ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Do we hear wedding bells? Days after revealing he and girlfriend Laura Perlongo were expecting their first child, "Catfish" star Nev Schulman confirmed he's also engaged. On Monday, Schulman, 31, shared a selfie lounging about as Perlongo flashed her sparkler adding the caption, "We're engaged!!!" While a wedding date has yet to be announced, the duo is likely focusing on another special day. Schulman shared on social media earlier this month that he and Perlongo will welcome a daughter in the near future. "IT'S A GIRL," Schulman exclaimed in the snap. "No words can capture the excitement and joy I feel about becoming a father. I am so in love with you @el_peego and thank you for giving me this incredible gift. You inspire and excite me every day." (Page Six)

Attention Ladies: Shawn Mendes Is Totally Single and Just Revealed His Dating Deal Breakers. Public service announcement: We now know what Shawn Mendes is looking for in a potential girlfriend. Before performing to a packed house at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, the "Stitches" singer stopped by Live From the Red Carpet where he didn't hesitate to share his relationship status. "Do you have a girlfriend?" E! News' Jason Kennedy asked. "No girlfriend," Shawn shared. "But there's probably a couple out there that I could find." Outside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, dozens of fans were on-hand cheering for the YouTube star as he walked the pink carpet. So, what is the 17-year-old interested in when it comes to potential leading ladies? During a game of "dating deal breakers," Shawn admitted he's totally down to date an actress. If the girl is a fan of bathroom selfies, Harry Potter and salads, it wouldn't send the singer running either. Are you taking notes ladies? But perhaps the biggest -- and most intriguing question -- involves the power of a good kiss. Would Shawn be down for a lady with "fish lips?" "You threw that down like you were about to kiss me," Shawn joked to E! News. "I'm definitely not okay with fish lips so please stay away from the fish lips." (Eonline) m*It's not all glitz and glam. Elijah Wood, who kicked off his acting career at age 8, spoke out against child abuse in Hollywood and the film industry in a new interview. The Lord of the Rings star, 35, opened up to the Times on Sunday, May 22, to discuss the dangers that he claims are kept under wraps by powerful Hollywood execs. "There are a lot of vipers in this industry, people who only have their own interests in mind," Wood said before comparing the alleged abuse in Hollywood to that of the Jimmy Savile scandal in the U.K. Since the BBC star's death in 2011, hundreds of people have come forward accusing him of sexual abuse; many were children at the time. "You all grew up with Savile -- Jesus, it must have been devastating," Wood told the Sunday Times. "Clearly something major was going on in Hollywood. It was all organized." Wood, who made his film debut in Back to the Future Part II in 1989, noted that his mother protected him from any potential abuse when he was a child star, banning him from attending "the type of parties where such incidents occurred," according to the Times. "She was far more concerned with raising me to be a good human than facilitating my career," he explained. "If you're innocent, you have very little knowledge of the world and you want to succeed. People with parasitic interests will see you as their prey." He added, "There is a darkness in the underbelly -- if you can imagine it, it's probably happened." (US Weekly)

Do we hear wedding bells? Days after revealing he and girlfriend Laura Perlongo were expecting their first child, "Catfish" star Nev Schulman confirmed he's also engaged. On Monday, Schulman, 31, shared a selfie lounging about as Perlongo flashed her sparkler adding the caption, "We're engaged!!!" While a wedding date has yet to be announced, the duo is likely focusing on another special day. Schulman shared on social media earlier this month that he and Perlongo will welcome a daughter in the near future. "IT'S A GIRL," Schulman exclaimed in the snap. "No words can capture the excitement and joy I feel about becoming a father. I am so in love with you @el_peego and thank you for giving me this incredible gift. You inspire and excite me every day." (Page Six)

It's not all glitz and glam. Elijah Wood, who kicked off his acting career at age 8, spoke out against child abuse in Hollywood and the film industry in a new interview. The Lord of the Rings star, 35, opened up to the Times on Sunday, May 22, to discuss the dangers that he claims are kept under wraps by powerful Hollywood execs. "There are a lot of vipers in this industry, people who only have their own interests in mind," Wood said before comparing the alleged abuse in Hollywood to that of the Jimmy Savile scandal in the U.K. Since the BBC star's death in 2011, hundreds of people have come forward accusing him of sexual abuse; many were children at the time. "You all grew up with Savile -- Jesus, it must have been devastating," Wood told the Sunday Times. "Clearly something major was going on in Hollywood. It was all organized." Wood, who made his film debut in Back to the Future Part II in 1989, noted that his mother protected him from any potential abuse when he was a child star, banning him from attending "the type of parties where such incidents occurred," according to the Times. "She was far more concerned with raising me to be a good human than facilitating my career," he explained. "If you're innocent, you have very little knowledge of the world and you want to succeed. People with parasitic interests will see you as their prey." He added, "There is a darkness in the underbelly -- if you can imagine it, it's probably happened." (US Weekly)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton definitely aren't shy about showing off their relationship on social media. Stefani shared several adorable photos with her man while in Las Vegas for the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night. In the first photo, Stefani wrapped her arm around Shelton's shoulder as they smiled for a close-up shot. Another shot showed Stefani laughing while Shelton kept her close. The couple gave a passionate performance of their song "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" at the awards show, locking eyes with each other throughout the entire duet before embracing at the end. "I'm excited because this is a song Gwen and I feel so close to for obvious reasons," Shelton, 39, told PEOPLE after the pair performed the song live on The Voice. "It's as brutally honest and straightforward as you can be in a love song." Shelton and Stefani, 46,-who have been dating since late last year– co-wrote the song about getting over their trust issues following both of their divorces earlier in 2015. Shelton explains, "We were getting over it, but we wrote this song about it, and it's perfect." (People)

Maternity style at its best! Audrina Patridge is all baby bump these days. The pregnant Hills alum showed off her growing belly in several colorful outfits via Instagram over the weekend. First up, the 31-year-old tried on a snug American Apparel dress in three different colors. "Black.... Red.....or nude?... #americanapparell?" she asked her followers. In the photo collage, Patridge struck a pose in the dressing room, later revealing that she purchased the nude one to wear to a friend's baby shower. "Stick it out @theamyclarke," she captioned a photo of their dueling baby bumps in a second snap. "haha #babyshowerfun." Patridge exclusively confirmed to Us Weekly in December that she and her fiance, Corey Bohan, were expecting their first child together -- a baby girl. "Corey can't wait to teach her how to surf!" Patridge told Us in March. "We are so excited to meet her. She already has a personality, kicking around in my belly." As previously reported, Patridge and her fellow Hills costars recently celebrated the MTV show's 10th anniversary. "You can't have a real relationship on that show," she told Us exclusively. "The Hills, any real relationship you'd bring on or try to have, it would get ruined.... I think if social media was a thing, The Hills would never be what it was." (US Weekly)

"Teen Mom" OG star Gary Shirley is set for a great Father's Day ... he's keeping primary physical custody of his daughter with Amber Portwood ... and mama's paying child support. Gary and Amber have been locked in a custody war for years over 7-year-old Leah. Amber lost primary custody in 2011 and then went to prison for drug possession the following year. Amber says late last year they agreed to joint legal custody with primary physical custody going to Gary. They have since been fighting over child support. The parents were in an Indiana court last week and struck a settlement. Gary will retain primary physical custody. As for child support ... Amber has to fork over $1,200 per month. They both say they can put their beef behind them and properly co-parent their kid. (TMZ)

Music

Celine Dion Is Moved to Tears When Her Son Rene Charles Surprises Her at Billboard Music Awards 2016. Celine Dion is demonstrating the power of love once again. During her appearance at Sunday's 2016 Billboard Music Awards, the proud mother-of-three took to the stage to accept the Billboard Icon Award. As the entire T-Mobile Arena delivered a standing ovation, the Las Vegas performer couldn't help but get emotional when accepting the award -- that has been gifted to just four musicians including Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Lopez and Prince -- from her 15-year-old son Rene-Charles Angelil. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for crying. I want to be so strong for my family and my kids. And I didn't expect that. I'm so sorry," she shared to a supportive audience. "I don't want to cry in front of you. You make me so happy. Thank you." Celine continued, "I want to thank the fans for traveling through music with me in good and bad times...All the people who believed in me. My family. My mom who wrote my first song, my children, Rene Charles. And most importantly, my beloved husband whom I know will continue to watch over me from up above." If her speech wasn't enough to impress fans, the 48-year-old also took to the stage to perform Queen's "The Show Must Go On" with Lindsey Stirling. "During rehearsals, I was kind of looking behind me like she's really there. She's singing right now. It's very surreal," Lindsey shared with E! News on Live From the Red Carpet. "It's such a special night for her. And I feel so honored I get to be a piece of it." The evening marked the singer's first performance on live television since her husband Rene Angelil passed away in January after a long battle with cancer. The couple met when Celine was just 12 years old. They went on to marry in 1999. "You know what, I'm 48 years old and I lost the love of my life. I miss him a lot from when he was great but not when he was suffering," she candidly said to People in this week's issue. "I cannot be selfish. You have to let people go. I feel at peace." She added, "I really, really want to prove to my kids their mother is strong. He left me with all of his strength. Every day we live with him, just not physically. I'm thankful that he does not suffer anymore... Rene always insisted the show must go on." (Eonline)

Madonna and Stevie Wonder Pay Tribute to Prince in Powerful Billboard Music Awards Performance. The power of Prince was felt by all in and around Las Vegas Sunday night. During the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, Madonna was given the honor of paying tribute to the legendary singer just one month after his death. Let's just say the performance was must-see. After an introduction from Questlove, the "Material Girl" singer appeared on stage in a luxurious purple chair to sing "Nothing Compares to You." While wearing head-to-toe purple, Madonna also surprised fans when Stevie Wonder joined in for a collaboration of "Purple Rain." Throughout the tribute, images of Prince from multiple decades appeared on the big screen as the orchestra played some of the singer's most iconic sounds. "Thank you, Stevie," Madonna shared before exiting the stage. "And most of all, most of all, thank you, Prince Rogers Nelson, for all that you have given us. Thank you, good night." Sunday night's performance comes after the telecast received some criticism from viewers who questioned why Madonna was given the opportunity to honor the "Little Red Corvette" singer. Ultimately, the show's executive producer stood by the decision and promised fans that the moment would be "respectful" to Prince's legacy. "Listen, I think everybody is entitled to their opinion and everyone can have their opinion," Mark Bracco said in a statement to Billboard. "But I will say that we are honored and could not be more excited for Madonna to be on the show and to pay tribute to someone that was her friend and her peer and her colleague." He continued, "It's going to be very, very intimate and very respectful, and I think it's something that is really going to pay tribute to Prince as the incredible, ground-breaking artist that he was and the influence that he had on music." Back in the '80s, Madonna and Prince collaborated on the song "Love Song" featured on the album Like a Prayer. They remained friends after making the hit. Prince passed away in his Minnesota home on April 21 at the age of 57. Since then, artists including The Voice coaches, Beyonce, Mariah Carey and the cast of Hamilton have also paid tribute on different stages. (Eonline)

Adele Premieres "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" Music Video at Billboard Music Awards 2016. Adele, you didn't have to be so generous tonight! While the biggest names in music are receiving wonderful gifts in the form of Billboard Music Awards Sunday evening, the "Hello" singer decided to turn the tables and present a special treat to her fans around the world. After Adele won the award for Top Billboard 200 Album, viewers got to see the official music video for "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)." "Send my love to your new lover/Treat her better/We've gotta let go of all of our ghosts," Adele sang in the third single off her album 25. "We both know we ain't kids no more/Send my love to your new lover/Treat her better." The video was shot in London and directed by Patrick Daughters who previously worked with talented musicians including Kings Of Leon, Snow Patrol, KT Tunstall and Beck. And while the singer wasn't able to introduce the music video in person Sunday evening, she had a pretty good excuse. The proud mom is currently in the midst of a sold-out tour in Europe, which ultimately wraps June 15. Adele will then kick off the North American portion of her tour in Minneapolis on July 5. Word to the wise: If you haven't obtained your tickets already, good luck finding any. For those fortunate enough to receive a seat for the highly anticipated tour, chances are you're in for plenty of surprises. Whether twerking for lucky fans or helping audience members get engaged, Adele knows how to make every show memorable for all the right reasons. She is Adele, after all. For all things Billboard Music Awards, tune in Monday for Live From E! at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT, plus watch E! News at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. and watch Fashion Police: The Billboard Music Awards at 8 p.m. (Eonline)

Kesha Delivers Emotional Performance at 2016 Billboard Music Awards, Receives Standing Ovation. Kesha's performance at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards was not to be missed. As a tribute to Bob Dylan, the 29-year-old songstress sang an emotional cover of "It Ain't Me, Babe." Accompanied by a violinist and pianist, Kesha's voice was strong and she hit every note. Kesha's performance went over well with the audience, who gave her a standing ovation. An eyewitness tells E! News Kesha seemed a bit taken aback by the long, loud standing ovation she received. She turned in a circle to take it all in, then once they wrapped up she ran up to her pianist and gave him a huge hug. She also hugged her violinist before walking off stage, then smiled and waved at fans as she made her way backstage. Prior to Kesha's performance, she leaned over her piano to watch the premiere of Adele's music video "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)," notes an eyewitness. For a while, it looked as if Kesha's performance at tonight's show wasn't going to happen. This past Tuesday, Dr. Luke's label Kemosabe Records rescinded its approval allowing her to take the stage, but on Thursday the approval was restored. In an official comment obtained by E! News, Kemosabe Records stated, "Kesha's performance on the Billboard Music Awards was always approved, in good faith. Approval was only suspended when Kemosabe learned Kesha was to use the performance as a platform to discuss the litigation. Now that Kemosabe has obtained assurances, that it is relying upon, from Kesha, her representatives and Dick Clark Productions that neither Kesha nor her supporters will use the performance as such a platform, the approval has been restored." (Eonline)

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's Billboard Music Awards Duet Was Just as Romantic as You Thought It Would Be. What's better than one talented singer performing in Las Vegas? How about two who just so happen to be boyfriend and girlfriend. At Sunday's 2016 Billboard Music Awards, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton came together to perform their brand-new duet "Go Ahead and Break My Heart." To nobody's surprise, the pair looked absolutely in love as they sang the romantic tune inside the T-Mobile Arena. And yes, they ended their song with a sweet hug. Once cameras stopped rolling, an eyewitness told E! News that Blake grabbed Gwen's hand as they relaxed and took their gear off on the stage. "They looked very in love during the song and after," our eyewitness said. "And when Blake grabbed her hand, it was like he was very proud to be up there with Gwen. He looked at her like he is crazy about her." Earlier this month, the Hollywood couple took center stage on The Voice where they performed the song from Blake's latest album for the first time. Ever since, both parties can't stop gushing about how much the song means to them. "This is one of my favorite songs I've ever written or recorded," Blake said when the performance was announced. "It came from a time and place when Gwen and I were beginning our journey together and both experiencing a hard time letting our guards down with each other." He added, "The song couldn't possibly be more honest. I'm honored to have written and to perform this song with the great Gwen Stefani. Respect." As for the lead singer of No Doubt, she can't believe life's twists and turns led her to recording a duet with Blake. "Yeah, it feels like, 'Wow, that happened.' I can't believe I wrote a song with that guy." Gwen recently shared with E! News at 102.7 KIISFM's Wango Tango. "And then we got a chance to sing it together on The Voice. Like...and everyone got to see that. It was a miracle. It was incredible." "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" is featured on Blake's new album If I'm Honest in stores now. (Eonline)

Why Madonna's Prince Tribute Never Stood a Chance. How do you pay proper homage in seven to 10 minutes to a prolific artist who fit in no one box, had a style all his own, who churned out music for almost 40 years and had a larger-than-life presence onstage? Well, most likely you don't, because no one's been able to do it yet. Obviously, no one had any issues in the disconsolate days immediately following Prince's death with Coachella being awash in purple light, every artist from Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen to Little Big Town covering Prince in concert, or radio stations playing selections from his vast catalogue 24/7. The vibe was the more the merrier, albeit with little actual merriment because of all the sadness. But last night, the first spotlighted, super-hyped awards show tribute dedicated to the inimitable artist was met with almost nothing but eye-rolls from the Internet. Even BET, host of the next awards show that's going to attempt to climb that same mountain, joined the chorus of virtual boos, ensuring that its tribute is going to give the fans what they need. But maybe first we all accept the fact that there's no way that a dedicated Prince tribute is going to satisfy everybody. So far it's only been the unexpected moments, such as Chris Stapleton gutting his audience with a cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U" last month or D'Angelo and "Princess" (aka Maya Rudolph) doing "Sometimes It Snows in April" on The Tonight Show, that have won rave reviews. It's not that Madonna, who is the definition of Prince's contemporary, was saddled with the wrong song, sang it flatly or gave a low-energy performance (all offenses she has been accused of) at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. In case those tweeting from home failed to notice, the live audience was happily lost in the moment, the likes of Rihanna singing adoringly along. Then when Stevie Wonder walked out for "Purple Rain," forget about it. (A must-quote from the Los Angeles Times' Mikael Wood today: "Wonder on autopilot equals basically every other artist in total concentration.") But though it seemed like a powerful moment in real time, Madonna's performance has been widely panned. The biggest complaint (other than the lament that Madonna was there in the first place) is that the song choice was wrong. ALL WRONG! Prince was a high-energy performer, he has countless hits that he made famous, where were Sheila E. and members of his band, etc. Ironically, that's the exact opposite of the biggest complaint leveled at Lady Gaga's tribute to David Bowie at the Grammys in February. That homage was accused of being too hectic, too all over the place. Bowie had so many thought-provoking songs that deserve lingering over, why cram nine or 10 into a few minutes that don't truly showcase his artistry? Funny how that works. Lady Gaga is easily one of Bowie's most successful artistic disciples and couldn't be a bigger fan. Yet she got slammed too for supposedly not doing the Starman justice. But just as Madonna was last night, Gaga was tasked with the impossible. Prince was so much like Bowie in the respect that he meant so many different things to people -- and he made so much music, in the end there was something for everyone. Your go-to Prince song may not even be on another Prince fan's radar. You may prefer his 1980s output, or you could think that he hit his stride post-Warner Bros. Purple Rain could be your favorite movie, or you've never seen it but the title song still makes you weep. These schisms do happen. But that's the reason why there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all tribute to someone like Prince or Bowie. They could be relied on to be brilliantly unpredictable, so while they could be considered crowd-pleasers, not every crowd showed up for the same reasons. As Questlove, who introduced the performance last night, remarked as part of a series of tweets defending the nature of what Madonna and Stevie Wonder put out there: "Every Prince rendition will not be a life-changing orgasmic xperience. Just to SING his work is brave enough. "EVERYBODY wants and deserves a chance to say goodbye in their own way. But remember: there will be AMAs, SoulTrain, NAACP, mtv, GRAMMYS. And a gazillion other tributes. But the point is let's not get ugly w playing the 'Prince would and wouldn't approve' game. & this isn't *just about* the Madge/Stevie tribute btw." Madonna, who's so generally revered and yet people seem to take such great pleasure in reviling her when the mood strikes, was forced to point out the obvious on Instagram as well. "Anyone who wants to do a tribute to Prince is welcome to. Whatever your age Gender or skin Color. If you loved him and he inspired you then show it!!!! I love Prince 4 ever," she offered Monday after finding out she didn't nail it in the eyes of the critics at home, who, if it had been up to them, would have produced the perfect Prince tribute. (Eonline)

When she first darkened her 'do, Meghan Trainor told PEOPLE her fans no longer recognized her. But it turns out the singer's "new" look -- which in recent months has included an edgier wardrobe, including plenty of fully sequin sheaths like the two she sported at the Billboard Music Awards Sunday night -- has actually always been much more her style. "This is how I always have dressed and who I always have been," she tells PEOPLE exclusively. "But when 'All About That Bass' came out, [I thought] this is just a character I play. [But] no, they had me in '50s clothes forever and I went with it and it worked." The "No" singer is getting back in tune with who she really is though, and is sporting "clothes that I am comfortable in," she says. "I didn't have to put Spanx on today. That's huge!" One staple in her closet is a good onesie for her days off. "When we're home in L.A., we like to sleep in, put a onesie on, go to the couch and stay there all day and watch movies and not leave unless I have to pee or eat," she says about her ideal vacation day. (People)

Family matters! Britney Spears' family came out to support her for her big performance at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, May 22. The "Pretty Girls" singer's younger sibling, Jamie Lynn, attended the show with daughter Maddie, 7, and husband Jamie Watson, while the Spears sisters' mom, Lynne, sat in the audience to watch her superstar daughter slay. Before they took their seats, an eyewitness tells Us Weekly that the Grammy winner's family was hanging out backstage before she wowed the crowd. "They all seemed to be in a very mellow mood," the onlooker tells Us. "Serious looks on their faces." Spears, 34, opened the ceremony with an electrifying medley of her greatest hits, as well as a few deep cuts from her 2003 album, In the Zone. The pop diva, who looked hotter than ever in several skin-baring costumes by Mark Zunino, treated the star-studded audience to nearly eight minutes of entertainment, which included epic throwback moments (the dance breakdown from "I'm a Slave 4 U!") and stunning theatrics. Not only did Spears set the bar high for the rest of the night, she received the prestigious Millennium Award, an honor that has previously been given to artists such as Beyonce and the late Whitney Houston. Her ninth studio album is expected to drop this summer, following the release of her upcoming single "Make Me." (US Weekly)

Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs ruffled feathers when he excluded some of his own label's bands from the Bad Boy Reunion Tour. Of course ... Mase, Busta Rhymes, Faith Evans and 112 will all be hitting the stage. However, Da Band, B5, Day 26 and Diddy Dirty Money will all be at home -- or, at best, in the audience -- and there are some hurt feelings. B5's Dustin Michael tells TMZ ... "We just felt like our relationship [with Diddy] was better than that." Da Band's Sara Stokes thinks they earned a spot because, "We made history with Diddy on 'Making the Band' and pretty much opened the doors for all the other reality shows." Most of the Bad Boy alums we talked to, including Babs from Da Band, say they'll still go to the concert. As for whether Diddy comps their tickets -- the phone's not ringing. Yet. (TMZ)

Girl group Dream is reuniting for a tour, but all the bottles they'll be popping on the road have nipples. The late '90s/early 2000s pop band is joining 98 Degrees and Ryan Cabrera for the MY2K Tour, and the ladies will be on full mommy duty based on their rider ... which looks like a Baby Depot shopping list. Their backstage demands include size 3 diapers (preferably from Honest Co.), alcohol-free baby wipes, and Plum or Earth's Best brand organic baby food. Members Holly Blake-Arnstein and Melissa Schuman have 3 kids between them. Interestingly, there's no request for nannies. We see an OT opportunity for Drew and Nick Lachey! (TMZ)

Lady Gaga appears to be making progress on her next album. And don't be surprised if the final product features guest turns from some highly-prized music makers. Gaga teased the release of a new studio album in 2016 while chatting to reporters backstage at this year's Golden Globe Awards, where she collected the trophy for best actress in a miniseries or TV movie. "You know, I am putting out an album this year. I won't tell you when," Gaga said at the time. She's shared little else since, though a new photo doing the rounds hints at a collaboration with Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker, award-winning producer Mark Ronson and BloodPop (aka Blood Diamonds), the L.A.-based producer who has worked with Justin Bieber and Grimes. Ronson on Sunday posted a picture of Gaga and Parker in the studio along with the simple caption, "Illusion." BloodPop has been identified as the third figure in the Instagram snap. Ronson and Parker have a good thing going. Parker laid vocals for Ronson's Uptown Special album tracks "Summer Breaking" and "Daffodils," the videos for which are rolled into a double-barrel clip shot by Theo Wenner. Ronson posted a separate photo on the weekend of Parker recording drums in a studio. Gaga's as-yet-untitled album studio album will be her first since the Tony Bennett collab Cheek to Cheek from September 2014, and her first set of original recordings since 2013's Artpop, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. (Billboard)

Britney Spears Slayed the Entire World at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards and We Will Never Be the Same. Does anyone else need a cigarette? If so, it's probably because you just watched Britney Spears perform a medley of her on the 2016 Billboard Music Awards and are emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually SPENT. The one true princess of pop took the stage in a red hot outfit and top hat to kick off the awards show and started us off with "Work Bitch." And before we even had time to recover from her entrance, she did this: Shall we remind you that Britney Spears is 34 with 2 kids? Look at that body! Then she launched into "Womanizer" and we knew we were not going to survive this performance. In her sexy, glittery ensemble, Brit slayed hits like "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," "Breathe on Me" and the underrated, sexy-as-hell "Touch of My Hand." But it's when she launched into "Slave 4 U" that we about lost our mind, because she busted out the old moves and it was like we were transported back to 2001. Britney wrapped up her slay-fest with the iconic "Toxic," and before we even fully realized that we were witnessing a true miracle, it was over. Did you want another look at Britney's flawless figure? Here you go: Bless you, Britney. Bless you for descending from up above to mingle with us commoners for a couple of minutes. We are all better human beings for witnessing that magic. It's no wonder you are receiving the Billboard Millennium Award Sunday night. (Eonline)

Demi Lovato Shows Support for Gender-Inclusive Bathrooms During 2016 Billboard Music Awards Performance. Demi Lovato gave one incredible performance tonight at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, and she also made a statement with her wardrobe. The "Cool for the Summer" singer wore a shirt with the symbol of a gender-neutral bathroom across her chest. This show of support for the LGBTQ community comes just after she and Nick Jonas canceled shows in North Carolina in protest of the state's anti-LGBT legislation. "After much thought and deliberation, we have decided to cancel our Honda Civic Tour: Future Now shows in Raleigh and Charlotte," Demi and Nick said in a joint statement. "One of our goals for the tour has always been to create an atmosphere where every single attendee feels equal, included, and accepted for who they are." "North Carolina's discriminatory HB2 law is extremely disappointing, and it takes away some of the LGBT community's most basic rights and protections," they continued. "But we will not allow this to stop us from continuing to make progress for equality and acceptance." (Eonline)

Drake, Keith Urban Continue to Rule Australia's Charts. Drake's "One Dance" (Republic/Universal) is the best-selling song on the ARIA Singles Chart for a third week while Keith Urban's Riptide (Capitol/EMI) enters a second week at No. 1 on the national albums chart. Drake's gold-certified hit is joined in the top 40 by the Canadian rapper's new recording with Rihanna, "Too Good," which opens at No. 38 on the singles survey. Calvin Harris Feat. Rihanna's "This Is What You Came For" (Columbia/Sony) holds at No. 2 while Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling!" (RCA/Sony) rises 4-3 and becomes the pop star's sixth top three single and first since "What Goes Around...Comes Around" reached No. 3 in March 2007. The Chainsmokers Feat. Daya's platinum-certified "Don't Let Me Down" (Columbia/Sony) improves 5-4 this week. After placing second in last weekend's Eurovision Song Contest, Dami Im enjoys the week's highest debut with "Sound Of Silence" (Sony), which is new at No. 5. It's her second stint inside the top 10 following the reality TV star's chart-topping success with "Alive" from November 2013. In other notable moves, Swedish duo Galantis score their third top ten on the singles chart with "No Money" (Atlantic/Warner), which rises 11-6, while Desiigner lands his first top ten with "Panda" (Def Jam/Universal), which improves 15-10 in its sixth week. Urban's Riptide (Capitol/EMI) becomes the first of his three No. 1 albums to spend more than one week at the chart summit. A track from the album, "The Fighter" featuring Carrie Underwood, opens at No. 30 on the latest singles chart. Beyonce's Lemonade (Columbia/Sony) improves 3-2, while Meghan Trainor has the week's highest debuting album with Thank You (Epic/Sony), which starts at No. 3. It's the follow-up to 2015's Title, which peaked at No. 1 and this week rises 38-18. A pair of homegrown recordings complete the top five: The Living End's Shift (Dew Process/Universal) at No. 4 and Paul Dempsey's Strange Loop (EMI) at No. 5. (Billboard)

STEVEN TYLER, JEFF KOONS CELEBRATE TONY BENNETT AT POWER OF LOVE GALA. The jazz legend was the guest of honor at Keep Memory Alive's 20th annual charity gala in Las Vegas. Singer Tony Bennett got an early present in advance of his 90th birthday. Luminaries from the music and art worlds such as Andra Day, Darius Rucker, Herbie Hancock, James Corden, Jeff Koons, Dale Chihuly and Peter Tunney converged on May 21 to celebrate the icon at Keep Memory Alive's 20th annual Power of Love gala at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The charitable event of the year in Las Vegas, Power of Love benefits Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, founded by Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada's Larry Ruvo, and dedicated to fighting diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases, multiple sclerosis and multiple system atrophy. The night started with a flawless version of "Steppin' Out With My Baby" by Andra Day, who says that as a jazz singer, Bennett has influenced her tremendously. "Tony is the epitome of Jazz charisma, his timing, his phrasing, where he places words, how he delivers a song, he has helped me to approach vocal delivery in a nontraditional way," Day says. When asked about her thoughts on other performer's non-traditional styles, she was quick to gush with admiration about Beyonce. "I thought Lemonade was great," Day says. "If it is true, good for her to liberate herself and get it off her chest. As an artist, you have a truth to tell and you don't want to deliver it the traditional pop route. I look at it as Beyonce's opus and I think she did amazing work. And if it's not true, it is a brilliantly crafted story and still extremely creative. She does it flawlessly." After Day's musical appetizer, the first auction item of the night was presented by Jeff Koons, who gave away a trip for 10 to his New York studio, followed by dinner with the artist himself. The package went for close to $300,000. "I've met Tony Bennett over the years and I worked on projects with Lady Gaga so there's been a connection there," Koons says. "I always appreciated him as a singer and as an artist." Recently Koons' famous friends, Gaga included, have been touting his new Live Case, an interactive smartphone accessory that triggers a wallpaper of the New York City ballet performing scenes from Swan Lake using Gazing Ball, a blue spherical shape featured in many of his works. Gazing Ball Ballet is his first-ever live-action video artwork. It has garnered buzz on social media with Bono, Pharrell, Miley Cyrus and the Lady herself, all posing with a large shiny object as part of the Gazing Ball Tour. The world's top selling artist is now selling $40 phone cases and he couldn't be happier about it. "I've been friends with some of the leaders of Google -- Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen -- so we always talked about doing projects together and then someone from Google called and asked if would I be interested in a creating one of the Live Cases. I saw what Skrillex had done [it] and I thought this would be wonderful," Koons says. "I wanted to make wallpaper that was animated and if you push a button it will tell you where all the museums are around you. I was really so impressed with Google. The power of the search engine -- the knowledge you have at your fingertips. I have always had such admiration for the company and they are constantly going in new directions." It's just another step in his commitment of making works for the people. Koons' Popeye is on display to the public nearby at Wynn Las Vegas. He says he is continually invigorated by how much it resonates with spectators. "I saw Popeye this morning, if you go on social media and Instagram people take selfies with him all the time and it's wonderful that the public can come in to contact with work. I am thrilled it is here," he says. During the 5-hour event, Minnie Driver paid tribute to Tony Bennett's visual art career, as he has three paintings in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution. To close out the night guest were treated to a concert kicked off by James Corden, who sang "Don't Get Around Much More." "I'm not entirely sure why I have been asked to do this," Corden says. "It's a decision I may be regretting right now because when someone says, 'Do you want to come and sing and Tony Bennett's going to be there?' you say, 'Great' and now you are here and you think this is a terrible decision." Performances followed by Darius Rucker, Steven Tyler, Herbie Hancock, among others, and Bennett. At the end, the entire cast sang "Happy Birthday." Chefs Mario Carbone, Nobu Matsuhisa and Wolfgang Puck prepared an elaborate 3-course dinner, which finished with a chocolate replica of the Frank Gehry-designed Cleveland Clinic building. (Hollywood Reporter)

Not to everyone's taste! Madonna turned the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas purple on Sunday, May 22, when she paid tribute to the late musical legend Prince with a dramatic performance that included a surprise appearance from Stevie Wonder at the Billboard Music Awards. But while many fans were overwhelmed by the Material Girl's rendition of "Nothing Compares 2 U" and her show closer with Wonder, "Purple Rain," there was a whole heap of shade being thrown in the Twitterverse, and BET was one of the first to react. The choice to allow Madonna the honor of paying tribute to the musical great had already been questioned prior to the show's airing. An online petition at Change.org was signed by more than 8,000 people, who claimed Prince was "more than worthy of a better choice as a main performer." And, sharing a teaser to their upcoming Prince tribute right after Madonna's performance aired, the network stoked the fire of disapproval with their tweet: "Yeah, we saw that. Don't worry. We Got You." Questlove (who introduced Madonna to the stage for her tribute performance) took to Twitter right away to defend her. "Because of P's well known love for the *poof* vanishing act. A lot of us are left feeling incomplete in the act of saying goodbye," he wrote. "For starters it's hard to accept him no longer being here. & in the upcoming award season for '17 there will be a gang of tributes. Naturally there will be folded arms & shade thrown because the Purple Standard is hard boots to fill & a lot of us don't wanna come 2 grips w the fact that Prince-(an on the surface) face of health & invincible agelessness-succomb [sic] to something so... friggin basic," he went on. "So I know there is gonna be A LOT of 'feel a certain ways' about who you want to see do his music justice-but you gotta put that aside y'all," he added. "Every Prince rendition will not be a life changing orgasmic xperience. Just to SING his work is brave enough. Again feeling are on high, and EVERYBODY wants and deserves a chance to say goodbye in their own way. But remember: there will be AMAs, SoulTrain, NAACP, mtv, GRAMMYS, and a gazillion other tributes. But the point is let's not get ugly with playing the 'Prince would and wouldn't approve' game." Fans in the auditorium were evidently impressed by Madonna's heartfelt performance, but it turned out that Questlove was right and, as anticipated, quite a number of viewers jumped on Twitter to express their disappointment. (US Weekly)

After the monumental success of her latest album 25, it's no secret Adele is one of the hottest music acts in the game. And now that the British crooner's deal with her label has expired, music labels are willing to pay big bucks to sign the global superstar! The Hello singer is reportedly about to say hi to a deal with Sony Music for $130 million! According to the Sun, a source from Sony said: "We've secured Adele, who's without doubt the biggest music star in a generation. This is massive." AH-Mazing! The deal would be the biggest deal in history for a British musician, topping the $115 million EMI shelled out to sign Robbie Williams in 2002. And by surpassing Whitney Houston's $100 million deal with Arista back in 2001, this also makes the biggest deal for a female artist in history! A spokesperson for Adele reportedly had no comment to make on the deal, but the Sony insider added: "Adele's deal with her original label, XL, expired and we'd an existing relationship with her in America. The deal is being worked on by our Columbia label in the US, but is worth [$130 million] and gives Sony the rights to release her future music exclusively around the world." That's a pretty insane price tag -- but we think Adele is totally worth it! (Perez Hilton)

This is gonna be all in our heads all day! Fifth Harmony gave one of the most upbeat performances at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, but they weren't about to clock out with just Work From Home. That's because the ladies had a surprise in store for fans after the show... their second single All In My Head (Flex)!!! Normani Kordei, Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane Hansen, Ally Brooke, and Camila Cabello teased the song on Instagram Saturday night, but finally debuted the LIVE performance Sunday thanks to a partnership with Xfinity. Not only is Flex the first chapter in the eventual DC3 story -- Normani, Lauren, and Dinah Jane's mini-group within 5H -- but this is actually the first song the girls ever wrote on their own! (Perez Hilton)

Joe Jonas Brags About "Long and Hot" Makeout Sessions With Ashley Graham in DNCE's "Toothbrush" Video. For those of you who got hot and bothered by watching model Ashley Graham kiss Joe Jonas of DNCE in the music video for "Toothbrush," you should know that the former Jonas Brother knows how lucky he was to be rolling around in bed with her. "We're doing cool stuff in bed. We had the beautiful Ashley Graham in the video. We just got to make out and roll around on each other all day," Joe reminisced to Jason Kennedy on the hot pink carpet at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. "It was a man's dream come true." By now, we've heard enough about how uncomfortable and weird those hot and heavy scenes can be for the actors, since those intimate moments are being done in front of a whole crew. But thankfully, Joe had the best kind of costar to make the moment go from awkward to sexy as hell. "She was cracking jokes right away and kind of broke the ice," Jonas said. "Those things are always kind of uncomfortable. You've got a full camera crew with you as you're lying in bed and trying to be intimate with someone so it's obviously awkward right away. But she was really fun with it and we kept each other laughing." They must have gotten real comfortable real quick because Jonas says there were moments where things kept going even after the cameras stopped rolling. "The first ten minutes, we were comfortable," he spilled. "The makeout scenes were really hot and long and I think they said cut a few times and we both were in our zone and we were like, 'whatever.'" If you haven't seen the extremely sexy video for DNCE's "Toothbrush," you really need to check it out. Especially now that you know Joe and Ashley had to "suffer" through long and hot kissing sessions between the sheets. (Eonline)

Movies

A beauty but a funny girl, that Belle! The first Beauty and the Beast teaser trailer is here, finally giving Disney fans a peek at Emma Watson in her role as Belle. While there's no yellow ballgown in sight, Watson does make a brief appearance at the end of the clip, peering at the fairy tale's iconic rose. The teaser shows the Beast's dilapidated mansion, and includes a brief voice-over conversation between Ewan McGregor as Lumiere and Ian McKellen as Cogsworth. "Look, a girl," remarks Lumiere, the candelabra. "Yes, I can see it's a girl you fool," Cogsworth, the clock, replies. "What if she is the one?" Lumiere retorts. The video ends with the text "Be our guest," calling to the iconic song from Disney's 1991 animated version. Beauty and the Beast also stars Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, Audra McDonald as Garderobe, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts and Josh Gad as Le Fou. The live-action version of Beauty and the Beast hits theaters on March 17. (People)

Philippe Dauman Files Lawsuit Challenging Removal from Sumner Redstone Trust. He asserts that Shari Redstone is manipulating her father. The fight over the future of Viacom is again escalating on Monday as chief executive Philippe Dauman and George Abrams have together filed a lawsuit challenging their removal from the Sumner Redstone National Amusements Trust. A complaint has been filed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate and Family Court and seeks a ruling to invalidate the changes announced on Friday night. Over the weekend, a spokesperson for Redstone said the removal of Dauman and Abrams was necessary given Viacom's performance and their intention to sell Viacom subsidiary Paramount Pictures. Dauman is expressing concern about the influence from Shari Redstone, and the new lawsuit will be the latest to probe the competency of media mogul Sumner Redstone, who will turn 93 years old later this month. "Shari Redstone is attempting to illegally hijack her father's well-established estate plan by removing professional managers and reportedly installing her daughter, an employee and a friend who are firmly under her control," said Dauman in a statement. "We all continue to have great respect and affection for Mr. Redstone, but he is clearly being manipulated by his daughter, Shari. After years of estrangement, she has inserted herself into his home, taken over his life, and isolated him from anyone not under her control, including long-time business colleagues. In fact, she has recently and repeatedly arranged to deny requests for Viacom Board members to meet with her father." Dauman and Abrams (a long-time Redstone attorney) have been ousted from the seven-member Trust that exerts its influence over National Amusements, which owns 80 percent of both Viacom and CBS' stock. National Amusements general counsel Tad Jankowski, family friend Jill Krutick and possibly Redstone granddaughter Kimberlee Ostheimer are being eyed as replacements. The three are seen as being much closer to Shari Redstone, who has been at odds with Dauman, and the latter is fighting back. According to the complaint filed in Massachusetts, Shari has been the "dissenting voice" in the Viacom board room, her press campaign "press campaign has included false and misleading statements regarding Viacom's performance," and when Viacom directors voted to replace Sumner Redstone as chairman in February, "Shari cast the lone vote against Mr. Dauman." The complaint follows on the heels of an unsuccessful petition by Sumner Redstone's long-time companion Manuela Herzer, who was thrown out of his home and attempted to reclaim her position as his healthcare agent. Back in November, Dauman said in a declaration that Redstone was "engaged and attentive," but now, his lawsuit states the elder Redstone "cannot initiate or participate in meaningful conversation, including discussions concerning his business or personal affairs. His ability to understand and assess the consequences of his actions is limited. Indeed, during the first week of March, Mr. Dauman visited Mr. Redstone and Mr. Redstone appeared almost totally non-responsive, and could not meaningfully communicate at all." The complaint also asserts that Redstone's moves to oust him from the Trust are being handled by "a lawyer with whom Mr. Redstone has never before been associated." Dauman puts the blame on Shari. "Her singular goal is to assume complete control of his businesses, despite Mr. Redstone's long-term desire for a professionally managed Trust and an independent Board of Directors," added Dauman in his statement. "Shari's actions amount to an unlawful corporate takeover, and if effectuated, could have far-reaching consequences for thousands of shareholders and employees of Viacom." This morning, Shari Redstone made her own statement. She remarked, "It is absurd for anyone to accuse Shari of manipulating her father or controlling what goes on in his household. Sumner makes his own decisions regarding whom he wants to see both in his home and elsewhere, and he has his own team of independent advisors to counsel him on corporate and other matters. As to the idea that Shari, an attorney and respected businesswoman, would 'unlawfully' use his name, that is utterly ridiculous." In launching the lawsuit, Abrams says, "For over 25 years Sumner has discussed his will and various Trusts with me and I was instrumental in setting up this Trust at the time of his divorce. He has impressed on me his wishes that the Trust be managed in a professional manner and that the children of the son and his daughter be treated fairly and equally despite some internal family conflicts. He also discussed at length with me his feelings about Viacom and CBS and the future of both companies. The changes purportedly being made would alter his previously and repeatedly expressed wishes. As a result of some of the information which has recently been received, I believe a court test on the question of undue influence is necessary." (Hollywood Reporter)

Cannes: A Fest of Few Lows, But Only One Real High. A sluggish Cannes competition closed on a triumphant note with Paul Verhoeven's brilliant dark comedy about a rape victim, while American entries ranged from strong (early Oscar contender Loving) to embarrassing (why, Sean Penn?) The Cannes Film Festival went out with a literal and figurative bang over the weekend in the form of Paul Verhoeven's sensationally good Elle, supplying those still left on the Croisette with the sort of thing they'd been missing for the previous ten days: a movie to get all worked up about. Filming with immaculate elegance and sharp wit, the 77-year-old Dutch director showed that he has not mellowed with age; if anything, he has sharpened his subversive edges in this story about a mature woman's complex reactions to being raped. It was, in retrospect, perhaps predictable that Elle proved too hot for the jury to touch (the movie went home emptyhanded). Verhoeven, who reliably got a rise out of audiences with the likes of Turkish Delight, The 4th Man, Robocop, Basic Instinct and, it must be mentioned, Showgirls, eats controversy for breakfast and will definitely find it in the United States, where he originally intended to make this film -- until he concluded that no American actress was likely to take the title role. Instead, he improved his French, set up the production in France and guided Isabelle Huppert to as fine a screen performance as she's ever given. What will upset many people about the film's approach is that it does not conform to the conventional notion that there is just one way to react to this extreme violation. For various reasons that involve her past experiences and current status, the response of Huppert's character is highly ambiguous. The arrival of this ultra-stylish and beautifully modulated film at the very end of the festival was quite a surprise, given that nothing had yet appeared that flipped everyone's switches to such an extent. To be sure, there had been outrage and plenty of it, but mostly over the preponderance of unworthy films, not their subject matter. Other than Elle, only two other competition features rang the bell for me, both father-daughter stories: Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's outstanding, metaphorical portrait of the complete moral rot of a society, Baccalaureat (Graduation), which revolves around a doctor who goes to unsettling lengths to secure his high-schooler daughter's future; and German director Maren Ade's third feature Toni Erdmann, the humorous, wonderfully nuanced look at a female German executive and her daddy trouble. The former won Mungiu a directing prize (shared with France's Olivier Assayas for his Kristen Stewart-starring ghost story, Personal Shopper), while the latter was entirely snubbed by the jury. The American entries were a mixed bag, with two tasty apples and two rotten ones. On the positive side were Jeff Nichols' appealingly measured and understated Loving, about a real-life couple's struggle to break Virginia's law against interracial marriage in the 1950s and 1960s, and Jim Jarmusch's modest and amusing Paterson, about a poetry-writing New Jersey bus driver (Adam Driver). But the less said the better about British director Andrea Arnold's first U.S.-set outing, the superficial and one-hour-overlong indulgence of teen behavior, American Honey (undeserving winner of the third-place Jury Prize) -- not to mention Sean Penn's sanctimonious pageant about aid workers in Africa, The Last Face. Danish by virtue of its director, Nicolas Winding Refn, but American in its L.A. setting and cast, The Neon Demon, starring Elle Fanning, is a gorgeous but completely ridiculous take on the vampiric nature of the fashion industry. Other films that hardly seemed worthy of inclusion in competition at the most prestigious festival in the world were French director Alain Guiraudie's lame portrait of a would-be screenwriter's descent into uselessness, Staying Vertical, and, especially, Canadian boy wonder Xavier Dolan's insufferable look at a toxic family, It's Only the End of the World (despite its great cast of beautiful French thespians). In a move almost unanimously deplored by critics, the jury gave Dolan its second-place Grand Prize. Better, but hardly pulse-quickening, were Romanian director Cristi Puiu's punishing close-up of family strife in Sieranevada; French filmmaker Bruno Dumont's highly stylized look at the class divide in northern France, circa 1910, in Slack Bay (Ma Loute); Ken Loach's somewhat effective but predictable portrait of contemporary working-class powerlessness in I, Daniel Blake (an underwhelming Palme d'Or winner); South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook's gorgeous and slow The Handmaiden (much discussed for its lesbian sex scenes); Nicole Garcia's slack soap opera From the Land of the Moon, which at least has Marion Cotillard; Pedro Almodovar's sharply made but unremarkable adaptation of three Alice Munro stories, Julieta; Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho's involving but undisciplined and overlong second feature, Aquarius, in which an excellent Sonia Braga plays a last hold-out in an old Recife apartment building; the Dardenne brothers' involving but uncharacteristically pat The Unknown Girl, about a young female doctor who gets caught up in the investigation of a missing woman; Filpino auteur Brillante Mendoza's Ma Rosa, about a Manila family's brush with drug dealing (leading lady Jaclyn Jose was a surprise best actress winner); and Iranian master Asghar Farhadi's latest, The Salesman, a drama of ultimately significant power that also is notably unlikeable (the film snagged both best screenplay and best actor for Shahab Hosseini, who plays a husband who unravels after his wife is attacked). One film in Cannes towered over all the rest: Bertrand Tavernier's exceptional three-hour documentary A Journey Through French Cinema, which screened in the Cannes Classics sidebar. Tavernier, a first-class French director since the 1970s, knows film history like few others, and here has created a survey that is deep, insightful, extremely entertaining and personal without being too personal. The documentary's structure is also notable in that rather than proceeding chronologically or by subject matter or any other normal principle, it zigzags from topic to topic -- 1930s and 1940s, directors to screenwriters, actors, other directors, composers, cinematographers and, ultimately, filmmakers Tavernier worked with or knew well, like Melville and Godard -- in a way that creates a great mosaic. Tavernier is planning to expand this into a ten-hour series. In the meantime, he has created one of the very greatest documentaries about the history of cinema. The top prizes for the main selection will be awarded Sunday night during the closing ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. (Hollywood Reporter)

Cannes: U.K. Industry Reacts to Ken Loach's Palme d'Or Win. BBC Films head Christine Langan calls it a "stunning tribute to one of our most humane filmmakers." A year after the British film industry bemoaned its absence from the Cannes film festival's official selection, one of its most celebrated directors scooped the festival's top prize. Again. Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake may not have been the critics' favorite (although it did receive a 15-minute standing ovation), but was awarded the Palme d'Or-his second-on Sunday night to rapturous applause from across the English Channel. Christine Langan, head of BBC Films, described the award as a "stunning tribute to one of our most humane filmmakers." "We're honored at BBC Films to have backed Ken and heartily congratulate him and his team on this most powerful and moving piece," she added. "I, Daniel Blake is a lesson in cinema connecting with modern life and ordinary people and we're thrilled that it's been recognized in this way." But it wasn't just Loach who caused U.K. cheers, with Andrea Arnold's American Honey, backed by the BFI and Film4, winning the jury prize, the third time the director has come away with the award. "American Honey is a passionate and brilliant odyssey that takes us into the hearts and minds of the young and disenfranchised in modern America," said Film4's head of creative, Rose Garnett. "Film4 is proud to have supported the project from its inception. Andrea is one of the great directors working today-and American Honey is a landmark film that places British talent at the center of the world cinema stage." Added Ben Roberts, director of the BFI Film Fund: "What a moment for British cinema, and for two important and humane films with so much to say. Bravo to Ken and to Andrea and their collaborators - including the unstoppable Robbie Ryan who shot both films. This is cinema from the heart, and we're grateful that we have an industry that can support such personal, powerful filmmaking." At the post-win press conference, Loach, who turns 80 next month, admitted that he was "quietly stunned" to have won the Cannes award with "the same little gang" from 2006's The Wind that Shakes the Barley, which earned him his first Palme d'Or. As for Loach's celebrations, it's unlikely the I, Daniel Blake team descended on Cannes' high-end bars and clubs with their prize. in 2006, the filmmaker chose to reward himself after the closing ceremony with a cup of tea. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Shonda Rhimes "Had a Different Plan" for Callie Before Sara Ramirez' Grey's Anatomy Exit. Feeling a little blindsided by Sara Ramirez's Grey's Anatomy exit? You're not alone. While addressing the audience at Vulture Festival in New York on Sunday, creator Shonda Rhimes revealed that she only learned that Ramirez wanted to leave the show about three days before the actress hinted at the end of her run in a cryptic tweet. "That's a wrap for Doctor #CallieTorres #Season13 #GreysAnatomy #ThankYou all for an enriching & unforgettable #Rollercoaster ride!" she tweeted on April 28. At the time, ABC would not confirm or comment on Ramirez' status on the show, but the news of her departure officially broke just after the season 12 finale, in which Arizona presented Callie with a new custody plan and tickets to New York. Originally, that scene was not going to be her exit scene. "[Callie's exit] was interesting," Rhimes said. "It was different because it wasn't a big, planned thing. I had a different plan going and when Sara came and said, 'I really need to take this break,' I was sort of lucky that we had shot the end of the season with her going to New York." "I felt really good that we had shot that ending and that she said she wanted to take this break and we were able to give it to her because I love the woman and I want to do everything for her," Rhimes added. "It all worked out in that sense." Ramirez joins Sandra Oh and Patrick Dempsey on the list of long-time Grey's Anatomy stars who have exited the series. "You never want to see anybody go -- you want them to be there forever," Rhimes said. "I find it fascinating that people are shocked that people are exiting. Think about this -- most shows go for four seasons? The number of dramas that have gone for four seasons is under 50, and we're heading into season 13. The idea that Sandra did it for 10 seasons and then was ready to go was amazing. I kept waiting. Season six, season seven, season eight, I was like, 'Sandra, are you good?' Because I know what that is for an actor. You grow and change and then you itch for something new...you have to be really respectful of that." As for Derek's death at the end of season 11, Rhimes marveled at the rumors surrounding Dempsey's exit. "For Patrick, people make such a nasty deal of that whole thing and I'm like, 'Why? I think people want a story on the outside that doesn't have to do with anything on the inside. That was a lot of seasons." As for when the show itself might end, Rhimes confirmed that Ellen Pompeo will make that decision. "Our pact is that we will go together. When she goes, I go." Hopefully, that's not for a while, because even after 12 seasons, we still can't get enough. Grey's Anatomy returns to ABC this fall. (Eonline)

Sophie Turner wants to see Sansa hook-up with her kid sister, Arya. Um, pardon? No one in the Game of Thrones universe has had worse luck in love than Sansa Stark. It seems if she's not being married off to the absolute worse person in the world, she's being brutally taken advantage of, or traded as some kind of pawn. Perhaps, eternal spinsterhood and eventually being eaten by your cat isn't looking half-bad, ey Sansa? Except Sophie Turner has recently spoken out, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, suggesting that her character should look for a girlfriend: "I think she's going to have to swing the other way - because the men thing isn't working for her." And we couldn't agree more, as the eldest daughter of the Stark House becomes more kick-ass, this could be the perfect way for Sansa to finally take control of her own destiny and love life. "Judging by Sansa's relationship with Margaery ... probably Margaery." Says Sophie. After all those characters got pretty cozy circa season three. However, the 21-year-old actress also proposed, through giggles, that she'd love to see a romantic scene between Sansa and her RL bessie, Masie Williams' character, Ayra. "Or [Sansa could get it on with] Arya - because I'd like to see that happen," That might be a little too debauched for us, but then this is Game of Thrones... bring it on? (British Glamour)

CW, Tribune Media Stations Extend Affiliation Deal, Chicago's WGN-TV to Become Indie. Meanwhile, the local Chicago CW affiliation will move to Fox Television Stations' WPWR-TV. The CW Network and Tribune Media on Monday unveiled new long-term affiliation agreements for 12 of Tribune's CW-affiliated TV stations. The markets renewed cover 25 percent of the U.S. and serve more than 28 million households, the companies said without providing financial details. The CW stations covered by the deal include WPIX-TV in New York, KTLA in Los Angeles, KDAF in Dallas, WDCW in Washington, DC, KIAH in Houston and WSFL-TV in Miami, among others. The companies said that the local Chicago CW affiliation will move to Fox Television Stations' WPWR-TV and that Tribune Media's WGN-TV in Chicago will become an independent station, featuring local news, live sports and syndicated programming in primetime, beginning in September. Arrow and The Flash are among the hit shows on The CW, owned by Time Warner and CBS Corp. "As The CW continues to build on its current ratings momentum and full schedule of high-quality programming, we are thrilled to continue our successful partnership with Tribune and their affiliated stations for many years to come," said Mark Pedowitz, president, The CW Network. "We are extremely pleased to continue our strong relationship with The CW Network," said Peter Liguori, Tribune Media's president and CEO. "The primetime entertainment programming offered by The CW drives a passionate and loyal audience to our stations and we are looking forward to a lot of success." (Hollywood Reporter)

Michael Lombardo on Leaving HBO, What He Will (and Won't) Do Next and 'Vinyl' Regrets. "I have a lot of relationships, there are people I'm excited to work with in different capacities in the future, and my intention is to do that for HBO," says the outgoing programming president It's such a tradition in Hollywood that it borders on cliche: A top executive comes to the end of his or her run and, in exchange for stepping down, is given an in-name-only producing deal that neither the executive nor his or her (former) employer expects will be fulfilled. Instead, the executive simply bides his or her time until a new position elsewhere becomes available -- hopefully. "I promise you that's the furthest thing from the truth," says Michael Lombardo, the HBO programming president who revealed Friday he will exit one of the most coveted jobs in television for, yes, a production deal with the network. Lombardo, who began his career with HBO 33 years ago as a business affairs lawyer and was elevated to the top programmer gig under CEO Richard Plepler nine years ago, insists he plans to pursue his creative passion as a producer with HBO. "Look, saying 'producer' is really a term for entrepreneurial," Lombardo tells The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. "Do I think I'm going to be driving all over the valley and west L.A. pitching a script? That's not my fantasy right now. [But] Richard has encouraged me to think big, and I'm going to do that." That means Lombardo isn't interested in an executive job at another network, he maintains. "This is full of hubris, but the thought of doing this anywhere else -- there's nothing about that that sounds particularly intoxicating. HBO is in my DNA. I've done this a long time, I have a lot of relationships, there are people I'm excited to work with in different capacities in the future, and my intention is to do that for HBO." Lombardo insists the decision to exit was his, and that he and Plepler discussed a transition months ago, after HBO cleaned up at the Emmys last fall (despite fierce competition from Netflix, Amazon and traditional rivals AMC, Showtime and FX, HBO won 43 trophies, more than all networks for the 14th year in a row). But despite the awards prowess and arguably cable's most-watched show in Game of Thrones, HBO has faced creative challenges in recent years, as chronicled in a February THR analysis. Vinyl, the network's $100 million music industry drama, failed to impress critics and generated tepid ratings, which led HBO to replace to showrunner Terence Winter for Season 2. The anticipated second season of crime anthology True Detective was massacred by the TV press and the future of the franchise is in doubt. In addition, high-profile projects in development have hit snags: Westworld, a pricey sci-fi drama from producer J.J. Abrams, has been delayed several times. A Lewis and Clark miniseries from Brad Pitt's production company was put back in development last summer after several weeks of filming. Expensive pilots from Steve McQueen and Jenji Kohan have been shelved. And two separate projects from David Fincher -- Videocyncracy and Utopia -- were shut down after production began. Drama chief Michael Ellenberg exited in January and his duties were subsumed by comedy chief Casey Bloys, who is presumed to be getting Lombardo's job now. The HBO issues are a potential headache for Time Warner because the network contributed 27 percent of the parent company's operating income in 2015. "Do I wish Vinyl was welcomed in a bigger way? Yes, I mean, come on, I put my heart into this stuff," says Lombardo. "Do I think with the team in place it has the chance of blowing people's minds? I do." He expresses regret at not being able to make the Fincher projects work, especially Utopia. "I really loved working with David, we just couldn't figure out the budgets," he says. "It was personally painful because I believed in his vision and I like him enormously." HBO, which hasn't launched a breakout hit drama since Game of Thrones in 2011, has been criticized for lavishing huge budgets on A-list name talent while developing hundreds of projects that have little chance of making it on the air. But Lombardo says he is enormously proud of HBO's original content, noting how the network was perceived as past its Sopranos-era prime when he took over in 2007, just as AMC and FX were the "pretty new girls in town." He does acknowledge the explosion in outlets -- both linear and streaming -- competing for high-end television product changed the way he approached his job. "It used to be if you didn't buy something, you didn't have to worry about someone else doing it and you going, 'Damn!' That's no longer true," he says, laughing. "But that's exciting, and it's gotten more people energized about being in the space." In fact, Lombardo, who began as a non-creative executive before eventually overseeing original series for both Cinemax and HBO, says the managerial aspects of the job were taking away from the creative parts he loved. And it's those parts he expects to pursue as a producer. "I never intended for this to happen, wasn't expecting it to happen, and I found myself all of a sudden the head of programming at this network I had been working at for many years," he says. "It's been a friggin' joy." (Hollywood Reporter)

TV Academy Names New Theatre After Dick and Noelle Wolf. The space, named after a gift from the prolific TV producer, his wife and the Wolf Family Foundation, will open with the new Saban Media Center in June. The Television Academy's revamped campus coming together in the next month, the group announced Monday that the centerpiece cinema in its new Saban Media Center will be named after Law & Order creator Dick Wolf. The Wolf Theatre, named after a generous gift from Dick and Noelle Wolf and the Wolf Family Foundation, will open with the new campus during the upcoming 70th Anniversary gala on June 2. "All of us at the Television Academy are truly grateful for the extraordinary generosity of Dick and Noelle Wolf," said Academy chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum. "Dick's amazing history of creative excellence and the Wolfs' strong philanthropic spirit are unparalleled. It makes us proud to know that programs presented in our Wolf Theatre will be an inspiration to the next generation for decades to come. We are also thrilled to be working with Dick, Noelle and the Alliance for Children's Rights as our Foundation builds an exciting and ground-breaking program to support television industry education programs for foster youth." In addition to creating Law & Order and its many spinoffs, Wolf is responsible for NBC's sprawling Chicago TV empire and a growing number of unscripted series on the network. The Wolf gift includes an endowment for collaboration between the Academy Foundation and the Alliance for Children's Rights -- an attempt to bridge foster youth with opportunities in the TV industry. "The Wolf Family Foundation's primary focus is on education," said Dick and Noelle Wolf in a statement. "We see a tremendous opportunity through the Television Academy Foundation and the Alliance for Children's Rights to provide opportunities to foster youth. Through the designated internship programs, disadvantaged students now can have life-changing career paths. Doors that were previously closed may now be opened. The television industry thrives on diversity, and by giving the gift of education to students who have had a difficult path, the industry will be richer." (Hollywood Reporter)