ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Here's Why Mark Ballas and BC Jean Won't Be Going on a Honeymoon Right After Their Wedding. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the dream honeymoon. Just a few short days after Mark Ballas and BC Jean exchanged vows at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, Calif., Dancing With the Stars fans are asking one big question: Where are the newlyweds going next? Instead of traveling somewhere tropical or exploring a whole new country, E! News has learned that the pair is staying put on the East Coast for Mark's latest role. The professional dancer is headed back to Broadway where he is portraying Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. After taking a week off from performing, Mark is scheduled to return Tuesday night to the August Wilson Theatre. According to the show's website, Mark is booked to perform six shows a week until the final performance on January 15, 2017. With a bit more time to prepare for a honeymoon, Mark and his wife are now savoring every moment they can as husband and wife. Celebrity events planner David Tutera was able to plan a romantic ceremony that featured several familiar guests including Cheryl Burke, Val Chmerkovskiy, Julianne Hough and Sharna Burgess. And while wedding details remain quite private, Mark's best man Derek Hough couldn't help but tease how special the day was in a heartfelt post. "Witnessing their love be sealed under a beautiful oak tree in front of family friends was such a special moment," the Hairspray Live star shared on Instagram. "Love you too." Mark also shared video of his groomsmen participating in the mannequin challenge just moments before walking down the aisle. "Knowing that I am going to spend the rest of my days with BC gives me more comfort than anything else ever could," Mark recently shared on Instagram. "She is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I can't wait for our life ahead." Congratulations! (Eonline)
Michelle Williams Gets Candid About Raising Daughter Matilda Without Heath Ledger: ''It Just Won't Ever Be Right.'' Michelle Williams is getting all kinds of candid about her personal life -- including everything from raising her daughter Matilda without Heath Ledger and even stepping into the world of dating -- in the latest issue of Porter magazine. "Talk about a learning process. I think, God, what would I say about it? I feel really sensitive about it and certainly did not expect to still be dating at 36 with an 11-year-old. This is not what I imagined," she explained to the fashion publication. "I'm like a cat, I'm a very domestic creature. I just want to stay home and take care of people. But I'm also happy with myself and just because I might have a desire to be with someone... that won't lead me to marry the wrong person." The Manchester by the Sea star also admitted that she's been on the receiving end of some pretty tough love by none other than her longtime best friend Busy Phillips. "My friend Busy and her husband Marc [Silverstein] said, 'Michelle, you're in like a blackout zone, everybody is now partnered up and you have to wait for people to start getting divorced.' Oh my f--king God. Are you kidding me? I'm just sitting around and waiting for marriages to crumble? Oh wow! No!" But perhaps Michelle's most forthcoming moment in the interview was when she opened up about her daughter growing up without a father. "In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I'm a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you've been. In pretty much all senses but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not having her dad. You know, that's just something that doesn't... I mean, it just won't ever be right." To see the full interview with Michelle, buy the latest issue of PORTER, on sale on December 2. (Eonline)
Why Kristen Bell Is Team Human: "We Need to See All Walks of Life and All Types of People." Many of us have always had roofs over our head and a warm bed to call our own, however, there are hundreds of thousands of people across our country who do not have homes. Kristen Bell has passionately volunteered her time with P.A.T.H (People Assisting The Homeless) for the last few years and opened up to E! News exclusively in an interview. "It was right after I had kids, and it really hit me because I had just had a baby, and I was sort of floating around this idea that everybody is someone else's baby...I would want others who are capable and had the ability to reach out a helping hand, and my mom always taught me that you have two hands for a reason, one hand is for you and one is for some giving," the Good Place star shared with us while at P.A.T.H in Hollywood. P.A.T.H is a nonprofit whose mission is to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities. They've been around for over 30 years, and in just the last three years they've helped more than 6,500 people in California find permanent homes. Kristen has helped move in many families with P.A.T.H and explains, "It's really important not to stay in our bubble, and we need to see all walks of life and all types of people and hear their stories and learn how we can work together." She added, "because it's really just team human you know what I mean?" Yes. And in working together, hopefully we can see our homeless population rate lower. One way you can get involved with P.A.T.H is participating in what Kristen calls an "invisible feast," an event she has co-chaired for the last couple of years. "It's an event we have here at P.A.T.H in the fall where we say we're not going to make you come to an event, get dressed up and feed you a rubber chicken -- just whatever you would have spent on a night out with your family...$40, $70, whatever it is, donate it, and we will make sure 100% of the proceeds go to helping people find a permanent home." #TeamHuman. (Eonline)
Pink's Daughter Willow Is Ready For Her Big Sister Duties! Pink is getting ready for baby No. 2... and so is her first born, Willow! As you know, the 37-year-old surprised all of us earlier this month when she announced she's expecting another little angel with her husband Carey Hart. Then, we got another sneak peek at her bump shortly after Thanksgiving. So sweet! Taking to Instagram on Monday, the proud momma shared a pic of her five-year-old preparing for her big sister duties by practicing how to change a diaper on a baby doll. (Perez Hilton)
Exes Bella Hadid & The Weeknd Ran Into Each Other In Paris Ahead Of The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show -- Here's What Went Down! It would be a nightmare to see your ex while in the city of love, right? WRONG! Just take a look at friendly exes Bella Hadid and The Weeknd. Apparently, the stunning model and the Starboy singer ran into each other on Monday evening while out and about in Paris, France! It's said Yolanda Hadid's daughter and a few of her friends stopped by the 26-year-old's table while he was grabbing dinner with Ryan Phillippe and others at the Hôtel Costes. A source dished to E! News: "Bella sat next to The Weeknd and spoke for a little while to him. They were really cool with each other. Bella was in a great mood, smiling and seemed really happy while being there." Well that's nice to hear! As you know, the duo called it quits on their relationship earlier this month over some scheduling conflicts and their heavy workloads. Ironically, both Bella and The Weeknd are in Paris for work as the It-girl is slated to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show while her former flame is scheduled to perform. While many were concerned about how this breakup would affect the highly anticipated fashion show, it seems like the A-listers are totally fine with working alongside each other. The insider added: "Bella was so excited that she's walking in the Victoria's Secret Show this year, and she knows it may be a bit strange having her ex-perform. She will be OK because she'll have all her best friends there." Phew! Not to mention, we have a feeling Bella and The Weeknd's love story isn't quite over for good -- or, at least, we hope it isn't! (Perez Hilton)
Evan Rachel Woods has revealed that she has been raped on two occasions, once by a "significant other". The 29-year-old actress had previously spoken to Rolling Stones magazine about the "physical, psychological, sexual" abuse she had previously experienced but Monday took to Twitter to clarify her comments. Attaching a picture of a letter to a Tweet, she said: "I've been raped. By a significant other while we were together. And on a separate occasion, by the owner of a bar." Expanding on her reasons for opening up, Woods wrote: "I will not be ashamed... I don't believe we live in a time where people can stay silent any longer." Currently starring in the HBO series Westworld, Woods previously had a relationship with Marilyn Mansion and then went on to marry and then divorce actor Jamie Bell. The pair have a son together. (British Glamour)
Brad Pitt spent Thanksgiving weekend "hanging out with one of his buddies" because Angelina Jolie wouldn't let him see their children over the holiday, Page Six has exclusively learned. Reports had said Pitt might join Jolie and their brood in spite of their bruising divorce battle. But the two were 3,000 miles apart. A spy said, "He was at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos over Thanksgiving in a private villa," adding, "Angie wouldn't let him see the kids." Another source said, "Brad was with one of his male buddies for the weekend." Villas at the posh island retreat reportedly go for up to $34,000 per night. It's the same getaway where Kelly Ripa headed with husband Mark Consuelos days after the bombshell news that her "Live With Kelly" co-host Michael Strahan was headed to "Good Morning America." Chelsea Clinton took time off there during her mother's campaign this year while she was pregnant, and other stars who've stayed include Olivia Wilde, Emily Ratajkowski and rocker Bryan Ferry, who got married at Amanyara in 2012. Pitt and Jolie were known to be guests at Amanyara's sister properties Amanpuri in Thailand and Amangiri in Utah. Despite reports that Jolie had called a "temporary truce" so that Pitt could break bread with the family for the holiday, we hear that Jolie and the kids were in LA. Before the island retreat, Pitt was on a whirlwind Steven Spielberg was in the audience at an East Hampton showing, Page Six reported. Pitt filed for joint custody of the kids this month after Jolie filed divorce papers in LA in September. He was cleared last week in an alleged FBI abuse investigation stemming from an incident with one of the couple's kids, Maddox, on a private jet. The LA Department of Children and Family Services also cleared Pitt of any charges. Reps did not comment. On Monday, a report that Pitt was secretly dating Kate Hudson was widely shot down. (Page Six)
Kanye West Is "Not Ready to Go Back Home," but Kim Kardashian Is "Staying by His Side." Kanye West will remain in the hospital a little while longer, E! News has learned. The "Famous" rapper "isn't ready to go back home," a source tells E! News, adding that the decision to stay is "for the best." "Kanye is the kind of person if he gets released and isn't mentally ready he will go back to his old ways and push himself over the limit again," the source explains. "He needs to keep up with counseling even though he has an intense work schedule. He is just really drained and still weak. He isn't himself." Fortunately, Kanye has wife Kim Kardashian to help him get through his tough time. "Kim is being patient and staying by his side," the source adds. "They both have been through a lot but are staying strong as a married couple and helping one another get back up." The couple, who have been married for two years, aren't worried about their relationship. "They know in the end this will bring them closer," the source says. "Their love has not been affected during this hard time, but it has been tested to see if they can get through it. They have faith they will." A separate source tells E! News that Kanye "is not being held against his will" and dispels rumors that he was ever "chained to a gurney." "He's not being forced to be there," says the source, adding that Kanye is not in a "psych ward" but rather is getting treatment by "world-class doctors" specializing in mental health and total "wellness." Last week Kanye voluntarily admitted himself into a Los Angeles hospital after working around the clock on his tour, fashion line and other projects took too much of a toll on the star. The hospitalization came after Kanye arrived to a make-up concert 30 minutes late and ranted about Jay Z and Beyonce. He left the stage early and canceled his Sunday performance, too. Come Monday, he'd cancel the remainder of his Saint Pablo Tour, which included visits to major American cities such as Brooklyn, Washington and Philadelphia. "The remaining dates on the Saint Pablo Tour have been canceled," a rep for West told E! News in a statement. "Tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase." (Eonline)
Shannen Doherty Undergoes First Day of Radiation Treatment in Breast Cancer Battle. Shannen Doherty is taking the next steps in her breast cancer battle. The Beverly Hills, 90210 album documented her first day of radiation Monday on Instagram and opened up to her fans and followers about her mentality going into the doctor's office Monday. "First day of radiation treatment. I look like I'm about to make a run for it which is accurate." She continued, "Radiation is frightening to me. Something about not being able to see this laser, see the treatment and having this machine moving around you just scares me. I'm sure I'll get used to it but right now... I hate it. #radiation #radiationmondaysucks #stillfightinglikeagirl." During a candid, emotional interview late last month, the actress spoke from the heart about how she and her husband, Kurt Iswarienko, have been handling her diagnosis and treatment plan. "I think what's beautiful and hard and interesting about cancer is that it tears you down and builds you, and tears you down and builds you. It remakes you so many different times. The person I thought I was supposed to be or was going to be or who I thought I was six months ago is now somebody completely different." The 45-year-old added, "Cancer is not pleasant but it can bring out the best in relationships or the worse. Thankfully, it has made our marriage stronger." Doherty revealed in court documents that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2015 while suing her business manager for neglecting to pay her medical insurance. (Eonline)
Star Wars' Felicity Jones: "I Want to Be Paid Fairly for the Work That I'm Doing." The 33-year-old British actress, who starred in The Theory of Everything and plays young rebel Jyn Erso in the new film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is the latest actress to speak openly about the problem, following the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Patricia Arquette. "I want to be paid fairly for the work that I'm doing," Jones told Glamour in an interview published in the magazine's January 2017 issue (available Dec. 6), which features her on the cover and in a fashion spread. "That's what every single woman around the world wants," she said. "We want to be paid on parity with a man in a similar position. And I think it's important to talk about it." (Eonline)
Melania Trump just got what she was after ... the man who posted the YouTube video suggesting Barron had autism is taking the video down. The guy who posted the video says, "TMZ just contacted me to tell me Melania Trump is threatening a lawsuit over this video ... I never ever meant this as a bullying video." The video was posted by someone who says he was diagnosed with autism at age 5, and he says he posted the video because he wanted to stop people for bullying Barron over his "weird behavior." Fact is ... Barron does not have autism and the video perpetuated the bullying, but the guy behind the video says it will come down and he will issue a retraction and an apology to Melania and Barron. As for Rosie O'Donnell -- who also suggested Barron had autism -- she's been radio silent Monday, but over the weekend she posted a long statement saying she meant no ill will but also never took back her questions about Barron and autism. (TMZ)
Kate Major's gonna pay BIG for her arrest last month -- a judge is locking her up for the next 6 months ... TMZ has learned. Michael Lohan's estranged wife was sentenced Monday for violating probation. Her October arrest in Florida for attacking a cop triggered the violation ... according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Kate was already on probation for a 2015 incident in New Orleans when she allegedly got wasted on a plane and threatened the crew. Sources close to Kate tell us she asked for rehab instead of jail time but got shut down. When she gets out of jail, Kate will still face assault, and drunk and disorderly charges for the alleged cop attack. (TMZ)
Fetty Wap better dig deeper into his pockets if he wants to settle a suit with his old homie, P-Dice -- 'cause $1 million ain't cuttin' it ... according to Dice himself. We got the former Remy Boyz member leaving Panera Bread in NYC with a fat stack of cash and a grip of his homeboys, and he says Fetty tried settling last month with $6 mil less than what Dice wanted. We broke the story ... PD claims Fetty cut his verse out of the hit song "679" to allegedly avoid paying him a higher percentage than he got off the multi-platinum song. PD says this isn't a street thing ... strictly business. And Fetty better pay up if he knows what's good for him. (TMZ)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Celebrity biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli is working on a book about Jackie Onassis, her sister, Lee Radziwill and their mother, Janet Auchincloss, to be published by St. Martin's Press next year. "Lee is adamantly against the book and has told her friends not to talk," one source told me. Among those Taraborrelli wants to interview for "Jackie, Janet and Lee" are Lee's former lovers photographer Peter Beard and architect Richard Meier and friends such as fashion designer Marc Jacobs, Broadway costumer William Ivey Long, Carolina Herrera, Andre Leon Talley and couturier Ralph Rucci. Radziwill hates being compared to her older, more accomplished sister, and told Vanity Fair last spring, "Please tell me this is not a story about my sister and me. I'm just sick of that! It's like we're Siamese twins!" Taraborrelli -- whose 18 books include bios of Madonna, Cher and Diana Ross -- will cover the rivalry between the sisters, who competed for the attention of men such as Aristotle Onassis. Onassis was pursuing Lee until JFK was assassinated. Then the Greek mogul shifted his romantic focus to Jackie and married the former first lady in 1968. (Page Six)
Natalie Portman may have lost the best actress category at the 2016 Gotham Awards, but she was definitely one of the best dressed. The road to the Oscars is officially here, and Monday's event marked the start of award season where Portman, a veteran red carpet style star, hid her baby bump with intricate beading and elaborate sequins. The mother-to-be, 35, wore an elegant white dress from Rodarte's Spring 2017 ready-to-wear collection. Her stylist Kate Young shared a close-up look of the designer ensemble's floral designs on Instagram for all fashion lovers to obsess over. The Jackie star completed her ensemble with an Eddie Borgo clutch as well as gold and pearl jewelry from Tiffany & Co. Joining her at the awards show was husband Benjamin Millepied. Portman and Millepied are expecting their second child together. The couple, who were married in 2012 in Big Sur, California, are already parents to 5-year-old son Aleph. Also at the Keegan-Michael Key-hosted event were Katie Holmes (in Zac Posen), Moonlight's Janelle Monae (in Christian Siriano) and Amy Adams (in Max Mara) who was honored with the career-tribute honor. (People)
Nerves of steel! Looks like Mark Ballas didn't have any wedding day jitters, because just moments before he walked down the aisle, he was doing the mannequin challenge with his groomsmen. The Dancing With the Stars pro tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, BC Jean, on Friday, November 25, but he certainly wasn't sweating about saying "I do." Ballas posted an Instagram video of the group, including Derek Hough, suited and booted in the moments before his nuptials. "Meanwhile in the groomsmen room moments before walking the aisle ??" he captioned the video, that was set to Drake's "Hot Bling." The camera panned around the small room to capture Ballas having his tuxedo adjusted while his buddies checked their old-fashioned pocket watches and guzzled champagne. As Us Weekly reported the couple got married at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu in front of family and friends including DWTS alums Julianne Hough, her brother Derek, and his girlfriend Hayley Erbert, Brittany Cherry, Sharna Burgess, Keo Motsepe, Julz Tocker, Burke, Sasha Farber, Emma Slater and Jenna Johnson. Derek served as best man and shared a black and white picture on Instagram on Friday before the ceremony that showed him holding the pocket watch. "It's Time!" he captioned the photo. He also posted a heartfelt message along with a cute snap of the happy couple after they made their vows. Ballas, 30, who is currently appearing in Broadway's Jersey Boys and didn't compete on season 23 of DWTS proposed to Jean the day before Thanksgiving last year. (US Weekly)
Dolly Parton's Dollywood is under siege from wildfires which have triggered a rescue mission for several bald eagles inside one of the theme park's sanctuaries. Dollywood, which is near the fires raging in Gatlinburg, TN, is also home to the American Eagle Foundation -- a group dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating birds of prey. The group shelters nearly a dozen bald eagles, and we're told staffers rounded up 50 of the birds Monday night. We're told there are still a handful left to be captured and moved. The foundation's President, Al Cecere, tells TMZ the sanctuary's location puts the birds at serious risk for smoke inhalation. They'll remain at a nearby convention center until the air is clear and the park is safe. Dollywood evacuated guests Monday, but so far firefighters have kept the flames at bay. (TMZ)
Everything must go for John Krasinski and Emily Blunt ... at least on the West Coast, where they just struck another deal to unload a home, but for way below the original asking price. John and Emily bought the Ojai, CA home for $2.15 million back in 2012 ... then put it on the market last year with realtor Patty Waltcher for $4.25 mil. They didn't get any takers, so they slashed the price, and slashed ... and slashed some more before finally accepting an offer for around $2.75 mil. The 5 bed, 5 bath home's now in escrow. It features 4,177 sq ft of hardwood floors, 4 fireplaces, a pool and gorgeous mountain views. It's the second SoCal property the couple's dumped this year. Kendall Jenner snagged their hip WeHo home in June. (TMZ)
Neil Young is calling on President Barack Obama "to step in and end" what he calls the "violence" against protesters demonstrating against an oil pipeline being built in North Dakota on part of an Indian reservation. In an open letter on Facebook posted Monday, the 71-year-old rock star calls the protest at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation "an awakening." He says demonstrators are "standing strong in the face of outrageous, unnecessary and violent aggression." He says law enforcement agencies and the National Guard are "seemingly acting to protect the interests of the Dakota Access Pipeline profiteers" with taxpayer money. Young also chided President-elect Donald Trump, labeling him the "surprise president." The letter is signed by Young and his girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah. Young included a video of him singing against the backdrop of the protest camp. (Page Six)
Wiz Khalifa almost buried the hatchet with Kanye West by extending a weed stem ... but then turned hostile on 'Ye again at the last second. We got Wiz leaving Catch Monday night, where he sounded sympathetic to Kanye's recent mental breakdown and even offers a psychedelic remedy that he specializes in. But before he leaves ... he takes one last shot at his hip-hop foe, who once claimed to own Wiz and Amber Rose's kid. Old grudges die hard. (TMZ)
Mohamed and Yolanda Hadid are living every parent's dream -- off to Paris to watch their daughters flaunt their talents ... in lingerie. Gigi and Bella Hadid's folks couldn't hide their smiles at LAX as they jetted off for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show ... where Bella's making her debut at the lingerie line's biggest event. Mohamed and Yolanda aren't the least bit nervous for their little rookie. As for the girls -- they jetted off Sunday aboard the GREATEST flight. Ever. (TMZ)
Justin Bieber got down with the fastest man on Earth to celebrate a movie about the Olympian ... and he was anything but sorry to be partying with the champ. Bieber was in London Monday night and showed up to an after-party following a screening of "I Am Bolt" -- a documentary about Usain Bolt's journey to the Rio Olympics. Unclear if the Biebs saw the film itself, but he definitely raged with the man of the hour afterward. One Direction's Liam Payne was there for the screening and party too, but was reportedly on the opposite side of the room ... meaning he missed out on the Bolt/Bieber selfies. (TMZ)
Daniel Baldwin's stance on Hillary Clinton supporting the election recount -- or ever attempting to run for president again -- is very clear ... PLEASE STOP! We got the Baldwin bro at LAX and just like Alec, Billy and Stephen ... he's extremely opinionated about Donald Trump's victory -- but he's definitely not on Alec's side of the street. As for all the pissed off protesters -- Daniel says the people have spoken. He does have a suggestion for 'em though. (TMZ)
Music
Prince's Paisley Park will host a four-day celebration of the "Purple Rain" megastar's life next year. The event, "Celebration 2017," will be held April 20-23 during the anniversary of his death. Bands scheduled to perform include The Revolution, Morris Day and The Time, and members of the New Power Generation and 3RDEYEGIRL. Four-day VIP and general admission passes are available online. General admission tickets cost $499 and include up to five hours of event programming each day, including access to four concerts. VIP tickets cost $999 and include on-site parking, photo and autograph opportunities and a meal pass. Prince died April 21 of an accidental overdose at Paisley Park, his home and recording complex in suburban Minneapolis. Paisley Park opened as a museum last month. (Page Six)
Justice to Play Pre-NYE Show in New York City. Close out 2016 with a whole lot of dance. French duo Justice is on a mission to make you move your feet all night long on Dec. 30 at New York City's Pier 94. The event, presented by RPM, marks the duo's first ticketed performance since the release of their third studio album "Woman" on Nov. 18. The set is an addition to RPM Presents & Big Week NYC's busy week including DJ Snake's Pardon My French tour hitting the Big Apple on Dec. 28 at Pier 54. Tickets are now on sale here. (Billboard)
Amazon Echo vs. Google Home: Which Speaker Is the Smart Choice for Music Listeners? The streaming-music war has moved from laptops and smartphones into our living rooms. And when you're not at the desk or on the phone, it's much easier to simply ask for the song you want to hear instead of typing it in. The Amazon Echo, which might be best described as a smart speaker, makes this appealingly easy -- just say, "Alexa, play," and then tell it what song you want. (What songs you can choose from depends on what service you're using.) Now Google Home is giving it a run for its money, and Apple is said to be working on a speaker that will use its Siri technology. Even if you can control your home stereo with iTunes or Sonos, Alexa and Google Home are more convenient, even delightful. Voice control still feels odd -- I found myself fighting the urge to say "Tea, Earl Grey, hot" -- but it's already far easier than a simple onscreen interface (and it's improving rapidly). Both the Amazon Echo and Google Home let you spend that much less time staring at a screen, which is inherently appealing, plus ask for music when your hands are full. (Siri is rarely listening unless it's told to do so, but its use in the latest Apple TV is promising.) And although neither speaker can compete with serious stereos in terms of sound quality, they're ideal for a kitchen or bedroom. Smart speakers will be an important part of the music business: By 2020, the market for them will grow by 500 percent, to $2 billion, according to the technology consultancy Gartner. There's already more to these systems than music: Alexa can play news and weather, summon an Uber, and get basic information from the Internet; Google Home has better search functionality, and it can serve as a personal assistant for those who use Google Calendar. (They both also tell really corny jokes.) Both speakers can run "smart home technology" -- turning on and off networked home appliances -- although that's not practical yet for most people. And they can do it while playing almost any song you choose.
A$AP Ferg is Back in the Studio Working on His 'Still Striving' Project. Even on the road, A$AP Ferg manages to squeeze in studio time. While wrapping up his Turnt and Burnt Tour with Playboy Carti and Rob $tone, the Harlem rapper has been diligently putting the finishing touches on his new project Still Striving. On Monday (Nov. 28), Ferg posted a picture on Instagram of him holding a mic with the caption reading: "In the studio and never leaving. #stillstriving on the way!!" This past April, he released his sophomore album Always Strive and Prosper, which featured Big Sean, Rick Ross, Chris Brown and Missy Elliot. Ferg was also in the studio working with The Alchemist and Dr. Dre last month. Billboard reached out to A$AP Ferg's rep for comment. (Billboard)
HARD Summer 2016 Deaths Confirmed as Ecstasy Overdoses. The San Bernardino County Sheriff Coroner's Division has officially ruled the cause of death of three attendees at July's HARD Music Festival as ecstasy overdoses. According to a report by the Fontana Herald News, Derek Lee, 22, Alyssa Domingo, 21, and Roxanne Ngo, 22, passed away of acute MDMA toxicity. There were nine medical transports throughout the two-day event, which hosted about 146,000. This was HARD Summer's first year in the city of Fontana, Calif., following a move from its usual home of Los Angeles. San Bernardino County considered banning electronic music festivals earlier this year but has taken no official action. Billboard Dance has reached out to HARD Events for comment. (Billboard)
Gucci Mane Drops Chilly 'Last Time' Video Feat. Travis Scott. The grind doesn't stop for Gucci Mane. On Monday (Nov. 28), the Atlanta rapper surprised fans with a snowy visual for his single "Last Time" featuring Travis Scott. Guwop teased a possible video for "Last Time" during an interview on Scott's Beats 1 show .Wav. Fortunately, he made good on his promise and released the Harmony Korine-directed clip. Korine and Gucci forged a friendship several years ago when the rapper made a cameo in Korine's 2012 film Spring Breakers. (The pair are expected to re-team for Korine's forthcoming film The Trap, which also stars Benicio del Toro, Al Pacino and James Franco.) Mane is currently pushing his third solo project this year titled The Return of East Atlanta Santa, which follows the 2016 releases Everybody Looking and Woptober. For those itching for some new Gucci merchandise, fans can snag some new gear here. The "Last Time" video also arrives after Mane's Bryson Tiller-assisted single "Drove U Crazy" surfaced Monday as well. The Return of East Atlanta Santa is due Dec. 16. (Billboard)
Theophilus London On His Return to Music, Ariel Pink Collaboration and ClapIt Partnership. There aren't many artists fortunate enough to hold a Kanye West-produced album in their discography or can even tap Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld for art-direction on a project, but for Theophilus London, an anomaly among his rap counterparts, those are just the few encounters that helped bolster his rise to prominence since his 2008 debut mixtape Jam! After the release of his last studio effort, Vibes, in 2014, London's ingenuity has been relatively absent from the music scene, a hiatus he took to from the "madness" he's endured over his eight-year career. "I just wanted to take two years off and see where I fit in this new industry, a lot of things have changed," he told Billboard about his break. "I just wanted to take some time off to enjoy it again. I'm ready and I feel a burning desire inside of me to start again." The Trinidad-born, Brooklyn-raised MC moved to Los Angeles during his hiatus but cited his recent return to the Big Apple as the fuel that ignited his hunger to get back in the studio to create new material. "I'm interested in flourishing in the music industry for the next 10 to 15 years, really be present and consistent," he says. London added that apart from his homecoming, his comeback was also inspired by candid conversations between he and a few friends, who reminded the "Can't Stop" rhymer of his past musical creations and helped imbue a greater appreciation for music in him. While he's maintained a steady presence among today's ever-changing musical landscape, London often finds himself digging into the past, whether he's drawing inspiration from his musical influences Michael Jackson and Prince or combing through old emails when he feels "nostalgic" to discover oft-forgotten beats that were previously sent to him. For his newly released single "Revenge," the style maven recreated New Musik's "They All Run After the Carving Knife," an email sent from a friend back in 2008, and tapped the "free-forming musicianship" of Ariel Pink, which took the two artists 72 hours to create. Doused with a driving energy and psychedelic guitar riffs, the infectious pairing of Pink and London straddles the line between New Wave sounds and Funk basslines as London coos "They race to the top, yeah / until they drop, ohh / when they take all the pain Is it all in vein?" over the synth-laden track. Honing in on his entrepreneurial skills, London teamed up with social media appClapit, an interactive mobile network designed to support rising artists by allowing them to upload short clips of their talent to the app and the best videos uploaded receives a "clap," heightening the chances of gaining global recognition. "My partnership with the app wasn't about the single ["Revenge"], it was about me wanting to reach out to those obscure kids that I can't reach out to on any other social media," he offered. The rapper recently launched an open call challenge with the app where participants must upload their videos using the hashtag #theophiluslondon, and the highest clapped video will win the chance to meet London. "I have been blessed with amazing mentors throughout my career so I look forward to being able to discover and acknowledge some of the country's most promising young talent on Clapit," said London. "It's an authentic community of creatives, where we can support talent together. We're out here scouting emerging artists, talents looking for their big break." With his comeback in full-swing, London reveals that he has a multitude of new material waiting to be unleashed including the Mark Ronson collaborative number "Whiplash," which he performed earlier this year during a performance at the Boiler Room in Brooklyn, and a Skepta-produced track titled "Alone." "I have about 50-60 songs sitting in my studio right now," he continued adding that his collection includes freestyles from his Kanye West-helmed Vibes session. "I'm a music-head so I kind of want to form them into a free-forming mixtape, something that people can collect and not tie it down to an album." London continues saying that his break allowed him to "to stop and foresee the future." "Making it about music and skill and transforming into sub-cultures – that's what I'm interested in." (Billboard)
Movies
South Korean Cinema Admissions Drop Amid Anti-President Protests. Monthly revenue decreased about 30 percent from October, as Koreans took to the streets in massive weekly demonstrations against President Park Geun-hye. South Korea, which has a high rate of movie going, has turned its back on popcorn entertainment amid the country's recent political turmoil. Cinema admissions dropped considerably as five consecutive weekly protests took place near the presidential residence in Seoul. Ever since Korean President Park Geun-hye became involved in a corruption scandal in October, anti-president crowds have grown larger each weekend, crossing 1 million on Nov. 12 and peaking at 1.3 million Nov. 26 (Korea has a population of 50 million). The weekly rallies mark the largest organized protest in Korea since the democratization movement in 1987 and have taken place on Saturdays, which usually draw the largest number of moviegoers. According to the Korean Film Council's KOBIS database, cinemas nationwide earned $83.6 million during the month of November, compared with $119.9 million in October. This is a 30.3 percent drop ($36.3 million). It is also 17.9 percent ($18.2 million) less compared with last year, or $101.8 million (119.5 billion won) in November 2015. The daily admissions rate this month dropped about 27 percent compared with October, from 553,550 to 406,384 per day. During past years, both the average admissions rate and monthly revenue were much higher in November than October. Cinemas suffered a similar decline in 2014 when the nation mourned a large ferry sinking that left hundreds dead. The public outrage is in response to a corruption scandal involving Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of President Park's. Though Choi has no official government position or security clearance, she is alleged to have influenced the president's policies and edited her speeches. Choi is also accused of coercing major businesses to donate millions of dollars to two foundations she runs, and is linked to a minor religious cult. Park's approval rating fell to 4 percent -- a record low for the head of state in Korean history -- since the scandal. In a dramatic, five-minute televised address Tuesday, Park announced that she is willing to step down. "I have now laid everything down," said the 64-year-old, adding that she will leave it to the parliament to decide on the shortening of her five-year term that is supposed to end in February 2018. The nature of the protests, meanwhile, has also been noted by the media, both near and far, for having evolved into a festival of sorts. This past weekend, crowds gathered to hold candles at sundown, march toward the presidential residence, take coffee breaks at food trucks and pick up trash later. K-pop singers including Lee Juck, Yang He-eun and Jeon Ingwon have taken the stage set up on Gwanghwamun Plaza, while A-list actors Yoo Ah-in (who played the lead in last year's Korean Oscar entry The Throne) and Cha In-pyo have been spotted among the masses. Korean expats also participated in a string of demonstrations across the globe, from Paris and Berlin to Washington, D.C., and Sydney. On Nov. 11, some 500 Koreans marched the streets of Los Angeles, which is home to the largest Korean community outside of Korea. (Hollywood Reporter)
Lionsgate Signs New Movie Licensing Deal With China's iQiyi. Film titles like Mark Wahlberg's 'Patriots Day,' 'American Assassin' and 'The Glass Castle' are headed to the Chinese online video company. Lionsgate is about to see top movie titles like Mark Wahlberg's Patriots Day and American Assassin streamed by Chinese audiences as part of its latest output deal with China's iQiyi. The studio on Tuesday unveiled a new licensing agreement with the Chinese partner that covers streaming rights to a host of upcoming movie releases and library titles. The agreement covers subscription video-on-demand, transactional VOD and advertising VOD rights for films streaming on iQiyi's platform in China. iQiyi will have exclusive streaming rights in China to Lionsgate movie titles covered by the pact, enabling the streaming and promotion of the titles on its platform. The Lionsgate deal follows earlier tie-ups between iQiyi and major studios like 20th Century Fox, NBCUniversal and Paramount and a 2015 output deal for varied Lionsgate and third-party feature films. Lionsgate's latest agreement with iQiyi, which has been streaming the studio's titles in China since fall 2015, covers movies like Otto Bathurst's Robin Hood, starring Jamie Foxx; Lionsgate/CBS Films' American Assassin and Patriots Day, starring Mark Wahlberg; the Brie Larson-starrer The Glass Castle; and Wonder, starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay. "We're delighted to expand our relationship with iQiyi, a world-class platform at the cutting edge of delivering premium quality films to online Chinese audiences," Lionsgate executive vp, international sales Wendy Reeds said Tuesday in a statement. iQiyi was Lionsgate's promotional partner earlier this year on Now You See Me 2, the highest-grossing Lionsgate film ever released at the Chinese box office. "Lionsgate has emerged as a major creative force in the global marketplace, and we're proud to continue adding their incredible pipeline of star-driven movies to our platform," Yang Xianghua, senior vp of iQiyi, said in his own statement as the Chinese streamer expands its stable of Hollywood movies available to its subscribers. The agreement was negotiated for Lionsgate by senior vp, international business and legal affairs Christian Perala, who's based in the U.K. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
New Scandal Key Art Promises Big Changes in Season 6. What could season six of Scandal possibly have in store for us? The latest key art for the show promises that "the balance of power is about to shift," which sounds like it at least partially refers to the US presidential election -- the results of which we're still waiting on. When the show returns in January, we'll learn whether the new president will be Mellie Grant or Francisco Vargas, which will also tell us just how much power Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is going to continue to have in Washington D.C. Could she be losing her hold on the country's most powerful players when the show finally returns? Knowing Scandal as we like to think we do, there's probably many meanings to this tagline, and to that secretive, all-knowing look Liv is giving us. She's got something up her sleeve for sure, but we couldn't possibly tell you what it may be. What we can tell you is that this season premiere cannot get here fast enough! Scandal returns Thursday, January 19 at 9 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)
Is Keeping Up With The Kardashians OVER? It's believed Kanye's hospitalization last week temporarily put a stop to filming... Filming for Keeping Up With the Kardashians show has been put "on hold indefinitely". TMZ report that production on the show, which also stars Kim's mother Kris Jenner and her siblings Khloe, Kourtney, Kendall and Kylie, has been shut down for at least the rest of 2016, but possibly longer. Back in October, it was revealed that shooting for the popular reality TV show had been postponed after the program's star Kim Kardashian West was robbed at gunpoint in her apartment in Paris. And now, sources connected with the production have told TMZ that "producers have enough footage for the series commitment, but the plan was to film through the holidays, and that won't happen." It's believed Kanye's hospitalization last week temporarily put a stop to filming, but the latest family drama has made Kim take a pause and she needs to rethink her career. A source has claimed the mother of two is "rethinking everything." Back in October, E! News confirmed the crew were not filming at the time of the robbery, and sent their "love and support" to the TV personality following the attack. A spokesperson from the broadcasting network said: "All of us ate! are incredibly thankful that Kim Kardashian West is safe, and we send her and her family our love and support. "Keeping Up With the Kardashians was not filming at the time of the robbery. Our focus right now is entirely on Kim's well-being." (British Glamour)
'Beaches' TV Movie Starring Idina Menzel, Nia Long. Menzel's version of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" plays in the background. Lifetime has released the first trailer for its TV revival of Beaches. The small-screen remake of the weepy 1988 classic starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey as lifelong friends features Idina Menzel in Midler's role of CC and Nia Long as Hershey's Hillary. The original film was directed by the late Garry Marshall and grossed $57 million at the U.S. box office. The trailer for the Lifetime movie shows CC's and Hillary's chance meeting as kids on the boardwalk -- now set in Venice instead of the original's Atlantic City, N.J. -- followed by snippets of milestones as CC pursues her acting and singing career and Hillary welcomes the birth of her daughter. The film tells the story of friendship, with all its ups and downs, sustaining the pair for decades. The remake will follow CC as she builds her career in Los Angeles, whereas the original took the young pair to NYC while CC made a name for herself on Broadway. The movie will include new takes on Midler's Grammy-winning "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "The Glory of Love." Menzel's version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" plays in the background of the trailer. In August, Midler said she "can't wait" to see the Frozen star step into her iconic role. "Can't wait to see Idina Menzel as CC in Lifetime's 'Beaches!' " she tweeted, adding: "DON'T TELL ME THE ENDING!" Lifetime's Beaches, which premieres Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV Ratings: 'Supergirl' Climbs as CW Crossover Week Kicks Off. The first of four Greg Berlanti-produced series to blur lines this week matches its season premiere ratings. The CW has got to be feeling good about plans to merge all four of its DC Comics-inspired shows this fall. The four-part crossover kicked off on Monday night to season highs for Supergirl. In its first season on the network, Supergirl rose two-tenths of a point in the key demo to an average 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. That matches its premiere high. Among total viewers, the episode ranks as its most-watched on the CW with 3.5 million viewers. The network will try to repeat that live-plus-same day success with episodes of The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. (Lead-out Jane the Virgin was modestly improved with an average 0.5 rating in the key demo.) Monday's big winner was NBC and The Voice. The singing competition, its season finale now in sight, held steady with a 2.0 rating in the key demo -- broadcast's biggest score for the night. At 10 p.m., Timeless fetched a steady 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. ABC aired special CMA Country Christmas to the tune of a 1.3 rating among adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers. That score, like Conviction's, is tentative on account of NFL preemptions. On Fox, Gotham held steady with a 1.0 rating in the key demo, and Lucifer improved to a 1.2 rating. And, on CBS, The Odd Couple was forced to go it alone in a sea of repeats. The series dipped to a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49. (Hollywood Reporter)
Michelle Williams Gets Candid About Raising Daughter Matilda Without Heath Ledger: ''It Just Won't Ever Be Right.'' Michelle Williams is getting all kinds of candid about her personal life -- including everything from raising her daughter Matilda without Heath Ledger and even stepping into the world of dating -- in the latest issue of Porter magazine. "Talk about a learning process. I think, God, what would I say about it? I feel really sensitive about it and certainly did not expect to still be dating at 36 with an 11-year-old. This is not what I imagined," she explained to the fashion publication. "I'm like a cat, I'm a very domestic creature. I just want to stay home and take care of people. But I'm also happy with myself and just because I might have a desire to be with someone... that won't lead me to marry the wrong person." The Manchester by the Sea star also admitted that she's been on the receiving end of some pretty tough love by none other than her longtime best friend Busy Phillips. "My friend Busy and her husband Marc [Silverstein] said, 'Michelle, you're in like a blackout zone, everybody is now partnered up and you have to wait for people to start getting divorced.' Oh my f--king God. Are you kidding me? I'm just sitting around and waiting for marriages to crumble? Oh wow! No!" But perhaps Michelle's most forthcoming moment in the interview was when she opened up about her daughter growing up without a father. "In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I'm a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you've been. In pretty much all senses but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not having her dad. You know, that's just something that doesn't... I mean, it just won't ever be right." To see the full interview with Michelle, buy the latest issue of PORTER, on sale on December 2. (Eonline)
Why Kristen Bell Is Team Human: "We Need to See All Walks of Life and All Types of People." Many of us have always had roofs over our head and a warm bed to call our own, however, there are hundreds of thousands of people across our country who do not have homes. Kristen Bell has passionately volunteered her time with P.A.T.H (People Assisting The Homeless) for the last few years and opened up to E! News exclusively in an interview. "It was right after I had kids, and it really hit me because I had just had a baby, and I was sort of floating around this idea that everybody is someone else's baby...I would want others who are capable and had the ability to reach out a helping hand, and my mom always taught me that you have two hands for a reason, one hand is for you and one is for some giving," the Good Place star shared with us while at P.A.T.H in Hollywood. P.A.T.H is a nonprofit whose mission is to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities. They've been around for over 30 years, and in just the last three years they've helped more than 6,500 people in California find permanent homes. Kristen has helped move in many families with P.A.T.H and explains, "It's really important not to stay in our bubble, and we need to see all walks of life and all types of people and hear their stories and learn how we can work together." She added, "because it's really just team human you know what I mean?" Yes. And in working together, hopefully we can see our homeless population rate lower. One way you can get involved with P.A.T.H is participating in what Kristen calls an "invisible feast," an event she has co-chaired for the last couple of years. "It's an event we have here at P.A.T.H in the fall where we say we're not going to make you come to an event, get dressed up and feed you a rubber chicken -- just whatever you would have spent on a night out with your family...$40, $70, whatever it is, donate it, and we will make sure 100% of the proceeds go to helping people find a permanent home." #TeamHuman. (Eonline)
Pink's Daughter Willow Is Ready For Her Big Sister Duties! Pink is getting ready for baby No. 2... and so is her first born, Willow! As you know, the 37-year-old surprised all of us earlier this month when she announced she's expecting another little angel with her husband Carey Hart. Then, we got another sneak peek at her bump shortly after Thanksgiving. So sweet! Taking to Instagram on Monday, the proud momma shared a pic of her five-year-old preparing for her big sister duties by practicing how to change a diaper on a baby doll. (Perez Hilton)
Exes Bella Hadid & The Weeknd Ran Into Each Other In Paris Ahead Of The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show -- Here's What Went Down! It would be a nightmare to see your ex while in the city of love, right? WRONG! Just take a look at friendly exes Bella Hadid and The Weeknd. Apparently, the stunning model and the Starboy singer ran into each other on Monday evening while out and about in Paris, France! It's said Yolanda Hadid's daughter and a few of her friends stopped by the 26-year-old's table while he was grabbing dinner with Ryan Phillippe and others at the Hôtel Costes. A source dished to E! News: "Bella sat next to The Weeknd and spoke for a little while to him. They were really cool with each other. Bella was in a great mood, smiling and seemed really happy while being there." Well that's nice to hear! As you know, the duo called it quits on their relationship earlier this month over some scheduling conflicts and their heavy workloads. Ironically, both Bella and The Weeknd are in Paris for work as the It-girl is slated to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show while her former flame is scheduled to perform. While many were concerned about how this breakup would affect the highly anticipated fashion show, it seems like the A-listers are totally fine with working alongside each other. The insider added: "Bella was so excited that she's walking in the Victoria's Secret Show this year, and she knows it may be a bit strange having her ex-perform. She will be OK because she'll have all her best friends there." Phew! Not to mention, we have a feeling Bella and The Weeknd's love story isn't quite over for good -- or, at least, we hope it isn't! (Perez Hilton)
Evan Rachel Woods has revealed that she has been raped on two occasions, once by a "significant other". The 29-year-old actress had previously spoken to Rolling Stones magazine about the "physical, psychological, sexual" abuse she had previously experienced but Monday took to Twitter to clarify her comments. Attaching a picture of a letter to a Tweet, she said: "I've been raped. By a significant other while we were together. And on a separate occasion, by the owner of a bar." Expanding on her reasons for opening up, Woods wrote: "I will not be ashamed... I don't believe we live in a time where people can stay silent any longer." Currently starring in the HBO series Westworld, Woods previously had a relationship with Marilyn Mansion and then went on to marry and then divorce actor Jamie Bell. The pair have a son together. (British Glamour)
Brad Pitt spent Thanksgiving weekend "hanging out with one of his buddies" because Angelina Jolie wouldn't let him see their children over the holiday, Page Six has exclusively learned. Reports had said Pitt might join Jolie and their brood in spite of their bruising divorce battle. But the two were 3,000 miles apart. A spy said, "He was at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos over Thanksgiving in a private villa," adding, "Angie wouldn't let him see the kids." Another source said, "Brad was with one of his male buddies for the weekend." Villas at the posh island retreat reportedly go for up to $34,000 per night. It's the same getaway where Kelly Ripa headed with husband Mark Consuelos days after the bombshell news that her "Live With Kelly" co-host Michael Strahan was headed to "Good Morning America." Chelsea Clinton took time off there during her mother's campaign this year while she was pregnant, and other stars who've stayed include Olivia Wilde, Emily Ratajkowski and rocker Bryan Ferry, who got married at Amanyara in 2012. Pitt and Jolie were known to be guests at Amanyara's sister properties Amanpuri in Thailand and Amangiri in Utah. Despite reports that Jolie had called a "temporary truce" so that Pitt could break bread with the family for the holiday, we hear that Jolie and the kids were in LA. Before the island retreat, Pitt was on a whirlwind Steven Spielberg was in the audience at an East Hampton showing, Page Six reported. Pitt filed for joint custody of the kids this month after Jolie filed divorce papers in LA in September. He was cleared last week in an alleged FBI abuse investigation stemming from an incident with one of the couple's kids, Maddox, on a private jet. The LA Department of Children and Family Services also cleared Pitt of any charges. Reps did not comment. On Monday, a report that Pitt was secretly dating Kate Hudson was widely shot down. (Page Six)
Kanye West Is "Not Ready to Go Back Home," but Kim Kardashian Is "Staying by His Side." Kanye West will remain in the hospital a little while longer, E! News has learned. The "Famous" rapper "isn't ready to go back home," a source tells E! News, adding that the decision to stay is "for the best." "Kanye is the kind of person if he gets released and isn't mentally ready he will go back to his old ways and push himself over the limit again," the source explains. "He needs to keep up with counseling even though he has an intense work schedule. He is just really drained and still weak. He isn't himself." Fortunately, Kanye has wife Kim Kardashian to help him get through his tough time. "Kim is being patient and staying by his side," the source adds. "They both have been through a lot but are staying strong as a married couple and helping one another get back up." The couple, who have been married for two years, aren't worried about their relationship. "They know in the end this will bring them closer," the source says. "Their love has not been affected during this hard time, but it has been tested to see if they can get through it. They have faith they will." A separate source tells E! News that Kanye "is not being held against his will" and dispels rumors that he was ever "chained to a gurney." "He's not being forced to be there," says the source, adding that Kanye is not in a "psych ward" but rather is getting treatment by "world-class doctors" specializing in mental health and total "wellness." Last week Kanye voluntarily admitted himself into a Los Angeles hospital after working around the clock on his tour, fashion line and other projects took too much of a toll on the star. The hospitalization came after Kanye arrived to a make-up concert 30 minutes late and ranted about Jay Z and Beyonce. He left the stage early and canceled his Sunday performance, too. Come Monday, he'd cancel the remainder of his Saint Pablo Tour, which included visits to major American cities such as Brooklyn, Washington and Philadelphia. "The remaining dates on the Saint Pablo Tour have been canceled," a rep for West told E! News in a statement. "Tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase." (Eonline)
Shannen Doherty Undergoes First Day of Radiation Treatment in Breast Cancer Battle. Shannen Doherty is taking the next steps in her breast cancer battle. The Beverly Hills, 90210 album documented her first day of radiation Monday on Instagram and opened up to her fans and followers about her mentality going into the doctor's office Monday. "First day of radiation treatment. I look like I'm about to make a run for it which is accurate." She continued, "Radiation is frightening to me. Something about not being able to see this laser, see the treatment and having this machine moving around you just scares me. I'm sure I'll get used to it but right now... I hate it. #radiation #radiationmondaysucks #stillfightinglikeagirl." During a candid, emotional interview late last month, the actress spoke from the heart about how she and her husband, Kurt Iswarienko, have been handling her diagnosis and treatment plan. "I think what's beautiful and hard and interesting about cancer is that it tears you down and builds you, and tears you down and builds you. It remakes you so many different times. The person I thought I was supposed to be or was going to be or who I thought I was six months ago is now somebody completely different." The 45-year-old added, "Cancer is not pleasant but it can bring out the best in relationships or the worse. Thankfully, it has made our marriage stronger." Doherty revealed in court documents that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2015 while suing her business manager for neglecting to pay her medical insurance. (Eonline)
Star Wars' Felicity Jones: "I Want to Be Paid Fairly for the Work That I'm Doing." The 33-year-old British actress, who starred in The Theory of Everything and plays young rebel Jyn Erso in the new film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is the latest actress to speak openly about the problem, following the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Patricia Arquette. "I want to be paid fairly for the work that I'm doing," Jones told Glamour in an interview published in the magazine's January 2017 issue (available Dec. 6), which features her on the cover and in a fashion spread. "That's what every single woman around the world wants," she said. "We want to be paid on parity with a man in a similar position. And I think it's important to talk about it." (Eonline)
Melania Trump just got what she was after ... the man who posted the YouTube video suggesting Barron had autism is taking the video down. The guy who posted the video says, "TMZ just contacted me to tell me Melania Trump is threatening a lawsuit over this video ... I never ever meant this as a bullying video." The video was posted by someone who says he was diagnosed with autism at age 5, and he says he posted the video because he wanted to stop people for bullying Barron over his "weird behavior." Fact is ... Barron does not have autism and the video perpetuated the bullying, but the guy behind the video says it will come down and he will issue a retraction and an apology to Melania and Barron. As for Rosie O'Donnell -- who also suggested Barron had autism -- she's been radio silent Monday, but over the weekend she posted a long statement saying she meant no ill will but also never took back her questions about Barron and autism. (TMZ)
Kate Major's gonna pay BIG for her arrest last month -- a judge is locking her up for the next 6 months ... TMZ has learned. Michael Lohan's estranged wife was sentenced Monday for violating probation. Her October arrest in Florida for attacking a cop triggered the violation ... according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Kate was already on probation for a 2015 incident in New Orleans when she allegedly got wasted on a plane and threatened the crew. Sources close to Kate tell us she asked for rehab instead of jail time but got shut down. When she gets out of jail, Kate will still face assault, and drunk and disorderly charges for the alleged cop attack. (TMZ)
Fetty Wap better dig deeper into his pockets if he wants to settle a suit with his old homie, P-Dice -- 'cause $1 million ain't cuttin' it ... according to Dice himself. We got the former Remy Boyz member leaving Panera Bread in NYC with a fat stack of cash and a grip of his homeboys, and he says Fetty tried settling last month with $6 mil less than what Dice wanted. We broke the story ... PD claims Fetty cut his verse out of the hit song "679" to allegedly avoid paying him a higher percentage than he got off the multi-platinum song. PD says this isn't a street thing ... strictly business. And Fetty better pay up if he knows what's good for him. (TMZ)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Celebrity biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli is working on a book about Jackie Onassis, her sister, Lee Radziwill and their mother, Janet Auchincloss, to be published by St. Martin's Press next year. "Lee is adamantly against the book and has told her friends not to talk," one source told me. Among those Taraborrelli wants to interview for "Jackie, Janet and Lee" are Lee's former lovers photographer Peter Beard and architect Richard Meier and friends such as fashion designer Marc Jacobs, Broadway costumer William Ivey Long, Carolina Herrera, Andre Leon Talley and couturier Ralph Rucci. Radziwill hates being compared to her older, more accomplished sister, and told Vanity Fair last spring, "Please tell me this is not a story about my sister and me. I'm just sick of that! It's like we're Siamese twins!" Taraborrelli -- whose 18 books include bios of Madonna, Cher and Diana Ross -- will cover the rivalry between the sisters, who competed for the attention of men such as Aristotle Onassis. Onassis was pursuing Lee until JFK was assassinated. Then the Greek mogul shifted his romantic focus to Jackie and married the former first lady in 1968. (Page Six)
Natalie Portman may have lost the best actress category at the 2016 Gotham Awards, but she was definitely one of the best dressed. The road to the Oscars is officially here, and Monday's event marked the start of award season where Portman, a veteran red carpet style star, hid her baby bump with intricate beading and elaborate sequins. The mother-to-be, 35, wore an elegant white dress from Rodarte's Spring 2017 ready-to-wear collection. Her stylist Kate Young shared a close-up look of the designer ensemble's floral designs on Instagram for all fashion lovers to obsess over. The Jackie star completed her ensemble with an Eddie Borgo clutch as well as gold and pearl jewelry from Tiffany & Co. Joining her at the awards show was husband Benjamin Millepied. Portman and Millepied are expecting their second child together. The couple, who were married in 2012 in Big Sur, California, are already parents to 5-year-old son Aleph. Also at the Keegan-Michael Key-hosted event were Katie Holmes (in Zac Posen), Moonlight's Janelle Monae (in Christian Siriano) and Amy Adams (in Max Mara) who was honored with the career-tribute honor. (People)
Nerves of steel! Looks like Mark Ballas didn't have any wedding day jitters, because just moments before he walked down the aisle, he was doing the mannequin challenge with his groomsmen. The Dancing With the Stars pro tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, BC Jean, on Friday, November 25, but he certainly wasn't sweating about saying "I do." Ballas posted an Instagram video of the group, including Derek Hough, suited and booted in the moments before his nuptials. "Meanwhile in the groomsmen room moments before walking the aisle ??" he captioned the video, that was set to Drake's "Hot Bling." The camera panned around the small room to capture Ballas having his tuxedo adjusted while his buddies checked their old-fashioned pocket watches and guzzled champagne. As Us Weekly reported the couple got married at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu in front of family and friends including DWTS alums Julianne Hough, her brother Derek, and his girlfriend Hayley Erbert, Brittany Cherry, Sharna Burgess, Keo Motsepe, Julz Tocker, Burke, Sasha Farber, Emma Slater and Jenna Johnson. Derek served as best man and shared a black and white picture on Instagram on Friday before the ceremony that showed him holding the pocket watch. "It's Time!" he captioned the photo. He also posted a heartfelt message along with a cute snap of the happy couple after they made their vows. Ballas, 30, who is currently appearing in Broadway's Jersey Boys and didn't compete on season 23 of DWTS proposed to Jean the day before Thanksgiving last year. (US Weekly)
Dolly Parton's Dollywood is under siege from wildfires which have triggered a rescue mission for several bald eagles inside one of the theme park's sanctuaries. Dollywood, which is near the fires raging in Gatlinburg, TN, is also home to the American Eagle Foundation -- a group dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating birds of prey. The group shelters nearly a dozen bald eagles, and we're told staffers rounded up 50 of the birds Monday night. We're told there are still a handful left to be captured and moved. The foundation's President, Al Cecere, tells TMZ the sanctuary's location puts the birds at serious risk for smoke inhalation. They'll remain at a nearby convention center until the air is clear and the park is safe. Dollywood evacuated guests Monday, but so far firefighters have kept the flames at bay. (TMZ)
Everything must go for John Krasinski and Emily Blunt ... at least on the West Coast, where they just struck another deal to unload a home, but for way below the original asking price. John and Emily bought the Ojai, CA home for $2.15 million back in 2012 ... then put it on the market last year with realtor Patty Waltcher for $4.25 mil. They didn't get any takers, so they slashed the price, and slashed ... and slashed some more before finally accepting an offer for around $2.75 mil. The 5 bed, 5 bath home's now in escrow. It features 4,177 sq ft of hardwood floors, 4 fireplaces, a pool and gorgeous mountain views. It's the second SoCal property the couple's dumped this year. Kendall Jenner snagged their hip WeHo home in June. (TMZ)
Neil Young is calling on President Barack Obama "to step in and end" what he calls the "violence" against protesters demonstrating against an oil pipeline being built in North Dakota on part of an Indian reservation. In an open letter on Facebook posted Monday, the 71-year-old rock star calls the protest at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation "an awakening." He says demonstrators are "standing strong in the face of outrageous, unnecessary and violent aggression." He says law enforcement agencies and the National Guard are "seemingly acting to protect the interests of the Dakota Access Pipeline profiteers" with taxpayer money. Young also chided President-elect Donald Trump, labeling him the "surprise president." The letter is signed by Young and his girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah. Young included a video of him singing against the backdrop of the protest camp. (Page Six)
Wiz Khalifa almost buried the hatchet with Kanye West by extending a weed stem ... but then turned hostile on 'Ye again at the last second. We got Wiz leaving Catch Monday night, where he sounded sympathetic to Kanye's recent mental breakdown and even offers a psychedelic remedy that he specializes in. But before he leaves ... he takes one last shot at his hip-hop foe, who once claimed to own Wiz and Amber Rose's kid. Old grudges die hard. (TMZ)
Mohamed and Yolanda Hadid are living every parent's dream -- off to Paris to watch their daughters flaunt their talents ... in lingerie. Gigi and Bella Hadid's folks couldn't hide their smiles at LAX as they jetted off for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show ... where Bella's making her debut at the lingerie line's biggest event. Mohamed and Yolanda aren't the least bit nervous for their little rookie. As for the girls -- they jetted off Sunday aboard the GREATEST flight. Ever. (TMZ)
Justin Bieber got down with the fastest man on Earth to celebrate a movie about the Olympian ... and he was anything but sorry to be partying with the champ. Bieber was in London Monday night and showed up to an after-party following a screening of "I Am Bolt" -- a documentary about Usain Bolt's journey to the Rio Olympics. Unclear if the Biebs saw the film itself, but he definitely raged with the man of the hour afterward. One Direction's Liam Payne was there for the screening and party too, but was reportedly on the opposite side of the room ... meaning he missed out on the Bolt/Bieber selfies. (TMZ)
Daniel Baldwin's stance on Hillary Clinton supporting the election recount -- or ever attempting to run for president again -- is very clear ... PLEASE STOP! We got the Baldwin bro at LAX and just like Alec, Billy and Stephen ... he's extremely opinionated about Donald Trump's victory -- but he's definitely not on Alec's side of the street. As for all the pissed off protesters -- Daniel says the people have spoken. He does have a suggestion for 'em though. (TMZ)
Music
Prince's Paisley Park will host a four-day celebration of the "Purple Rain" megastar's life next year. The event, "Celebration 2017," will be held April 20-23 during the anniversary of his death. Bands scheduled to perform include The Revolution, Morris Day and The Time, and members of the New Power Generation and 3RDEYEGIRL. Four-day VIP and general admission passes are available online. General admission tickets cost $499 and include up to five hours of event programming each day, including access to four concerts. VIP tickets cost $999 and include on-site parking, photo and autograph opportunities and a meal pass. Prince died April 21 of an accidental overdose at Paisley Park, his home and recording complex in suburban Minneapolis. Paisley Park opened as a museum last month. (Page Six)
Justice to Play Pre-NYE Show in New York City. Close out 2016 with a whole lot of dance. French duo Justice is on a mission to make you move your feet all night long on Dec. 30 at New York City's Pier 94. The event, presented by RPM, marks the duo's first ticketed performance since the release of their third studio album "Woman" on Nov. 18. The set is an addition to RPM Presents & Big Week NYC's busy week including DJ Snake's Pardon My French tour hitting the Big Apple on Dec. 28 at Pier 54. Tickets are now on sale here. (Billboard)
Amazon Echo vs. Google Home: Which Speaker Is the Smart Choice for Music Listeners? The streaming-music war has moved from laptops and smartphones into our living rooms. And when you're not at the desk or on the phone, it's much easier to simply ask for the song you want to hear instead of typing it in. The Amazon Echo, which might be best described as a smart speaker, makes this appealingly easy -- just say, "Alexa, play," and then tell it what song you want. (What songs you can choose from depends on what service you're using.) Now Google Home is giving it a run for its money, and Apple is said to be working on a speaker that will use its Siri technology. Even if you can control your home stereo with iTunes or Sonos, Alexa and Google Home are more convenient, even delightful. Voice control still feels odd -- I found myself fighting the urge to say "Tea, Earl Grey, hot" -- but it's already far easier than a simple onscreen interface (and it's improving rapidly). Both the Amazon Echo and Google Home let you spend that much less time staring at a screen, which is inherently appealing, plus ask for music when your hands are full. (Siri is rarely listening unless it's told to do so, but its use in the latest Apple TV is promising.) And although neither speaker can compete with serious stereos in terms of sound quality, they're ideal for a kitchen or bedroom. Smart speakers will be an important part of the music business: By 2020, the market for them will grow by 500 percent, to $2 billion, according to the technology consultancy Gartner. There's already more to these systems than music: Alexa can play news and weather, summon an Uber, and get basic information from the Internet; Google Home has better search functionality, and it can serve as a personal assistant for those who use Google Calendar. (They both also tell really corny jokes.) Both speakers can run "smart home technology" -- turning on and off networked home appliances -- although that's not practical yet for most people. And they can do it while playing almost any song you choose.
A$AP Ferg is Back in the Studio Working on His 'Still Striving' Project. Even on the road, A$AP Ferg manages to squeeze in studio time. While wrapping up his Turnt and Burnt Tour with Playboy Carti and Rob $tone, the Harlem rapper has been diligently putting the finishing touches on his new project Still Striving. On Monday (Nov. 28), Ferg posted a picture on Instagram of him holding a mic with the caption reading: "In the studio and never leaving. #stillstriving on the way!!" This past April, he released his sophomore album Always Strive and Prosper, which featured Big Sean, Rick Ross, Chris Brown and Missy Elliot. Ferg was also in the studio working with The Alchemist and Dr. Dre last month. Billboard reached out to A$AP Ferg's rep for comment. (Billboard)
HARD Summer 2016 Deaths Confirmed as Ecstasy Overdoses. The San Bernardino County Sheriff Coroner's Division has officially ruled the cause of death of three attendees at July's HARD Music Festival as ecstasy overdoses. According to a report by the Fontana Herald News, Derek Lee, 22, Alyssa Domingo, 21, and Roxanne Ngo, 22, passed away of acute MDMA toxicity. There were nine medical transports throughout the two-day event, which hosted about 146,000. This was HARD Summer's first year in the city of Fontana, Calif., following a move from its usual home of Los Angeles. San Bernardino County considered banning electronic music festivals earlier this year but has taken no official action. Billboard Dance has reached out to HARD Events for comment. (Billboard)
Gucci Mane Drops Chilly 'Last Time' Video Feat. Travis Scott. The grind doesn't stop for Gucci Mane. On Monday (Nov. 28), the Atlanta rapper surprised fans with a snowy visual for his single "Last Time" featuring Travis Scott. Guwop teased a possible video for "Last Time" during an interview on Scott's Beats 1 show .Wav. Fortunately, he made good on his promise and released the Harmony Korine-directed clip. Korine and Gucci forged a friendship several years ago when the rapper made a cameo in Korine's 2012 film Spring Breakers. (The pair are expected to re-team for Korine's forthcoming film The Trap, which also stars Benicio del Toro, Al Pacino and James Franco.) Mane is currently pushing his third solo project this year titled The Return of East Atlanta Santa, which follows the 2016 releases Everybody Looking and Woptober. For those itching for some new Gucci merchandise, fans can snag some new gear here. The "Last Time" video also arrives after Mane's Bryson Tiller-assisted single "Drove U Crazy" surfaced Monday as well. The Return of East Atlanta Santa is due Dec. 16. (Billboard)
Theophilus London On His Return to Music, Ariel Pink Collaboration and ClapIt Partnership. There aren't many artists fortunate enough to hold a Kanye West-produced album in their discography or can even tap Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld for art-direction on a project, but for Theophilus London, an anomaly among his rap counterparts, those are just the few encounters that helped bolster his rise to prominence since his 2008 debut mixtape Jam! After the release of his last studio effort, Vibes, in 2014, London's ingenuity has been relatively absent from the music scene, a hiatus he took to from the "madness" he's endured over his eight-year career. "I just wanted to take two years off and see where I fit in this new industry, a lot of things have changed," he told Billboard about his break. "I just wanted to take some time off to enjoy it again. I'm ready and I feel a burning desire inside of me to start again." The Trinidad-born, Brooklyn-raised MC moved to Los Angeles during his hiatus but cited his recent return to the Big Apple as the fuel that ignited his hunger to get back in the studio to create new material. "I'm interested in flourishing in the music industry for the next 10 to 15 years, really be present and consistent," he says. London added that apart from his homecoming, his comeback was also inspired by candid conversations between he and a few friends, who reminded the "Can't Stop" rhymer of his past musical creations and helped imbue a greater appreciation for music in him. While he's maintained a steady presence among today's ever-changing musical landscape, London often finds himself digging into the past, whether he's drawing inspiration from his musical influences Michael Jackson and Prince or combing through old emails when he feels "nostalgic" to discover oft-forgotten beats that were previously sent to him. For his newly released single "Revenge," the style maven recreated New Musik's "They All Run After the Carving Knife," an email sent from a friend back in 2008, and tapped the "free-forming musicianship" of Ariel Pink, which took the two artists 72 hours to create. Doused with a driving energy and psychedelic guitar riffs, the infectious pairing of Pink and London straddles the line between New Wave sounds and Funk basslines as London coos "They race to the top, yeah / until they drop, ohh / when they take all the pain Is it all in vein?" over the synth-laden track. Honing in on his entrepreneurial skills, London teamed up with social media appClapit, an interactive mobile network designed to support rising artists by allowing them to upload short clips of their talent to the app and the best videos uploaded receives a "clap," heightening the chances of gaining global recognition. "My partnership with the app wasn't about the single ["Revenge"], it was about me wanting to reach out to those obscure kids that I can't reach out to on any other social media," he offered. The rapper recently launched an open call challenge with the app where participants must upload their videos using the hashtag #theophiluslondon, and the highest clapped video will win the chance to meet London. "I have been blessed with amazing mentors throughout my career so I look forward to being able to discover and acknowledge some of the country's most promising young talent on Clapit," said London. "It's an authentic community of creatives, where we can support talent together. We're out here scouting emerging artists, talents looking for their big break." With his comeback in full-swing, London reveals that he has a multitude of new material waiting to be unleashed including the Mark Ronson collaborative number "Whiplash," which he performed earlier this year during a performance at the Boiler Room in Brooklyn, and a Skepta-produced track titled "Alone." "I have about 50-60 songs sitting in my studio right now," he continued adding that his collection includes freestyles from his Kanye West-helmed Vibes session. "I'm a music-head so I kind of want to form them into a free-forming mixtape, something that people can collect and not tie it down to an album." London continues saying that his break allowed him to "to stop and foresee the future." "Making it about music and skill and transforming into sub-cultures – that's what I'm interested in." (Billboard)
Movies
South Korean Cinema Admissions Drop Amid Anti-President Protests. Monthly revenue decreased about 30 percent from October, as Koreans took to the streets in massive weekly demonstrations against President Park Geun-hye. South Korea, which has a high rate of movie going, has turned its back on popcorn entertainment amid the country's recent political turmoil. Cinema admissions dropped considerably as five consecutive weekly protests took place near the presidential residence in Seoul. Ever since Korean President Park Geun-hye became involved in a corruption scandal in October, anti-president crowds have grown larger each weekend, crossing 1 million on Nov. 12 and peaking at 1.3 million Nov. 26 (Korea has a population of 50 million). The weekly rallies mark the largest organized protest in Korea since the democratization movement in 1987 and have taken place on Saturdays, which usually draw the largest number of moviegoers. According to the Korean Film Council's KOBIS database, cinemas nationwide earned $83.6 million during the month of November, compared with $119.9 million in October. This is a 30.3 percent drop ($36.3 million). It is also 17.9 percent ($18.2 million) less compared with last year, or $101.8 million (119.5 billion won) in November 2015. The daily admissions rate this month dropped about 27 percent compared with October, from 553,550 to 406,384 per day. During past years, both the average admissions rate and monthly revenue were much higher in November than October. Cinemas suffered a similar decline in 2014 when the nation mourned a large ferry sinking that left hundreds dead. The public outrage is in response to a corruption scandal involving Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of President Park's. Though Choi has no official government position or security clearance, she is alleged to have influenced the president's policies and edited her speeches. Choi is also accused of coercing major businesses to donate millions of dollars to two foundations she runs, and is linked to a minor religious cult. Park's approval rating fell to 4 percent -- a record low for the head of state in Korean history -- since the scandal. In a dramatic, five-minute televised address Tuesday, Park announced that she is willing to step down. "I have now laid everything down," said the 64-year-old, adding that she will leave it to the parliament to decide on the shortening of her five-year term that is supposed to end in February 2018. The nature of the protests, meanwhile, has also been noted by the media, both near and far, for having evolved into a festival of sorts. This past weekend, crowds gathered to hold candles at sundown, march toward the presidential residence, take coffee breaks at food trucks and pick up trash later. K-pop singers including Lee Juck, Yang He-eun and Jeon Ingwon have taken the stage set up on Gwanghwamun Plaza, while A-list actors Yoo Ah-in (who played the lead in last year's Korean Oscar entry The Throne) and Cha In-pyo have been spotted among the masses. Korean expats also participated in a string of demonstrations across the globe, from Paris and Berlin to Washington, D.C., and Sydney. On Nov. 11, some 500 Koreans marched the streets of Los Angeles, which is home to the largest Korean community outside of Korea. (Hollywood Reporter)
Lionsgate Signs New Movie Licensing Deal With China's iQiyi. Film titles like Mark Wahlberg's 'Patriots Day,' 'American Assassin' and 'The Glass Castle' are headed to the Chinese online video company. Lionsgate is about to see top movie titles like Mark Wahlberg's Patriots Day and American Assassin streamed by Chinese audiences as part of its latest output deal with China's iQiyi. The studio on Tuesday unveiled a new licensing agreement with the Chinese partner that covers streaming rights to a host of upcoming movie releases and library titles. The agreement covers subscription video-on-demand, transactional VOD and advertising VOD rights for films streaming on iQiyi's platform in China. iQiyi will have exclusive streaming rights in China to Lionsgate movie titles covered by the pact, enabling the streaming and promotion of the titles on its platform. The Lionsgate deal follows earlier tie-ups between iQiyi and major studios like 20th Century Fox, NBCUniversal and Paramount and a 2015 output deal for varied Lionsgate and third-party feature films. Lionsgate's latest agreement with iQiyi, which has been streaming the studio's titles in China since fall 2015, covers movies like Otto Bathurst's Robin Hood, starring Jamie Foxx; Lionsgate/CBS Films' American Assassin and Patriots Day, starring Mark Wahlberg; the Brie Larson-starrer The Glass Castle; and Wonder, starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay. "We're delighted to expand our relationship with iQiyi, a world-class platform at the cutting edge of delivering premium quality films to online Chinese audiences," Lionsgate executive vp, international sales Wendy Reeds said Tuesday in a statement. iQiyi was Lionsgate's promotional partner earlier this year on Now You See Me 2, the highest-grossing Lionsgate film ever released at the Chinese box office. "Lionsgate has emerged as a major creative force in the global marketplace, and we're proud to continue adding their incredible pipeline of star-driven movies to our platform," Yang Xianghua, senior vp of iQiyi, said in his own statement as the Chinese streamer expands its stable of Hollywood movies available to its subscribers. The agreement was negotiated for Lionsgate by senior vp, international business and legal affairs Christian Perala, who's based in the U.K. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
New Scandal Key Art Promises Big Changes in Season 6. What could season six of Scandal possibly have in store for us? The latest key art for the show promises that "the balance of power is about to shift," which sounds like it at least partially refers to the US presidential election -- the results of which we're still waiting on. When the show returns in January, we'll learn whether the new president will be Mellie Grant or Francisco Vargas, which will also tell us just how much power Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is going to continue to have in Washington D.C. Could she be losing her hold on the country's most powerful players when the show finally returns? Knowing Scandal as we like to think we do, there's probably many meanings to this tagline, and to that secretive, all-knowing look Liv is giving us. She's got something up her sleeve for sure, but we couldn't possibly tell you what it may be. What we can tell you is that this season premiere cannot get here fast enough! Scandal returns Thursday, January 19 at 9 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)
Is Keeping Up With The Kardashians OVER? It's believed Kanye's hospitalization last week temporarily put a stop to filming... Filming for Keeping Up With the Kardashians show has been put "on hold indefinitely". TMZ report that production on the show, which also stars Kim's mother Kris Jenner and her siblings Khloe, Kourtney, Kendall and Kylie, has been shut down for at least the rest of 2016, but possibly longer. Back in October, it was revealed that shooting for the popular reality TV show had been postponed after the program's star Kim Kardashian West was robbed at gunpoint in her apartment in Paris. And now, sources connected with the production have told TMZ that "producers have enough footage for the series commitment, but the plan was to film through the holidays, and that won't happen." It's believed Kanye's hospitalization last week temporarily put a stop to filming, but the latest family drama has made Kim take a pause and she needs to rethink her career. A source has claimed the mother of two is "rethinking everything." Back in October, E! News confirmed the crew were not filming at the time of the robbery, and sent their "love and support" to the TV personality following the attack. A spokesperson from the broadcasting network said: "All of us ate! are incredibly thankful that Kim Kardashian West is safe, and we send her and her family our love and support. "Keeping Up With the Kardashians was not filming at the time of the robbery. Our focus right now is entirely on Kim's well-being." (British Glamour)
'Beaches' TV Movie Starring Idina Menzel, Nia Long. Menzel's version of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" plays in the background. Lifetime has released the first trailer for its TV revival of Beaches. The small-screen remake of the weepy 1988 classic starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey as lifelong friends features Idina Menzel in Midler's role of CC and Nia Long as Hershey's Hillary. The original film was directed by the late Garry Marshall and grossed $57 million at the U.S. box office. The trailer for the Lifetime movie shows CC's and Hillary's chance meeting as kids on the boardwalk -- now set in Venice instead of the original's Atlantic City, N.J. -- followed by snippets of milestones as CC pursues her acting and singing career and Hillary welcomes the birth of her daughter. The film tells the story of friendship, with all its ups and downs, sustaining the pair for decades. The remake will follow CC as she builds her career in Los Angeles, whereas the original took the young pair to NYC while CC made a name for herself on Broadway. The movie will include new takes on Midler's Grammy-winning "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "The Glory of Love." Menzel's version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" plays in the background of the trailer. In August, Midler said she "can't wait" to see the Frozen star step into her iconic role. "Can't wait to see Idina Menzel as CC in Lifetime's 'Beaches!' " she tweeted, adding: "DON'T TELL ME THE ENDING!" Lifetime's Beaches, which premieres Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV Ratings: 'Supergirl' Climbs as CW Crossover Week Kicks Off. The first of four Greg Berlanti-produced series to blur lines this week matches its season premiere ratings. The CW has got to be feeling good about plans to merge all four of its DC Comics-inspired shows this fall. The four-part crossover kicked off on Monday night to season highs for Supergirl. In its first season on the network, Supergirl rose two-tenths of a point in the key demo to an average 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. That matches its premiere high. Among total viewers, the episode ranks as its most-watched on the CW with 3.5 million viewers. The network will try to repeat that live-plus-same day success with episodes of The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. (Lead-out Jane the Virgin was modestly improved with an average 0.5 rating in the key demo.) Monday's big winner was NBC and The Voice. The singing competition, its season finale now in sight, held steady with a 2.0 rating in the key demo -- broadcast's biggest score for the night. At 10 p.m., Timeless fetched a steady 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. ABC aired special CMA Country Christmas to the tune of a 1.3 rating among adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers. That score, like Conviction's, is tentative on account of NFL preemptions. On Fox, Gotham held steady with a 1.0 rating in the key demo, and Lucifer improved to a 1.2 rating. And, on CBS, The Odd Couple was forced to go it alone in a sea of repeats. The series dipped to a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49. (Hollywood Reporter)
Comments
Post a Comment