ENTERTAINMENT NEWS by McVay Media

Kate Middleton Gives Birth to Baby No. 3 With Prince William: It's a Boy! Welcome to the world, royal baby No. 3! Kate Middleton and Prince William have welcomed a third baby into the royal lineage. The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to son on Monday, Kensington Palace announced. In the early hours of the morning, Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess had gone into early labor. "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz," Kensington Palace announced on Twitter. "The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well." The wee one was born at St. Mary's Hospital in London and joins brother Prince George of Cambridge, 4, and sister Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, 2. "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the new," Kensington Palace further announced. The royal couple's child automatically becomes fifth in line to the British throne, behind grandpa Prince Charles, papa William and Prince George, and Princess Charlotte. (Yes, the new baby jumps uncle Prince Harry in the succession.) The child's name is set to be announced soon. The baby birth's comes just a few weeks ahead of Princess Charlotte's third birthday, which is on May 2, and a few months ahead of Prince George's fifth birthday, which is on July 22. In October, Kensington Palace announced the third baby would be born in April 2018. On Sept. 4, the couple announced the Duchess of Cambridge was pregnant and suffering from acute morning sickness, also known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. The baby's expected due date was revealed hours after Kensington Palace announced the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be making an official visit to Norway and Sweden in early 2018, at the request of the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Previously, Dr. Alan Farthing and Dr. Guy Thorpe-Beeston presided over the arrival of both George and Charlotte into the world. Farthing is Queen Elizabeth II's surgeon-gynecologist and obstetrician Thorpe-Beeston specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. The monarch has ruled the United Kingdom for more than 66 years. Just a few short days ago, Prince Charles was named Commonwealth Leader after being endorsed by his mother. The 91-year-old monarch made her comments at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which took place in Buckingham Palace. "It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations and will decide that one day, the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949," she said at the meeting. "By continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities, I believe we will secure a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world for those who follow us." Kate Middleton and Prince William's latest addition to the royal family marks the Queen's sixth great-grandchild. Congratulations to all on the exciting baby news! (Eonline)

Richard Gere Marries Spanish Girlfriend Alejandra Silva: 'They're Extraordinarily Happy'. It's amor! Richard Gere and his Spanish girlfriend Alejandra Silva have tied the knot, PEOPLE has confirmed. A source close to the couple says the two married "weeks and weeks ago" and are "extraordinarily happy." Gere, 68, and Silva, 35, first started dating in 2014. Spanish magazine HOLA! first reported the news of their marriage. "They're so comfortable with each other, have fun together and are looking forward to their future together," the source tells PEOPLE. According to the Spanish outlet, the two married in early April in a civil ceremony and will be celebrating the nuptials at a party in New York City in early May with family and friends. Silva, who is a publicist and activist, previously opened up to HOLA! about her relationship with the Pretty Woman star. "I was a little lost, without light, and knowing him gave meaning to my life," she said. "It was feeling that someone was reaching out and showing me my true path." This is Gere's third marriage. He first tied the knot with supermodel Cindy Crawford, who he was married to from 1991 to 1995. The actor later welcomed his only son, 17-year-old Homer, with his second wife Carey Lowell. Lowell and Gere married in 2002 before a contentious divorce that was finalized in 2016 after separating in 2013. For Silva, this marks her second marriage after welcoming 5-year-old son Albert in 2012 with then-husband Govind Friedland, a mining executive, according to HOLA! (People)

Melissa McCarthy Shares Valuable Money Advice for Young Women. Learn from Melissa McCarthy's mistakes. Today, she's one of the most bankable actresses in Hollywood. But 27 years ago, McCarthy could barely pay her bills. "When I moved to New York at 20, I wish I did not discover that you can just get credit cards," the Life of the Party actress says in the May issue of Glamour (on newsstands May 1). "I had a friend -- Brian Atwood, the shoe designer -- and I remember him saying, 'What are you going to do, walk around New York in cheap shoes? You go to Bergdorf.'" McCarthy, who grew up in Illinois, didn't know any better. "Brian, I really blame you. I couldn't afford anything in there, but they would just give you a store card, and so we were buying wonderful things. I was like, 'I work really hard. I'll pay this off in increments.' No, you will not." McCarthy, who dropped out of fashion school to pursue a career in comedy, didn't learn to manage her money properly for several years. "I remember when you could still get a $5 bill out of an ATM and I couldn't get it because [my balance] was under $5. I would never quite have the money for rent, so I would call my mom and dad or my sister and say, 'This is how much I'm short.' They never made me feel guilty, because they knew I wasn't lying around doing nothing. And then I thought, 'I don't want to continue this pattern. I want to be able to pay the phone bill and not panic,'" she says. Eventually, she got a job as a production coordinator, giving her a steady paycheck. "It was the first time I stopped calling my parents...It was an amazing feeling." After her breakout role in the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, McCarthy became one of the most sought after stars in Hollywood. While her rate increased, she didn't put much stock into how much "value" was placed upon her. "There were some jobs when I was paid what most [of my co-stars were]. And then people who climbed the ladder with me were suddenly making 15 times what I made. I was like, 'Wait, wait, wait.' I thought, 'This is based on bulls--t. This is not based on anything factual to me.' I hated that feeling of not being in control and not being able to do anything about it. I think that feeling is what keeps the fight in me." When it comes to contract negotiations, "Having a say in something means as much to me as getting a fair price." More importantly, McCarthy says, "I never want to lose my voice." "When you finally are like, 'Thanks so much for asking, but I'm going to pass' -- that's power. That's easier said as you get a little more power, but as you start up the ladder in whatever field you're in, you have to walk if people won't give you what you're worth," she tells Glamour. "Once people don't respect you enough to give you what you're worth, they're never going to." Finding success later in life helped McCarthy keep things in perspective. "When you spend 20 years working your butt off, you know yourself better," she says. "If you're handed everything you want at 19 or 20, you may actually believe all of the people who are like, 'You're amazing.'" Considering her dreams came true, "There is not a single day that goes by that I don't think, 'I can't believe I'm doing this.' And there is no world where I confuse the fact that I've gotten lucky with the idea that there's something special about me. I think entitlement is a really, really scary thing to possess. For me, it's like, 'No. I've gotten lucky, and I've worked hard.'" (Eonline)

Macaulay Culkin Doesn't Watch Home Alone on Christmas Like Everyone Else. While the Home Alone movies are holiday favorites for many families, they aren't for Macaulay Culkin. On Monday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the child star admitted he doesn't watch the classic comedies. "I don't really watch them all that often," the now-37-year-old actor told Ellen DeGeneres. In fact, the Kevin McCallister character described it as "background radiation at Christmas time." "I've had people want to sit down and watch it with me," he told the host, "which is, like, both flattering and creepy." If Culkin does catch one of the movies, he tends to think more about his time on set than the plot itself. "I can't watch it the same way other people do," he said. He doesn't even make an exception come Dec. 25. "So, when it comes on -- which it comes on, I'm sure, every Christmas, every Thanksgiving -- you don't watch it?" DeGeneres asked. "No, not really," he replied. Actually, Culkin said he doesn't really leave his house much during the entire holiday season. "Yes, I definitely don't," he said. "It's my season... It's Macaulay season. I try to go out less and less around that time of year." One of the reasons is because people still ask the actor to make the classic scared face his character Kevin made in the films. However, Culkin said he declines. "I've been there, done that already guys," he said. "I'm 37 now, OK mom?" Culkin said being recognized by his fans is both a "curse and a blessing." "I can get into any restaurant I want without a reservation," he said. "But while I'm there, everyone's starting at me and all going 'awwww' the whole time." (Eonline)

Life on the set of "The Seagull" sounded like a nature hell. Corey Stoll, Michael Zegen, Billy Howle and Mare Winningham all opened up to Page Six at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "The Seagull" Saturday about dealing with heat, mosquitoes and even a bear sighting. But it was Annette Bening who had the ultimate scare: she was bitten by a tick and taken to the hospital. "It wasn't bad. I'm from California, so Lyme disease is very scary. I overreacted a little bit... it was no big deal, and I tend to be pretty calm about things in general, but when that tick bit me I was scared." "She took all the necessary antibiotics," Zegen told us of Bening's bite. Despite the nature scares, everyone said it felt like summer camp. (Page Six)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Kate Middleton and Prince William Introduce Royal Baby No.3. Say hello to Prince William and Kate Middleton's son! On Monday, Apr. 23, Kensington Palace announced Kate was in early labor with her third child. Born later that morning, weighing 8 lbs., 7 oz., the world got its first look at the newborn baby when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took him outside for a photo op on the clinic's steps. Ever the fashion icon, Kate looked chic as ever in a red dress with a lace collar. Before the little prince was formally introduced, William left the hospital to pick up his elder children. As he got into his awaiting car, he assured the media he would be "back in a minute." He returned with Prince George and Princess Charlotte -- the latter of whom smiled and waved to photographers. George was dressed in his school uniform, while Charlotte wore a blue dress. According to a source, George's classmates (and their parents) were asked not to reveal that Kate had welcomed a boy; William wanted to share the news himself when he picked him up. The elder children did not stay for a family photo sadly. On Twitter, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said, "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will be leaving St. Mary's Hospital this evening. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their son will travel home to Kensington Palace. Prince George and Princess Charlotte have now returned to Kensington Palace. Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank all staff at the hospital for the care and treatment they have received. They would also like to thank everyone for their warm wishes." As William left the hospital, baby carrier in hand, he revealed to reporters that he and Kate were "delighted" and "very happy" with their family's newest addition. But it's also "thrice the worry now," he said, holding up three fingers. "We didn't keep you waiting too long this time!" Kate gave birth to her second son in the Lindo Wing, the private maternity unit at St. Mary's Hospital in London. Royal fanatics had been camped outside for weeks, hoping to be among the first to see the couple's third child. Out of concern for the royal family's safety, temporary parking restrictions were put in place on Monday, Apr. 9, and they'll expire on Monday, Apr. 30. The Lindo Wing offers round-the-clock service for its patients. "Our world-class maternity care, combined with a personalized service, will relax and reassure you throughout one of the most emotional and exciting experiences of your life," the hospital says in a brochure. It also offers "private ensuite rooms, providing a modern, homely environment in which to start your new or expanded family life. Deluxe rooms or suites are available for patients who would like to take advantage of a larger space." Best of all, the wing's facilities include a secure, supervised nursery," so moms can "rest whilst remaining confident that your baby is being well cared for." A standard room at the Lindo Wing costs about 5,900, plus 1,175 for each additional evening. With the help of her own team of doctors, Kate welcomed George, 4, and Charlotte, 2, in the same hospital wing, in 2013 and 2015. St. Mary's Hospital has a special meaning for William, who, in 1982, became the first member of the British royal family to ever be born in a hospital. As was the true of her first two pregnancies, Kate suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum -- a condition characterized by dehydration, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. She canceled some engagements due to her illness, but within a few weeks, she was back on her feet and meeting members of the Commonwealth again. Her final royal event before going on maternity leave was a visit to the Olympic Park on Marc 22, followed by two Commonwealth events. She was also photographed with other members of the royal family at Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday. Under a new law in 2013, the little royal is fifth in line to the throne, following his grandfather Prince Charles, his father William, his brother George, and his sister Charlotte. After the baby, the line of succession continues with Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Prince Edward. The newborn prince is Queen Elizabeth II's sixth great-grandchild. Per tradition, the Duke and Duchess did not immediately announce the name of their third child. Bookmakers believe top contenders include Arthur, Albert, Frederick, James and Philip. "My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy," Prime Minister Theresa May said Monday. "I wish them great happiness for the future." (Eonline)

Kate Middleton Wears Jenny Packham Again in First Post-Baby Photo Op. Talk about post-pregnancy glow! Kate Middleton and Prince William made their first public appearance with their newest bundle of joy Monday. Just like with their first two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge emerged outside of Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London, holding the latest addition to their family. Kate was all smiles in a knee-length, red, custom Jenny Packham shift dress featuring a Peter Pan lace collar. She accessorized the classic look with nude heels and, of course, perfectly coiffed hair. It's hard to imagine that the mother of three went into labor just earlier Monday. "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz," Kensington Palace announced on Twitter. "The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well." While it was the first time we've seen the royal newborn, it wasn't the first time the duchess has opted to wear Jenny Packham post-pregnancy. In May 2015, after giving birth to Princess Charlotte, Kate wore a half-sleeved, white and yellow, floral shift dress by the British designer in her first post-birth sighting. The new mom carried the newborn in a white, knit blanket. Similar to his little sister, in July 2014, George was presented to the world in similar fashion. Kate also wore a Jenny Packham dress after her first pregnancy. However, the blue, polka-dot frock featured an empire waist and shorter sleeves. The duchess paired the summer dress with off-white wedges. A month later in August 2014, Kate made her first official royal appearance since Prince George's birth, stunning onlookers with her seemingly pre-baby body. The duchess wore black skinny pants, a white Zara printed top, Pied a Terre Imperia wedges and the green Ralph Lauren blazer she's worn before. If Kate's previous pregnancies are any indication, the duchess will bounce back to her pre-baby weight in not only no time but in classic style. (Eonline)

Prince George and Princess Charlotte Visit Royal Baby in the Hospital. Prince George and Princess Charlotte are reporting for big sibling duty! The brother-sister duo joined their mom, Kate Middleton and dad, Prince William, at the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London on Monday to meet their new baby brother. Proud dad William left to pick them up from their family home in Kensington Palace, where they were in the care of nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, and brought them back to St. Mary's to greet the new royal baby. George, already a big brother two times over, and Charlotte, a new big sister, were all smiles as they entered the hospital. George, who was still in his school uniform, and Charlotte, who was adorable in a blue floral dress and a navy cardigan by Amaia, held their dad's hands as they walked inside. Charlotte smiled and waved enthusiastically to the cameras as she made her way in. It was a familiar scene, as just three years ago, it was George who arrived with dad William to meet his little sister, Charlotte, for the very first time. The memorable visit echoes Prince William's own to greet his then-newborn brother Prince Harry in September 1984. William and Kate welcomed baby No. 3 just hours ago after the royal mom was admitted into St. Mary's, the same hospital where she gave birth to George and Charlotte. The couple's baby boy is already receiving royal fanfare. The newborn was greeted on social media by everyone from British Prime Minister Theresa May to the London Eye. "My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy," wrote May on Twitter. "I wish them great happiness for the future." The London Eye announced that it would light up in red, white and blue to honor the arrival of Prince George and Princess Charlotte's younger sibling. (People)

Princess Charlotte Waved at Well-Wishers as She Visited Her New Baby Brother -- and the Internet Is Going Crazy. Princess Charlotte sure knows how to charm an audience. The 2-year-old -- clad in a powder blue dress -- waved proudly at well-wishers outside St. Mary's hospital in London on Monday, April 23 -- and proceeded to win over the internet. "Princess Charlotte. 2 years old and a TOTAL PRO at the Royal Rave already. The turn back and wave to the cameras as they entered the Lindo Wing was EVERYTHING," tweeted one person. Added another: "I don't know if I want children but my ovaries shook around a little when Princess Charlotte kept looking back and waving at photographers while walking into the hospital with her Dad to meet her little brother." A third tweeted: "There is no human on the planet, royalist or otherwise, who can fail to be unaffected by Princess Charlotte waving as she enters the hospital. I've now watched the footage upwards of eight times. Obsessed. Charlotte's older sibling, Prince George, who was dressed in his Thomas's Battersea school uniform, appeared a bit shy, as their dad, Prince William, led them up the steps of the Lindo Wing to meet their baby brother. (He hammed it up for revelers back in May 2015 when William took him to meet Charlotte for the first time.) As previously reported, Duchess Kate "safely" delivered an 8 pound, 7 ounce baby boy at 11:01 a.m. local time with the Duke of Cambridge, 36, by her side. Princess Charlotte and Prince George have since left the Lindo Wing but will continue to bond with the newborn tonight at the family's 22-room Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. Kensington Palace said in a tweet Monday: "Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for the care and treatment the received. They would also like to thank everyone for their warm wishes." (Us Magazine)

Scarlett Johansson's "Ghost in the Shell" was a total flop in theaters, but her costume from it is expected to have a killer opening at auction. Several props from the film -- including the white Stage Three Thermoptic Suit ScarJo wore -- are being sold this Monday via the Prop Store. That alone is expected to fetch as much as $10k. There's also the smashed Geisha head that opens fire in the opening scene that's also expected to haul in about $10 grand. Roughly 400 items from the film will be auctioned through May 4, including a full-size Geisha Bot Body and the SIX12 Revolving Shotgun and Cylinder used by actor Pilou Asbaek in the flick. If you're into super cool cyber-human stuff, from a not-so-cool movie ... check it out. (TMZ)

Robin Thicke's Girlfriend April Love Geary Defends Breastfeeding Photo. Robin Thicke's girlfriend April Love Geary is not here for your breastfeeding criticism -- and isn't afraid to get personal. The 23-year-old posted on her Instagram page on Saturday a semi-censored photo of herself nursing their baby girl MIA while fully topless, prompting several people to leave criticizing comments. The photo was taken by Thicke. "I'm all for breastfeeding and having a choice how to feed your baby but WHY do people feel the need to post pictures of themselves doing it?!" British TV personality Chanelle Hayes asked on Twitter. "Especially the new pic of Robin Thicke's gf! She's got hair done, makeup on, both boobs out. So strange. What's the need?? #opinions." Geary responded to the woman on Instagram. "Maybe the next time you want to criticize me for posting a picture of myself breastfeeding you should really take a look at the pictures you've had taken," she wrote in a post on Sunday, alongside a screenshot of the tweet. "Not that taking nudes are wrong! The naked body is a beautiful thing! But don't be a hypocrite mama." Geary also wrote on her Instagram Stories feed, "If you think seeing women post pics of themselves breastfeeding is weird then ya'll need to grow up...it's just a boob. Calm down ya'll." Geary gave birth to Mia, her first child and Thicke's second, in February. Thicke and ex-wife Paula Patton share an 8-year-old son, Julian. (Eonline)

Kendall Jenner's renovating her Beverly Hills home to give it her own special touch -- possibly because Charlie Sheen used to live there ... or she wants to flip it like a pro. According to L.A. City docs ... Kendall got permits back in October and December to remove and replace the fireplace and remodel the kitchen and bathrooms. She also filed to put a new roof on the house last month. Kendall bought the mansion, listed by agent Jill Lowy, back in August for $8.55 mil. It belonged to Charlie until 2016, and now Kendall's pumping cash into it for a major remodel. It's unclear if she's doing all this work on the 5-bed, 6-bath pad -- with a bomb courtyard and pool -- for herself, or to put it back on the market to turn a profit ... but flipping houses does run in the fam. And, whoever ends up living there will gain a famous next-door neighbor ... Christina Aguilera! (TMZ)

Ronda Rousey's first wrestling match wasn't just great, it was the GREATEST OF ALL TIME -- so says WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross. Good ol' JR was at WrestleMania 34 to watch Ronda take on Stephanie McMahon and Triple H up close and personal ... and told us he's never seen anyone dominate the squared circle this fast. "I thought Ronda Rousey's debut was the most impressive thing I've seen in pro wrestling in my 40-year career ... best debut I ever saw," JR told TMZ Sports. JR also gave WWE mad props for pickin' up the UFC mega-star -- calling it the 2nd best hire they've ever made besides him (lol) and saying she's a "huge star" for the company. As for Ronda ... she's been poppin' up on "Monday Night Raw" since her match at 'Mania, kickin' ass and takin' names arms. (TMZ)

Music

Avril Lavigne Talks New Album in First Red Carpet Appearance in 2 Years. It's been a rough past few years for Avril Lavigne, but she's finally ready to make her comeback. The 33-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter, who became an early '00s music icon with hits such as "Complicated" and "Sk8ter Boi," revealed in 2015 that she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. In December 2016, she announced she is working on a new album, her first since her 2013 self-titled fifth major studio record. Lavigne walked her first red carpet (technically orange) in two years on Friday, attending the 25th annual Race To Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. She talked to E! News' Sibley Scoles about her new music, saying her album is set to be completed next month and will be released later this year. "It's a really powerful record," she said. "I've been working on this for three years. I can actually say this time I'm going to be done with this album in two weeks and I will put it out this year." "I've been writing songs that are really just powerful and true and honest and sincere and I think people will really be able to relate to it," she said. "I've gone through a lot of personal stuff in the past two years and so I've really drawn from that. I mean, I always do but this album is so different...I am producing, too, the songs. It's more of a vocal record and just like, hearing the lyrics and really hearing the emotion in the vocal. It's very piano-driven, too." For the past couple of months, Lavigne has been posting on Instagram photos of herself in a recording studio. "I know my fans have been like waiting for a long time and some of them are unhappy. They're like, 'OK, what is going on with this album?'" she said. "But trust me, I'm doing everything I can and I just want it to be ready and everything to be perfect and lot of like, care has gone into this. All the waiting and the hard work on my end will pay off, I promise." (Eonline)

Beyonce Reunites With Destiny's Child Again and Debuts New Looks at 2nd Coachella Show. Beyonce mixed some things up but still brought out some welcome familiar faces during her second Coachella show. The singer once again brought out Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland for a Destiny's Child reunion onstage on Saturday. The trio performed the same medley as they did at Bey's first Coachella show last weekend -- which included the songs "Lose My Breath," "Say My Name" and "Soldier" -- but wore sparkling silver outfits this time. Beyonce kept her set list the same, performing her solo hits and a few covers alone as well as with returning special guests husband Jay-Z, sister Solange. This time, J Balvin joined the singer onstage in person to perform a remix of his song "Mi gente." The main difference between Beyonce's first and second Coachella shows were her outfits, which were all designed by Balmain's Olivier Rousting. The singer opted for yellow collegiate-style embellished yellow hoodies in her first show; she and her dancers wore pink for her second. She also wore a shimmering pink sweater dress bearing a personalized coat of arms during her performance with Jay-Z. Jessica Alba attended the show and shared photos and videos. (Eonline)

Traci Braxton is taking a career setback and turning it into a comeback -- after getting thrown off her sister Toni's upcoming tour ... she's opting to hit the road on her own. Traci says she's getting a second chance thanks to a TV network that's offered to back her tour in June. She was supposed to open for Toni and Tamar on a few dates this summer, but got 86'ed due to the family drama surrounding Tamar's divorce. Tamar also got the boot eventually. Traci says her tour's not just a surprise for her fans ... she didn't tell her sisters! Until now. Despite all the family drama, almost all of the sisters sang on Traci's new single, "Broken Things." Tamar was the sole holdout, but Traci insists there's no hard feelings, and they're actually talking about doing a duet soon. Sisters. Can't live with 'em, can't tour with 'em ... but it's all good. (TMZ)

Madonna won't be able to put the brakes on the sale of an old jailhouse letter from Tupac that's being auctioned off because of a release she signed almost 15 years ago ... TMZ has learned. A judge has thrown out Madonna's lawsuit against Darlene Lutz, Madge's old pal and art consultant, saying a release she signed back in 2004 means she couldn't sue over the sale of the letter. According to the judge's order, Lutz had received several items over her two-decade long relationship with Madonna, but when they ended things Darlene got to keep some stuff. The judge's view was that if Madonna didn't want the Tupac letter to be sold, she should've never signed the release. Madonna claimed that she never knew Darlene even had possession of the letter, which was deeply personal since Tupac touched on their breakup. (TMZ)

Kanye West Got a Tesla from Elon Musk for Earth Day and He Really Loves It: 'I'm in the Future'. Kanye West has fully emerged from his months-long ditial silence with a flurry of thoughts, feelings and digital enthusiastic posts. The latest object of his fancy is a gift he appears to have gotten from Elon Musk just in time for Earth Day on Sunday (Apr. 22). In a series of tweets (which Musk retweeted) West gushed about his new Tesla plug-in, tweeting "I really love my Tesla. I'm in the future. Thank you Elon." He followed with a jokey-sounding tweet that read: "I heard these are really good for the environment." Assuming 'Ye got one of the Model 3's, he could be cruising around L.A. and getting 220 miles per charge. And he wasn't done yet. Assuming he wasn't texting and driving, West seemed revved up about his latest toy, promising that he was "bout to take this whole thing to mars." In addition to tweeting about producing a new Nas album, as well as ones from Pusha T and Teyana Taylor and a joint effort with Kid Cudi, West has also continued espousing his philosophical thoughts ("practice pure love") on Twitter and posting iconic photos from some of his favorite 20th century conceptual artists, including performance artist Joseph Beuys. (Billboard)

Janet Jackson is extending her uber-successful tour with more shows. The pop icon says her State of the World Tour, which originally wrapped in December, will kick off new dates July 11 in Austin, Texas. Dates have also been added in Rogers, Arkansas; Cincinnati; Syracuse, New York; Hersey, Pennsylvania; Saratoga Springs, New York; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Raleigh; Charlotte; Miami; and Tampa. Tickets for the new dates go on sale Tuesday. Jackson's State of the World Tour, which toured United States and Canada, was a critically acclaimed success. The singer will also play a number of music festivals this summer, including Essence, FYF, Panorama and Outside Lands. (Page Six)

Lil Wayne gave concertgoers an ominous warning ... if you throw stuff onstage you're gonna get shot. Wayne was performing Saturday night at the Cannabis Cup at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, and he repeated the mantra we've heard him threaten before when people throw things onstage. He says, "I got New Orleans people with me and all they know how to throw back is shoot. They'll just shoot." Apparently, the venue had no problem with the threat, because the concert continued without incident. (TMZ)

Movies

Wanted Is Coming to Netflix in May 2018. Here's a film you'll want to press play on Netflix next month. E! News can exclusively reveal the 2008 action thriller Wanted starring Angelina Jolie is coming to Netflix on May 16. The Oscar-winning actress famously starred alongside McAvoy and Morgan Freeman as a mentor to a burgeoning assassin with superhuman killing powers. McAvoy portrayed Wesley Gibson, a young man frustrated with his lackluster job and existence. However, his life turns upside down after a mystery woman known as Fox, played by Jolie, reveals that his father was a renowned assassin. Gibson trains as a member of a fraternity of assassins under Fox and Freeman's character, Sloan, to track down his dad's killer and avenge his death. The movie was released to positive reviews and went on to garner two Oscar nominations for sound mixing and sound editing. Wanted is just one of the many titles coming to Netflix next month. So what else will be available to stream in May? Find out Tuesday morning when the streaming service releases its full list. (Eonline)

Crazy Rich Asians' New Trailer Makes Meeting Your Boyfriend's Family Look Easy. The full trailer for Crazy Rich Asians is here! While fans got a short teaser last week, the new two-minute and 25-second sneak peek aired on Monday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In the trailer, Nick Young invites his girlfriend Rachel Chu to join him for his cousin's wedding in Singapore. However, Rachel soon learns that her boyfriend has been hiding a few secrets from her -- mainly that his family is extremely wealthy and that he's one of Singapore's hottest bachelors. Once the two arrive, Rachel meets her boyfriend's family; however, she doesn't exactly hit it off with everyone, including her beau's mother. As the story unfolds, Nick appears torn between choosing his family and old social circles or Rachel. But will he be able to convince everyone that Rachel is the one? Constance Wu, from Fresh Off the Boat, plays the main character Rachel and Henry Golding, who is making his movie debut, plays Nick Young. "He was such a natural. He's just oozing charm, you know?" Wu told Ellen DeGeneres. "You just fall in love with him the second you see him on screen." The all-Asian cast also includes Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, and Ken Jeong. The romantic comedy is based on the book by Kevin Kwan, which shares the same title. Crazy Rich Asians hits theaters this August. (Eonline)

Benedict Cumberbatch "Fine" to Wait for 'Current War' Release to Get Rid of Weinstein "Toxicity". The historic epic was a high-profile casualty of the fallout from the sexual assault allegations against the disgraced producer. Benedict Cumberbatch says he's happy to wait for the release of his Harvey Weinstein-tainted historical epic The Current War. The film, looking at the rivalry between electricity innovators Thomas Edison (played by Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), was a casualty in last year's fallout of the revelations about the disgraced movie mogul, who acted as producer on the project. Initially due for release toward the end of 2017 and once tipped as an Oscar contender, The Current War no longer has a domestic release date. But, speaking to British daily newspaper The Telegraph, the actor -- soon to be seen in Avengers: Infinity War -- revealed that he was far from disappointed that the film had been indefinitely shelved. "If it takes us not releasing our film for a couple of years just to be rid of that toxicity, I'm fine with that," he said, adding, "to step back and be as far removed from that influence as possible, both as filmmaker and as human being." Cumberbatch first worked with Weinstein on 2014's The Imitation Game, another real-life role that bagged him his only Academy Awards nomination to date. He described the producer as "lascivious," adding, "I wouldn't want to be married to him.... Gaudy in his tastes, for all his often-brilliant filmmaking ability.... " Discussing first hearing about the allegations against Weinstein, Cumberbatch said it was a "true shock" at the time. "That this has just literally happened. And it's been covered up by an entire body of people through lawsuits and gagging and money -- hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to silence victims and survivors," he said. "That truly was a revelation." After the revelations about Weinstein came to light last year, Cumberbatch released a statement about the producer. "I am utterly disgusted by the continuing revelations of Harvey Weinstein's horrifying and unforgivable actions," he said. "We need to collectively stand up and support victims of abuse such as the brave and inspiring women who have spoken out against him and say we hear you and believe you." The Current War -- directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and also starring Nicholas Hoult, Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland and Tuppence Middleton -- first bowed at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, receiving largely mediocre reviews. The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "stubbornly lacking in magic." (Hollywood Reporter)

Female Filmmakers Win Big at Beijing Festival. Ana Urushadze's critically acclaimed debut 'Scary Mother' won best picture, while Mariam Khatchvani took the best director prize for her melodrama 'Dede' and Paul Bettany earned one of the acting honors. Female filmmakers made a commanding showing at the Beijing International Film Festival's closing awards ceremony Sunday night. Georgian director Ana Urushadze's critically acclaimed debut Scary Mother was named best picture, with its star Nata Murvanidze taking the best actress prize for her widely praised performance as the film's fearsome lead. Scary Mother tells the story of a middle-aged Estonian housewife who wars against the constraints of domesticity to fulfill her long-suppressed creative ambitions as a novelist. The film was Georgia's official submission in the foreign-language Oscar race and previously won the Sarajevo Film Festival's top prize and best first-feature honor at Locarno. Fellow Georgian filmmaker Mariam Khatchvani, meanwhile, won best director for her melodrama Dede, which also claimed best cinematography for Konstantin Esadze. The film follows a young woman who is forced to choose between an arranged marriage and true love and a painful break from tradition. The Beijing film festival's honors, known locally as the Tiantan awards, were decided by an international jury chaired by Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai. Other jurists included Chinese actor Yihong Duan and Swedish director Ruben Ostlund, winner of the 2017 Palme d'Or in Cannes. In a brief speech at the awards ceremony, Wong highlighted the strength of female storytelling in the festival's official selection this year, noting that five of the 15 competition titles were directed by women, with two of them directorial debuts. "I hope more female film creators use movies to explore women's stories," he said. Although it was a cold, rainy spring night in the Chinese capital, one of international art house cinema's most celebrated female leads, French actress Isabelle Huppert, was on hand to walk the red carpet. Local film stars turned out in force, with Huang Bo, Shu Qi, Wang Baoqiang, Gu Changwei, Lin Chi-ling and Joan Chen making glamorous entrances. U.K. filmmakers also had a strong night in Beijing. Rising British star Joe Cole won best actor for his performance as a lovesick drone operator in Kim Nguyen's long-distance romance Eye on Juliet. And U.K. war drama Journey's End received two honors: the best supporting actor award for Paul Bettany and best music for composer Hildur Gudnadottir. The best supporting actress prize went to Mina Sadati from Iranian drama Searing Summer. Debut Israeli filmmaker Amichai Greenberg won the best screenplay award for The Testament, which he also directed. The sole domestic honoree in Beijing Sunday was the Hong Kong-China military action flick Operation Red Sea, which received the best visual effects prize. Directed by Dante Lam, the patriotic spectacle has earned an astonishing $578 million at the Chinese box office and is still in cinemas. (Hollywood Reporter)

Tribeca: 'Zoe' Team Talks Improvising to Find the Truth. "Hopefully it's a very modern movie about all the struggles that everyone goes through thinking about how technology can somehow fix any hole in your heart, and how at the end of the day, we're just humans still and we're trying to figure that out," director Drake Doremus said of the film starring Ewan McGregor and Lea Seydoux. While Zoe is a futuristic love story about the positive and negative effects technology can have on human connection, director Drake Doremus did not want the "synths," or the synthetic people in the film, to be the point of the story. "I didn't want to make a genre piece," Doremus said after the world premiere of the movie at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday night. "It's not a story about robots. It's a story about humans and the idea that we're all missing something, whether we're synthetic or not." In the movie, which served as the festival's centerpiece screening, Ewan McGregor and Lea Seydoux play characters who work in a research lab, Relationist, that explores different ways technology can improve romantic connections -- from a questionnaire that will determine whether someone has a future with their significant other to manufacturing synthetic companions who become increasingly indistinguishable from humans. "It's such a fascinating story, and by the end of the script I wanted [the characters] to be together so much that I was just very moved by it," McGregor told The Hollywood Reporter. The actors had many opportunities to improvise on set, and while McGregor was nervous about the prospect at first, he found that he enjoyed that experience. "I haven't really done anything with quite so much improvisation and I really liked that," he said. "I didn't know if I would. I didn't know if as an actor if you're called to improvise if, in fact, part of your brain is spending time trying to think of something to say or if you're still in the moment. But I found a great freedom in that, and I really enjoyed it. That was a revelation to me. I would like to do more of that." Seydoux was nervous for a different reason. The film marks one of the French actress' first major roles in an American film, and she also had just given birth to her son before the film started production. "It was very tender and deep at the same time," she said. "I was very touched by this character and about the human condition as well." For Doremus, the improvisation was about finding the honesty in the story. "He always said on set, 'Be honest,'" Seydoux recalled. "Hopefully it's a very modern movie about all the struggles that everyone goes through thinking about how technology can somehow fix any hole in your heart, and how at the end of the day, we're just humans still and we're trying to figure that out," Doremus said. McGregor added: "It says a lot about love and it says a lot about finding your truth and finding your truth and love. It's an interesting time for this movie. It's not the only movie of its kind at the moment and that happens for a reason." (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Pauley Perrette Reflects on NCIS Exit, Legacy and What's Next: "There's a Lot of Conversations Going On." "It makes me sad to imagine a world without Abby in it. It really makes me sad," Pauley Perrette said. That's something NCIS fans will probably agree with. Perrette, an original cast member, is leaving NCIS after 15 seasons on the CBS drama. The actress wrapped her work on the series in early April and said she was "still grieving" the end of the character. "It feels differently every day... I usually cry in my car every single day as I drive to work and I usually cry on my way home at some point. Then I take a deep breath and I go, 'Alright,'" she said on CBS Sunday Morning. Perrette is also taking time and looking back at her impact, noting Abby helped making science "cool and attainable for young women." In the morning show interview, Perrette opened up her charity work about her struggles with fame, specifically "being a commodity." "It's just very dehumanizing," she said. "So, I thinkI hope I'm not wrong -- but I think I've earned a little bit of time to myself, to just stay home, go to church." Perrette announced her exit from the long-running series in October 2017. "So, it is true that I am leaving NCIS after this season. There has been all kinds of false stories as to why (NO I DON'T HAVE A SKIN CARE LINE AND NO MY NETWORK AND SHOW ARE NOT MAD AT ME!)," she wrote in a note posted on Twitter. "It was a decision made last year. I hope everyone will love and enjoy EVERYTHING ABBY not only for the rest of this season but for everything she has given all of us for 16 years. All the love, all the laughter, all the inspiration... I love her as much as you do." In a statement, CBS praised Perrette for her contributions. "Pauley has been a valued member of both NCIS and the CBS family for over 15 years," CBS said in a statement. "While it's never easy saying goodbye to a beloved actress and character, we respect her decision to leave at the end of the season. We are grateful to Pauley for all her contributions to the series and making Abby one of the most unique characters on television." NCIS executive producers George Schenck and Frank Cardea released a joint statement on Perrette's exit and said they had been working on an exit plan. "We've known for some time this would be Pauley's final season on NCIS and have been working toward a special send-off," they said. "From day one, she has brought incredible passion and specificity to the role. Abby is a character that inspires millions of fans around the world, and all of us at NCIS are appreciative of Pauley for portraying her." As for what's next, Perrette said there are plenty of offers and conversations happening. "I'm being offered a lot. There's a lot of conversations going on, yeah," she said. "And there's me sittin' at home on the couch, drinkin' beer with my dogs. And I'm really good at it!" NCIS was recently renewed for a season 16 with series star and executive producer Mark Harmon back on board. Perrette's NCIS goodbye airs Tuesday, May 1 and May 8 at 8 p.m. on CBS. (Eonline)

This Is Us season 3: Sterling K. Brown says flash-forward mystery hints at 'end of our story'. Of the many questions that This Is Us fans were asking themselves upon completion of the season 2 finale, perhaps the most intriguing and ominous was: Who is "her?" In one of the episode's several time-jumps to the future -- this one set up to two decades from now -- we reunited with adult Tess. Whereas the first visit was a touchy-feely nod to Tess pursuing a career in foster care as she met up with Randall (Sterling K. Brown) for lunch, this flash-forward was much more loaded. When Randall (Sterling K. Brown) cryptically told Tess, "It's time to go see her," Tess replied, "I'm not ready," and Randall seconded: "I'm not either." Who is this mystery woman? (Beth? Annie? Deja? Someone we haven't met yet?) "I know who the person is that future Randall is referring to, but [series creator Dan] Fogelman would cut off my big toe if I actually told you who it was," Brown tells EW. "But I can tell you it's probably not what you suspect. In classic Fogelman style, it will be like, 'Oh, wow -- didn't see that coming.'" Also of importance: What exactly has happened to said mystery person? (Death? Estrangement? Other?) Not surprisingly, Brown isn't spilling, but he does note that Fogelman "has a very keen understanding of what the beginning, middle, and end of our show is, and that's important because he often likens our show to Lost in terms of its structure. You're dealing with present-day circumstances, and then you have these flashbacks which further illuminate the present circumstances of the characters. ... When you see that flash-forward to the future, it will ultimately help to illuminate what the end of our story will be. That's pretty big. Without telling you anything, I actually told you quite a bit." Chrissy Metz, whose Kate appeared in a different finale flash-forward cliffhanger, indicated that the situation was a bit ominous. "It's not good," she recently told EW. "It's actually very heartbreaking." Another This Is Us star, Mandy Moore, believes that season 3 will be the show's "most ambitious yet," a notion Brown seconds. "It becomes more expansive," he notes. "The tapestry expands and we just make sure that the Pearsons are central to that expansion as it goes forward so that people have someone to connect to." Brown -- who recently hit the big screen in Black Panther and will star in Hotel Artemis -- also popped up on Brooklyn Nine-Nine earlier this month as a murder suspect interrogated all night by Holt (Andre Braugher) and Jake (Andy Samberg). He had been hoping for some time to work with Braugher, a fellow Stanford alum whom he honored in his Emmy speech last fall when he won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series trophy. (He was the first African-American actor to win in that category since Braugher claimed the statue in 1998 for his role on Homicide: Life on the Street.) "It was a treat to do -- both he and Samberg are gentleman and scholars," says Brown. "It's so much fun to go from one format to the next to play on different people's playgrounds, from SNL [which he hosted last month] to Brooklyn Nine-Nine to the show to the movies. I'm just blessed to be able to go into each one of those different arenas and have fun. Right now, it's a good time to be me, and I hope it continues to be that way for some time to come." (Entertainment Weekly)

TV fanatics are going wild for this new show made by the people behind Big Little Lies. If you're counting down the days until Big Little Lies returns (yes, us too), then we have something to fill the void the show left in your life. TV fanatics are going wild for the upcoming HBO series, Sharp Objects. Directed by none other than the team behind Big Little Lies, the show is based on Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn's first-ever novel. The eight-part series doesn't grace screens until July, but a sneak peek via the trailer left people super excited. If that wasn't enough to pique your interest, perhaps the new star of the show will. Amy Adams will play Camille Preaker, who returns to her hometown to investigate the murder of two little girls. It's Amy's first TV role since her cameo in The Office. As well as Amy, the cast is made up of Patricia Clarkson plays her mother, Chris Messina, Eliza Scanlen, Elizabeth Perkins, Matt Craven, and Sophia Lillis. If the trailer is anything to go by, it looks pretty goose-bump inducing, so if creepy doll's houses and spooky ghost stories are you're thing, you'll be into this. (British Glamour)

Rose McGowan Is Striving for Balance as She Continues Her "Life's Work" in New CITIZEN ROSE Promo. Rose McGowan is figuring out what's next as her fight against "the monster" continues. In this new promo for the next chapter of E!'s limited series CITIZEN ROSE, McGowan acknowledges how far she's come, but also knows there's work left to be done. "I know my contribution, but I haven't been able to figure out how to do my life's work and be my life's work at the same time," she confesses. Regardless of the twists and turns her journey may take, the actress turned activist is pushing forward. "The only way forward is forward. I just don't know where forward is going," McGowan insists. "I figure no explorer ever did, right?" Part two of CITIZEN ROSE premieres Thursday, May 17 at 10 p.m., on E! (Eonline)

Matt Smith Breaks Silence on Claire Foy Pay Disparity: ''I Support Her.'' He's got her back! Matt Smith, who plays Prince Philip in season one and two of Netflix's The Crown, is breaking his silence and speaking out in support of his co-star Claire Foy, who stars as Queen Elizabeth II, after it emerged that the lead actress was getting paid less than him. At the world premiere of his upcoming film Mapplethorpe, Smith talked to about The Hollywood Reporter about the headline-making pay disparity and made sure to publicly back the British actress. "Claire is one of my best friends, and I believe that we should be paid equally and fairly and there should be equality for all," he said to the outlet. "I support her completely, and I'm pleased that it was resolved and they made amends for it because that what's needed to happen. Going forward, I think we should all bear in mind that we need to strive to make this better and a more even playing field for everyone involved -- but not just in our industry, in all industries." It is unclear what Smith's remark of "made amends" means, as Netflix has not put out a statement on the matter. E! News has reached out to Netflix for comment. The pay scandal erupted in March after producers at Left Bank Pictures, which is backed by Sony Pictures Television, revealed in an INTV conference in Jerusalem that Smith was paid more than Foy. Left Bank creative director Suzanne Mackie said Smith made more than Foy because of his previous Doctor Who fame. "Going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen," Mackie said at the time, according to Variety. Following the international outcry, Left Bank Pictures issued a statement explaining that the stars were unaware of each other's salaries and that the fault lay with the company, not the actors. "We want to apologize to both Claire Foy and to Matt Smith, brilliant actors and friends, who have found themselves at the center of a media storm this week through no fault of their own. Claire and Matt are incredibly gifted actors who, along with the wider cast on The Crown have worked tirelessly to bring our characters to life with compassion and integrity," read the statement. "As the producers of The Crown, we at Left Bank Pictures are responsible for budgets and salaries; the actors are not aware of who gets what and cannot be held personally responsible for the pay of their colleagues." Foy and Smith will only be appearing in the first and second season of the show. Other actor's have been hired to portray the royals in a later stage of life. In seasons three and four of the show, Olivia Colman, star of Broadchurch and The Night Manager, will take on the role of QE2. Meanwhile, Outlander and Game of Thrones star Tobias Menzies will play Prince Philip. Helena Bonham Carter will reportedly play Princess Margaret, but it has yet to be confirmed. In January, the Evening Standard reported the Alice in Wonderland star was "all but confirmed" to take over the role of Princess Margaret. (Eonline)

Prince Liam Learns the Hard Way That No One Can Be Trusted on The Royals. Things are getting a little less common around the palace! On this week's episode of The Royals, Princess Eleanor (Alexandra Park) and Jasper (Tom Austen) are finally becoming a normal couple. Well, as normal as it gets for them. The pair will definitely have reason to celebrate after Sunday night's royal event! Jasper is getting knighted at the legacy gala to honor King Simon (Vincent Regan). But before the festivities can begin, there are a few orders of business to get out of the way. Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley) is busy training the future queen about her responsibilities. Unfortunately, Willow (Genevieve Gaunt) thinks she knows best and lands herself in some hot water before the gala. "I knew there would be trolls, but it's different when they're attacking you," she tells the queen after being harassed by Internet trolls. "Your first public event as a couple begins soon. That should be interesting," the queen teases her. Looks like she's on her own! Queen Helena has more pressing matters to attend to. She needs to find a special pen she was planning to donate to the exhibit. A pen which it turns out Princess Eleanor has stolen for her secret missions and needs Jasper's help to get back. Although Jasper has been less than thrilled with her missions, he agrees to help her with this one. Which means a little breaking and entering. The pair end up at the house Eleanor gave the pen away to and after some rummaging they locate the pen in the freezer of all places! Just when they think they're home free, their mission is interrupted when the family whose home they broke into returns. Naturally, they decide their best plan of action is to hide in the closet. Meanwhile, at the palace, the event is off to an awkward start. Even though the queen forbade Prince Liam (William Moseley) from bringing Kathryn (Christina Wolfe) as his date, he sees Willow struggling to maintain her composure in the face of the press and decides to distract them by revealing Kathryn as his girlfriend. "How would you all like to meet my date for tonight? Who also happens to be my new girlfriend," he shares while trying to divert their attention. "First, lets remember what this night is about. It's about my father's legacy and it's about the valiant service of Jasper Frost." Luckily it worked! However, Jasper and Eleanor are still M.I.A. and trapped inside of a stranger's closet. Which is just enough time for Jasper to tell her how he's really feeling about being honored. "The truth is I'm not a hero. I didn't take a bullet for anyone. My father shot me. The whole thing just feels like another con," he revealed to Eleanor. Being the supportive girlfriend that she is, Eleanor decides that they can't miss the event and busts out of the closet. The houseowners were definitely not mad at having royalty in the house, so Eleanor and Jasper were free to go. They made it in the nick of time and Eleanor was able to present the special pen on her mom's behalf. "My father used to say that it was the most important pen in the world. Because he and my mother used it to sign their marriage certificate and to sign the birth certificate of their children. My father used this to sign every major and important initiative during his reign," she shared about the significance of the pen. "My mother is too humble to tell you this, but she also has used this pen to put a lifetime of good into the world," she revealed. While that situation ended well, another one was still brewing. As it turns out, Willow was less than thrilled to have Kathryn join the event for the evening. "I don't want your spotlight, Willow," Kathryn assured the future queen. But Willow isn't too certain about that. "No. You just wanted my fiance," Willow remarked. While Kathryn is momentarily stunned, she has some news for Willow. "You know, desire is a two-way street," Kathryn shared. Unfortunately for Willow, her new fiance was more excited than he should be to see Kathryn. "Kate, I can't get you out of my mind. I'll be alone tonight, come and see me. I miss you in so many ways," King Robert (Max Brown) whispered to her. While she initially resisted his request, it turned out she had been missing him too. "I hate the things you said to me when we were together. I hate that you propositioned me tonight, on the night you announced your engagement. I hate that smug look on your face," she told him. "What I hate most is that at 9:30 I'm going to be standing at your door." Um, what?! If you're feeling sorry for Willow and Liam, it turns out it's just Liam being made the fool. "I can't help that every time I see you I remember the feelings I had for you when we were together," King Robert tells Kathryn. "I want to see you again, Kate. I want you and I miss you." Her response? "I want you too," Kathryn answered. Just when you think they're about to make this twisted love triangle even more twisted, Robert turns the tables. "I'm sorry you had to hear that, brother," he says to a teary-eyed Liam who was listening at the door. An ashamed Katherine exits the palace alone. Looks like their love story may be over, but Robert finally has Liam right where he wants him. Brand new episode of The Royals Sunday at 10 p.m., on E! (Eonline)

Jane the Virgin's Season 4 Finale Pulled Off One Incredible Twist. It's been two days, but it's still hard to get over the twist Jane the Virgin pulled in its season four finale. Most fans had only just gotten over the shocking death of Michael (Brett Dier) in season three and had started to be OK with widowed Jane (Gina Rodriguez) moving on with baby daddy Rafael (Justin Baldoni). But then, just before he was preparing to propose in Friday's finale, Rafael got some surprising information that clearly shook him to his core. Jane thought it was news about who his parents are and promised she would love him unconditionally through whatever the news was, but of course the news was a bit more surprising and a bit more complicated than that. Michael is still alive! We have no idea how this happened and it's not even entirely clear if the guy who looks exactly like Michael is actually Michael, but it certainly seemed that it was based on the way he looked at Jane when she walked in, expecting a proposal from Rafael. It was essentially one of the greatest twists a show has pulled off in recent memory -- and maybe one of the best "back from the dead" twists ever -- completely unexpected and completely genius as a cliffhanger. Whether the explanation is as genius as that cliffhanger we have yet to see, but we have no real doubt that it will be. Even the cast was surprised by the return, since the script didn't include what Rafael had to tell Jane. Creator Jennie Urman posted a video of the table read when Dier walked in as a surprise, and it's pretty much the cutest video we've ever seen that didn't involve animals or small children. Urman has made it clear in multiple interviews that when Michael originally died in season three from complications after being shot, he was dead, and there was no plan to bring him back. "He was definitely dead," she told Variety. "Because it's a telenovela, there's always that trope. That said, we had to mourn him as a show, as a cast, as a room and as a fanbase. He's been gone for a year and a half. It's not like I brought him back three episodes later. That had to feel like a loss -- and it was a loss at that time." The decision to bring him back (or to at least bring the actor back) didn't come up until Urman was thinking about the show's "final chapters." "It really leads to some really interesting, complicated dynamics [and] let us come full circle in a way in our storytelling," she continued. "I knew it would be the ultimate surprise, and we love a big shocking season-ending twist -- but I also knew that what it would give us was this crazy amount of emotional navigation when we come back." Namely, what the hell is Jane going to do?! If it's really Michael, does she go back to her husband or stay with Rafael? And how much more does this bring Sin Rostro back into the picture, since she's the one with the Michael info? What the heck is she up to? There is one question that Urman can answer definitively. "It's not Michael's identical twin, I can tell you that," she told Deadline. Urman also told Variety that Michael did not just fake his death for all this time. "The truth is not quite that. I feel like that would be horrible, but that's not the story we're moving into," she said. In an interview with Vulture, Urman confirmed a few other details. Rafael definitely believes it's actually Michael, and we'll find out if he's right in the season five premiere. Whether or not it's him, it sounds like he won't just appear in the premiere, even if his pilot gets picked up. He's starring in History of Them, a CBS pilot that explores how two best friends (Dier and Ana Villafane) fell in love. "I feel like we could share him, because I definitely want a lot of him," Urman says, and the more things like this that she says, the more we're kind of thinking it's actually Michael. We just don't quite know how, and it's going to bother us all damn summer. Of course, Michael is not the only question to answer in the season five premiere. The other big cliffhanger from that finale involves Petra (Yael Groblas) and JR (Rosario Dawson). JR discovered that Petra really did kill her sister, though Petra promised it was kind of an accident/self-defense. Kind of. JR broke things off and was headed out until she got a warning that Petra might be in danger. She showed back up just in time to fight off someone with a gun, who Petra recognized. JR shot the attacker, and all we got to see was Petra and JR looking on in slight horror alongside the hashtag #JRShotWho, a la the classic Dallas cliffhanger, Who Shot JR? This show is made by television geniuses, for sure. Jane the Virgin will return to the CW in the fall. (Eonline)

Westworld Season 2 Premiere Finds Chaos After the Massacre. "The reckoning is here." After what feels like forever, Westworld has returned to further help us question everything we know and annoy each other with endless theories about what the heck is going on. And while there are some new mysteries afoot, we're kinda not feeling that same sense of wonder we were feeling back at the beginning of season one. Without the question of who's a host and who's not and what's the deal with the Man in Black, and with the knowledge that the hosts are taking over, it's a little harder to care...so far. We'll have to see how things go after the night. The premiere picked up just after last season left off, with the board massacre. Of course, we first had to get through some dream nonsense from Bernard and Dolores, but then we saw the cleanup efforts. Namely, all the hosts were getting executed. Cool. Bernard and Charlotte Hale escaped, and while the rest of their group fell into a trap and all got killed, they made it to a secret outpost that Charlotte knew about. That's where Bernard found out that the park has been creepily collecting DNA from all the guests, which weirdly didn't creep us out as much as it should. Everything on this show is so messed up that DNA collection just seems par for the course. Bernard also realized he's not doing well and won't be able to stay running for long, but then we see him some time in the future when he meets up with the Delos military, who are investigating the massacre with help from their guns. Bernard says he doesn't remember what happened at the massacre, but when they arrive at a large lake in which a ton of dead hosts -- including Teddy -- are floating, he claims he killed them all. Meanwhile, post-massacre Dolores has gone full Kissin' Kate Barlow. She's ready to kill anyone and everyone in her way, even while Teddy feels a bit uneasy about the whole thing. And similarly, Maeve's also ready to kill, but she's wearing a slick human dress and not riding a horse to do it. She's also got a machine gun, which is cool, and has one of the humans as a kind of hostage to help her navigate the parks in search of her daughter. And then there's the Man in Black, who might as well not matter at all. We would not have missed him if he hadn't returned, to be honest, but maybe he'll find something interesting to do in the upcoming episodes. So here we are, intrigued by what the heck is happening and is going to happen to Bernard, and how that Park Six tiger ended up by the lake, and what lies beyond this island Westworld apparently inhabits. Now please pretend we are ending this post with some suitable gibberish about the nature of reality. Thank you. Westworld airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO. (Eonline)

Warner Bros. Taps DramaFever Co-Founders as Head of Korean TV Dramas. Suk Park and Hyun Park have been named co-heads of Korean TV production and acquisitions. Warner Bros. unveiled on Monday that the co-founders of DramaFever, the top Korean TV drama and film streaming website previously acquired by the Hollywood giant, would jointly head Korean TV Production & Acquisitions. Suk Park and his brother Hyun Park launched DramaFever in 2009 (with co-founder Seung Bak) and then joined Warner Bros. in 2016 after the streaming company became part of Warner Bros. Digital Networks. Warner Bros. expects the appointment of the Park brothers to further enhance the company's presence in Korea and Asia. "DramaFever is poised for continuing rapid growth," said Craig Hunegs, president of Warner Bros. Digital Networks and president of Business & Strategy, Warner Bros. Television Group. In their new roles, the Park brothers are responsible for acquiring and producing TV content for the Korean market, as well as licensing Korean formats for the U.S.. The duo will also spearhead the imports of select WBTV formats such as The Mentalist into Korea. "Suk's great creative taste and relationships with the top Korean production companies and talent have made DramaFever the No. 1 destination for Korean programming in America," Hunegs said. "Hyun has great strategic insight and experience, and we are thrilled that he will continue to leverage both in this expanded role," added Marc Gareton, executive vp, APAC, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment & International Production. "His incredible knowledge will be invaluable as we underline our commitment to local talent and local content in Korea, which now includes TV drama as well as our established film production." Suk is based in New York and Hyun in Seoul, and both will report jointly to Hunegs for DramaFever-related projects and Gareton regarding international production matters. Suk Park served as DramaFever's president as the online streaming service grew from just one Korean drama series to hundreds of movies and TV shows at the point of Warner Bros. acquisition. Prior to DramaFever, Suk was international managing director at publisher ZiffDavis from 2004 until 2008. Hyun Park served as vp of DramaFever from 2012 and was focused on licensing Korean content into the service and building local partnerships. Prior to DramaFever, Hyun spent eight years at Spanish media company Grupo PRISA, rising to deputy CEO of PRISA Internacional, the group's international corporate development arm. (Hollywood Reporter)

John Oliver Enlists James Van Der Beek for 'Talkin' Tehran' Mock Podcast. The 'Last Week Tonight' host and the 'Dawson's Creek' star got into a heated exchange on the parody podcast. John Oliver once again went after President Donald Trump and his administration on Sunday's Last Week Tonight. Among this week's topics: Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, the Iran nuclear deal and the FBI raid on Trump's longtime attorney, Michael Cohen. Oliver also played part of a parody podcast he joked that he was launching with James Van Der Beek called Talkin' Tehran. The audio bit featured the real voice of Van Der Beek as the two got into a heated exchange. "If you didn't think that James Van Der Beek was an expert in Iranian history, you need to expand your expectations of what people are capable of," joked Oliver. (Hollywood Reporter)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fall Book Discussion and Movie Series

Book discussion group to meet

City Page Survey