nationwide in January. (Eonline)

Psych: The Movie Was Exactly What We All Needed. Especially in its later years, the best thing about Psych was that you never knew what you were in for. It followed a formula, but it was a formula that was often full of nonsense -- made-up songs, tangents about various foods, random screeching, etc etc -- and moments and character details that felt totally out of place and completely in place at the same time. Psych: The Movie took the show's delicate balance of goofy mystery and serious shenanigans and expanded it into something that felt exactly like Psych in movie form. It was weird as hell and so many things were different, but psychphrancisco still felt right. And now we desperately need more. We first caught up with Shawn (James Roday) in full (borrowed, from Gus) Hagrid attire on the hunt for the engagement ring that was stolen in the very last moments of the Psych series finale. Three years later, he still hasn't gotten it back, and he and Jules (Maggie Lawson) still aren't married. He forgets to call her his fiancee, and even Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) is questioning whether Shules is actually meant to be. By the end of the night, all of that was rectified. The ring was finally found, Shawn was ready to get married, and that's exactly what he and Jules did, right there on the dock. But before they could head out on their honeymoon (with Gus (Dule Hill) and his new lady in tow), Juliet's brother Ewan (John Cena) arrived with a wedding present, followed by what appeared to be a helicopter full of guys with guns. Last we left Shawn, Gus, and Ewan, they were officially on the run, and Shawn was definitely going to need whatever that wedding present was. If that's not a set up for a second movie, we don't know what is. (Is it too much to hope that this chase takes us back to Santa Barbara/the Vancouver version of Santa Barbara?) Of course, that's not all that went down tonight. Juliet found herself at the center of everything when her San Franciscan partner was murdered. The culprit was a man calling himself the Duke, played by Zachary Levi with an amazingly bonkers English accent and bleach blond hair. He apparently used to be Juliet's informant in a few cases where she somehow cut some corners to put some bad guys in jail. But then we learned that the real culprit was the much less ridiculous Allison Crowley (Mena Suvari), AKA the protege of everybody's favorite deceased father/daughter serial killer duo, Mr. Yin and Mr. Yang. Juliet sent her to jail back in season 5, which strangely, for some reason, made her angry enough to kidnap Chief Vick's daughter and stash her at Alcatraz. Luckily, Juliet has been taking martial arts classes, Henry's (Corbin Bernsen) got a hipster scarf that's great for tripping assassins, Shawn and Gus are excellent at running away from ninjas, and Woody's (Kurt Fuller, not Stephen Tobolowsky) good with a gun, so everyone made it out safely and we left feeling exactly like we always felt at the end of a big Psych showdown. Now, we can't leave without discussing a couple of things. First of all, Gus seems to have found his match in Selene (Hill's real life fiancee Jazmyn Simon). She's just as big of a space nerd as he is (even if she doesn't share his views on Pluto), and she makes one hell of a fluffernutter sandwich, but she definitely did come on a little strong. We will 100% need another movie to get to know her a little more and to be a little less scared of her and her obsessive researching capabilities. And second, that dream. Shawn's prophetic "Allison Road" dream brought us the return of Mary Lightly (Westworld's Jimmi Simpson) who may be dead but is happy to show up in Shawn's head/kitchen for a serenade. Missed ya, Mary. In fact, we missed it all, and we're very happy to have it back. (Eonline)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Debuts First Trailer. The first full trailer for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is here! Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are back on Isla Nublar in the action-packed sequel, which hits theaters in June 2018. In the trailer we see Chris return as Owen Grady, velociraptor trainer and researcher who we met in Jurassic World in 2015. Bryce also appears in the trailer as Claire Dearing, the former operations manager at Jurassic World. The duo is also joined in the sequel by B.D. Wong, who plays Dr. Henry Wu. And fans of the Jurassic Park movies will be excited to see that Jeff Goldblum is back in his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The Jurassic World Twitter account had been teasing its followers in the days leading up to the release of the trailer. On Dec. 3, the account shared a teaser of Chris running for his life. And now that the full trailer has dropped, let us know what you think! Are you excited for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom? Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom hits theaters on June 22, 2018. (Eonline)

Bruce Dern Joins Josh Hartnett in Crime Thriller 'Inherit the Viper'. Owen Teague, Valorie Curry, Chandler Riggs and Dash Mihok round out the cast of the feature, exploring the prescription drug epidemic in West Virginia. Bruce Dern has joined Josh Harnett and Margarita Levieva in Anthony Jerjen's crime thriller Inherit the Viper. Owen Teague, Valorie Curry, Chandler Riggs and Dash Mihok have also been cast in the project, which features an original script by Andrew Crabtree. Michel Merkt and Benito Mueller are producing, with Barry Films' Wolfgang Mueller serving as executive producer. Principal photography has commenced this week. Inherit the Viper peers into the prescription drug epidemic ravaging West Virginia by following three siblings (Harnett, Levieva and Teague) as they try to escape the opioids business after their father's passing. Dern -- an Oscar nominee for Nebraska and Coming Home -- most recently appeared in the Netflix film Our Souls at Night alongside Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. He next portrays Joe Kennedy in Chappaquiddick, and co-stars in Sony Pictures' White Boy Rick opposite Matthew McConaughey. He is represented by Innovative Artists and Pure Arts. Teague is represented by Brevard Talent Group and Management 360, Curry by ICM Partners, Riggs by The Bursting Company and ICM Partners, and Mihok by The Gersh Agency and Untitled Entertainment. (Hollywood Reporter)

Patrick Stewart Might Reprise Jean-Luc Picard Role if Tarantino Directs 'Star Trek'. The actor said he'd "embrace" an opportunity to return as the USS Enterprise's legendary captain should Tarantino's newly revealed project come together. Could Star Trek fans see a return of one of its most famous faces? Following the news that Quentin Tarantino was working on a new idea for the franchise alongside J.J. Abrams, with plans to direct, Patrick Stewart has thrown an unlikely hat back into the intergalactic ring. "People are always saying to me, 'Will you be Jean-Luc Picard again?' And I cannot think that would be possible, but there are ways in which something like that might come about," the iconic actor told The Hollywood Reporter, speaking from the sidelines of the Dubai International Film Festival, where he received an honorary award. "But one of my dreams is to work with Tarantino. I admire his work so much, and to be in a Tarantino film would give me so much satisfaction. So, if he is going to direct something to do with Star Trek and there was the possibility of dear old Jean-Luc showing up again and doing that for Mr. Tarantino, I would embrace it." Stewart said one thing was sure about a Tarantino-directed Star Trek installment: it would be gripping. "The one thing that characterizes all of his movies is that frame by frame, it always challenges, always demands your attention, always demands a very kind of open and generous response to what he does," he said. "I also love his sense of humor as a filmmaker. So yes, he would be my first choice." (Hollywood Reporter)

The Star Who Finally Gets His Due with 'Shape of Water'. Versatile Guillermo del Toro collaborator Doug Jones' enormous talents have never been so easy to spot. As is the case with most of his films, Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water is a high-wire act that has to delicately step carefully through its fantastical blend of genres, lest it stumble and fall. Its tale of a fairy-tale-style romance between a mute woman and a sea creature known as the Amphibious Man, set against the backdrop of the Cold War, works wonders in part because the story seems so wild that it couldn't possibly be so swooning and lovely. Del Toro's directorial skill is well-documented, but one of the biggest reasons why The Shape of Water works is his collaboration with actor Doug Jones. Jones has now appeared in six of del Toro's films, most notably as Abe Sapien in the two Hellboy movies and as both the Pale Man and Pan in Pan's Labyrinth. His role as the Amphibious Man in The Shape of Water recalls Abe Sapien, especially in the character's design and inherently odd likability. But then, a lot of credit has to go to Jones, whose uniquely lanky build has allowed him to play various creatures in film and TV, from the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, to the silent leader of the Gentleman in the iconic "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episode "Hush." Abe Sapien, unlike the Amphibious Man, has plenty of dialogue in both Hellboy films, and has a romantic subplot in 2008's sequel The Golden Army. However, the latter character is far more daring in its design and treatment. Through the script by del Toro and Vanessa Taylor, Jones has to portray the Amphibious Man as someone (or something) that can be loved and lusted after by the lead character, Elisa (Sally Hawkins), and feared and scorned by characters such as the nasty Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon). The balancing act with the Amphibious Man isn't on Jones alone, but the ways in which it communicates with Elisa (from sharing a meal to reacting and responding to big-band music) are all on Jones' skills as an actor and a mime. Though there are plenty of prosthetic and digital effects involved, so much of the romance between Elisa and the Amphibious Man works because of Jones' capability of communicating so much with just a gesture or two. Doug Jones in Hellboy 2. Del Toro's collaborations with Jones, which extend back to the 1997 horror film Mimic, mirror that of Kiwi filmmaker Peter Jackson with actor/director Andy Serkis. Serkis is, by now, extremely well-known as one of the best actors to work within the confines of performance-capture technology, specifically with the tortured character Gollum in the Lord of the Rings franchise. While Serkis has arguably had a bigger spotlight for his work, including starring as lead ape Caesar in the Planet of the Apes franchise revival over the last few years, his limber qualities mirror that of Jones in del Toro's genre pastiches. Jones' talents haven't always been as easy to spot, unfortunately. In the 2004 Hellboy adaptation, while he performed as Abe Sapien, David Hyde Pierce was cast to provide the voice (though he ended up refusing any credit, and Jones would end up voicing as well as performing as Abe in the sequel). Now, it feels like Doug Jones is finally getting a showcase. Plenty of moments within The Shape of Water could easily topple the film into something ridiculous. What may end up as the film's most divisive moment, but is arguably its best scene, is a fantasy of Elisa's. In that scene, she's able to voice her love for the Amphibious Man in a black-and-white song-and-dance sequence designed in the vein of the great Fred Astaire-Ginger Roger musical romances of the 1930s and 1940s. The way that the film gracefully shifts into this fantasy mirrors how Jones is able to, seemingly effortlessly, dance his way into Elisa's heart and her imagination. Their romance, like the film, shouldn't really work, biologically or emotionally. And yet, it does; Hawkins is, perhaps predictably, quite remarkable in a challenging and largely silent role, but the romance (and film) can only work because both halves are believable. The Shape of Water is one of Guillermo del Toro's best films, and possibly the wildest story he's ever told. Its mixture of romance, wartime tension, music, and science-fiction-tinged horror could have easily crumbled in the hands of a less skilled filmmaker. And the cast he's assembled, also including Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer, and Michael Stuhlbarg, is top-notch. But the performer who represents the film's most valuable asset is, coincidentally enough, playing a character dubbed "the asset." The Shape of Water works phenomenally well, in no small part because of the actor behind the effects of the Amphibious Man, Doug Jones. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Why There's No "Royal Boob" in The Crown Season 2. When you're taking on the royal family, dramatizing historical events, there are some things that remain taboo. "Sex," Matt Smith told E! News. "Yes, yes, yes," Vanessa Kirby added. But there was a little scene between Smith's Prince Philip and Claire Foy's Queen Elizabeth II in the first season of The Crown that involved some "kissing up on" a bottom. "Felt tremendous," Smith joked. In season two, The Crown ditched a sex scene for Kirby's Princess Margaret. "We decided that actually no one wants to see royal boob, which is what we called it, so, in not needing that, it wasn't that kind of show," Kirby admitted. The Crown tells the story of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to throne and all the drama that comes along with being a monarch in the spotlight. Season one began in the 1950s, season two is in the swinging 1960s. For viewers and the stars alike, it's been a history lesson. "I feel like it's a lot of new information for people in England for people anyway, because I certainly didn't know about that time in history in the way that I've learned about it because of the show. I think that's something that's really wonderful about it actually; it makes people interested, including me, in things that I had no idea about. I had forgotten all those prime ministers," Kirby said. "Totes," Smith said. "Nowhere near them." The Crown season two, which is now streaming on Netflix. (Eonline)

Big Little Lies Season 2 Is Officially Happening, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman Returning. Big Little Lies season two is officially happening. Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are on board for season two. A new direction, Andrea Arnold is coming on board of the seven-episode season. She will executive produce as well with Witherspoon and Kidman. "I'm excited to announce the return of Big Little Lies," HBO's Casey Bloys said. "David Kelley wrote beautiful scripts and Reese and Nicole were, once again, a force to be reckoned with, reuniting the cast and recruiting the talented Andrea Arnold to direct. We look forward to working with this amazing group of artists." "I'm thrilled to be bringing back this talented team of artists," Witherspoon said in a statement. "It gives us the opportunity to delve deeper into the lives of these intriguing and intricate Monterey families and bring more of their stories back to the audience who embraced and championed them. I'm beyond excited to be working with talented and acclaimed director Andrea Arnold who will be at the helm. Andrea's unique storytelling style will be a welcome addition to the filmmaking team." The cast of season one also included Adam Scott, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, James Tupper, Alexander Skarsgård and Iain Armitage. Other cast is expected to return, but not yet signed, according to HBO. The first season was based on Liane Moriarty's book with Kelley penning it for TV. Jean-Marc Vallee served as director. Big Little Lies season one was a critical success and picked up numerous Emmys, including individual acting awards for Kidman, Dern and Skarsgård. After the series aired, discussion turned to whether or not there would be a second season. The first batch of episodes had a definitive ending. Spoiler alert: The women were united following the death of Skarsgård's character and the eventual cover-up. "This is inspired by the overwhelming response by audiences around the world, conceived once again by Liane Moriarty, realized by David Kelley and now in the hands of visionary filmmaker Andrea Arnold," Kidman said in a statement. "What a journey this has been. I'm so grateful to have this opportunity to keep exploring these female characters and make this series with my friends." HBO's official logline for the new season: "The subversive, darkly comedic drama Big Little Lies will explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode... the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom." Will you watch season two of Big Little Lies? (Eonline)

Big Little Lies Season 2 Won't Premiere on HBO Until 2019. Your trip back to Monterey is going to have to wait just a bit, Big Little Lies fans. Now that HBO has officially renewed the hit limited series for a surprise second season, programming chief Casey Bloys is opening up about how the network came to its surprising decision and when fans can expect to see Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and those stunning Northern California vistas back on their TVs. Despite the fact that production on the seven-episode second season, once again penned exclusively by executive producer David E. Kelly, will begin with new director Andrea Arnold in the spring, it won't make it to air before the calendar year is through. "It would be impossible to get on in 2018," he admitted to Vulture, making this the second highly-anticipated HBO return delayed a full year in as many days. While a second season had been rumored, with stars Witherspoon and Kidman championing for the opportunity, there was the small matter that the first season told the entirety of author Liane Moriarty's novel, complete with a rather perfect ending. Bloys admitted that everyone involved was skeptical about making a future season work, but that everyone was more than keen on working together once more. "Maybe towards the end of airing, either towards the end of airing or right after it finished airing, we asked, 'Can we all work together again?' It was a more general, 'What can we all do?' than 'We have got to do Big Little Lies season two,'" he said. "Everybody had such a great experience together -- truly, a really great creative experience together." The first step? Turning to Moriarty for guidance. "We went to Liane...and asked, 'Do you see any more life in these characters? You wrote the book -- do you see them having life beyond what you wrote?' She came up with a novella, which was key," he revealed. "David took it and thought, 'Is there something I can do with it?' Reese and Nicole were involved, and they felt that there was more life in the characters. Everybody approached it from a place of love and care [for] these characters and this property, and again, with a little dose of skepticism along the way." While Witherspoon and Kidman (who won an Emmy for her stunning turn as domestic abuse victim Celeste) are the only stars presently attached to return, negotiations are underway with the remaining season one cast members, a list that includes Adam Scott, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, James Tupper, Alexander Skarsgård and Iain Armitage. Per HBO, most are expected to return. One person who won't be returning, however? Season one director Jean-Marc Vallee, who has been replaced by Arnold. As Bloys explained it though, the network knew they'd never be able to land him for a second go-around, considering he would be just coming off another limited series for the network, the Amy Adams-starring Sharp Objects. "If he jumped in after [that] was done, it would've meant four years of his life doing limited series for HBO, and I think he's earned a well-deserved rest after he's done with Sharp Objects. I think if we didn't find Andrea [Arnold], I'm not sure we would have gone forward," he explained. "Andrea is a very exciting filmmaker. I think it's really cool to have her come in and give her take on this world and these characters." Are you looking forward to a second season, BLL fans? Or are you worried that it may be too much of a good thing? (Eonline)

Grey's Anatomy's Jason George Breaks Down How His Still-Untitled Spinoff Will Crossover With the ABC Hit. Get ready for plenty of crossover goodness when Grey's Anatomy's still-untitled spinoff finally debuts this spring, Shondaland fans! When the Seattle firehouse-set series hits the air, after introducing at least one of its characters in an upcoming episode of the mothership, you can look forward to plenty of cross-pollination courtesy of Jason George's Ben Warren and his deep connections in both worlds. After all, his wife and all his pals will still be working at Grey Sloan Memorial, a hospital that the first responders at his new firehouse will no doubt be tasked with delivering victims to. And unlike Grey's' first spinoff, the L.A.-set Private Practice, not all crossovers will be big tentpole events. (Although you can certainly look forward to those too.) "My understanding is, Ben will be popping up in Grey's Anatomy some and some of your favorite Grey's Anatomy folks will be popping up in the spin-off," George explained to Entertainment Weekly. "When it was Private Practice, the show was located in Los Angeles, so by definition, it had to be an event when they came up to Seattle or vice versa. This one can be an event, but it also doesn't have to be. The fun part is, the writers have an embarrassment of riches, they can play it any way they want it at any given time. They could have a mega event that goes across both shows, or they could just drop off a person for a little bit and go have a beer. 'Hey Avery, this is my friend from the firehouse.'" While nothing is set in stone yet, showrunner Stacy McKee admitted to the magazine that keeping the stories on both shows interwoven shouldn't be all that difficult. "We're throwing every idea against the wall, and it's like spaghetti, we'll see what sticks. What's fantastic about this show is because it's Grey's Anatomy-adjacent, there's the potential for things to connect really, really easily," she said. "This show takes place in a Seattle fire station that could, in theory, be just a few blocks down from Grey Sloan Memorial. Plus, I know all the writers over at Grey's and vice versa, so it'll be a very symbiotic relationship." Of course, before we can get there, the show needs to get off the ground, with Ben officially switching jobs and switching shows. Before the spinoff premieres, fans will get a mini-introduction to the firefighting world when spinoff star Jaina Lee Ortiz, who will be playing Andy Herrera, stops by. "It's going to be such a fun, fantastic introduction to her character," McKee teased. "It will also showcase a really lovely story for Ben, where we get to just juxtapose his two worlds and see his reaction as he transitions from one world to the next. We're actually shooting it right now. It's going to be so good." And if you're worried about what Ben's decision to leave the hospital might mean for his marriage to Bailey (Chandra Wilson), especially after seeing her initial reaction to hearing the news, well, there's good news and bad news. The bad? George admitted that the true fallout in his marriage is still being hammered out. "They told me, 'Well, you're probably right to be concerned, because I'm sure Bailey is going to be concerned,' so I think we're still in the middle of working out what that means. I'm as much a fan of the show as anybody, so I'm figuring it out myself," he said. "This goes one of two ways -- either it stresses them out, perhaps breaks them, or they find a way to work through it." And the good news? These words from McKee on the matter: "I don't think anyone should feel hopeless." Do you think Ben and Bailey can make this work? Or are you worried about them? And who from Grey's are you hoping to see crossover first? Grey's Anatomy returns on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m., while the spinoff will debut sometime in the spring, on ABC. (Eonline)

Roseanne Is Welcoming Back Two More Fan-Favorite Characters for ABC's Revival. Get ready to welcome back a few more familiar faces to Lanford, Roseanne fans! E! News has confirmed that ABC's highly-anticipated revival of the beloved sitcom will also include appearances from Sandra Bernhard and Estelle Parsons, reprising their roles of Roseanne and Jackie's lesbian friend Nancy and the sisters' mom Beverly, respectively. Parsons will be in two of the revival's nine episodes, while Bernhard will appear in just one. Bernhard teased her return to the series on social media, sharing a photo of herself flanked by stars Roseanne Barr and Laurie Metcalf. "Look who I bumped into today!" she tweeted. " #Roseanne & #laurie it's all happening kids!" TVLine first reported the news. News of Bernhard and Parsons' returns comes days after The Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki was finally confirmed to return to his role of David, Roseanne's son-in-law. Executive producer Whitney Cummings shared a shot of his official chair on set, making clear that a deal had been struck to get him away from his very busy day job over at CBS for a bit. The status of his relationship with Darlene (Sara Gilbert), however, remains to be seen, as do many other variables, all things considered. You'll recall that in the divisive series finale, Roseanne revealed that Darlene and David had never actually gotten married, Jackie was a lesbian, and Dan (John Goodman) was actually dead. Will they all stick or is the show going the Will & Grace route and pretending that episode never happened? We'll see... Along with Bernhard, Parsons, Galecki, Barr, Metcalf, Goodman and Gilbert, returning for the revival are original cast members Lecy Goranson, Sarah Chalke (in a different role, considering two Beckys aren't necessary this time around), and Michael Fishman, as well as Shameless star Emma Rose Kinney, cast as David and Darlene's daughter. (Eonline)

CBS is bringing back 'The Twilight Zone'. CBS All Access is officially journeying back to a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. The streaming service on Wednesday announced that it has ordered to series "The Twilight Zone," a "modern reimagining" of the classic sci-fi anthology to be executive-produced by Jordan Peele ("Get Out"), Simon Kinberg ("Legion") and Marco Ramirez (Marvel's "The Defenders"). Word of the official green light comes just one month after CBS CEO Leslie Moonves announced the network's plans to revive the Rod Serling-hosted classic via All Access. "Too many times this year it's felt we were living in a twilight zone, and I can't think of a better moment to reintroduce it to modern audiences," Peele said in a statement. Added Kinberg: "'The Twilight Zone' was a touchstone in my life. The opportunity to continue its lineage is a dream come true, and I'm so thrilled to be doing it with Jordan, Marco and the team at CBS All Access." "The original 'The Twilight Zone' bridged science-fiction, horror and fantasy together to explore human nature and provide social commentary in a way that audiences had never seen before," CBS All Access EVP Julie McNamara said. "Under the auspices of Jordan Peele, Simon Kinberg and Marco Ramirez, and with the creative freedom that the CBS All Access platform affords, this is an incredible opportunity to bring today's audiences a modern reimagining of this iconic series." The original "Twilight Zone" ran for five seasons on CBS between 1959 and 1964. It has been revived twice in the past: Once in the mid-1980s on CBS and again in the early 2000s on UPN. A revival was last in the works in 2012, with Bryan Singer ("House") attached, but that project ultimately fell through. (PageSix)

TV Ratings: 'Big Bang' Climbs, NFL Dips. The CBS comedy sees the night's most improvement, while ABC sees a steady return for 'Baking Show.' After last week's robust showing for Thursday Night Football, NBC and the NFL Network's shared telecast of the Atlanta Falcon's narrow victory over the New Orleans Saints only lost a little steam. Initial returns from Nielsen have the telecast averaging a 10.2 overnight rating among households before any time zone adjustments, just a five percent week-over-week dip. It's enough for an easy NBC win, and one that significantly outperforms its early Thursday NFL showings this season, but again down from 2016. The overnight score represents a 14 percent spill from the comparable game last season. Still, in a NFL season beset by more ratings dips, particularly in primetime, NBC's run of Thursday games has held up comparatively well. CBS led the competition with new episodes of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. The network's flagship comedy averaged a 2.8 rating among adults 18-49 and 14.3 million viewers. In the demo, the show jumped 17 percent. Sheldon was similarly improved, albeit incrementally, earning a 2.2 rating. Mom (1.4 adults), Life in Pieces (1.1 adults) and SWAT (0.9 adults) followed. A rejiggered version of The Great American Baking Show returned to ABC after some encore holiday specials. The show, like the British original, lost Mary Berry as a judge. This latest iteration of the softer stateside cousin averaged a 0.8 rating among adults 18-49 in its first half and held that score in its second hour. Fox aired new episodes of Gotham (0.8 adults) and The Orville (0.9 adults), and the CW aired Supernatural (0.5 adults) and Arrow (0.4 adults). (Hollywood Reporter)

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