ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Russell Brand Is a Dad: Actor's Fiancee Laura Gallacher Gives Birth. A big congratulations are in order for Russell Brand and his fiancee, Laura Gallacher! E! News can confirm the actor, 41, and Gallacher, 27, have welcomed their first child into the world. We're told Brand made the announcement during a stand-up show at Nottingham Playhouse on Sunday night. An audience member revealed, "He said he had to get home quickly because his girlfriend just had a baby." Another audience member, Daniel Crann, told The Mirror, "He was conscious of the clock and made sure he was off stage by just approaching 9 p.m. as he 'needed to get down the f--king M21 as my girlfriend has just had a baby.'" However, Brand did not announce any further details. Others took to social media to congratulate the actor following the show. Though rumors began swirling about Brand's baby news in June, he officially confirmed he was going to be a daddy when he took to Instagram to share a photo of himself reading The Expectant Dads Handbook. "Right then. My Mum bought me this. Time to get ready! #trewlit #bookstagram #parenting," Brand posted a photo holding up Dean Beaumont's novel. He later opened up in Britain's ES magazine and revealed that he was totally elated with the idea of becoming a father. "I feel lit up by the idea I'm very excited about becoming a dad and I'm preparing myself," he told the publication. "I am just getting ready to be with a new little person and see what it is they want." Congratulations to the family of three! (Eonline)

Jayma Mays Is a Mom! Glee Star Welcomes a Son With Husband Adam Campbell. Jayma Mays is singing a happy tune right about now. E! News has exclusively learned the Glee star welcomed her first child, a baby boy named Jude, in August 2016 with husband Adam Campbell. News broke that the television star, 37, and English actor were expecting their first bundle of joy back in April. The proud new parents met on the set of 2007's Epic Movie, eventually tying the knot shortly thereafter. Mays is best known for playing Emma Pillsbury on the beloved Fox series, and she most recently hit the big screen in 2015's Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. The actress has also appeared on Ugly Betty, The League, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and How I Met Your Mother. Jayma joins quite a few of her former Glee co-stars in parenthood duty. In February, Heather Morris gave birth to baby No. 2, son Owen Bartlett, with husband Taylor Hubbell. And back in September 2015, Naya River welcomed her own little one with Ryan Dorsey. Sounds like some pretty gleeful play dates are right around the corner! Congratulations to Jayma and Adam on their new addition. (Eonline)

Jared Padalecki and Wife Genevieve Cortese Expecting Baby No. 3. Congratulations are in order! Jared Padalecki and his wife Genevieve Cortese are expecting their third child. The Gilmore Girls actor announced the news on Live! With Kelly Monday morning. "I'm a father of two now about to be a father of three in March," he spilled. His wife, who also doubles as his Supernatural co-star, was waiting backstage with an ear-to-ear grin on her face. The couple's newborn will join big brothers Tom, 4, and Shepherd, 2. But there must be something in the Supernatural air because Jared's co-star Jensen Ackles also announced that he and his wife are expecting twins. They're already parents to a three-year-old daughter named Justice. Jared and Genevieve met on the set of their hit CW show and tied the knot in 2010 in Cortese's snowy hometown of Sun Valley, Idaho. Dean Jared shared a gorgeous picture from their winter wonderland wedding as a #ThrowbackThursday and gave fans a sneak peek from their special day, which featured Genevieve stunning in a Monique Lhuillier lace gown. Congratulations to the happy couple and growing family! (Eonline)

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner Spark Romance Rumors During Pre-MTV Europe Music Awards Concert. The game of love just got a bit more interesting in Europe. Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner had fans buzzing this weekend after the pair was spotted getting cozy at a pre-MTV Europe Music Awards event. E! News has learned that the DNCE member and Game of Thrones star enjoyed the music of Kings Of Leon in Rotterdam, Netherlands Saturday night. But as it turns out, the pair appeared to be getting quite close as the band played their hits including "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody." In photos obtained by E! News, Joe was seen putting his arm around Sophie as they sat by fellow DNCE members. At one point, it appears that the "Cake by the Ocean" singer also leaned in for a kiss. An eyewitness told People that the pair was in fact kissing during the show. "They seemed pretty comfortable," the source shared. "They were really close together." While the sighting may come as a surprise to fans, it appears that Joe and Sophie also celebrated Halloween together. According to Instagram, the pair attended the same party where Joe dressed up as a dalmatian. In comparison, Sophie was spotted wearing pink-sequined bunny ears while posing with friends. While both parties have yet to publicly comment on the relationship rumors, Joe and DNCE were able to perform and win big at Sunday night's MTV EMAs. "FIRST EMA THANK U TEAM DNCE!!!" the group shared on Instagram. Joe added, "HOLY S--TTT THANK YOU #TEAMDNCE." No word on if Sophie was in the audience for Joe's latest performance. (Eonline)

'Bachelor' vet AshLee Frazier couldn't get it on a reality show, but she finally got a marriage proposal ... on the Brooklyn Bridge. We're told the proposal went down Saturday right in the middle of a bunch of tourists who were checking out the bridge. The lucky guy is Aaron Williams, a Houston real estate agent AshLee's known for years. She moved back to H-town earlier this year, and they hit it off romantically. We're told Aaron sealed the deal with an oval cut 3 ct. diamond, and dinner at hot spot Scarpetta. Sean Lowe, the 'Bachelor' from AshLee's season, is still married to Catherine Giudici. Sooo ... win-win? (TMZ)

Kim Kardashian Drops a Baby No. 3 Bombshell: ''I Just Want to Explore Surrogacy.'' Does Kim Kardashian have baby fever...again?! In a sneak peek promo from next Sunday's brand new episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kanye West's other half drops a baby bombshell on her family. "So I've come to the conclusion that I just want to explore surrogacy," the mother of two tells mama Kris Jenner, who looks in shock at the news. OMG! So is Kim really seriously about giving daughter North West and son Saint West a sibling? You'll have to tune in to find out! Watch the promo for yourself to see how shocked Kris is about the baby No. 3 news. (Eonline)

Ruby Rose and The Veronicas' Jess Origliasso Are Dating Again. They found love -- again! Ruby Rose and The Veronicas' Jess Origliasso are back together. Rumors swirled that the former couple were back together after each shared a series of romantic photos, but the "Untouched" singer confirmed the news Monday when she told Australia's Nova FM's Kent 'Smallzy' Small that they fell back in love while filming the video for The Veronicas' new song "On Your Side." "It's me. Me and Ruby Rose. And it is our love story in this video," Jess said. "It's about the dynamic, the highs and the lows of people in love, in a relationship." Even though they had previously dated, Jess said she and the Orange Is the New Black actress remained close. "We have been friends for eight years. A really long time and it was just honestly the craziest thing," Jess admitted. "We just reconnected over doing this video, she wrote and directed it, and is in it with us and we just sort of fell in love." Ruby and Jess, who have come a long way since 2008 when they first became an item, are approaching their relationship in a different way this time around. "When we first got together way, way back, it was hard to know how much to share," the musician, 31, confessed. "Now we are quite protective of what we have, so obviously being able to be open enough but keeping a lot of it for ourselves is something that we're very conscious of and I think it just depends on the people what you're willing to share." But that doesn't mean they're not trying to change everything from their first relationship. In fact, Jess confessed that Ruby loves to talk trips down memory lane. "She reminds me exactly how much last time definitely happened. She doesn't let me forget anything," Jess revealed. "I don't know, it's just a crazy thing when you care about someone for so long and then you have the chance to be able to reconnect, and we've grown up a lot, we met very early on and we were very different people." The video for "On Your Side" will be released later this week. (Eonline)

Jennifer Aniston Refuses to "Be Whittled Down to a Sad, Childless Human." Jennifer Aniston is writing her own narrative. Throughout her career, Aniston has been a tabloid target, subject to the gossip du jour. But in July, she did something out of character: she finally addressed the "business of lies" in an op-ed for The Huffington Post titled "For the Record." At the time, the 47-year-old Friends star wrote, "If I am some kind of symbol to some people out there, then clearly I am an example of the lens through which we, as a society, view our mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, female friends and colleagues. The objectification and scrutiny we put women through is absurd and disturbing." Aniston explains why she raised her voice in Marie Claire's December 2016 issue (on stands Nov. 15). "My marital status has been shamed; my divorce status was shamed; my lack of a mate had been shamed; my nipples have been shamed," she says. "It's like, 'Why are we only looking at women through this particular lens of picking us apart? Why are we listening to it?'" After three decades in showbiz, she'd finally had enough. "I just thought, 'I have worked too hard in this life and this career to be whittled down to a sad, childless human,'" Aniston said. Today, Aniston is happier than she's ever been, thanks in part to husband Justin Theroux. "Why is he the right person for me? All I know is that I feel completely seen, and adored, in no matter what state. There's no part of me that I don't feel comfortable showing, exposing. And it brings forth the best part of myself, because I care about him so much," the Office Christmas Party star gushes. "And he's such a good person. It hurts me to think of anything hurting him. As such, marriage is Aniston's No. 1 priority. In fact, she's turned down roles just to be closer to Theroux -- and he's done the same for her. "You have to be so madly in love with it and think, 'I will be so upset if I don't go and play this person,'" Aniston says, adding, "It has to be worth it." So, what does the actress' future look like? "This is a time when I'm not completely sure what I'm doing. I'm at this sort of crossroads trying to figure out what inspires me deep in my core," she tells Marie Claire. "What used to make me tick is not necessarily making me tick anymore. The most challenging thing right now is trying to find what it is that makes my heart sing." (Eonline)

Lindsay Lohan fired by PR manager. Lindsay Lohan and her longtime publicist Hunter Frederick have split. Page Six has exclusively learned that last week Frederick dropped the troubled actress, 30, after a screaming match over a potential news story. "You never know what Lindsay you're going to get. One second she's in a great mood and wanting to get things back together, and the next you can't say anything to make her happy," a source told Page Six. Frederick worked with Lohan over the last two years or so -- including this summer when she faced a public breakup with ex-fiance Egor Tarabasov, who was accused of domestic violence. "She's going to have a really hard time finding a new publicist not only because she's radioactive and no one wants to represent her, but the monthly retainer alone would render her bankrupt," the source noted. We hear she passed on $1 million worth of business offers over the past year, because she "just doesn't want to take them for whatever reason." She did, however, partner with German energy drink, Mintanine, which she serves at her eponymous Greek nightclub named Lohan and planned to distribute to Syrian refugees. But she can still command upwards of $15,000 per promotional Instagram post. Lohan recently stunned the Internet after she was filmed speaking about the refugee situation in a bizarre, muddled accent. (TMZ)

Angelina Jolie is ready and willing to fight Brad Pitt in court over the custody of their children and "until he gets his s**t together" she only wants him to have monitored visitation ... sources connected to Angelina tell TMZ. TMZ broke the story, Brad filed legal docs Friday, asking for joint custody of the couple's six children. Angelina has drawn a line in the sand, asking for primary physical custody, with Brad getting visitation ... our sources tell us she wants the visits monitored. Angelina's wish list is basically what she and Brad agreed to temporarily while the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services investigates a confrontation between Brad and Maddox. As we reported, DCFS is looking more broadly at interactions in the family. Our Angelina sources say she ultimately wants the family repaired so she and Brad can resume a "normal" parenting regime, but until then she will fight hard for sole physical custody. She believes Brad has substance abuse and anger issues that must be addressed. Sources connected with Brad tell us ... the custody arrangement is riding on the conclusions of DCFS, and they believe the agency will determine Brad is a good parent. One Angelina source said this is looking more and more like "War of the Roses redux." (TMZ)

Jaime Pressly agreed to settle with her ex-accountant who allegedly screwed her out of almost a million dollars -- for a lot less -- but he says she's now reneging on the deal. TMZ broke the story ... Pressly sued Daniel Rivero in January 2015 for $900k, claiming he overpaid her landscaper and messed up her taxes. According to the new docs ... the 2 agreed to settle the suit for less than a third of that -- $260k. Rivero claims this should be a done deal, but there's a big problem ... Pressly won't sign standard paperwork releasing him from further claims. He says she's being unreasonable and it's a "thinly veiled attempt" to renege on the settlement and try to get more money. Rivero is asking the court to force Pressly to honor the deal. (TMZ)

Janet Reno Dead: First Woman to Serve as U.S. Attorney General Dies at 78. Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as U.S. attorney general, has died at the age of 78, the Associated Press reports. Reno passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease on Monday, November 7. In 1995, during Bill Clinton's presidency, Reno announced that she was suffering from Parkinson's disease. She spent her final days in Miami, Florida, surrounded by family and friends. The Miami native graduated from Cornell University with a degree in chemistry in 1960 before she attended Harvard Law School. In 1993, she was sworn in as attorney general during Clinton's term and served until 2001. (In 2001, her service finished when George W. Bush was elected president. She went on to travel in a new red pickup truck.) "It's an extraordinary experience, and I hope I do the women of America proud," Reno said at the ceremony at the time, via NBC News. Additionally, she served as a prosecutor for Dade County, Florida, from 1978 to 1993. Per NBC News, she once said that she wanted to become a lawyer "because I didn't want people to tell me what to do." Reno, who famously told reporters "I don't do spin," faced some criticism during her attorney general tenure. In 1993, she approved the raid on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, which led to a 51-day standoff between agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and members of the religious sect. The siege killed four agents and 82 Branch Davidians. Seven years later, Reno again came under fire for her part in the case of 5-year-old Elian Gonzalez, whose mother drowned while trying to boat from Cuba to Florida. After negotiations failed, she authorized armed federal agents to take the boy away from his relatives so he could be returned to his father in Cuba. Many were outraged by the incident, but Reno was unapologetic. "We have been to great lengths to resolve this case in the least disruptive manner possible," she said afterward during a press conference. Reno, who never married, later joined the board of the New York–based Innocence Project following her retirement. The organization helps to free prisoners who can be proven innocent through DNA testing. (UsWeekly)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Drew Barrymore Shows Her Support for Ex-Husband Will Kopelman During New York City Marathon. Will Kopelman had quite a few cheerleaders on his side this weekend. During the New York City Marathon Sunday morning, Drew Barrymore took the couple's two children to the streets to show their support for dad. In several Instagram posts, the actress revealed the hugs, signs and love that Will encountered when he crossed the finish line. "#showingthegirls #tofinsihistowin #proud," Drew shared on social media next to a candid shot. "#Congratulations." The couple's children, Frankie Kopelman and Olive Kopelman, were seen hugging a sweaty daddy before posting for more family pictures. "#ProudofDad," Drew added. "#family #nycmarathon #jobwelldone." While the couple finalized their divorce in early August, the actress has made it clear that the family unit is still very strong. While debuting her Shutterfly holiday gift collection last week, the businesswoman explained to E! News how connected the family remains. "We are a family," she shared with us. "We're actually blood-related. My friends are my family my whole life...they're my family. Will's family is my family, and my daughters are my family. I never thought I'd be so lucky to have so many families!" And while the proud mom isn't going to share any specific holiday plans, fun is likely in this group's future. "Usually we go to Idaho, but we're not going to go this year," Drew said. "We have a whole bunch of plans with the whole family. We have like three different adventures planned." (Eonline)

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth Step Out Together at Pal's Art Gallery Opening. Just a couple of kids out on the town. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth stepped out together at a pal's art gallery opening in Los Angeles on Friday, November 4, unabashedly posing together and goofing off for cameras. The engaged couple, who have kept their rekindled romance largely under wraps since reuniting last holiday season, were open about their relationship on Friday, smiling for selfies and posing in front of art pieces. "So proud of my bad ass mega photographer/friend @vijatm on his first solo gallery exhibition!" Cyrus, 23, captioned a group shot of herself with pals. "#alwaysbelievesomethingwonderfulisabouttohappen ?????? Love you ?????? Also stoked for the beautiful Amazon Ashley another amazzzzzzing friend & muse to us all ??." In a post to a fan account for the Voice coach, Cyrus and Hemsworth, 26, make funny faces as they pose in front of a raunchy piece by Vijat Mohindra. The singer wears a bright yellow shift dress and tights, while Hemsworth keeps it casual in a colorful jacket, black jeans and a black baseball cap. Though the pair have previously declined to confirm their engagement, on the October 27 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the "We Can't Stop" singer got candid about her engagement ring. "This is really weird because this is like, real jewelry, and most of my jewelry is made out of gummy bears and cotton candy and they don't look that good together because they kind of mix up," Cyrus told the talk show host. "So sometimes I replace it with an actual unicorn or a Looney Tunes [character]." Cyrus and Hemsworth previously got engaged in June 2012 after three years of dating but called off their relationship in September 2013. They reunited in December 2015. (UsWeekly)

Kim impatient as Kanye trashes pricey furniture for new home. Kanye West has no patience for fashion or interior designers. We're told he has thrown out all the expensive furniture handpicked for his new home with Kim Kardashian by celebrity interior designer Sandy Gallin. West hired powerful talent manager-turned-designer to the stars Gallin to decorate their Calabasas, Calif., home and "spent nearly all of his money" on furniture -- including a one-off $30,000 couch -- and then decided he hated it all. A source told us, "Kanye walked into the house, decided he hated all the furniture brought in by Gallin, and demanded it be returned to the vendors. But they refused to take it back, so he took it all out and threw it into storage. He then spent a fortune on a new set of furniture." West has since hired Axel Vervoordt to spruce up their home, but Kardashian is growing impatient. "Kanye spends so much money and he's holding everything up. The house still isn't ready. Kim just wants to be settled at home, especially after everything that happened in Paris," the source added. And his abrasive manner isn't winning him friends in the fashion world. Despite constantly trying to infiltrate fashion circles, insiders tell Page Six he is persona non grata. "He's a wreck! Everyone in the fashion business thinks he's crazy. He'll start taking advice from someone successful, stop listening 15 minutes later, and then move on to someone else. He constantly fights with everyone. He's even fighting with Adidas," an insider told us. A source close to the rapper insists he's adored by the trendsetters who matter. "To say the fashion industry hates him is totally false. His friends in fashion include the most influential powerful people in the business. Anna [Wintour], Carine [Roitfeld], Demna [Gvasalia], Riccardo [Tisci], Balmain, on and on and on. Bernard Arnault. A handful of bitter fashion writers try to take him down all the time," West's pal told us. Of his drama at home, the pal added, "I was just with them in LA, and vibes were at an all-time [high] .?.?. everyone came out to the shows, and Kim was in great spirits." (PageSix)

Billy Bush replaced as host of Reeve Foundation benefit. Billy Bush is out another gig. The disgraced former TV host, who was let go from "Today," was scheduled to host the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation benefit "A Magical Evening" on Nov. 17. But he's been replaced by Jerry O'Connell. While it seems like the charity wouldn't want Bush's presence to distract from its cause, a source told us that Bush stepped down because "he is no longer living in New York" and won't be in town. The Post reported his house in Chelsea is on the market for $8.2 million. (PageSix)

Mannequin Challenge Is the New Viral Internet Craze Sweeping Hollywood. Why is everyone frozen on Instagram? Say hello to the #mannequinchallenge. The craze, which originated with a small group of high school students posing at school, is now sweeping the social media accounts of the Internet's most famous -- all you need is someone to press record. The goal is simple: you must stand in a pose and freeze as if you're a mannequin. Many have posed in schools, gyms and other common rooms in the middle of doing ordinary tasks, but as the challenges roll in online, it seems there are no boundaries to where you can do this or what pose you decide to strike. Kevin Hart hit the gym to complete the challenge, caught in the middle of a back squat with a barbell on his shoulders. On the heels of their win against the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants also attempted the challenge in their locker room. "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! #mannequinchallenge #GiantsPride," the team captioned a video of the athletes in the middle of a formation after their victory. Destiny's Child reunited to try out the trend. Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams posed against an outdoor mural as if they were playing catch with balloons. In the background, Lauryn Hill's "Every Ghetto, Every City" played. Just as the trio did, many participants have set their tableaus to song. Even the co-anchors of Today gave the challenge a try themselves after talking about the trend on Monday's newscast. However, arguably the most theatrical attempt came from the Dancing With the Stars team. Contestant and Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez shared a video of the dancers and crew members as they froze themselves in various positions -- including an impressively still handstand -- before breaking back into a dance routine, of course. (Eonline)

Much of Broadway will be closed on Election night. Many Broadway shows have planned not to compete with a big, real drama on Tuesday -- the presidential election. The shows taking the night off include: "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical;" "Cats;" "Chicago;" "The Color Purple;" "The Encounter;" "The Front Page;" "The Humans;" "Kinky Boots;" "Les Liaisons Dangereuses;" "Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812;" "Oh Hello on Broadway;" "On Your Feet!" Cirque du Soleil's "Paramour;" "The Phantom of the Opera;" "School of Rock;" "Something Rotten!" "Waitress;" and "Wicked." The Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall will also be dark. The move is both to encourage voting and to avoid competing with a nail-biting decision. Some shows -- including Disney's "Aladdin" and "The Lion King, as well as "Hamilton," about the Founding Fathers, will play as normal Tuesday night. (PageSix)

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall has decided to end his national anthem protest --- and will STAND when the Star Spangled Banner is played for the rest of the season. Marshall was one of the first NFL players to join Colin Kaepernick's protest -- and said he would be taking a knee during the anthem to "raise awareness for social injustice and to start conversation about what all of us can do to make a positive change." Marshall explained his decision to call off the protest on Instagram before the Broncos vs. Raiders game Sunday night ... saying: "Going forward, I will be standing for the National Anthem -- not because everything is perfect, or because I'm changing my stance on things. But because of my hope for what we can become." "Just because I am standing doesn't mean the work will end. There's much work to be done. I'll continue to recognize and support organizations that are stepping up as leaders and making a real difference in our community, and I will do my part to be there for those in need." Marshall added, "I really appreciate the support from my family, teammates, coaches and fans. I'm grateful for those who have taken the time to hear me out. I'm excited for what all of us can accomplish when we truly work together." (TMZ)

Steve Wilkos knows polling locations could look like an episode of 'Springer' this year -- with Trump and Clinton supporters so fired up -- but just like his old gig, he's ready for action. We got the talk show host at LAX and talked about the palpable tension leading up to Tuesday's vote. He agrees America's options might not be the best this time around, but as a former Marine ... he has an interesting perspective on what happens Wednesday morning. And for any pissed voters thinking about popping off -- we dare you to try it in Steve's 'hood. (TMZ)

Hillary Clinton will NOT light up the sky over NYC if she wins the Presidency -- her campaign is calling off a planned fireworks show ... TMZ has learned. The Clinton campaign had contacted the Coast Guard for permission to pull off a 2 minute long fireworks display over the Hudson River when the election results went final. The fireworks would be visible from the Jacob Javits Center, where she's holding her election night party. But the Coast Guard tells TMZ ... Clinton's camp reached out on Thursday -- 2 days after her fireworks plan went public -- to say it wouldn't be shooting off the 10" aerial shells, after all. The Coast Guard says the campaign offered no explanation for the about-face. We've reached out to the Clinton campaign ... no word back yet. Looks like it'll be strictly sparklers for Hillary Tuesday night ... IF she wins. (TMZ)

Music

Lorde Posts Beautiful Note About Second Album: 'The Big Day is Not Tomorrow, But Soon.' This article originally appeared on EW. Lorde has stayed relatively quiet about her second album, the follow-up to 2013's stunning Pure Heroine, but in a Facebook note posted on the eve of her 20th birthday, she revealed a few things about this past year and what the collection is really about. "[I]t was a colossal year!" she wrote. "One for the ages. I maxed out every single emotion I have in the best possible way, the colors still aching behind my eyes like this weird blissful hangover." She continued: "My heart broke. I moved out of home and into the city and I made new friends and started to realize that no-one is just good or bad, that everyone is both. I started to discover in a profound, scary, blood-aching way who I was when I was alone, what I did when I did things only for myself. I was reckless and graceless and terrifying and tender. I threw sprawling parties and sat in restaurants until the early hours, learning what it's like to be an adult, even talking like one sometimes, until I caught myself. All I wanted to do was dance. I whispered into ears and let my eyes blaze on high and for the first time I felt this intimate, empire-sized inner power." Though she didn't reveal any real details, she told fans, "I want nothing more than to spill my guts RIGHT NOW about the whole thing -- I want you to see the album cover, pore over the lyrics (the best I've written in my life), touch the merch, experience the live show. I can hardly stop myself from typing out the name. I just need to keep working a while longer to make it as good as it can be. You'll have to hold on. The big day is not tomorrow, or even next month realistically, but soon. I know you understand." She finished writing this letter, she says, just as the clock struck midnight and she turned 20. "The party is about to start. I am about to show you the new world." Since releasing Pure Heroine, Lorde has worked with other artists like Disclosure and curated The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1 soundtrack, which included one of her original songs, "Yellow Flicker Beat." (People)

Lady Gaga bumped students from venue so she could perform. Lady Gaga's "dive bar tour" bumped a group of unsigned singers off the bill at the Bitter End -- one of the downtown spots where Gaga got her start -- two weeks before they were due to perform, Page Six has learned. Singer/songwriter and music teacher Samantha Cole had organized a showcase for her students at the live music mecca on Bleecker Street for Oct. 19. But Gaga's production team decided that they needed an extra day in the venue for set-up before the Oct. 20 show promoting her "Joanne" album, and had the previous day's performances canceled. Cole says that the gig was cut "without explanation" and rescheduled for Nov. 2. "I'm not upset any more," she said. "It's Lady Gaga -- she carries clout." (PageSix)

Bob Dylan called academy to acknowledge Nobel Prize. Don't believe Bob Dylan isn't absolutely thrilled to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Dylan kept mum for two weeks until a member of the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel prizes, described his silence as "impolite and arrogant." After that, he finally called the academy and said, "The news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless. I appreciate the honor so much." Dylan's lack of enthusiasm is a pose. "He loves accolades," one source said. "He campaigned hard for the Kennedy Center Honors in 1997, knowing he would have to win that first, before he could win the Nobel." It took 19 years, but his plan worked. (PageSix)

Movies

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Casts a Spell on Matthew Lewis: "I Felt Like I Was 9 Years Old Again." It's true what J.K. Rowling said: "Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." Over the weekend, Matthew Lewis -- who played Neville Longbottom in the eight-part Harry Potter film series -- became the latest cast member to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London. After the show (written by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and Rowling), Lewis met the actors backstage and posed for pictures with Anthony Boyle, Sam Clemmett, Poppy Miller, Jamie Parker and Paul Thornley. "A giant congratulations and an even bigger thank you to these guys and the rest of the cast of #CursedChild. To be in the movies was a dream come true but it became work and I forgot what it was to be a fan a long time ago. However, over the last two nights I was able to enjoy the world of Harry Potter once again," Lewis, 27, wrote on Instagram. "To lose myself in a story so rich and so powerful and, more importantly, that I had nothing to do with was truly magical. I felt like I was nine years old again, discovering it all for the first time and it is very, very special." Since its July 30 premiere at the Palace Theatre, many of the film's actors -- including Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Grint, Miranda Richardson, Julie Walters, Emma Watson and Bonnie Wright -- have come to see what became of Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular character onscreen, has yet to see the play. In fact, he may never see it. "It would be a weird one. I could be completely wrong in this, but I feel like if I went to see it...there's going to be a lot of Harry Potter fans there in the audience, obviously, and would that then become a thing? Would it be more about them watching me watch the show, or would it take away from the show?" Radcliffe asked during an E! News interview in June. "I would never want to do anything that would distract or take away from the show." Alas, Harry Potter's journey ends with The Cursed Child. "I think we're done," Rowling informed reporters in July. "This is the next generation, you know. So, I'm thrilled to see it realized so beautifully but, no, Harry is done now. [The play] chimed perfectly with the material I had about the next generation and I could see it would work perfectly. I never wanted to write another novel, but this will give the fans something special." (Eonline)

James Strong to Direct J.R.R. Tolkien Biopic 'Middle Earth'. Penned by Angus Fletcher, the film will chart the tumultuous events that inspired him to pen 'Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings' trilogies. James Strong is heading to Middle Earth. The British director of Broadchurch, Gracepoint and Downton Abbey will helm the biopic about author J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The film -- featuring a script by Angus Fletcher, based on six years of interviews and archival research -- will chart the tumultuous events that inspired him to pen Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies: when war broke out in 1914, disrupting his Oxford life with his wife Edith Bratt, Tolkien embarked on four years of battle, hardship, and new friendships, which served to shape his imagination and start him on the path to Middle Earth. Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, who first greenlit Peter Jackson's risky adaptations while at New Line Cinema, will produce through their Unique Features banner with Rachael Horovitz. Both trilogies grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide. Protagonist Pictures is handling worldwide sales and is expected to launch the project to buyers at the Berlin Film Festival next year. Strong is currently directing the AMC/ITV miniseries Liar, starring Ioan Gruffudd and Joanne Froggatt. He has also directed episodes of The Best Possible Taste, 11.22.63 and Doctor Who, as well as the Manchester United film United. He is repped by CAA, Plattform and United Agents. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Sarah Jessica Parker Calls Live's Average Joe Co-Host a Natural: '[You're] Like a Fish to Water'. Back by popular demand... Richard Curtis! On Monday, Live welcomed back the Pennsylvania school teacher to sit beside Kelly Ripa as her guest co-host for his second go-around on the morning show. During the show's opening, Curtis told Ripa that all of his students were very interested to hear about his first time on set, mainly for one reason -- the free food. "We talked about the whole thing, I broke down the whole day and what we did," he said of his first time on the morning show. "This was the biggest question, 'Curtis, what kind of food do they have in the green room?' " "You didn't tell them the truth did you?" asked Ripa. "I sure did. We all have personal chefs, there's a whole plethora of a buffet back there. It's amazing," he joked back. The television production teacher, who won a social media contest to co-host with Ripa, also revealed that there's one person in particular who didn't find his new gig too impressive -- his 5-year-old daughter. "While I was high on the horse, I'm so excited, the big thing that happened was... I was sitting with my daughter, my mom was sitting right next to me, and she turned to my daughter and asked, 'How happy are you that daddy's on TV?' Stoned-faced, looks at my mother and goes, 'Well, it's not like it's Disney channel, gamma.'" "I said, 'What does Disney channel have that I don't have?'" he continued. "She said, 'Magic powers with princesses.'" Later in the show, Curtis received the best compliment from guest Sarah Jessica Parker. "I feel like you've been secretly doing talk shows for the last ten years," Parker told him. "That's the nicest compliment," he responded. "Just as an audience, it's really quite something," the actresses added. "I was trying to think of comparisons like a fish to water, a magnet to a refrigerator, like a moth to a flame, peanut butter to jelly." While the race to fill the position is still ongoing, fans didn't hold back their excitement to see Curtis appear alongside Ripa again. Prior to returning, Curtis tok to his Instagram to share his excitement about his return. "Honestly, so excited to be back in that chair! Hosting that show was incredible and I'm ready to show America the guy they saw is who I really am! Blessed! This is all because my wife rocks and made me do it!!! Thanks Boo!!!," he wrote. (People)

Live! With Kelly Contest Winner Richard Curtis Returns to Co-Host With Kelly Ripa. Back by popular demand is Richard Curtis! Live! With Kelly contest winner Curtis returned to co-host with Kelly Ripa Monday, prompting longtime host Kelly to gush about the teacher-turned-daytime talk show host. "You were so good at [hosting] that we were backstage behind your back. You were doing a radio interview, and we were like, 'We need to get Richard Curtis back for another day, so let's make that happen as fast as possible.'" Curtis was still in disbelief about having been asked to return to appear alongside Kelly. "It is so good to be back," he said. "I'm somewhere between fantastic and wake me up, Richard, you're dreaming." When he received the call, however, he was in the middle of teaching a class and joked that he "threw a chair up in the air." He also confessed that his school has become far more interested in daytime talk shows as a result of his big TV debut. Despite learning a lot about the entertainment industry, Curtis admitted that his students were only curious about one thing: the food. "'Curtis, what kind of food did they have in the green room?'" he recalled his students asking him after his first stint as co-host. Naturally, he pulled their legs a bit by telling them "personal chefs, plethora of a buffet" and more were made available to him. And even though his students couldn't be happier or more excited for him, Curtis' daughter feels differently. When her grandmother, Curtis' mom, asked her how she felt about seeing her dad on TV, she was not impressed. "'It's not like it's Disney channel, grandma,'" Curtis recited his daughter's response. As for what makes Disney channel so much better, Curtis dished that she said the "magic powers and princesses." Clearly, magic powers will always win. (Eonline)

"You Set Me Up!" Teresa Giudice Accuses Jacqueline Laurita of Calling the Feds on Her on RHONJ Reunion Part 1. "A Tale of Two Housewives." That's really what part one of The Real Housewives of New Jersey's season seven reunion was on Sunday night, with former BFFs-turned-bitter rivals Teresa Giudice and Jacqueline Laurita's feud taking over the entire episode. The biggest shock of the night came at the end of the hour, with Teresa accusing Jacqueline, and former RHONJ co-star Caroline Manzo, of calling the IRS on her and husband Joe Giudice, resulting in their respective prison sentences (15 and 41 months) for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud. "I plead guilty and you set me up," Teresa said, shocking the entire room into a stunned silence (several jaws hit the floor). "You set me up. In my gut, it was either you, you and Caroline, set me up. You guys were behind everything, calling the government, everything," Teresa continued. When a stunned Andy Cohen followed up, asking if she really believed that, Teresa said, "Definitely her [Jacqueline], and I think Caroline, 'cause at the time they were in cahoots." Jacqueline's response to the serious allegations? "You think I called the government on you? Are you kidding?! You seriously think I called the government? That is not true." Teresa was not here for Jacqueline's denial, saying, "I'm so happy I got that off my chest. I do believe that. I believe that. I believe it in my gut...I feel it in my gut." Teresa also accused Jacqueline of selling stories to tabloids about Teresa and her family, including their legal troubles and that Joe cheated on her with his secretary back in 2012. (Teresa also accused Chris Laurita of cheating on Jacqueline, which the latter denied.) Oh, and new Housewives Siggy Flicker and Dolores Catania made their reunion debuts, but come on, is there really much to say aside from they both love their kids and Dolores got butt implants? (We agree with Tre, her derriere looked great before!) But back to the main event: Teresa and sister-in-law Melissa Gorga vs. Jacqueline, as the entire episode leading up to Teresa's bombshell accusation was a verbal sparring match starring the trio. Sigh...stripper-gate was once again brought up, with Melissa saying she believed Jacqueline had a part in it due to her close friendship with (ugh) Kim D., while Jacqueline claimed Tre fed the info to Kim. "Nobody's hands are clean," Melissa said...and then Teresa claimed Jacqueline used to be a stripper, possibly going by the stage name Fruit Loops. And as RHONJ fans know, Teresa recently reconciled thanks to the healing power of yoga with original cast member Danielle Staub, she who incited Tre's infamous table flip, which happened after she was brought up at the reunion. Teresa said she would love for Danielle to return to the show, and when a shocked Jacqueline asked why, Tre simply said, "I wanted her to come back and attack you." (well, we all know that's looking like a real possibility now...season eight, perhaps? A Bravo fan can only dream.) The last part of the reunion that needs to be addresses? Ford likely pulling all potential ads, as Andy asked Teresa why she didn't just get a Ford for a new car after getting out of prison, rather than a Lexus. "Would you drive a Ford?" Teresa asked the host, who said he would if he was having money issues. Tre, however, was not going to be car-shamed, saying, "We paid back our restitution. If you lease a Lexus, it's not that much money." The Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion continues next Sunday at 10 p.m. on Bravo. (Eonline)



LeBron James Sells Sports Assistants Comedy to CBS. Marking yet another sports-themed project in the works this development season. LeBron James is continuing to mine the world of sports for television. The NBA superstar and his SpringHill Entertainment banner have set up comedy Thankless at CBS, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The hybrid comedy, which is in development, centers on a group of ambitious assistants who pursue their dreams at a sports agency in Chicago. Duo Craig Gerard and Matt Zinman (Grandfathered, How I Met Your Mother) will pen the script and executive produce. James and SpringHill topper Maverick Carter also will executive produce the comedy. Thankless hails from Warner Bros. Television, where SpringHill is under an overall deal. This marks the third sale this development season for SpringHill. The company also is teaming with Bill Lawrence and NBC for a family comedy set in Cleveland. (James was born and raised in Ohio and plays for the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.) Additionally, SpringHill has a sports medicine drama in the works at NBC. Thankless gives James projects at two of the Big Four broadcast networks. The company also exec produces Starz's basketball-themed drama Survivor's Remorse. On the film side, SpringHill also has Space Jam 2, starring James, in the works. Thankless comes as sports-themed projects continue to be in high demand this development season following the success of scripted series including HBO's Ballers, Starz's Survivor's Remorse and Fox's Pitch, the latter of which is being produced in partnership with Major League Baseball. Other projects in the works this season include NBC baseball comedy All Stars; NFL defensive end Calais Campbell's semi-autobiographical CBS family comedy; Simon Cowell, Ian Brennan and Diablo Cody's synchronized-swimming comedy at Fox; and Michael Strahan's ABC drama about a Heisman Trophy winner turned cop. Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan's first project under his new Skydance production deal is the hoops drama Apollo Park. SpringHill is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham; Zinman and Gerard are with UTA and Hansen Jacobson. (Hollywood Reporter)