ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Sandra Bullock "More Open" to Getting Married Again Amid "Serious" Romance With Bryan Randall. Trust us, Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall's relationship is so much more than a summer romance. In a season filled with Hollywood couples surprising us left and right, the Oscar winner and her boyfriend are keeping their relationship steady and savoring the final days of vacation. "They are enjoying the last bit of the summer with the kids until school starts," a source shared with E! News. "They will be in Los Angeles more once the kids start going to school. Things are very serious with them." While the duo likes to keep their relationship private and are rarely photographed together, fans learned that the couple went to Universal Studios Hollywood this summer for a family day. And when Sandra and Bryan aren't working on passionate projects, they are "tied to the hip." "Sandra and Bryan are life partners. Their close friends have never seen Sandra this happy before," our source shared. "Sandra as of lately has been more open to the possibility of getting married again." Back in September of 2015, E! News confirmed the beloved Hollywood actress was dating Bryan who works as a photographer. And over the past several months, sources have shared with us that this low-profile romance totally works, even if you don't see them photographed week after week. "Sandra and Bryan are in euphoria," an insider shared earlier this summer. "She is where she finally wants to be with a partner." Our source added, "Sandy has found her soul mate. Her friends and family love seeing Sandy so happy." (Eonline)

Ashley Olsen was looking very close with artist George Condo this weekend. Spies saw the Row designer, 30, and popular painter, 59, "holding hands and snuggling" Sunday at Balthazar. "It was obvious something was going on," said a source. "It looked like she was dining with her grandpa, but they were holding hands and snuggling." When a Page Six spy saw the pair at the Mercer Hotel in June, Condo's rep said, "It was simply a business meeting." Condo's wife, Anna, filed for divorce last year. (Page Six)

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson are either doing the conscious uncoupling thing or they're on the road to rekindling their relationship. The exes looked deep in convo Monday leaving a liquor store in West Hollywood. They were together for a decade before calling things off last month. Joshua's brown bagging it, so if you're a glass half full person ... they're about to pop the cork and chat over a bottle. Half empty folks will say he's drinking alone, and Diane's just keeping things friendly. Either way ... bottoms up! (TMZ)

Selena Gomez Backtracks on Social Media Comments While Justin Bieber Deletes His Instagram. And the plot digitally thickens... Selena Gomez was having some late-night thoughts Monday evening when she took to Snapchat to try and press rewind on her viral comments regarding ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber. The drama first sparked Sunday night when the "Sorry" singer asked his fans not to berate his rumored new flame, Sofia Richie, by way of harsh social media comments. While the Grammy winner and model publicly maintain they are just friends, Richie's face popped up on Bieber's social media several times, leading to aggressive Belieber speculation. "I'm gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don't stop the hate this is getting out of hand," he wrote on Instagram. "If you guys are really fans you wouldn't be so mean to people that I like." Gomez subsequently added her two cents to the mix. "If you can't handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol- it should be special between you two only," she reportedly wrote in the comment section. "Don't be mad at your fans. They love you." However, the remark only made Bieber take aim at his own former love for allegedly taking advantage of him. "It's funny to see people that used me for attention and still try to point the finger this way. Sad. All love," he reportedly clapped back in the comments. "I'm not one for anyone receiving hate. Hope u all can be kind to my friends and each other. And yes I love my beliebers." Not so fast! The "Hands to Myself" singer issued another not-so-subtle slam toward the crooner on Instagram. "Funny how the ones that cheated multiple times, are pointing the finger at the ones that were forgiving and supportive, no wonder fans are mad. Sad. All love." The digital sparring continued as Bieber responded with the name of a fellow pop star. "I cheated...Oh and I forgot about you and Zayn [Malik]?" he allegedly commented, according to screen grabs that have since gone viral. While the commentary seemed to have subsided, Gomez reignited the conversation by backtracking on the entire ordeal. "What I said was selfish and pointless." Meanwhile, Bieber took his threat one step further -- he has since deleted his Instagram account. (Eonline)

Ashley Judd is prepping for back to school. On Monday, the actress announced in a Q&A session with fans on Facebook Live that she's enrolled to start classes at UC Berkeley this fall where she'll earn her PhD in public policy. "I have decided to take the next step in my academic journey," Judd, 48, said. "Sometimes I'm really excited, sometimes I'm like 'What have I gotten myself into?!' I'm very esteemed and honored that they accepted me." Judd continued, revealing that the program is touted as number one in the country and only accepts two or three candidates per year, which is exactly why she intends to "make the best of my time at Berkeley." "It was ultra-competitive and I know that talented and virtuous, well-meaning, smart people from all over the world applied," she said, adding that she's ready to "do some good thinking, some rigorous research and fill it with my typical heart and soul and see how I can continue to do my little part to make the world a better place." The Olympus Has Fallen star received her undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky. In 2009, she enrolled in graduate school and was later awarded her Masters in public administration with an emphasis in gender equality from Harvard. This time around, Judd plans to put her former studies to use, as she prioritizes how gender equality plays a role in human trafficking, as issue at the top of her list to tackle. "Within human trafficking adheres all of the injustices of gender inequality," she said. "You can look at the whole of our striving toward gender equality within the dynamic of ending human trafficking. So it's the big and the little picture all at once and it's definitely at the top of my list." Along with her studies, Judd will have to juggle publicity for her upcoming film Barry, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. (People)

Lewis Hamilton has revealed what caused his break up with Nicole Scherzinger last year. Speaking to Top Gear Magazine, the Formula 1 driver opened up about his past relationship and admitted that he split from the former X Factor judge as there was something more important to him than romance. "My cars are my babies," said the 31 year-old. "I used to say, when I had a girlfriend, 'I'm taking one of the girls out, so you can come if you want, but you come second when it comes to the cars.'" Ouch. The pair had an on/off relationship for seven years before putting an end to their romance last year. Although neither of them had commented on the reasons behind their split, it was reported that it was due to long distance. However, since the split, it's been safe to say the Grand Prix champ hasn't been short of female attention as he's been linked to a number of other ladies in the limelight including Chanel Iman and Rita Ora. (British Glamour)

Karlie Kloss Explains Why She Called Kim Kardashian A 'Lovely Person' Despite TOTALLY Being #TeamTaylor! Do NOT question Karlie Kloss' loyalty to Taylor Swift! As you may recall, the model seemed to take a neutral stance in the Famous feud between Kim Kardashian West and the Blank Space singer when she called the reality TV star a "lovely person" during a recent interview. Obviously, many interpreted this statement as a sign that something was wrong between the blonde besties! However, Miz Kloss has since clarified her comment as she took to Twitter on Monday evening and wrote: Well said! Not to mention, this public support for TayTay comes only a handful of weeks after the Grammy winner gushed about the NYU student on Instagram for her birthday. Oh, and the 24-year-old was also in the audience when T.Swizzle performed with Nelly at a WILD party in the Hamptons. (Perez Hilton)

Johnny Depp could have saved the paint -- and the blood --- when he allegedly wrote the words "Billy Bob" with what was left of his finger on a mirror ... because Mr. Thornton says he never hooked up with Amber Heard. TMZ broke the story ... Amber and her people claim in March, 2015 Johnny accidentally cut his fingertip off in the middle of an argument with Amber ... and did his artful handiwork on the mirror after accusing her of cheating with Billy Bob when they co-starred in the flick, "London Fields," which was set to be released in 2015. Billy Bob tells us the cheating allegation is ridiculous ... "completely false." Thornton says he never socialized with Amber off set, other than a cast dinner. Even on the set, he says he didn't hang with her ... he was mostly around members of the crew. He adds he didn't even have a friendship with the actress ... it was all professional, on the set, and that was it. As for Johnny, even though they were on the same set, Billy Bob says they had no interaction ... did not even speak. Billy Bob's been married to wife Connie Angland since 2014. He says he's talked to Connie about the story and assured her it was Johnny's fantasy. (TMZ)

The Kardashians say The Game's lying when he boasted he slept with 3 of them on his track, "Sauce" ... he's wrong about at least 2. Sources close to the Kardashians tell us you can count out Kylie, Kendall, Khloe, Kourtney and Kris ... none of them had sex with Game. The sources acknowledge Kim dated Game back in the day ... so that one's on the table for discussion, but that's it. Khloe and Game have been pals for years, but the Kardashian sources are adamant ... strictly platonic. That said, there's an interesting nugget. Game reached out to Kanye to get his blessing for the song, and Kanye said he didn't have a dog in the fight. Interesting ... Game didn't call Kim. But ... we know Game sticks by his story. He nailed 3 of them. (TMZ)

Tyga may have opened the floodgates when he paid a fat settlement to an old landlord -- 'cause a celebrity jeweler was paying attention ... and hired the SAME LAWYERS to collect on his $200k debt. The man with the vendetta is Jason of Beverly Hills -- who claims he got screwed out of some serious cash when Tyga stiffed him in a 2013 jewelry deal for a sick watch and chain. Jason went to court and got a $200,000 judgment against Tyga -- but he hasn't seen a single cent and was getting sick and tired of chasing his cash. That is ... until he saw Tyga coughed up a huge settlement last week to an old landlord who was ALSO going after the rapper for an old debt. So, Jason says he called the landlord's attorneys -- Danny Abir and Boris Treyzon from Abir, Cohen, Treyzon, and Salo -- and hired the guys to do the same thing for him. We're told the team plans to use the exact same playbook -- aggressively going after Tyga and his assets and turning up the heat to collect ASAP. If it ain't broke ... (TMZ)

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp Reach $7 Million Divorce Settlement. Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's legal battle has come to an end. The exes have reached a divorce settlement out of court, just one day before the estranged pair was scheduled to appear for a hearing and three days after Heard sat down for a deposition, as confirmed by TMZ. The Pirates of the Caribbean actor has reportedly agreed to pay his former wife approximately $7 million and the actress has dismissed her domestic violence restraining order petition against Depp, a petition she can never refile as it was "dismissed with prejudice." The two also issued their first joint statement together since Heard filed for divorce in mid-May. "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm," they said. "Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future. Amber will be donating financial proceeds from the divorce to a charity," the statement concluded. "There will be no further public statements about this matter." It's been a whirlwind of highly publicized drama surrounding the famous couple's split ever since Amber filed for divorce against the Pirates of the Caribbean star back in May of this year. At the time, Amber cited "irreconcilable differences" for the reason behind the marriage of a little over a year coming to an end. And while the news of the split shocked fans, a judge granted Amber's request for a domestic violence restraining order just days later. According to court documents, Amber presented a photograph of herself as evidence which shows what appear to be bruises around her right eye. Depp was ordered to stay 100 yards away from his ex and the judge also gave the Magic Mike actress the right to live in the family home. Amber initially requested $50,000 per month, however, her attorney filed a declaration to withdraw the actress' temporary spousal request. Neither Amber nor Johnny's reps have released statements yet following today's major development in their divorce and legal proceedings. However, back in May, Johnny's team told E! News: "Given the brevity of this marriage and the most recent and tragic loss of his mother, Johnny will not respond to any of the salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation and lies about his personal life. Hopefully the dissolution of this short marriage will be resolved quickly." Since their split, the two have both kept busy with their successful careers. Johnny has been touring the world with his band The Hollywood Vampires over the summer, while Amber has been filming for her upcoming film, The Justice League. (Eonline)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Candace Cameron Bure Can't Believe Her Look-Alike Daughter Natasha Just Turned 18. Natasha Bure is experiencing a house full of extra love Monday. As Candace Cameron Bure's daughter celebrates becoming an adult by turning 18, the YouTube star and singer is receiving some sweet messages from mom online. "My little pumpkin turned 18 today!! Happy birthday @natashabure" The View co-host shared on Instagram with a throwback photo. "I wish you could stay this little forever, but you'll always be my baby girl." She continued, "It's hard to believe this one is mine. Happy 18th birthday @natashabure!! Mama loves you." As for that stunning photo, it was taken from Natasha's recent photo shoot with Nation-Alist Magazine. Oh, did we forget to mention? She's a model too! It's been nothing short of a big year for Natasha who recently celebrated her mom's 40th birthday by delivering a surprise performance on The View. After graduating from high school, the young adult is now focusing on her music career while also enjoying plenty of quality time with the family. Just this past weekend, Natasha and her brothers celebrated the final days of summer with a casual dinner in Southern California. And as fans quickly learned, Candace has a lot of changes going on in her family unit. "How did my kids get so big?! Last weekend of summer before school starts for the boys and life at 18 starts for @natashabure," she wrote on Instagram. "#blessedmama #thisis40 #iLoveMyFamily #SushiSaturday #FroYoNight." Don't worry, Candace. From the looks of things, all the kids still want to spend time with mom. "La familia," Natasha shared this weekend. "I love u!!" (Eonline)

It was a family affair at Jennifer Lopez' Las Vegas performance on Saturday. Marc Anthony attended the singer's "All I Have" weekend show and the mother of twins gave him a sweet shout out during the concert. "You're an international legend and icon, but you're also my baby daddy," Lopez said, according to Entertainment Tonight. Anthony, 47, also shared a photo from the night on Instagram, in which he posed with his wife and a few friends, captioning the snap, "Last night at @JLo #AlliHave show w/@shadelima and @magnusmediausa team." After show, the pair posed for a pic with their significant others; model Shannon de Lima and Casper Smart. In the snap, Anthony and Lopez, 47, stand side by side as Lima and Smart stand on either side of them while the group smiles. J-Lo's show is currently on hiatus until December, but the singer managed to mark a major milestone before going on a break as "All I Have" has already grossed $1 million in show revenue. (People)

Justin Timberlake was part of a diabolical plot by the father of a bride to create a wedding for the books. The scene is upstate New Hampshire. Chelsey Gaudet and Ryan Parks were just starting a pre-wedding photo session when Chelsey's dad happened to spot one of the most famous people in all of entertainment ... JT. Justin grants dad his big wish and mugs with the bride and groom. Your move, Owen. (TMZ)

Monica Lewinsky is continuing to be an advocate. In a series of anti-bullying tweets on Monday, Lewinsky, 43, sent condolences to the family of 13-year-old Daniel Fitzpatrick who committed suicide after allegedly being bullied at school. "[Heartbroken] to see yet another story like this," Lewinsky tweeted. "RIP Daniel; condolences to his family. We need to listen + care more." Lewinsky's tweeting continued as she shared the link to Daniel's GoFundMe page, which was initially set up to assist with funeral costs. However, since it's been posted, the campaign has exceeded the goal of $10,000, earning more than $115,000; part of which the family intends to donate to "an organization that fights bullying and encourages suicide awareness." Daniel died on Thursday, leaving behind a tragic suicide note in which he claimed that his old friends at Holy Angels Catholic Academy didn't talk to him or like him anymore. "I gave up," he wrote in the letter. "The teacher either they didn't do ANYTHING!" New York medical examiner spokesperson Julie Bolcer later confirmed to PEOPLE that Daniel's cause of death was hanging. Following the massive response to Daniel's death, his father-also named Daniel Fitzpatrick-posted a vide on his Facebook, thanking people for their support and also condemning the alleged bullies and the Catholic school officials who allegedly told his son, "You'll be fine... These things will pass" when the teen went to them for help. (People)

Well he did dive into an ill-fated marriage to Kim Kardashian, so perhaps it's not surprising that Kris Humphries was once faster in the pool than Olympians, Michael Phelps, 31, and Ryan Lochte, 32. Long before he was a professional baller and the ex-husband of the reality TV beauty, it turns out Humphries was a star swimmer. He was only 10-years-old at the time, but he held the fastest time in six events for the U.S back in 1995, beating the field, that included Phelps and Lochte. The Atlanta Hawks star lead the pack in the 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly, 50-meter backstroke, 50-meter breaststroke, 200-meter IM, and the 100-meter freestyle. He even beat the 27 time Olympic medalist by a huge four seconds in the latter race. The 31-year-old didn't embark on a career in the water, insisting he started too young to stay focused. Instead he went on to have success on the court. That's not to say he doesn't still enjoy a swim from time-to-time though. He posted a picture of himself in the pool on his Instagram last year with the caption: "Pool workout. Swimming isn't that easy anymore." Humphries was famously married to Kardashian, 35, for just 72 days in 2011. (US Weekly)

Bella Hadid is killing it right now - her career is just going from strength to strength. The model sister of Gigi Hadid is now the new cover star of French and has teamed up with Taylor Hill for the cover of the September issue. Inside though, swit swoo, Bella gets naked! The 19-year-old supermodel - who is currently dating singer songwriter The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye - has admitted she has a playful personality, although she doesn't "try" to be flirtatious. Speaking in a clip on Calvin Klein's Instagram about her personality, Bella - who has been announced as the new face of the designer label's Autumn Winter 2016 campaign, which was photographed by Tyrone Lebon - said: "I flirt and I don't mean to, so I guess that means I'm a good flirter. But I don't try." The Los Angeles-born star signed to IMG Models in 2014. (British Glamour)

Hugh Hefner can officially slap a "SOLD" sign onto his Playboy Mansion, and then head back inside for dinner ... after hammering out a deal with the PBR heir who almost lost it 11 days ago. The escrow closed Tuesday for Hef's neighbor Daren Metropoulos -- and we're told it went for a final price of $100 million ... a nice discount off the $110 mil offer Daren nearly closed earlier this month. We're told the compromise was lower price, but Hef gets to maintain access to the home for the rest of his life. Bottom line: Daren can't pop over whenever he wants. However, as the new landlord ... he does get to approve all parties at the mansion. Daren -- a master re-brander of products and the Pabst Blue Ribbon heir -- who's been living next door since 2009 has already given the thumbs-up to Playboy's Midsummer Night's Dream Party next Saturday ... and the annual Halloween bash. We're told he plans to connect the adjacent home he owns with the Playboy Mansion and restore both estates to their original versions. (TMZ)

Music

Nick Cannon and Chilli Get in Bed Together for His ''If I Was Your Man'' Music Video -- Get the First Look! It looks like we're going to get a sneak peek at Nick Cannon and rumored girlfriend Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas getting steamy on camera. E! News has obtained an exclusive photo from the rapper's upcoming music video for his single "If I Was Your Man," featuring none other than the TLC beauty as his leading lady, and from the one moment we can see now, it's clear that these two are not shying away from showing their crazy, sexy, cool side. Wearing matching sleepwear (#relationshipgoals) Cannon is pulling off the ultimate R&B move with this opened silk pajamas while on the bed rapping to the camera, and Chilli is behind him rocking some matching lingerie. Chilli also shared another sexy snap from the set with her Instagram followers. Speculation as to whether or not Cannon and Chilli were a blossoming romance sparked after the duo were spotted out and about together on numerous occasions. During an interview with The Breakfast Club recently, Cannon shared that he thinks Chilli is "amazing," but he isn't about to get into a relationship. "Where I am at in my life you can't just play with a woman like that," he said. "You have to be serious...I don't want to mess with nothing I can't stand firm and be a committed man in." Regardless, the two definitely enjoy spending time together. "Nick loves how chill Chilli is," a source tells E! News. "Chilli is very family oriented and into God. She is also a very spiritual person with a kind soul. She is not drama and that's important for him." A second source also tells us, "They are enjoying getting to know each other and Chilli seems very happy." Another insider previously told E! News that "Nick and Chilli [have] been hanging out on the low," adding that "[They've] been friends for some time and just recently this summer they have been hanging out romantically." The source also explained how the two work well together because they're both in the music industry. "Chilli is a very mature woman that's been around the music industry for sometime and gets it," the source added. "Nick has always had a crush on her growing up. He thinks she is beautiful." We can't wait to see that chemistry onscreen, too. (Eonline)

Yeah, Adele would've been great but since she's out, it's high time the Super Bowl halftime show go full country -- according to country music legend Tanya Tucker. Tucker performed at the SB in 1994 along with Travis Tritt, Clint Black and The Judds -- but other than Shania Twain in 2003, it's been all pop and ancient classic rock artists. We got TT in NYC and she broke it down real quick -- there's one artist who'd be perfect for such a big stage. And no, she's not ruling out a duet either. BTW, if you forgot that '94 halftime, it's probably 'cause the game was a joke ... Cowboys beat the Bills for the 2nd straight year. Don't blame country ... (TMZ)

Faith Evans resorted to half-baked "gangsta-movie" quotes to explain why she bailed on a concert to instead play the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour ... so says a promoter who's asked a judge to block her from performing in Atlanta. Promoter Jeremy Hill filed docs hoping a judge puts the kibosh on Faith's plans to perform with Bad Boy Sept. 8 in Atlanta. Jeremy already sued Faith for backing out of his Sept. 10 concert at Wolf Creek Amphitheater. As for why Faith bailed ... Hill says Faith used a "gangsta-movie" quote to explain -- "It's not personal, it's only business." Not sure how that's gangsta ... Hill says Live Nation forced Faith to cancel the Sept. 10 concert to receive a purported $800k for performing with the Bad Boy tour. Hill goes on to say Faith's agent texted him, "I can't give up 25 dates for 1. I tried to work it out, she was going to do both shows but it's impossible." He says Faith's offered to refund the deposit, but he's still pissed. (TMZ)

Frank Ocean Producer Malay Explains Album Delay During AMA Reddit: 'Art Cannot Be Rushed'. Frank Ocean collaborator Malay warned fans last week that he would not be giving updates on Ocean's eagerly awaited second album, Boys Don't Cry, during an upcoming AMA Reddit. Well, the Reddit happened on Monday night and, believe it or don't, the Channel Orange co-producer (born James Ho) eventually was pushed to say something, anything about the mysterious project in the chat on an Ocean-related page. As reported by Fader, the crack in his facade came after one participant explained fans' frustration at the roll-out. "I respect that you don't want us to ask about BDC and when it's going to come out. So in the interest of asking a question that acknowledges those boundaries while still addressing the elephant in the room, I'd like to know what you think about how fans have interacted with the rollout to this point," the fan wrote. "I think the major pain point for fans has been the fact that Frank has led us to believe there's something coming, and then he hasn't communicated with us at all." The commentor then ran down the list of teases, from the library card, to the maddening looped video of desks. "I feel like I've put some amount of trust in Frank and gotten really excited about the rollout he's chosen to give us, but I believe that's been betrayed to an extent," Arrogant desperado wrote. Malay was spurred to answer and defend his friend, whose debut returned to the Billboard 200 last week after three years. "First of all we all massively appreciate and love you guys, Frank has told me this himself many times," he wrote. "To be fair tho, art cannot be rushed. It's about making sure the perfect aesthetic for the situation has been reached, to do that, takes constant tweaking, trial and error.. That goes for any creative situation." He described Ocean's process as "very focused and persistent... yet very free." The AMA also touched on when the two first met (in Atlanta in 2008), their first joint project (writing a song for Mario) and what Ocean smells like ("if God was a woman"). But the most tantalizing tease from Malay came after his casual mention of something called the "Booty Club," to which a fan responded, "WHAT DOES BOOTY CLUB MEAN?" Malay's answer was cryptic at best. "Everyone will get a ticket to the booty club who wants one." You've been warned. (Billboard)

Elvis Presley Fans Make Pilgrimage to His Gravesite at Graceland. Thousands of Elvis Presley fans have made their annual pilgrimage to Graceland for a candlelight vigil marking the 39th anniversary of the singer's death in Memphis. Despite pouring rain, Presley fans from around the world are holding candles and walking slowly through the gravesite of the rock 'n' roll icon, who died on Aug. 16, 1977. Monday night's vigil caps Elvis Week, the annual celebration of his life and career. Also Monday, officials announced details of a new 200,000 square foot entertainment complex being built across the street from the Graceland house. Police presence was heightened due to a nearby protest by activists supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. (Billboard)

John Lydon Hit With Bottle, Curses, Keeps Performing. John Lydon delivered an unexpected "punk rock" moment while performing in Chile. The British singer was struck with a bottle, which opened a wound to his head. And he carried on with the show, cursing the "f---ing coward" who launched the missile. Lydon, who was performing with Public Image Ltd at the club Blondie in Santiago, completed the song with a towel wrapped around his head. He shared a bloodied picture of himself backstage after the incident, with a cigarette planted in his mouth. "Glass attack last night in Chile. No reflection on the rest of the crowd. Great gig. It lives," he tweeted. Lydon has enjoyed a long, storied career from producing the unexpected. The punk rocker, under the guise of Johnny Rotten, fronted the legendary Sex Pistols and was one of the chief protagonists in a profanity-strewn '70s interview with Bill Grundy which damaged the host's career and led to EMI dropping the band. Lydon raised eyebrows again when he fronted a British campaign for "Country Life" butter in the last 2000s. (Billboard)

Justin Bieber Has U.K.'s Two Best-Selling Songs This Week So Far. Two tracks featuring Justin Bieber are battling it out for the U.K. singles chart crown, again. "Cold Water" (Because Music), by U.S. electronic outfit Major Lazer featuring Bieber and MØ, is heading toward a fourth successive week atop the Official U.K. Singles Chart. It's 3,000 combined sales ahead of the second-placed "Let Me Love You" (Interscope), by DJ Snake and Bieber, at the midway stage of the chart cycle. Calum Scott's "Dancing On My Own" (Instrumental) is at No. 3 on the Chart Update, The Chainsmokers' Australian singles chart leader "Closer" (Disruptor) featuring Halsey is at No. 4, and the American EDM duo's previous single "Don't Let Me Down" featuring Daya is at No. 5. The big movers at the midway point of the chart week include Olly Murs' "You Don't Know Love" (Epic), up 34-14; Tieks' "Sunshine" (Ministry of Sound) featuring Dan Harkna, up 26-20; and Lil Wayne's Suicide Squad soundtrack single "Sucker For Pain," up 39-21 (Interscope). The tussle at the top of the albums chart is tighter still. Jeff Lynne's ELO nudges into the lead with All Over The World - The Very Best Of (Epic) by a margin of just 230 combined sales over Blossoms' self-titled EMI debut. Both albums have spent time at the summit of the Official U.K. Albums Chart. Meanwhile, Drake's Views (Island) is at No. 3 on the Chart Update, Christine and the Queens' Chaleur Humaine (Because Music) is at No. 4 and Bob Marley & The Wailers' Legend (Tuff Gong) is at No. 5. The strongest performing debut at the midway point comes from Canadian act PartyNextDoor, whose sophomore album PartyNextDoor 3 is positioned at No. 9, while Aussie metalcore act The Amity Affliction is aiming for a first U.K. top 40 with This Could Be Heartbreak (Roadrunner). It's new at No. 17, just ahead of The Pineapple Thief's LP Your Wilderness (Kscope), which starts at No. 18. In other notable chart moves, award-winning composer John Williams is poised for a return to the top 40 after some of his classic scores were issued on limited-edition gold vinyl. Williams' The Empire Strikes Back's soundtrack (Sony Classical) enters at No. 24 and Return of the Jedi starts at No. 39. Michael Jackson's Number Ones (Epic) rises 46-26 in the month of the late King of Pop's birthday. (Billboard)

Movies

Meryl Streep's "Florence Foster Jenkins," about this real-life dreadful singer who left us in 1944, just came out, but it had screened privately months back. The screening was followed by a party in Carnegie Hall since that's what FFJ had hired for her big-time nighttime operatic recital -- and where her growls sounded like a rhino in heat. I remember Meryl, who actually sings well, telling me: "I had to learn to sing off-key. And badly. Originally, I thought this would be easy. It wasn't. It took lots of lessons with a vocal coach to practice the scream and screech. "We began by my singing properly, and then I was taught to slide into the songs as badly as she. I loved the role, but it wasn't as easy as I first thought it would be." (Page Six)

Unfinished Film Producer Wants Bruce Willis' $5.8M Arbitration Win Overturned. 'Wake' shut down after less than a week of filming and Willis was awarded the missing portion of his paycheck. Benaroya Pictures is asking the court to vacate a $5.8 million arbitration award to Bruce Willis for acting services he rendered on the unfinished film Wake. Willis filed an arbitration complaint against BP last year, claiming it breached an agreement by failing to deposit his full $8 million paycheck in escrow before principal photography began. Wake began filming on Feb. 16, 2015, and was shut down because of lack of funds to pay the crew just six days later. By the time producers officially pulled the plug, Willis had only been paid $3 million. In May, a JAMS arbitrator ruled in favor of the actor, finding BP and its principal Michael Benaroya breached an escrow agreement and negligently misrepresented that the film was fully funded. According to the petition, after BP pled counter claims, Willis amended the arbitration demand to include Benaroya and added claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. BP says the arbitrator exceeded his powers by adding Benaroya as a party when he was not a signatory to the agreement. Arbitrator Terry Friedman denied Willis' fraud claim, but found in his favor on all other claims and granted an award of $5 million in damages, plus another $461,000 in interest and $354,000 in attorneys' fees and costs. Friedman pulled no punches in his written award, which is attached as an exhibit to the petition. "Benaroya did one thing right," he writes. "He retained good attorneys who advanced every imaginable argument to shield him from liability. Yet it was all in vain as the die had been cast nearly two years ago when Benaroya began an eight month barrage of misrepresentation." Willis was represented by Martin Singer and Allison Hart in the arbitration. They have not yet commented on the petition. (Hollywood Reporter)

Oscars: Academy Approves New Ukraine Selection Committee in Foreign Language Category. Ukraine will be able to enter a movie this year after missing last year's campaign. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved the new makeup of Ukraine's foreign-language Oscar submission selection committee, allowing the country to enter a film in the race this year after missing out last year. "Ukraine's new selection committee has been approved, and the country is eligible to submit a film this year," a representative for the academy told The Hollywood Reporter. Philipp Ilyenko, head of Ukraine's state cinema agency, also confirmed the news on his Facebook page. Last year, a change to the makeup of the Ukrainian Oscar committee and a new selection procedure were introduced following a controversy back in 2014, when the selection of The Guide triggered accusations of conflict of interest in the country. Back then, Miroslav Slaboshpitsky, the director of international festival hit The Tribe, claimed that three members of The Guide's production team were involved in voting on Ukraine's foreign-language Oscar submission. However, the Ukrainian producers' association and some individual producers opposed the changes to the makeup of the selection committee and voting procedures. As a result, Ukraine was unable to submit a film in the Oscar race last year. "Last year, a Ukrainian selection committee was not officially submitted to the Academy," the Academy's representative said. "Necessary documentation must be submitted in order for a selection committee to be accepted." Earlier this summer, the country's national filmmakers' union and the Ukrainian producers' association signed a memorandum agreeing on the makeup of the Ukrainian Oscar committee and selecting procedures, effectively ending the rift. (Hollywood Reporter)

European Film Awards: Berlin Winner 'Fire at Sea' Makes Documentary Shortlist. The film, about the European refugee crisis, goes up against an eclectic mix of personal and political non-fiction. The European Film Academy has announced its 15-title shortlist of contenders for this year's Best European Documentary award, a group that includes festival darlings, personal essays and celebrity profiles. Fire at Sea, Gianfranco Rosi's look at the refugee crisis in Europe, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival this year, is the early favorite to take the EFA best documentary honor, but the film faces some stiff competition in a category that has often proved difficult to handicap. Among the other non-fiction titles in the running are Marianna Economou's The Longest Run, a look at two teen refugees stranded in a Greek prison; Becoming Zlatan, Fredrik and Magnus Gertten's portrait of Swedish soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic; and A German Life, an up-close look at Brunhilde Pomsel, the 105-year-old woman who was once the secretary of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. Tom Fassaert's A Family Affair; 1 X New York from Polish director Piotr Stasik; the Czech film Mallory from Helena Trestikova; Sergi Loznitsa's The Event; Danish documentary Deja Vu;Europe, She Loves from director Jan Gassmann; Andre Schafer's Herr Von Bohlen, Pieter-Jan De Pue's The Land of the Englightened; We'll Be Alright from Alexander Kuznetsov; and the Pietro Marcello-directed doc Lost and Beautiful complete the shortlist. The EFA documentary committee picked the 15 titles from submissions made by 10 of Europe's leading documentary festivals and by individual producers. EFA members will now vote to trim the list to five documentary nominees. The best European documentary of 2016 will be announced at the European Film Awards in Wroclaw, Poland, on Dec. 10. (Hollywood Reporter)

Russian Shoot of Colin Firth Disaster Movie Postponed. The country's defense ministry hasn't issued a permit yet for the shoot, which was set to start in September. The Russian shoot of Colin Firth submarine disaster movie Kursk, produced by Luc Besson, has been postponed as the country's defense ministry is still reviewing the permit request. The shoot was scheduled to start in Russia next month and run for about a month. A new start date hasn't been set. "We haven't yet received a permit from the defense ministry," Andrei Sigle, a producer on the Russian side, told local radio station Radio Baltika. "They probably have other things to take care of." According to Sigle, taking the shoot to another country, such as Norway, which observers immediately suggested, is currently out of the question. He said the producers still hope to get the green light from Russia's military. The movie is based on a 2000 incident involving a K-141 Kursk submarine. A torpedo exploded inside the Russian submarine during a naval exercise in the Barents Sea, and the submarine's entire crew of 118 died. Produced by Besson's EuropaCorp, the movie is to be directed by Thomas Vinterburg and will also star Matthias Schoenaerts. Incidentally, Russia's defense ministry originally promised cooperation with the crew. But later it reportedly grew concerned about granting access to classified information and locations. It didn't comment on the delay of the shoot. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Mr. Robot Renewed for Season 3 -- Celebratory Alf Cameos for Everyone. Good news for those who love unexpected Alf cameos, black hoodies and a good mystery: Mr. Robot has been renewed for a third season by USA. Season three is slated for 2017. "We couldn't be more proud of Mr. Robot, a series that has pushed boundaries, captured the cultural zeitgeist, and been honored as one of the best dramas on television," Chris McCumber, president of entertainment networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, said in a statement. "Midway through its second season, Mr. Robot continues to break new ground and open up new opportunities for the network. We can't wait to see where Sam Esmail and the entire brilliant Robot team take us next." The hacker drama, now in its second season, has already taken home a Peabody Award and two Golden Globes. It's up for six Emmys at the 2016 ceremony, including Best Drama Series and a nod for Rami Malek in the lead actor category. Malek stars as Elliot Alderson, a hacker responsible for a devastating attack on E Corp that effectively crippled the economy. "Being the home studio for this wonderful, completely original show is an exhilarating experience. Sam and company just keep taking it to another level," Jeff Wachtel, chief content officer at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and president, Universal Cable Productions, said in a statement. "We can't wait to get going on season 3... as soon as we finish season 2!" The cast also includes Christian Slater, Portia Doubleday, Carly Chaikin, Martin Wallström, Grace Gummer, Michael Cristofer and Stephanie Corneliussen. Mr. Robot airs Wednesdays, 10 p.m. on USA. (Eonline)

John Krasinski Is Your New Favorite TV Action Hero With Amazon's Jack Ryan. John Krasinski's saying goodbye to Jim Halpert and hello to Jack Ryan. The Office veteran will star in the new Jack Ryan series for Amazon. The first season will be 10 episodes. Jack Ryan is based on the iconic Tom Clancy CIA character. Lost's Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland are behind the latest version of the character that has spawned five films with Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine all playing the character on the big screen in various flicks. "We're excited to add the Jack Ryan global franchise to our robust originals pipeline," Roy Price, head of Amazon Studios, said in a statement. "Our customers will enjoy a compelling adaptation of the action-packed spy thriller book series, further raising the bar for the quality level of storytelling that has made Prime Video a leading destination for content." In the series version, Krasinski's Jack Ryan is a CIA analyst on the up and up who gets a dangerous field assignment for the first time after discovering a pattern in terrorist communication that puts him at the center of a dangerous plot that could spark global destruction. The series will likely shoot in the United States, Europe and Africa. This is Krasinski's first series regular work since The Office ended in 2013. On the big screen he's appeared in 13 Hours, The Hollars and Away We Go. If you have doubts about his action hero status, check out 13 Hours (and don't forget about those abs). No premiere date for Jack Ryan has been set. (Eonline)

The Miz Challenges John Cena, Says He'll ''Always Win'' in a Match Against the WWE Star: Get the Scoop! Don't mess with The Miz! Ahead of this weekend's 2016 SummerSlam, The Miz is challenging his fellow WWE star John Cena. The two faced off in an epic match at WrestleMania 27 back in 2011 and with an assist from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, The Miz was victorious. So who does the WWE star think would win in a match now? "Me or John Cena? I will always win," The Miz told E! News in an exclusive interview. "WrestleMania 27, that's the only match that I'll ever remember, even though I was knocked out during it." But could a rematch between these two ever really happen? According to The Miz, it "could." "You never know, we're on the same brand," The Miz explained. "We're both on SmackDown Live, with this whole brand expansion that they've had, Raw now has its own roster and SmackDown Live has its own roster, so you're definitely going to want to watch both shows, you never know I could face him." While the two might not be competing against each other this weekend at SummerSlam, both The Miz and Cena will be in attendance at the event. Cena will compete against AJ Styles this Sunday while The Miz along with his wife and new Total Divas star Maryse will take on Apollo Crews. So are The Miz and Maryse nervous about this weekend's event? "I personally always get a little nervous and I think that's the fun part about the job, once you don't feel nervous anymore there's no point to it," Maryse revealed. The Miz also gets nervous. He explained, "I definitely get nervous, I get butterflies, I think I'm gonna faint, half the time I think I'm gonna throw up. Then once my music hits and I get out of the curtain and hit the stage it all turns to adrenaline and all the nerves go away and I just feel almost at home. I guess it's just the anticipation that really kills me and I hate it, but I love it at the same time because it drives me to be better and the best I possibly can." With just a few days left until SummerSlam, fans are on the edge of their seats wondering what will happen at the event. So what can they expect to happen on Sunday? "I always say expect the unexpected with an event like SummerSlam and the magnitude of the matches that we have," The Miz teased. You can watch The Miz, Maryse, John Cena and many more WWE stars on SummerSlam this Sunday, Aug. 21! You can also watch Cena on Total Bellas, premiering Oct. 5, only on E! (Eonline)

Did Billy Bush land his breaking Ryan Lochte interview because he's been cast out from the "Today" show talent clique? Newest "Today" show member Bush brought in the scoop of the Olympics so far when he randomly spotted gold-medal swimmer Lochte in Rio on Sunday, and interviewed him about being dramatically robbed at gunpoint. Sources told us lucky Bush got the story in part because he's been a "Today" outcast. "It can be a bit 'Mean Girls,'?" said a source of the cliques at "Today." Former "Access Hollywood" host Bush just joined "Today" after landing the job in May. Our source said instead of bonding with Matt Lauer and company, "Billy's been hanging with his 'Access Hollywood' co-host Kit Hoover and colleagues" in Rio. "He was going shopping with her, and that's when she spotted Lochte," said the source. "No one at 'Today' could believe Billy got this interview." A source said of any "Today" staff socializing, "Billy is more of a frat guy .?.?. He gets boisterous when he goes out. You can't just go out with Billy and have tapas and relax." The source added that Bush wasn't being included in "Today" after-hours fraternizing. But a "Today" insider insisted that Bush has been included in group dinners Thursday to Saturday, and a staff surfing outing. Either way, after his scoop, Bush explained on-air to a sour-faced Natalie Morales and Al Roker he was with Hoover "to do a little shopping" when "Kit says, 'Is that Lochte?!'?" He added that he had just gone hiking with Hoover and "my old executive producer" of "Access Hollywood," Rob Silverstein. Upon seeing Lochte, Bush's first call was to Silverstein to get a camera crew -- not to "Today" or Olympics executive producer Jim Bell -- before going the quicker iPhone route. Bush and Morales have also been appearing on "Access Hollywood" in Brazil. Good-humored Bush told us of his Rio social life: "I'm hosting my own little dinner wars down here. Whomever picks the better restaurant, that's who I'm with. Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other, bronze. Or something like that." (Page Six)

'Jack Ryan' TV Series Starring John Krasinski Officially a Go at Amazon. John Krasinski stars in the 10-episode drama from Carlton Cuse, Michael Bay, Paramount and Skydance. Nearly a year after it was put in development, Amazon is moving forward with its Jack Ryan drama. The streaming service announced Tuesday that it has officially greenlit the reboot of Tom Clancy's popular CIA books with a 10-episode series pickup. Starring The Office grad John Krasinski as the titular character. The drama follows Ryan as he uncovers a pattern in terrorist communication that launches him into the center of a dangerous gambit with a new breed of terrorism that threatens destruction on a global scale. Carlton Cuse (Bates Motel, The Strain) and Graham Roland (Almost Human) penned the script and developed the project together. The drama is a co-production between Paramount Television and Skydance Television. Platinum Dunes' Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form exec produce alongside Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross with Mace Neufeld and Lindsey Springer also on board. "We're excited to add the Jack Ryan global franchise to our robust originals pipeline," Amazon Studios head Roy Price said. "Our customers will enjoy a compelling adaptation of the action-packed spy thriller book series, further raising the bar for the quality level of storytelling that has made Prime Video a leading destination for content." The drama marks yet another reboot for the small screen as broadcast, cable and streaming outlets alike look for recognizable IP in a bid to cut through the clutter in a scripted landscape featuring more than 400 originals. There have been five Jack Ryan films with the character previously played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine. The drama landed at Amazon last year following a multiple-network bidding war. For Cuse, Jack Ryan comes as the Lost grad is prepping the final season of A&E's Bates Motel, poised to make his directorial debut in the upcoming third season finale of FX's The Strain and has the sophomore run of USA Network's Colony due in 2017. Bay, meanwhile, has the upcoming fourth and final season of Starz's Black Sails as well as TNT's The Last Ship. For Paramount TV, Jack Ryan becomes the studio's latest title from its film library to be adapted for the small screen. It joins CBS All Access' Star Trek, Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events as well as previous efforts including Fox's Minority Report, Nick's School of Rock as well as USA's twice-delayed Shooter. At Skydance, Jack Ryan joins a roster of TV projects that include WGN America's Manhattan, Netflix's Grace and Frankie, Altered Carbon as well as Spike's Red Mars. With the role in Jack Ryan Krasinski, repped by WME, will make his return to series regular television following his nine-season run on NBC's The Office. He also exec produces Spike's Emmy-nominated series Lip Sync Battle. (Hollywood Reporter)

Carlton Cuse to Make Directorial Debut With 'The Strain' Season Finale. The prolific producer talks with THR about getting the itch to direct and pushing himself creatively. One of the most prolific producers in town is about get a little busier. After more than a quarter century of writing, producing and even briefly starring in projects, Carlton Cuse is finally taking a seat in the director's chair. The Bates Motel and Colony producer told THR at the recently concluded Television Critics Association summer press tour that he directed the upcoming season three of his FX drama The Strain, adding yet another notch to his already impressive resume. "I felt like it was time to finally have that experience, and The Strain was the perfect environment," Cuse said. "It's a really challenging episode. I can't say too much about it, but there's some stuff that goes on that was so cool that I was just like, 'I have to direct that.' " The producer revealed he'd never had the itch to direct before, because as a showrunner he's always been able to make enough creative decisions to fulfill him artistically. But recently, with so many shows under his belt, he began to believe it was an important experience for him to have. "It was just this impulse that finally struck me and it was a real learning experience, despite having sat at the right hand of directors for more than 400 hours of television," he said. "I felt like I had a different respect [for directors]; I learned a lot. That will help me going forward in my relationship and prepping other directors, as well as just my general knowledge of being a filmmaker." In addition to showrunning duties on FX's The Strain, Cuse is currently working on a second season of Colony for USA Network and the fifth and final season of Bates Motel over at A&E. Toronto-shot The Strain, which is based on the novels by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, debuts Sunday, Aug. 28 with 10 new episodes. J. Miles Dale (Shadowhunters: The Moral Instruments) directed the first two installments, which means viewers have a while yet until Cuse's episode premieres. "[Directing the finale] was a huge deal, but you should always be pushing yourself out to a place where you feel just a little bit nervous about doing something. Out of that comes good work; things that are really meaningful. So that's what I try to do," he said. "The process of what I do is always about learning and trying to get better and improving my craft. That was part of the journey for me, was to actually direct." In terms of on-set learning, Cuse has certainly surrounded himself with a talented bunch. That includes Strainco-producer del Toro, whom Cuse tells THR was "super supportive," Banshee's Greg Yaitanes, and his longtime friend Michelle MacLaren (Breaking Bad), who warned him to "get used to standing" when he got on set. It all culminated in an experience that Cuse is looking forward to repeating in the near future-perhaps even on Bates Motel or Colony. "I do have the itch to direct again. It's not something that I think will overtake my life, I don't feel like suddenly I just want to be a director," he said. "But being able to have it in my repertoire is something that I really [wanted]. I definitely plan to do it going forward." The Strain season three debuts Sunday, Aug. 28 on FX. (Hollywood Reporter)

The biggest names in film, television and music are coming together to Stand Up to Cancer. For the fifth time, the charity is airing a live fundraising special complete with a star-studded lineup. Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Emma Stone, Anna Kendrick, and Ken Jeong are among the celebs set to appear at the event. Legendary singer Celine Dion is also scheduled to give a live performance during the broadcast, and Keith Urban will be performing alongside fellow country stars Little Big Town. It was previously announced that Bradley Cooper would serve as executive producer for the live telecast, and will work alongside award-winning production team Done + Dusted, in collaboration with the Stand Up to Cancer production team. Stand Up to Cancer launched in 2008 as a celebrity-powered telethon, and counts Katie Couric among its co-founders. Its mission is to enlist the entertainment industry in the fight for a cure. Four telethons have been broadcast in the U.S. and have been made available to more than 190 countries. To date, over $370 million has been pledged to support cancer research programs, with the initial 2008 event raising more than $100 million alone. Stand Up to Cancer will air its fifth televised fundraising special live from The Music Center's Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m. ET. (People)

'Awards Chatter' Podcast -- David Schwimmer ('The People v. O.J. Simpson'). The beloved 'Friends' alum, who will turn 50 this year, talks about the dark side of celebrity, turning down Will Smith's part in 'Men in Black' and why he decided to return to TV to play Kim Kardashian's dad. "Friends and some other shows were water cooler shows," says David Schwimmer, who is best known for playing Ross Geller on that staple of 1990s "Must See TV," as we sit down at The Hollywood Reporter to record an episode of the 'Awards Chatter' podcast. "But to do that today [with FX's limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson, in which Schwimmer plays Simpson's late friend and attorney Robert Kardashian], when there are so many different kinds of ways to watch and to consume television? I thought it was a remarkable achievement." For his portrayal of Kardashian, the 49-year-old has received his second Emmy nomination, in the category of outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or TV movie, 21 years after receiving his first, for Friends. Schwimmer was born in New York and raised in LA, but his heart has long belonged to Chicago, where he attended Northwestern University and first fell in love with acting. The Lookingglass Theatre Company, which he helped to found, became a huge focus of his life during his undergraduate years. "When we were graduating we were kind of the shit," he recalls with a laugh. Over the ensuing three decades, he has continued to act, write, direct and produce works for Lookingglass, which he describes as "the most stable artistic home" he's ever had. He only headed west again after a manager suggested he would be able to earn a lot of money very quickly -- money that he intended to put right back into the theater company. Instead, he spent seven years struggling to make ends meet, working as a waiter at restaurants and occasionally landing small parts on TV. "I was so frustrated and discouraged," he recalls. Things changed, however, when David Crane and Marta Kauffman, who had auditioned him for a pilot that never made it to air, wrote for him the role of Ross Geller in their next show, Insomnia Cafe -- which later became Friends. The NBC comedy series hit the air in 1994 and was an instant smash -- at its height, it attracted 52 million viewers. It also turned its six principal castmembers into overnight celebrities -- which wasn't an easy transition for Schwimmer, who was 27. "It was pretty jarring and it messed with my relationship to other people in a way that took years, I think, for me to adjust to and become comfortable with," he says. "As an actor, the way I was trained, my job was to observe life and to observe other people, so I used to walk around with my head up, really engaged and watching people. The effect of celebrity was the absolute opposite: it made me want to hide under a baseball cap and not be seen. And I realized after a while that I was no longer watching people; I was trying to hide. So I was trying to figure out: How do I be an actor in this new world, in this new situation? How do I do my job? That was tricky." TV stardom is different than any other kind, Schwimmer later realized. Actors are piped into a viewer's living room as the same character for a long stretch of time, so "you lived with us for 10 years, we are part of the family, in a way," he says. "There's less of a barrier than there is with, say, a big movie star -- you see them in this other kind of a space with a lot of other people on a big screen and you see that their role changes in every movie, for the most part. They're very different people in very different situations, whereas in our show I'm the same guy for 10 years, you can rely on me to be a certain way and you know me -- or you think you know me." Another byproduct of this kind of success is that many people -- outside and inside of the business -- have a hard time seeing the actor as anyone other than the character he or she became famous playing. "I was very aware of the power of the success of the show," Schwimmer acknowledges, which is why he began planning for life after Friends even while it was still on the air. After shadowing the celebrated directors James Burrows and Kevin Bright and receiving the blessing of his castmates, he directed 10 episodes of the show. And during its hiatuses, he took on other roles, in films like The Pallbearer and TV movies like Band of Brothers, aiming "to play the long game and hopefully change some peoples' minds," while acknowledging that "others will just see Ross in World War II." During Friends' run, Schwimmer also directed a film starring the Lookingglass company, Since You've Been Gone -- turning down an offer to play the role that Will Smith wound up playing in Men in Black in order to do so. "It wasn't even like a choice," he says. And after Friends ended in 2004, he directed a couple of other indies, 2007's Run, Fatboy, Run and 2010's Trust, and made occasional cameos on TV shows, such as one in Curb Your Enthusiasm. But he "was very resistant" to doing another series, preferring instead to focus on other artistic pursuits and his new family -- he married the British artist Zoe Buckman in 2010 and she gave birth to their daughter, Chloe, in 2011. What brought Schwimmer back to TV was the other talent associated with The People v. O.J. Simpson and an assurance that it would deal with its subject matter respectfully. Creator Ryan Murphy, whom Schwimmer has long admired, told him he was aiming for something like the 1976 film Network. "That, more than anything, really landed with me," he says. When he signed on to the project, he "had no idea" who Kardashian was, but he read books, watched videos and did research online. "The single most helpful thing," he says, was speaking "for hours" with Kardashian's widow, Kris Jenner. "There were a couple of clues that she gave me," he says. "He [Kardashian] had a crisis of faith." In the end, Schwimmer's Kardashian serves as the conscience of the series -- which received 22 Emmy noms, just one shy of leader Game of Thrones. Kardashian was the one guy who had nothing to gain from the outcome of the case. He was simply one of Simpson's -- you'll pardon the phrasing -- friends. (Hollywood Reporter)