ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Lauren Conrad started the New Year by revealing she's expecting her first child, and now she's given us a first glimpse at her blossoming bump. Sharing a photo on her website of her teeny bump in side profile, she wrote "Oh hello, cutest baby bump ever... " While her team added "We can't wait to meet your little bundle, Lauren!" The former The Hills star first broke the news that her and husband of two years, William Tell, were expecting last week by sharing a photo of a scan to Instagram. "Happy New Year! I have a feeling 2017 is going to be the best year yet... ," the 30-year-old captioned the photo. Huge congrats to them both! (British Glamour)

Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons are engaged. Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons -- who played a married couple on "Fargo" -- are rumored to be engaged in real life, sources tell Page Six. We hear the pair got engaged over Golden Globes weekend. Dunst and Plemons were seen kissing at an Emmys after-party for their FX show in September, and they've been spotted out together in LA many times since. Plemons' career has been on the rise since he was cast on "Breaking Bad," followed by films "Black Mass" and "Bridge of Spies." The couple's reps did not get back to us. A rep for the show had no comment. (PageSix)

Louis van Amstel knew he wanted an unconventional wedding. "Weddings can look cookie-cutter," the Dancing with the Stars pro-who wed health coach Joshua Lancaster on Jan. 8-says in the current issue of PEOPLE. "We threw the checklist out and did what we wanted." Lancaster, 27, and van Amstel, 44, exchanged vows Sunday afternoon at a snowy, outdoor wedding at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah. After saying their "I do"s in front of their 137 of their closest friends and family-including van Amstel's best friend Mary-Margaret Humes, who served as best man; his season 9 partner Kelly Osbourne, who served as a flower girl; his season 15 partner Sabrina Bryan and fellow former DWTS pros Chelsie Hightower and Ashly DelGrosso-the wedding guests were treated to a delicious meal, but no cake! "That's one of the traditions in a normal wedding that I think is silly and that, for me, is a wasted expense," says Lancaster. I don't enjoy cake anyway, so it was easy to cut it-no pun intended." Instead, guests were served chocolate-chip bread pudding and fruit cobbler. Lancaster and van Amstel know their unconventional choice may raise some eyebrows, but they hope they inspire others to do what they want on their big day like they did. "We aren't the types to do things the way everyone else does," says van Amstel. "But if others like our ideas, then great! For us, it was really about just being around great family and friends and sharing our love with them." (People)

Talk about the "passion" of the Christ. In the upcoming movie "Mary Magdalene" Rooney Mara plays the title character, with Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus Christ. And sources exclusively tell Page Six that Phoenix and Mara fell for each other on the set while shooting the biblical epic and have been spending a lot of time together ever since. Mara's most recent film, "Lion," was up for four Golden Globes on Sunday. But Mara and famously reclusive Phoenix were instead "holed up together in the desert," a Hollywood source said, rather than in LA for the awards with Mara's nominated co-stars Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman. The source told us that Mara and Phoenix have been spending time together after "they found love on the set" of their anticipated biblical tale, which filmed in Italy last year. Mara and Phoenix were spotted together numerous times when cameras weren't rolling, including smoking together on the balcony of their hotel room in Matera in Southern Italy in November. Phoenix's rep insisted that they are "just good friends." "They worked on [2013 film] 'Her,' 'Mary Magdalene' and [their] next movie," his rep said. "They are and have been good friends for quite a long time." They are starring in Gus Van Sant's "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot" for 2018. Mara has been in a six-year relationship with Charlie McDowell -- the director son of British actor Malcolm McDowell -- and she stars in his Netflix film "The Discovery." But Mara and McDowell have not been photographed publicly since August, and both their reps had no comment. "Mary Magdalene" is directed by Garth Davis, who made his feature directing debut with "Lion." The movie also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and is said to be about "Mary's spiritual journey .?.?. that will lead to the capital city of Jerusalem, where she must confront the reality of Jesus' destiny and her own place within it." (Page Six)

What Sophia Bush Learned After Divorcing Chad Michael Murray. It's not often that Sophia Bush talks about Chad Michael Murray. Without referring to her ex-husband by name (the One Tree Hill co-stars tied the knot in 2005 during a seaside ceremony in Santa Monica, Calif.), the Chicago P.D. actress looks back at their brief romance in Cosmopolitan's February issue. "In my 20s, when I was starting out my career as an actor, I wasn't looking for a relationship, but one found me and became serious, even though I hadn't planned to settle down until my 30s," she writes. "But when the person you're with asks you to marry him, you think: 'This must be happening because it's supposed to.'" The actors separated after five months of marriage. The purpose of Bush's essay is not to throw Murray under the bus, but rather to remind readers that there's more to life than searching for The One. "I refuse to let that one relationship define me, which is why I've done my best to avoid discussing it for 10 years," she says. "The reality is that, yes, it was a massive event in my life. And the trauma of it was amplified by how public it became, which was incredibly foreign and bizarre to a girl who'd been just another college kid 24 months before her life blew up." Soon after, one of Bush's platonic relationships turned romantic. Though it didn't last forever, she says, "I was able to process all that had happened and find a deeper understanding of love." Several boyfriends later, the 34-year-old actress writes, "I came to appreciate that relationships often serve a specific purpose at a certain point in time, for myriad reasons. Some are meant to heal you, some are meant to teach you how to build yourself up, and some are meant to show you how to trust your own intuition. You call in exactly whom and what you need over the course of your life, as you are learning life's lessons. And learn them you will. Even if you try to avoid these teachings, they're coming for you. This reality has taught me that the relationships that don't lead to lifetime commitments are not failures. Not every love can last forever." Relationships are never black and white, Bush writes. "Often in between those two, you find the keys to what you need in partnership: what you're willing to give, what you want to get, and what things are absolutes that you cannot compromise on," she explains. "A few months with the right person can be as great an experience as a decade-long union with someone else." "When you take the pressure of The One off, you'll open yourself up to endless possibilities. You'll learn to have a truly deep, knowing relationship with yourself first. Then the rest will fall into place," the actress tells Cosmopolitan. "Reasons, seasons, and lifetimes. They're all valid." (Eonline)

Jenna Bush Hager Says She's Not Pregnant, Blames Rumors on "a Large Dinner." Jenna Bush Hager is clearing the air. The Today show guest co-host addressed a pregnancy rumor head on Wednesday morning, telling viewers that she is not pregnant. The conversation took place with Tamron Hall, who mentioned that people claimed she had changed her signature pixie cut for a new look after a photo shoot. In response, Bush Hager said people have a tendency to assume. "Don't you just love how people jump on things? Like you put a new hairdo or you wear a dress that's a little baggy, and it's like, 'Jenna Bush Hager pregnant with her third child.'" "Do you reply?" Hall asked. "No. I'm not pregnant, and I do not reply," Bush Hager said. "Because how do you reply other than saying, 'Thank you very much. No I'm not. That was just a large dinner last night.'" Rumors began after Bush Hager appeared on the red carpet of the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards wearing a tight green dress. Many people took to social media to question whether the mom of two was expecting a third, so Hager gave them their answer. Bush Hager also made headlines at the Golden Globes after she mistakenly called Hidden Figures "Hidden Fences". The moment went viral immediately, so she tearfully apologized Monday morning. "I had an error in the night, which I have to apologize for," Bush Hager told NBC colleagues Natalie Morales and Al Roker. "When I was interviewing the incomparable Pharrell, who I adore, I accidentally -- in the electricity of the red carpet, which I have never done before -- I called Hidden Figures 'Hidden Fences.' I have seen both movies. I thought they were both brilliant. I have interviewed casts from both of the movies. If I offended people, I am deeply sorry. It was a mistake, because you all know, I am not perfect. I am authentic but a human. What I didn't want to do is make anybody feel lesser than who they are. So, anyway, I hope... I apologized to both the cast, to Pharrell, but it was a mistake and I hope we can all move on." (Eonline)

Another day, another kiss for Andrew Garfield. The Hacksaw Ridge actor, 33, stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, where he opened up about his passionate kiss with Ryan Reynolds at the Golden Globes. "What was going on there?" the Colbert asked about the bromantic moment. "I just wanted Ryan to know that I loved him no matter whether he won or lost," said Garfield of the moment Reynolds lost out on the best actor award to Ryan Gosling. "It doesn't matter," he continued. "He showed up. It doesn't change anything in my heart." In fact, Garfield revealed that he is "totally comfortable" kissing men, and he was willing to put his money where his mouth is -- literally. The actor gave Colbert not one, but two sweet smooches during the show. "It's getting hot in here!" Colbert captioned a tweet with a photo of the kiss. Following the show, Garfield's ex Emma Stone reacted with surprise and delight to the hilarious kiss. "They did not kiss each other," Stone reacted in disbelief. "They did?" (People)

Charlie Sheen's off-screen life has been way more scandalous than any role he's played, but he says his kids have been sheltered from his work. Without explaining if they've also been sheltered from his personal life, he said, "They've never even seen my work. Mom has to sequester them a little bit from some of the work I've done, you know -- until they're old enough .?.?. They don't know me as a performer," he told Michael Strahan in an interview for "GMA," airing Wednesday. He added, "I was a grandfather at 48 .?.?. it kinda blew my mind .?.?. But, what a gift .?.?. my children .?.?. they celebrate all aspects of me. It's really refreshing .?.?. You've had a terrible day and you come home and your kids are like, 'Oh my gosh, look who's here.'?" (Page Six)

Charlie Sheen claims that his use of testosterone cream contributed to his bizarre behavior after being fired from Two and a Half Men in 2011. In an interview with Good Morning America's Michael Strahan, the 51-year-old actor opened up about his HIV diagnosis and reflected on his phase in which he gave a series of bizarre interviews, including claiming he had "tiger blood." "It's fun to kind of watch sometimes but also just a little bit cringe-able," Sheen said of his headline-grabbing past interviews. "It's like, 'Dude, what the hell was that?' " Sheen explained that he was using testosterone cream to "get the old libido up" during that time period. "It metabolizes into basically a roid rage," he said. Although Sheen says he's in a better place now, he doesn't deny that the man who went on rants about doing more drugs than "anybody could survive" is still in him. "I think ultimately in our blueprint, in our DNA, I believe that we are the sum total of all of our experiences, good and bad," Sheen shared. The actor, who publicly shared he had HIV in November 2015, has come a long way since being diagnosed with the disease four years ago. "The day I was diagnosed, I immediately wanted to eat a bullet," Sheen said. "But my mom was there, I wouldn't do that in front of her, or let her find me to clean up that mess." "But then, something else came over me," he continued. "They gave me a handful of pills and said, 'You can go home now, and you're going to live.' " Now, the Major League star a part of a Food and Drug Administration study for a new treatment that he says is a major improvement over the "hideous cocktail" of pills those with HIV take to control the disease. After a long hiatus from acting, Sheen also has a new film, Mad Families, debuting this month. Sheen also thinks of himself as leader for others battling the disease that causes AIDS. He said, "I feel like I'm carrying the torch for a lot of folks out there that are suffering from the same thing." (People)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Joe Jonas and Charlotte McKinney Strip for GUESS' Underwear Campaign. It's not always about the clothes -- sometimes it's about what's underneath. GUESS has tapped DNCE singer Joe Jonas and model Charlotte McKinney to model its Spring 2017 underwear line, giving E! News an exclusive photo from the sultry campaign. "It's been a fun shoot," Jonas admits, "and my first time doing [an ad] in underwear, so it's pretty exciting." To look his best for the sexy photo shoot, Jonas dieted and did "a lot" of boxing and cardio with his trainer. "She put me through the ringer," he admits. The 27-year-old "Body Moves" singer adds that stripping down to pose for Yu Tsai was a "fun," "exciting," "life-changing experience." Understandably, Jonas was a bit nervous to disrobe for the camera. "It can be a weird thing to be sitting there in your underwear being photographed," he reveals, "but overall I had a blast." "Everybody on set was great," Jonas adds. "You feel comfortable." McKinney remembers the fashion label's previous campaigns as "iconic" and "sexy," so she was elated to be working alongside Jonas for the new campaign. "Even though I've been doing this for four years now," the 23-year-old model says, "I still have to pinch myself coming into work." Shooting for GUESS was a dream come true for Jonas, too. "They've always been an amazing, iconic American brand," the pop singer says, adding, "To be in the GUESS family feels good." (Eonline)

Simone Biles and Aly Raisman to Make Their Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Debut. U.S. Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman are swapping their leotards for swimsuits! Both Biles and Raisman are set to make their Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue debut in the 2017 edition, where they will model various styles of bikinis for the famed magazine. In a preview for their forthcoming photo shoot, Biles and Raisman show off their flexibility and strength while wearing tiny bikinis. Even though the gymnasts left their leotards at home, there's no shortage of gymnastics here. Both Biles and Raisman leap, jump and do split headstands, proving that even in the off-season they're still in a gymnast state of mind. In addition to making their magazine debut, both Olympians will be participating in the inaugural Vibes festival in Houston, a two-day event hosted by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit that will feature music, food and culture. The first-time festival will feature live performances Diplo and Grammy Award-winning artist Miguel; a food festival curated by Houston's James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Sheppard; special appearances by the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit class of 2017 models and more. Both Biles and Raisman are part of the class of 2017. (Eonline)

Since Oprah Winfrey launched her talk show in 1986, she's taken viewers along with her as she has fought a lifelong battle with her weight. "This food struggle is something that she's been battling since, I think, the public met Oprah," says Winfrey's best friend, CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King. Winfrey concurs, "I have suffered publicly -- fasting, eating no carbs, green juices, protein shakes, blah blah blah." Winfrey, who overcame an impoverished childhood to reach the pinnacle of success, says, "My public struggle with weight has always embarrassed me because it felt off principle." As the host of the Oprah Winfrey Show, she helped launch the careers of experts like Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Iyanla Vanzant, who offered advice on physical, mental and emotional well-being. "How can I give everybody else everything they need, and I still can't give this to myself?" she asks. Now, thanks to Weight Watchers, she says she's found the solution. She vigilantly sticks to 30 points and 10,000 steps a day. "I will probably be counting points for the rest of my life," she says. "Life itself feels sharper. I have more energy to give to the things that really matter." (People)

The Weeknd is bouncing back from Bella Hadid just fine by making out with Selena Gomez. Selena was seen hanging all over The Weeknd Tuesday night outside Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica -- getting handsy and mouthy with the singer. We don't know how long this has been going on, but they're definitely a thing ... based on these pics. There's potential drama here -- Selena's pals with Gigi Hadid ... so her sister, Bella, might have a thing or 2 to say about the hookup. But as they say, the heart wants what it wants. Same goes for Selena's hands. (TMZ)

Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin is celebrating 30 years of sobriety. "Happy 30th Sobriety birthday to me!" she captioned an Instagram photo of herself pretending to bite her sobriety chip engraved with "XXX." In 1987, when Matlin was just 21 years old, she entered rehab for addiction to cocaine and pot. It was at the Berry Ford Center where she found out she was nominated for her role in "Children of a Lesser God." "When I walked into Betty Ford Center 30 years ago, I met an older woman who welcomed me there that very first night... " the 51-year-old wrote alongside the photo, "She asked me how long I had in my sobriety. I told her 12 days... she said she had 20 years. THAT was when I told myself I was going to do the same if she could do it. So here I am, 30 years later... I dedicate this celebration to the lady who inspired me to stay sober." She continued, "I am so grateful to have what I want in life... to be able to see and think clearly and to be able to wake up everyday alive. Enough said here. One day at a time, baby. Thank you to those who have had my back and still do. You know who you are ... Thank you my husband for the yearly chips! Love you!" The "Switched at Birth" actress wed husband Kevin Grandalski in 1993 and the couple have four children together. (Page Six)

Ivanka Trump's fashion company wants to slap her name on bras, panties and other forms of underwear ... even though Ivanka herself won't be in on the deal. Ivanka Trump Marks LLC just filed legal docs to expand its product line to almost anything someone could wear under a shirt or skirt. According to the doc -- obtained by TMZ -- Ivanka Trump Marks LLC wants to start using the name on tights, socks, stockings, leggings, lingerie, underwear, bras, panties, shorts, briefs, shapewear, camisoles, tank tops, corsets, chemise, hosiery, undergarments, teddies and sleepwear. We're told the company will continue to partner with apparel group G-III for the new clothing line, which will roll out this Spring. Our sources say the trademark application was filed to protect the IT brand from poachers. Sources tell TMZ ... Ivanka will definitely resign from the company before her dad becomes prez. (TMZ)

The Surprising Reason Jerry Seinfeld Nearly Missed President Barack Obama's Farewell Party. Jerome Seinfeld? Sorry, sir. You didn't make the invite list this year. That's what we imagine was told to legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld when he tried to get past security at President Barack Obama's star-studded farewell party last Saturday. According to Page Six, the name on Seinfeld's ID is his birth name (ahem, Jerome), and those at the door weren't buying it. "He was on the list under Jerry, but his ID has Jerome. They let his wife Jessica [Seinfeld] in, but he had to wait for Secret Service clearance," a source told the outlet. No surprise here, Jerry was a good sport about the entire mix up. "He found the whole thing funny and made light of the situation, laughing and telling jokes to guests as they passed through," the insider explained. Once inside, Jerry surely hit the dance floor and mix and mingled with fellow celeb heavyweights. Attendees included George Clooney and Amal Clooney, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Robert De Niro, George Lucas, Solange, Kelly Rowland and her husband Tim Witherspoon. More (and not all) partygoers also included Oprah Winfrey, Usher, Anna Wintour, Nick Jonas, Chris Rock, Stevie Wonder, Lena Dunham, Jordin Sparks, Bruce Springsteen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tracy Ellis Ross, Paul McCartney, Tyler Perry, Gloria Estefan, and Meryl Streep, who CNN reported arrived in a cab. Jerry and POTUS go way back, and in December 2015 kicked off the funnyman's season 7 premiere of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee side by side. The pair enjoyed a hilarious joy ride around the White House and sipped on, you guessed it, a cup of joe. (Eonline)

Justin Bieber's custom-made Ferrari 458 up for auction. A Ferrari custom-built for Justin Bieber is on the auction block. Barrett-Jackson auctions has listed what it calls a "once-in-a-life opportunity" to purchase Bieber's 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia F1. The car was modified for Bieber by famed car outfitter West Coast Customs. The listing touts a "factory custom interior created to Justin's specifications." The Ferrari isn't without its flaws, however. Barrett-Jackson notes that a vehicle damage report shows it was involved in a rear-end collision at one point. The car is on the block in Scottsdale, Arizona, but potential buyers can submit bids online. The listing showed no bids placed as of early Wednesday morning. (PageSix)

Seating mix-up leaves no room for Sly and wife at Affleck Globes table. At Sunday's Golden Globes, Sylvester Stallone was left fuming after he and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, were forced to leave their table because of a seating mix-up. As the show started, Stallone and Flavin walked up to their assigned table where "Manchester by the Sea" star Casey Affleck was seated, along with the film's writer-director Kenneth Lonergan and producer Matt Damon- only to find that there was just one seat available. Stallone, who won a Globe last year for reprising the role of Rocky Balboa in "Creed" and appeared as a presenter this year, retreated backstage to watch the ceremony with his wife. A Globes insider told us, "Stallone and his wife came to the table late ... and when they got there, there was only one seat available. It was a mix-up by the organizers ... Stallone immediately went backstage to watch as Jimmy Fallon started his opening. But when the first break came, a production worker for the show brought out an extra chair to make room for Stallone and his wife. They had the best two seats facing the stage." But Stallone chose not to come back out to the table. We're told Affleck was mortified about the Stallone seating snafu and tried to smooth things over backstage, only to be basically told by the "Rocky" legend, "Get out of my face!" Stallone and Flavin's three daughters Scarlet, Sistine and Sophia shared the title of Miss Golden Globe at this year's show. (PageSix)

That White Girl Rose must be powerful stuff. Page Six is told that Internet comedian Josh Ostrovsky, a.k.a. the Fat Jew, is preparing to announce that he's having a baby with a woman who is not his wife, Katie Sturino. The news may help to explain why Sturino, who runs the 12ish Style blog, filed for divorce last month, as Page Six first reported. We're told that the mother of the baby is expected to give birth "soon" and a rep for Ostrovsky told us, "It's a personal matter, and the woman involved insists on her privacy." However, we're told famously unprivate Ostrovsky -- who produces his own line of wine, White Girl Rose, in addition to running his popular Instagram account -- will announce the news on "The Wendy Williams Show" on Wednesday. Ostrovsky and Sturino, who lived in Tribeca, were married in 2014 and have no children but share three dogs. When we first reported on the split, Ostrovsky told us it was amicable, adding, "We intend to be friends, which sounds impossible and progressive and European, but we'll give it a shot!" (Page Six)

George Lucas museum coming to Los Angeles. The force, it seems, was with Los Angeles. "Star Wars" creator George Lucas and his team chose LA over San Francisco on Tuesday as the home of a museum that will showcase his life's work and huge film history collection. After what organizers called "extensive due diligence and deliberation," they announced that the museum will be built in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, where it will sit alongside other more traditional museums including the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Lucas has been trying to build the museum, called The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, for nearly a decade, and is financing the project by himself with plans to spend over $1 billion. It will house an extensive personal collection that includes 40,000 paintings, illustrations and film-related items. The project became the subject of a rivalry between the two cities, with San Francisco offering Treasure Island in the middle of the bay as a home "We have been humbled by the overwhelmingly positive support we received from both San Francisco and Los Angeles during our selection process," the organizers said in a statement. Lucas has ties to both areas, and good reason to choose either. He is an alumnus of the film school at the University of Southern California, which is right across the street from the museum site, but he also has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for most of his life. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement after the decision that "millions of Angelenos and visitors will enjoy an extraordinary collection anchored in storytelling -- an art that carries so much meaning in the history and legacy of Los Angeles." The museum gets its pick from about 30,000 film-related pieces including storyboards and costumes from "The Wizard of Oz," "Casablanca" and of course "Star Wars." (PageSix)

The Paris limo driver who was arrested in the Kim Kardashian robbery dragnet has been released and was never even a suspect ... so claims the limo company that hired him. UNIC Worldpass tells TMZ, driver Michael Madar has been released from custody with no criminal charges. UNIC says Madar was in custody "for testimony purposes" only. The company insists neither it nor Madar had any connection to the October jewelry heist. Le Monde, a leading French newspaper, was one of the first to report the robbery may have been an inside job and cops had their sights set on the limo driver. (TMZ)

Music

Loretta Lynn to Be Subject of New Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Exhibit. As part of a weeklong rollout of new exhibition announcements, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville will reveal Wednesday that Loretta Lynn will be the subject of a major exhibit set to open Aug. 25. Lynn, whose life story was told in the Oscar and Golden Globe-winning 1980 film Coal Miner's Daughter, has been a member of the Hall of Fame since 1988. A three-time Grammy Award winner, she is a nominee again this year in the best country album category for her current set, Full Circle. She has won eight Country Music Assn. Awards in her career, including entertainer of the year in 1972. Among the best-loved of her 16 No. 1 hits are "Coal Miner's Daughter," "Fist City" and "Don't Come Home A'Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)." "I am so happy the Country Music Hall of Fame has asked me to be one of their main exhibits in 2017 ... gonna show off my 50-some-odd years in country music," Lynn said in a statement provided to Billboard. "They best have a big space. I have a lot of stuff." She added, "I'm so proud to share my life, and music with the Hall of Fame. Y'all come see us." Her exhibit, featuring personal artifacts and career memorabilia, will remain open through June 2018. Earlier in the week the museum announced upcoming exhibits centered around stars Jason Aldean (opening May 26) and Shania Twain (opening June 26). Additional exhibit subjects will be announced on Jan. 12 and 13 via the museum's social media channels. The museum has turned the revelations of its new 2017 exhibits into a contest, teasing the featured stars on its social media pages the night before each is announced. Fans can like, comment and share their guesses, and four winners will be chosen at random to win a travel package to attend the VIP opening of an exhibit with a guest. One winner gets a lifetime membership to the museum. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, has a collection of more than 2.5 million artifacts tracing the history of the genre. Additional special programs and concerts to mark the golden anniversary will be announced in the coming months. (Billboard)

Ed Sheeran Covers The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme Song Beautifully. Now this is a story all about how Ed Sheeran covered the ultimate TV song from your childhood. The 25-year-old singer appeared on Capital FM radio in his native U.K. this week and answered a listener's request to perform the rap theme to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, originally performed by main star Will Smith. Sheeran then took out his guitar and performed a beautiful, acoustic, melodic version of the '90s track. A video of his performance was posted on the radio's YouTube page Wednesday. "Oh, that was so fun!" Sheeran said. During his sit-down, the singer also performed one of his new songs, "Shape of You." He released the track, as well as another, "Castle on the Hill," last week. They are featured on his new, third studio album Divide, or ÷. Sheen unveiled the 12-song tracklist Wednesday. "Truly overwhelmed with the reaction to these new songs," Sheeran wrote on Instagram last weekend. "I've never had anything like this, thank you for your wonderful messages. Now please blast them out as loud as you can from every speaker you can find, as many times as you can! During his Capital FM interview, Sheeran revealed will continue his return to the music scene with an appearance on The Late Late Show host's viral Carpool Karaoke segment. "I've been in touch with James Corden about this for three years because he wanted me to do the first one, and I just wasn't around," he said. "I can confirm that at some point this year I will be doing Carpool Karaoke." (Eonline)

It Looks Like Ariana Grande and John Legend Are Teaming Up for a Beauty and the Beast Duet. As if we needed anything else to make us ridiculously excited for the Beauty and the Beast live-action film. Fans continue to anxiously await the release of the Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Luke Evans remake of the Disney classic (which hits theaters March 17, but you already knew that), and now we've come across some even more exciting news about the highly anticipated flick. It turns out Ariana Grande and John Legend may be teaming up to record what we can only assume will be the most epic duet for the film. Grande first piqued fans' interest in the idea when she shared an Instagram photo of herself in the leopard-print studio with a vague AF caption. The speculation was then heightened even more when she tagged Legend and the film in her photo, which was reposted by the Beauty and the Beast Instagram page. While the actual song has yet to be revealed, we're going to guess it's the film's famous track "Tale as Old as Time," which was originally sung by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. It's not unusual for A-listers to take on various Disney films' staple songs for the end credits of the movies. You may recall that a number of stars have lent their voice for the big screen, including Alessia Cara for Moana's "How Far I'll Go", Demi Lovato for Frozen's "Let It Go," and, of course, Christina Aguilera's rendition of Mulan's "Reflection." The latest trailer for the forthcoming live-action film premiered on Sunday night during the 2017 Golden Globes, and brings a whole new reason to count down the few short months until its release. In the 30-second spot, Watson sings (yes, she sings!) Belle's classic "Reprise" as multiple never-before-seen scenes play out. Emma is seen approaching Beast's castle before meeting everyone's favorite talking teacup Chip for the very first time. Chip tells her in an oh-so-adorable accent, "Pleased to meet you!" The adaptation's star-studded cast also includes Josh Gad as LeFou, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Audra McDonald as Madame de Garderobe, Ewan McGregor as Lumière, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Dan Stevens as Beast, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, and Stanley Tucci as Cadenza. (Eonline)

Ed Sheeran Reveals 'Divide' Track List. Ed Sheeran finally gave up the goods on Wednesday morning (Jan. 11). After weeks of speculation, the singer confirmed that his third album will be called Divide (in keeping with his math-themed titles, it is actually the mathematical sign for division) and it will feature 12 new tracks. The news was dropped via an Instagram photo of the titles posted on a chalkboard, which racked up more than 343,000 likes in just two hours. The recently released double-single surprise "Castle on the Hill" and "Shape of You" are, of course, part of the package, along with 10 other fresh tracks including "Eraser," "Dive," "Perfect," "Galway Girl," "Happier," "Hearts Don't Break Around Here," "New Man," "What Do I Know?," "How Would You Feel (Paean)" and "Supermarket Flowers." (Billboard)

Enrique Iglesias Heads to Cuba to Film Upcoming Music Video. Enrique Iglesias has decided to make Cuba the location for his new music video. "Hey guys, what's up? We're on our way to the Caribbean to make the new music video. 'Súbeme la Radio' with my friend Descemer Bueno and Zion & Lennox," the 41-year-old singer said in a video he shared on his Instagram account. The clip marks the second time that the Spanish hunk films a music video in Cuba. In 2014, the singer released "Bailando" featuring Bueno, who wrote the song along with Iglesias, and Cuban reggaeton band Gente de Zona. The video was directed by Cuban Alejandro Perez and included footage shot in the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The legendary flamenco dancers were from the renowned Havana's Ballet Liz Alfonso. Reports state that Perez will also be directing this video. Zion already posted a photo from the set with the caption "Que Viva Cuba." Iglesias also shared a video from the first day of filming along with Bueno. We can't wait to see this video! (Eonline)

Prince estate signs deal with Universal Music Group. Prince's estate has signed a merchandising deal naming Universal Music Group's Bravado unit as its exclusive branding and licensing partner worldwide. Tuesday's announcement says Bravado will work with the estate to manage retail and licensing endeavors for Prince's brand. Bravado CEO Mat Vlasic says it will ensure that Prince "continues to thrill fans and impact culture around the world." Prince's entertainment assets are being managed under court orders by industry experts Charles Koppelman and L. Londell McMillan, who say the deal will support Prince's legacy and give fans new opportunities to connect with him. Prince died of an accidental painkiller overdose in April. A Minnesota judge is expected to declare his siblings heirs to his estate, which court filings suggest is worth about $200 million. (PageSix)

New Jersey University to host Bruce Springsteen's archives. While it takes Bruce Springsteen close to four hours to effectively revisit the four-plus decades of his career in concert, the Boss needed just 90 minutes to chronicle his life story at New Jersey's Monmouth University. The 67-year-old Garden State-born rocker spoke at the school in West Long Branch Tuesday night as part of an "intimate conversation" moderated by Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli. Among the topics Springsteen touched on were his youth as a bar band singer on the Jersey shore, writing his classic album "Born To Run" and the importance of political activism in music moving forward. Monmouth officials also announced that the university will be home to Springsteen's archives. A forthcoming exhibit will feature Springsteen's personal collection of written works, photographs and other memorabilia from his career. (PageSix)

Mariah Carey Cancels Part of Her Latin America Tour Citing Promoter Negligence. Mariah Carey is putting the brakes on parts of her Latin America tour. E! News can exclusively confirm that the "We Belong Together" singer has been forced to cancel her upcoming dates in Brazil, Argentina and Chile due to promoter negligence. "To all of my lambs in South America, I am devastated that a portion of this tour had to be canceled," Mariah shared in a statement to E! News. "Thank you for all of the excitement and love -- I hope to see you soon, my darlings!" While tickets had already gone on sale with success, fans will be able to obtain a full refund. Mariah will also still be performing in Mexico City and Monterrey this November. Back in July, the Grammy winner announced that she would be coming to the Latin American stage this fall with her "Sweet Sweet Fantasy" tour. She was expected to perform her biggest hits including "Hero," "Fantasy" and "Always Be My Baby." For loyal fans in the United States, there are still plenty of opportunities to see the singer perform live. In addition to three performances in Hawaii scheduled for this November, Mariah will also be singing at New York's Beacon Theatre over a span of five days in December. She will also return to Las Vegas in the spring of 2017 for her #1 to Infinity show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. UPDATE: Mirage Entertainment has filed suit against South American concert promotion company FEG Entretenimientos S.A. for allegedly breaching their contracts with United Talent Agency. In court documents obtained by E! News, Mirage Entertainment claims that Mariah Carey was forced to cancel two concerts in Argentina and Chile because promoter FEG S.A. failed to provide sufficient payment. They claim the "Obsessed" singer is entitled to payment in full and are also requesting unspecified damages and court costs. (Eonline)

U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd & More to Play 2017 Bonnaroo Festival. It may be January, but it's already time to get into the summertime mindset: The Bonnaroo lineup is here. Headliners for the four-day camping music and arts festival are U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd and Major Lazer, the festival revealed Wednesday morning (Jan. 11). Other big names on the bill are Flume, The xx, Lorde, Chance the Rapper, Cage the Elephant, Travis Scott, Marshmello, The Head and the Heart, Big Gigantic, Glass Animals, Future Islands, Portugal. The Man, SuperJam, Car Seat Headrest, Louis the Child, Flatbush Zombies, D.R.A.M, Margo Price, The Orwells and Tove Lo. This marks the first U.S. festival headline appearance for the U2 guys, who will play their album The Joshua Tree -- which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year -- in full as part of their Joshua Tree summer tour. Bonnaroo will be held from June 8 through 11 at Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tenn. Tickets are now available on Bonnaroo's website here. (Billboard)

Ed Sheeran Confirms He'll Do 'Carpool Karaoke,' Plans NSFW Notorious B.I.G. Cover. James Corden might soon scratch one of the big names off his "Carpool Karaoke" wish list. In an interview with the U.K.'s Capital FM on Monday (Jan. 9), Ed Sheeran confirmed that he's finally getting ready to hit the road with The Late Late Show host. "I've been in touch with James Corden about this for three years, because he wanted me to do the first one and I just wasn't around," Sheeran, 25, told British radio host Roman Kemp. "I can confirm that at some point this year, I will be doing a 'Carpool Karaoke," said the singer who recently smashed a Spotify one-day streaming record thanks to his new singles "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill." And while most of the "Carpool" segments have featured stars like Gwen Stefani, Justin Bieber, Madonna, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey playing it straight, Sheeran plans to follow in Adele's footsteps and go rogue with some potentially NSFW hip-hop. A spokesperson for The Late Late Show could not be reached for confirmation at press time. "I know the whole thing is singing to your tune, but I think I'd feel a bit awkward singing to my song," Sheeran said in the interview. "I think I'd just want to put on some Biggie... I want to put on something really awkward and dirty, like Biggie's song, 'Big Booty Hoes,' or something like that... and just hear James Corden sing along to that." (Billboard)

Camila Cabello Talks Social Media, Political Engagement, Teen Sexuality in Lena Dunham Interview. "Being a girl group, there's been a lot of times where people have tried to sexualize us to just get more attention," the former Fifth Harmony member told the 'Girls' creator for her Lenny newsletter and Women of the Hour podcast. Days before her exit from Fifth Harmony was announced, Camila Cabello spoke with Lena Dunham for her Lenny newsletter and Women of the Hour podcast, discussing keeping one's sanity in the age of social media, her political engagement and expressing sexuality as a teenage pop star. In the interview, Cabello credited her mother for helping her keep her sanity, keeping things in perspective as a Cuban immigrant with her story acting as a reminder of what's most important in life. As well, steering clear from social media has provided further assistance in keeping her grounded. "The best decision that I've taken in my career thus far has been this year I've just stayed away from social media," Cabello said. "I don't go on it, and I just keep myself focused on getting better and growing as an artist and finding different ways to grow as a person. It's just kept me grounded, and I don't have 1,000 people thinking that they didn't like my shoes." This was Cabello's first year as a voter and said -- in the face of racism around the presidential election -- as a Latina, she "felt a responsibility to stick up for my people and my culture." "Now and forevermore, I'm going to stick up for immigrants and I'm going to stick up for Hispanic people and their rights," she said. "I feel like that's just my job." When Dunham asked about the pressure on young women to "present themselves as full-time sex symbols" and how that has affected Cabello, the singer agreed that this has been an issue through her career. As well, in this context, she was sure to note her own love for Rihanna from "Planet Sexy." "Especially with being a girl group, there's been a lot of times where people have tried to sexualize us to just get more attention. Unfortunately, sex sells," she said. "There's definitely been times where there's stuff that I have not been comfortable with and I've had to put my foot down. There's nothing wrong with showing sexuality. If you have that inside, it's just an expression of who you are. If you want to share that with people, that's amazing. I love that. Look at Rihanna. She's so sexy. She comes from Planet Sexy. I worship her. I really, really do." (Hollywood Reporter)

Movies

Woody Harrelson Joins Star Wars Han Solo Prequel Film (and Is Good at Ping Pong). The Force is strong with Woody Harrelson! The 55-year-old actor has been officially cast in the new, still-untitled Star Wars standalone film centering around a young Han Solo, which serves as a prequel to the original trilogy. "We couldn't be more excited to work with an artist with as much depth and range as Woody," directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who previously worked on The Lego Movie, said in a statement posted on StarWars.com. "His ability to find both humor and pathos, often in the same role, is truly unique. He is also very good at ping pong." The news comes a week after Variety quoted sources as saying that Harrelson was in early talks to join the film and was the top choice to play Han Solo's mentor. Production company Lucasfilm and parent firm Walt Disney Studios have not revealed Harrelson's role. Walt Disney Studios announced last July Alden Ehrenreich, 27, will play Han Solo in the new movie. Harrison Ford had originated the role of the iconic smuggler, pilot and "scoundrel," in the original Star Wars trilogy and in the 2015 sequel Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Thousands of actors tested for the role. "I had an audition process that went on for a long time, and I got to spend a lot of time with the guys who are directing the film," Ehrenreich told Interview magazine last year. "Getting to be around them and being around the world a little bit has been the main experience so far. I did my audition on the Millennium Falcon for one of my screen tests, which was pretty cool." Previously announced cast members include Donald Glover, who will play Lando Calrissian, and Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke, whose role has not been revealed. Longtime Star Wars movie screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan penned the screenplay for the Han Solo movie. The Han Solo prequel movie is the second standalone film in the Star Wars universe and follows last year's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The new movie is set for release in 2018. (Eonline)

Natalie Portman Admits She Should've Been More ''Pissed'' When Co-Star Ashton Kutcher Earned Three Times More Than Her. The gender wage gap in Hollywood? Natalie Portman has something to say about it. The Jackie star appears on the cover of Marie Claire U.K's February issue, inside revealing yet another startling incident in which a female actress earned far less than her male co-star. For her performance in 2011 rom-com No Strings Attached, Portman tells the mag that she earned three times less than Ashton Kutcher. But according to the 35-year-old Oscar winner, Natalie wishes her reaction was less indifferent: "I wasn't as pissed as I should have been. I mean, we get paid a lot, so it's hard to complain, but the disparity is crazy." She added, "I knew and I went along with it because there's this thing with 'quotes' in Hollywood." These "quotes" Natalie recalled in the sit-down refers to the highest amount and actor has been made in a previous project, thus setting a bar for future films down the line. In her own words, "His was three times higher than mine so they said he should get three times more." Now six years later, Portman isn't shy to stand up for herself. For example, when she signed on to play Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in an upcoming biopic, Natalie insisted the director role would go to a woman. "I don't think women and men are more or less capable, we just have a clear issue with women not having opportunities," she shared. "We need to be part of the solution, not perpetuating the problem." Portman went on, "I feel energized to be an activist; that our art is more urgent than ever. It's more important to be as good a person as you can be in your community and to be really active in helping people who need more help now." Pick up the latest issue of Marie Claire U.K. on newsstands now. (Eonline)

Sarah Jessica Parker Sets the Record Straight on the Third Sex and the City Movie. Dear Sex and the City Fans -- I've got some good and bad news for ya. The bad news is a third Sex and the City movie is not going to be happening anytime soon. However, I'm happy to report that an SATC 3 is not entirely out of the question. I caught up with Sarah Jessica Parker at the Golden Globes to set the record straight on what Carrie Bradshaw's big screen future looks like. "The truth of the matter is there is no script. There's never been a script," SJP said. "The idea remains a real possibility but when is the right time? I guess that's what it all boils down to -- when! So we'll see." The second SATC flick was released in 2010 two years after the first hit theaters. Parker did apologize if her answers about a third movie have been more of a tease than anything else. "I don't tease," she explained. "I'm asked the question and keep trying to find new ways of answering because it's so boring or [not] to crush this idea" of another film. Sex and the City ran on HBO from 1998 until 2004. It took home seven Emmys from 50 nominations. It also won eight of its 24 Golden Globe noms. Parker currently stars on HBO's Divorce. (Eonline)

Why Luc Besson's 'Valerian' May Determine the Fate of Europe's Most High-Profile Studio. The $200 million sci-fi epic has analysts worried that a flop could torpedo his storied EuropaCorp, even as a new pact with STX provides breathing room (and an escape from troubled Relativity Media) for now. Can a single movie determine the future of an entire studio? Such is perhaps the case with filmmaker Luc Besson's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, an ambitious $200 million sci-fi epic set for release this summer. The film already has prompted Besson's EuropaCorp -- one of Europe's largest and most influential entertainment companies -- to make major changes. EuropaCorp long has been considered one of a handful of successful European studios thanks to the Taken and Transporter franchises as well as the 2014 Scarlett Johansson vehicle Lucy. But its fortunes have soured in recent years, and Besson, 57, who founded the company in 1996 and owns 44 percent of it, recently was dogged by speculation he was seeking to sell his stake. Valerian -- the most expensive movie ever made by a non-U.S. studio -- is seen by analysts as a monumental risk. There even were reports in Paris, near where EuropaCorp is based, that the company had hired investment bank Moelis & Co. to hunt for buyers. Then on Jan. 3, Besson revealed a lifeline of sorts. EuropaCorp announced it had signed a three-year distribution and marketing pact with U.S.-based STX Motion Pictures, taking Valerian away from RED -- the joint venture EuropaCorp had formed with Ryan Kavanaugh's troubled Relativity Media -- and reassuring investors its film slate will make it into theaters. But EuropaCorp now must share revenue from Valerian (and other films), limiting its ability to make back such a hefty investment. EuropaCorp is "afraid the current situation at RED might not improve in time [for Valerian's release]" given the trouble at Relativity, noted Natixis analyst Pavel Govciyan. "They do not want to take any risks on Valerian, which is absolutely key for them." The STX deal also puts Valerian, which stars Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen and Rihanna, into the hands of two friends: EuropaCorp CEO Marc Shmuger and STX chairman Adam Fogelson. Both are former Universal studio chiefs and have worked together extensively. With STX taking on some or all of the marketing and distribution costs (it's unclear who is paying how much) and EuropaCorp helping finance the film with presales and tax subsidies from the French government, the financial risk is tempered somewhat. Still, EuropaCorp actively was seeking capital in 2016 -- via either a possible buyer (rumored to be Vivendi at the time) or a major cash infusion. The company was able to stave off any financial upheaval after Besson made several big deals to shore up funds. China's Fundamental Group bought a 28 percent stake in EuropaCorp for $67 million; Vine Alternative Investments agreed to a $30 million credit line; and EuropaCorp sold its multiplex business to French cinema chain Gaumont for an estimated $21.2 million. Valerian's success not only would be a financial lifeline but essential if EuropaCorp is to continue to attract top actors for its projects. Unlike many non-American studios that struggle to lure English-speaking talent, EuropaCorp has upcoming movies including The Circle, starring Tom Hanks, Emma Watson and John Boyega; Lone Scherfig's Their Finest, with Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin; and Renegades, a heist adventure starring Sullivan Stapleton and J.K. Simmons. If they succeed with Valerian, they will secure big names for the coming years," says Govciyan. But many are skeptical of its prospects. EuropaCorp's stock is down about 17 percent in the past year amid a lack of hits, financial struggles and uncertainty over Valerian. Yet analysts believe the stock price -- and EuropaCorp's $162 million market value in early January -- could soar if buzz on Valerian improves ahead of its release. Nobody, though, is counting on the kind of profitability seen with Lucy, which had a budget of $40 million and took in some $460 million globally. For Besson, who declined to comment, making Valerian a hit would be a happy ending to a lifelong love story. The filmmaker has said he discovered the comics on which Valerian is based as a 10-year-old, with heroine Laureline (played in the film by Delevingne) the first woman with whom he fell in love. The initial footage shown at Comic-Con was regarded as stunning. Besson keenly is aware that his first space epic, 1997's The Fifth Element, starring Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich, was not an immediate hit but gained a following and became a sci-fi classic. Decades later, he doesn't have that luxury of time. For EuropaCorp's future to be assured, Valerian needs to perform in theaters worldwide. To that end, Besson hopes audiences have caught up to his sensibilities. "Twenty years ago I was [considered] weird," he told an audience at 2016's Comic-Con. "And 20 years later, the world has gotten as weird as me." (Hollywood Reporter)

DreamWorks Animation's New Hire Leaves Warner Bros. Looking for a Top Executive. The departure of Warner Bros. animation chief Chris deFaria for the top job at DreamWorks Animation is seen as a blow to Warners but sources say newly promoted WB film studio president and chief content officer Toby Emmerich will seize the chance to hire an outsider who will expand the studio's animation slate. DeFaria, who associates describe as brilliant and very tough-minded on budgets, not only ran animation at Warners but had a key role overseeing visual effects across the board. He was credited as an executive producer on Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity and George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road. (When Cuaron won best director at the Oscars in 2013, he thanked deFaria among other Warners executives.) Sources say Universal filmed entertainment group chairman Jeff Shell and Chris Meledandri, the head of the studio's red-hot Illumination Entertainment (Sing and Secret Life of Pets), aggressively courted deFaria, 57. While deFaria is said to have creative ambitions, a Universal insider says Meledandri -- who had been ambivalent about the extent of his involvement at DWA -- is now prepared to have meaningful input (he took the title of senior advisor while de Faria is president of DreamWorks feature animation group). Meanwhile, deFaria will have some role in Universal live action movies. "Chris deFaria is ideally suited for this role," said Universal chairman Donna Langley, to whom deFaria will report. "He has excellent creative instincts, a strong business sense, deep relationships and most importantly, a proven ability to harness technology to push the boundaries of animation and innovative, hybrid filmmaking." DeFaria, who voiced Peppermint Patty in Charlie Brown specials in the late 1960s and early 1970s, made his mark in physical production by pushing the limits of technology. He will join DreamWorks once his work on Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One (which features extensive visual effects) is completed. A Warner Bros. insider says whomever is hired from outside the studio will work with Courtenay Valenti, who had overseen the Warner Animation Group with deFaria. The WAG think tank was formed in 2013 to develop material from talent including Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie). The first full-fledged WAG offering, Storks, was a modest performer, grossing $180 million worldwide. But Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara has much higher hopes for The Lego Batman Movie (Feb. 10) and a series of planned films set in the Lego universe. Emmerich, whose previous purview at Warners' New Line division did not include animation, now is looking for a top executive to help him build out that slate. "Chris leaving Warner Bros. is a loss for me personally and professionally as we have been in the trenches together on numerous projects for over 16 years," says Lego producer Dan Lin. "However, WAG is not about one person -- it has always been about a strong executive team at Warner Bros. helping filmmakers realize their bold, original vision and I'm certain they will carry on with that mandate." When executed correctly, animation is perhaps the most reliable genre at the box office for the major studios. Universal's 2016 was saved by Illumination, with The Secret Life of Pets grossing $875 million worldwide and Sing at $360 million and still performing strongly. The unit has spawned new franchises (Despicable Me 3 is set for this summer) and Shell has aimed to add a strong second label with the $3.8 billion purchase of DWA last year, hoping to mirror the success that Disney has enjoyed with Disney Animation and Pixar. "We're climbing that animation mountain," Shell told THR recently. "If we can create that machine, not only do we have profit, but we lessen our volatility in the movie business." (Hollywood Reporter)

Antonio Banderas Heading 'Beyond the Edge' With AMBI. The action film marks the third time the star teams with Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi's production company. Antonio Banderas is set to play a cool-handed master of fraud in Beyond the Edge. The actioner -- being directed by Aleksandr Boguslavskiy –] -- marks the third film tie-up between Banderas and AMBI Media Group, the production company set up by Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi. They previously collaborated on the Andrea Bocelli biopic The Music of Silence and thriller Black Butterfly. Both films are currently in post-production. Being shot in Italy, Russia and Georgia, Beyond the Edge sees Banderas' character forced to come to the aid of his son, a master thief with plans to rob a casino. When his son's plans are foiled by an adversary with an identical agenda but seemingly supernatural abilities, the only route to success is to assemble a team with telekinetic, hypnotic and telepathic powers of their own to carry out the heist. Iervolino and Bacardi are producing the film with Russian producer Evgeniy Melentyev and his Kinodanz production company. Ares Film is executive producing. Italian director Francesco Cinquemani is co-directing the movie. AMBI Distribution, the worldwide sales arm of the AMBI Group, is handling global sales. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

This Is The X-Files Return Update You've Been Waiting For. It seems the truth is still out there. At the 2017 TCA Winter Press Tour, Fox honcho David Madden confirmed the case isn't closed for The X-Files just yet. "We hope so," Madden, president of entertainment at Fox, said about more episodes. "A lot of conversations going on, these conversations are complex but we hope to be able to announce something about that shortly." Fox reopened The X-Files with series creator Chris Carter and original stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in 2015. The six-episode revival aired in early 2016 to great ratings success (with mixed critical response) for Fox. After the TCA panel, Madden told reporters the reappearance of Mulder and Scully is nigh. "It won't be 22, but we are hoping for more than six. That's our goal," Madden said of the episode count. "I think the ideal is to get it ready for '18. Whether or not it would be January..." While it's not an official answer, Madden added, "We feel like there is progress being made." After the finale aired, Carter confirmed there were discussions happening, but also cited schedule problems. Duchovny and Anderson are in-demand actors. "There's no negotiations, but I had a conversation with [Fox boss] Dana Walden today," Carter told E! News. "They said they're certainly up for more if we can figure out how to get it done." The finale ended on a cliffhanger, naturally, and Anderson and Duchovny teased fans with the possibility of more after the big ending aired in February. However, in August, Madden basically had the same comment as today. "We would obviously love to do another season. There are significant talks going on," Madden said at the summer session of TCA. "Schedules are hard. We're working hard to get this done and we'd love to get another season out now." Do you want to see The X-Files return? (Eonline)

Empire Renewed For Season 4 by Fox. Your favorite Cookie isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Empire was renewed for a fourth season by Fox, the network announced at the 2017 Winter TCA Press Tour on Wednesday. In December, Empire's fall finale, which aired an hour earlier at 8 p.m. to help launch co-creator Lee Daniels' new show Star, garnered 7.57 million viewers. The decision to renew the musical drama was surely a no-brainer for Fox, as it's TV's no. 1 broadcast drama, a title it's held for the last three seasons in the all-important adults 18-49 demo. Let's just chalk it up to the power of Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), yes? In season three, guest stars Taye Diggs, as Cookie's new politician love interest, and Mariah Carey, a longtime friend of Daniels, have stopped by to hang with Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett and the rest of the cast, with Rumer Willis and Nia Long set to make their debuts after the show returns on March 22. But it's not all musical numbers and epic guest stars, as Empire said goodbye to an original cast member in the beginning on season three, with Rhonda Lyon (Kaitlyn Doubleday) dying in the season three premiere. Empire returns on Wednesday, March 22 on Fox. (Eonline)

Andy Cohen Heading to Fox for Love Connection Revival. Andy Cohen is adding another job to his ever-growing resume, but this one's on Fox. Cohen will host and co-executive producer the new version of Love Connection, the relationship game show that ran from 1983-1994 with a brief revival in 1998. The Bachelor's Mike Fleiss is executive producing the series. "I was a huge fan of the original Love Connection, and hosting the new version allows me to do one of the things I love most: meddling in people's personal lives," said Cohen. Fox's revival of Love Connection will premiere in the summer of 2017. "We couldn't be more thrilled to bring this incredibly beloved and iconic show to primetime network television. The combination of the insanely talented Andy Cohen and the undisputed king of relationship shows Mike Fleiss is absolute magic...add in the perfect home of Fox...and I think we have a match made in heaven," Mike Darnell, president of unscripted and alternative television at Warner Bros., said in a statement. Love Connection features single men and/or women in search of romance. The singles are sent on three blind dates and then dish on what happened to a live studio audience. "Love Connection was always one of my favorite programs," Fleiss said in a statement. "Show creator Eric Lieber was a close friend of mine. He taught me a lot about the relationship show format. The first rule -- if the cast is good, just stay out of the way." Other executive producers on the project include The Bachelor's Martin Hilton, So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol veteran James Breen and Jason Ehrlich of The Bachelor. Cohen, who is an executive producer on The Real Housewives franchise on Bravo, also hosts Watch What Happens Live, a daily late-night talk show. (Eonline)

This Is Us Returns: Is Toby Dead or Alive? Stress eating chocolate? Crying? That can only mean one thing: This Is Us is back. The freshman NBC drama returned from winter break and didn't waste any time in revealing what exactly happened to Toby (Chris Sullivan) after the midseason finale. And... Toby lives. When viewers last checked in on the Pearson family celebrating Christmas, Toby had surprised Kate (Chrissy Metz) and flown across the country, determined to make their relationship work. After a night of Christmas traditions, since the Pearsons have so many, Toby collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he went into surgery. As Rebecca (Mandy Moore) promised, nothing bad happens on Christmas Eve. The episode opened with Kate in the hospital with a frantic staff rushing around her. Twist! She was visiting Toby in the hospital where he asked her to have sex with him while in recovery. "You're belligerent," she told him while feeding him oatmeal. "You need to calm down." Later in the episode, Kate and Toby played poker when a doctor revealed Toby needs surgery to repair his heart. After deciding to go through with the surgery, Toby made a confession. "You have a dying man confessing his love to you," Toby told her. Kate called on her brothers, Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) to wait with her to find out the outcome of Toby's surgery. Kate confessed her love for Toby while he recovered from surgery. Wedding bells are ringing! Meanwhile, Kevin continued (or attempted to continue) his tryst with the writer of his play and William (Ron Cephas Jones) confirmed he's always "been fluid" and been attracted to both men and women. The Christmas episode revealed he was previously in a relationship with Jesse, who is played by American Horror Story's Denis O'Hare. In the past, Rebecca and Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) dealt with the news that they were having triplets, including telling Rebecca's mother played by Elizabeth Perkins. Viewers were also treated to flashbacks to Jack in his youth dealing with his abusive father. This Is Us airs Tuesdays, 9 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)

What's Next for This Is Us' Toby and Kate? This Is Us fans were crying tears of joy (and a little sadness) during "The Right Thing to Do" when the NBC drama revealed the fate of Toby (Chris Sullivan). The Christmas episode ended with Toby collapsing, he had a heart attack during the Pearson family's Christmas festivities. Would he make it out of surgery? Fans were left to wonder about his fate for weeks, but within the first five minutes of the midseason premiere fans learned that Toby... Lives! "[Chris Sullivan] seems very happy to be alive. He also seems to be taking great pleasure in teasing everybody about what happened to him," creator Dan Fogelman told EW. "#WeMadeIt #ThisIsUs," Sullivan tweeted. There was never any question for Sullivan, the scripts for episode 10 and 11 came right on top of each other. "We had conversations early on about what would be Toby's fate; we always knew he was going to have this kind of collapse halfway through the first season. We decided pretty early on that he would make it," Fogelman told The Hollywood Reporter. "We had a lot of illness and potential death touching this family, and it didn't feel like we could let go of Chris Sullivan. Before we ever started airing, we knew he was going to make it." While in the hospital visiting Toby after another heart surgery, Kate (Chrissy Metz) confesses her love to him and proclaims she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. "She's like, 'You know what? I'm not going to let him go. I can't let him go'... The ego is removed and its just like, 'How do we start our lives together in the best way we can?' It's so romantic," Metz said in the This Is Us after show. But it's not going to be smooth sailing for Toby now that the surgery is completed. This is This Is Us after all. "He's got a little bit of a recovery process, and it's going to keep him in New York for a little bit because the doctor doesn't want him traveling. Toby's medical recovery isn't where we spend a ton of our time this second half, but it's all part of the bigger story of Kate and Toby's relationship. It's a lovely and often romantic-comedy-esque relationship between them," Fogelman told THR. "Decisions got made really quickly, and they're very up and down. They continue to be struck by these obstacles that force their relationship to either move too slowly or too quickly. That's the main takeaway from the heart attack in the episode, in terms of this bedside proposal and what comes next." This Is Us airs Tuesdays, 9 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Lisa Rinna "Not Happy" About Kim Richards Fight. When will The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills learn: Game nights (and dinner parties for that matter) never end well. In the Tuesday, Jan. 10 episode of the Bravo reality series, the latest game night devolved into disaster when Kim Richards and Lisa Rinna went at it once again. "Oh, game night, I can't stand you! I think we all have some sort of PTSD from game nights in the past, and Erika [Girardi] nailed it when she referred to this upcoming game night as The Hunger Games," Rinna wrote in her blog. A brief rewind: Rinna and Kim Richards' friendship broke down two seasons ago when Rinna witnessed a relapse of sorts at another game night. She spent the rest of the season basically on a crusade to get Kim help. Things came to a head in Amsterdam when Kim threatened to reveal something about Rinna's husband Harry Hamlin. "I was thinking they were going to be okay at the beginning of the evening, but they are like oil and water and should probably just stay clear of one another," Kyle Richards wrote in her blog. The two played well together during game night, but all that changed when Kim started talking about Rinna and Eileen Davidson, and Rinna discussing how her dad's death changed her behavior. "The fact that she said I use my dad's death as an excuse for my behavior was simply her trying to insert herself into something she knew nothing about. That's the whole point being made here -- that I have not used it as an excuse, and his passing happened well after everything went down. Kim was also not taking responsibility about what she said in Amsterdam regarding my husband," Rinna wrote. "Unfortunately, in the heat of the moment after hearing what she had to say, I threw a low blow right back at her. I'm not happy about going there." Rinna brought up Kim's arrests and legal problems, sparking several of the ladies, including Lisa Vanderpump, to call her out on the attack. Eden Sassoon intervened and brokered some peace between the ladies. "I was grateful to Eden in that moment for intervening the way she did because it definitely derailed our crazy train and put us on a less destructive path," Rinna wrote. But that path may have some bumps. On Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen showed Kim a preview clip of Kyle, Rinna and Eden discussing Kim. In the clip, Eden says Kim reminds her of her sister, who died from a drug overdose. "The thing is, if I was struggling then everyone would know it," Kim said when asked to respond to the clip of the ladies talking about whether she was seeking treatment. The drama continues on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Bravo. (Eonline)

Presented Without Comment: Here Are the First Images of Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson. Throughout a lifetime, there will come occasions in which a person has to show restraint. Take the high road. Do absolutely everything in their power not to say what is on their minds. And not because whatever those thoughts are, are not completely true and justified. Going high when they go low is never easy, chief among those reasons being because one must live with the knowledge that they are choosing to withhold very, very valid information. This is one of those times. Tuesday evening, the very first look at Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson surfaced. The actor, brother of the highly regarded actor Ralph Fiennes, will be playing the King of Pop in a TV special on Sky Arts, an arts-oriented channel. The biopic, if one so chooses to describe the project as such, centers around a story that was originally detailed in Vanity Fair, in which Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando drove from New York to Ohio in an attempt to get home in the ensuing chaos after the 9/11 attacks. It is also worth noting that there are beliefs circulating about the truthiness, if you will, of this story. But that is neither here nor there because what we have actually come to your Internet screens to do is show you these brand new production stills. In case you forgot, Joseph Fiennes is a white man, having been born to a white man and white woman. Those are simply facts. Also simple is our description of this photo: Here is white man Joseph Fiennes playing black man Michael Jackson. He is riding in a car and talking to Stockard-Channing-as-Elizabeth-Taylor and wearing a fedora tilted ever-so-slightly to the side. He appears to be talking to Stockard-as-Elizabeth, who appears to be disinterested in whatever Joseph-as-Michael has to say, probably because she is Elizabeth Taylor. There is also a trailer, in case you wanted to experience white man Joseph Fiennes playing black man Michael Jackson in live action form. If still images are enough, we invite you to simply scroll up to experience them some more. The end. (Eonline)

What's Next for Leah Remini and the Church of Scientology Following A&E's Shocking Docu-Series. The war between Leah Remini and the Church of Scientology appears to be far from over. After the final episode of A&E's docu-series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath aired Tuesday night, some may be thinking the discussion about the religious organization is going to stop. But if Leah has her way, this may just be the beginning. For the past several weeks, former members of the church have spoken out to Leah about their experiences. And while the church is quick to call the series a "dramatized work of fiction," it hasn't stopped several viewers from wondering: What's next? When Leah appeared on ABC's 20/20 just days before the season finale, it was revealed that talks of a second season are underway. But until a final decision is made, the self-proclaimed troublemaker has some plans of her own. For starters, the former King of Queens star hopes the IRS will consider stripping away the church's tax exempt status. "By the IRS saying this is a religious organization, they are hiding behind now freedom of religion and they should take a look," she explained. "I'm hoping there's someone with some balls who will do something about it." The church's attorney Monique Yingling would respond saying the church "is not concerned at all that that's a real possibility. That's certainly not something that Leah Remini could ever pull off. There's no basis at all under which the IRS would attempt to revoke the exempt status." After hearing several allegations of abuse and mistreatment from former members, Leah has also brought up the idea of having the police and FBI get involved. When asked for her fondest hope, the former co-host of The Talk expressed her wish that the legal system gets involved. "That somebody is willing to be honest and say, 'What these people are saying is true and I'm ready to prosecute,'" she shared on ABC. "We need that person." Since the show premiered, the Church of Scientology has slammed the series and its subjects. "We have said from the beginning that Leah Remini is exploiting her former association with the Church of Scientology for her own profit," a spokesperson shared with E! News. "The disclosures that Leah Remini and her principal source, Mike Rinder, were paid for their appearances, makes the series all the more dishonest. Ms. Remini needs to move on with her life." The church's spokesperson also encouraged people to learn more about Scientology by visiting its website. While the church has accused Leah of "promoting hatred and religious intolerance as a means to line her pockets," the actress has a different perspective. "I was watching high executives, former executives of the Church leaving and speaking out about abuses and things that they've experienced while working for the Church, and I saw how the church reacted," Leah previously shared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "I felt I had a responsibility to say, 'I'm not going to allow you to bully these people who were very brave to come out and tell their stories.'" She continued, "And that's from executives. But there are just average parishioners like me who leave and speak out about what they've experienced. They lose their family. The Church goes after their family to shun their family, oftentimes. I'm very lucky that that didn't happen to me. My family chose me." Her openness is evident on Twitter where she has offered to meet with the church's lawyer for a discussion. She also asked any Scientology member or spokesperson for the church to be a part of her A&E docu-series. They have declined. And while some may be quick to call Leah a "troublemaker" thanks to her best-selling book, she may prefer the word fighter. "Many people wish they had a hit show in their lifetime. I don't have to work. I still love what I do but a big part of Leah, which the world doesn't know is that I fight for people," Leah shared on 20/20. "I stick up for people. That has always been in my blood." (Eonline)

Will Season 6 Be the End for 'Scandal'? ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey talks with THR about the future of Shonda Rhimes-produced 'Scandal' and 'Grey's Anatomy.' After launching the 2016-17 broadcast season without its Shonda Rhimes-produced TGIT block, ABC will relaunch the Thursday night powerhouse trifecta of Grey's Anatomy and How to Get Away With Murder on Jan. 26 when Kerry Washington starrer Scandal launches its sixth season. While initially pushed to midseason to accommodate star Washington's second pregnancy, Rhimes told reporters Tuesday at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour that she actually approached ABC executives about returning to the shorter episodic order that the political soap launched with in its first season. Season six will consist of 16 episodes -- its lowest count since season one. Ahead of season four, Rhimes told The Hollywood Reporter that Scandal -- inspired by the life of fixer Judy Smith -- wasn't a "10-season or eight-season show," and had at the time "already decided when Scandal is ending." She added: "I think there's only so much Scandal you can tell satisfactorily. The Fitz-Liv thing can only be told so long and in such a way. ... I've already decided how long that is and what that's going to be." With Scandal now entering season six -- the show will celebrate its landmark 100th episode later this year -- how much longer will the group of so-called Gladiators stick around, especially with the forthcoming run poised to elect a new president? "We have talked about it," ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey told The Hollywood Reporter when asked if she and Rhimes have discussed if season six will be the end of the road for Scandal. "It's really going to be up to Shonda because she's the person who really knows where she wants the story to go and where it will play out. I have always said that I will take as much Scandal as she will give me. We are in a universe where she's comfortable with slightly shorter seasons but my plan is Scandal is back next year and after that, it'll be a conversation that we'll have to have." For what it's worth, Scandal arrives as ABC struggled in the 9 p.m. hour in the fall, with freshman Notorious dragging down the hour as well as Rhimes-produced How to Get Away With Murder. It's especially telling given that Notorious aired in the prime 9 p.m. slot following ABC's No. 1 drama -- Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy. As for the future of Ellen Pompeo starrer Grey's, Dungey said the show is in a "really good place." "Ellen is really happy with the show and at the moment, everybody creatively involved with the show is feeling really good," Dungey said. "Someone said ER went 15 seasons and Grey's is in 13 and I said, 'We want to beat 'em and pass 'em!' So we'll see!" Asked specifically if Dungey has had any conversations with Rhimes about a potential Grey's Anatomy spinoff centered around Kevin McKidd and exploring Owen's military past, Dungey made no secret of her interest for the project that Rhimes has, in the past, considered: "I will take everything Shonda is willing to give me." (Hollywood Reporter)

On March 31, 2014, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, both 12, allegedly lured their friend Payton Leutner into the woods in Wisconsin and stabbed her 19 times, police say. They later told investigators they had no choice: Kill for "Slenderman" or he would harm them and their families. Anissa and Morgan were charged as adults with first-degree intentional homicide. Their fascination with Slenderman, a fictional Internet character, and its impact on the girls is the focus of the HBO documentary Beware the Slenderman, which debuts Jan. 23. Anissa's parents were as shocked as everyone else to learn about their daughter's obsession with the faceless character, which grew famous online through videos and mostly teen-created fiction. "It was a picture of this Slenderman character and Jack Skellington," says Anissa's father Bill Weier in the documentary. "At the time, it didn't seem to be anything inherently dangerous." For more than two years, everyone has been trying to understand how two girls could allegedly plot such a horrific and bizarre crime, in which Payton was left for dead in the park. She miraculously survived after crawling to a nearby bike path and being spotted by a passerby who called 911. The film's director, Irene Taylor Brodsky, had been working on developing a film for HBO about the human brain in the digital age. As soon as she heard about the attack on Payton, she headed to Wisconsin. In time, Brodsky gained the trust of the girls' parents. "In no way is this a whodunit. It's a whydunit. It's a howdunit. How could this have happened? And the answers are very complex," Brodsky says. "The film goes into the minds of the perpetrators, but I also think it goes into the mind of us as a society," Brodsky says. "Slenderman appeals to us for many reasons. The facelessness of him means he can be whatever we need him to be. He's not just a man that preys on children. Some children see him as a guardian angel. Some kids see him as a protector. These girls, they really believed in his power." The girls are expected to go to trial this summer. If found guilty, they each face up to 65 years in prison. (People)

Martha MacCallum Steps Up as Fox News' (Only) Female Primetime News Anchor. Now that Megyn Kelly has moved to NBC News, the network veteran's 'The First 100 Days' at 7 p.m., debuting Jan. 16, is followed by a three-hour, all-male, all-opinion block. Rupert Murdoch noted during Megyn Kelly's long deliberations that any number of Fox News Channel anchors would give their "right arm" for her plum time slot. Tucker Carlson didn't have to. On Jan. 5, two days after Kelly's NBC megadeal was announced, Murdoch tapped Carlson for 9 p.m. (His show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, bowed in November at 7 p.m. and rode the election to solid ratings.) At the same time, Murdoch promoted Martha MacCallum to 7 p.m., where beginning Jan. 16 she'll anchor The First 100 Days. She'll also co-anchor Inauguration Day coverage with chief political anchor Bret Baier. Like Kelly, MacCallum hails from the network's news ranks; both women co-anchored the afternoon program America's Newsroom (with Bill Hemmer) before going solo. MacCallum, a 52-year-old married mother of three, has a Hollywood-friendly detail in her biography: She studied drama at Circle in the Square and founded the Miranda Theater Company. The veteran came to FNC in 2004 after several years at CNBC and NBC, and she's well liked at Fox, where she often filled in for Kelly on The Kelly File. In a tweet, Kelly said, "She's amazing and will shine at any hour." And MacCallum now will be the lone news anchor in FNC primetime, followed by a three-hour, all-male, all-opinion block. It's unclear if she wants to remain at 7 p.m. after those first 100 days, but one agent notes, "They need to have someone with some credibility in there." (Hollywood Reporter)

Megyn Kelly, Greta Van Susteren Moves Force Fox News to Go Trumpier. As the former Fox News anchors switch networks, the Murdochs are forced to double-down on conservative pundits and details emerge of how NBC will (and won't) utilize its shiny new star. The addition of Fox News anchors Megyn Kelly and Greta Van Susteren to NBC News and MSNBC, respectively, may portend major shifts across the TV news landscape. For Fox, the loss of its biggest news star has resulted in a doubling down on conservative-leaning opinion hosts in primetime. And at Andrew Lack's NBCUniversal news division, there could be a rightward tack in certain areas in response to the election of Donald Trump. 21st Century Fox leaders James and Lachlan Murdoch are said to have considered re-signing Kelly, 46, a key part of their strategy to focus Fox News more closely on news. But when Kelly passed up a reported four-year, $100 million Fox deal to join NBC on Jan. 3, the Murdochs instead elevated conservative host Tucker Carlson to her 9 p.m. time slot between Bill O'Reilly and Trump supporter Sean Hannity, both of whom clashed publicly with Kelly during the presidential campaign. "If Sean Hannity won the power struggle, it was probably because Kelly didn't really want the fight," notes news analyst Andrew Tyndall. "If you're going to have a Fox News primetime that's made in Hannity's image, then there's absolutely nothing wrong with having Carlson there." Sources close to Kelly note the battles with her Fox primetime colleagues had begun to grate on her. And they remain skeptical that the Murdochs -- especially Rupert Murdoch, who has taken a lead role at Fox News since the ouster of Roger Ailes amid sexual harassment claims -- would have pivoted primetime to news given that Fox in its current incarnation delivered $1 billion in profits to the parent company in 2016. The new Fox News lineup of an all-male team between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. (though Martha MacCallum on Jan. 16 will begin hosting The First 100 Days) features three varieties of the network's traditional conservative commentary. And now O'Reilly, the top-rated host, is dealing with the revelation Jan. 10 that Fox quietly settled a sexual harassment claim in the summer brought by Juliet Huddy, a former employee, against him. ("Huddy's letter of intent to sue contained substantial falsehoods which were vehemently denied by Bill O'Reilly," says Fox in a statement. One longtime industry executive notes the Kelly and Van Susteren moves are in line with an old-school modus operandi of bringing in established talent -- and, in the case of Kelly, a huge star. "The calculation," says an NBC News insider, "was we're better off having her than not having her." Both women hail from the news operation of Fox News, as opposed to its opinion hosts. Kelly, of course, stood up to Trump's bullying and was known before that to break with conservative ideology. Since assuming leadership of MSNBC nearly three years ago, Lack has turned the network back toward straight news coverage during the day, keeping its opinionated hosts mostly confined to primetime. In announcing Van Susteren's deal Jan. 5, MSNBC president Phil Griffin noted her "proven record of tough journalism." Van Susteren, 62, began hosting a 7 p.m. show Jan. 9, and a promo for her Washington-based program features a personal testimonial from Rachel Maddow, MSNBC's biggest progressive star. Meanwhile, a week after Kelly's deal was announced, top execs at NBC News remained in the dark about Lack's plans for her. Kelly's exit from Fox News still is being worked out, and sources say her Fox deal, set to expire in July, has a six-month noncompete clause -- standard in TV news contracts. That means the Murdochs conceivably could keep her off NBC until year's end, though no one expects that to happen. Sources inside and outside NBC are pointing to a likely scenario of giving Kelly the troubled 9 a.m. hour of Today in lieu of launching a daytime show and mounting what would be an uphill sales pitch to stations. The third hour of Today has been the weakest link in the NBC News franchise that includes the flagship 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. block anchored by Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie and the frothy 10 a.m. hour hosted by Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford. It was thrown into further turmoil last year when Billy Bush was ousted after the Access Hollywood Trump tape leaked. So NBC News executives may have little to lose by giving Kelly the hour. Sources at NBC News caution that nothing has been decided, but insiders expect her to make her NBC debut in a regular capacity this summer, though she could be on the air earlier as part of the network's breaking news and event coverage. With Kelly, NBC News execs have the opportunity to rebrand the 9 a.m. hour of Today to fit her strengths as a reporter and interviewer and also achieve some flow between the more news-focused flagship block. "It's another high-end talent in your most profitable block," says one industry observer. "If you keep her in her lane, can she do her kind of show at 9 a.m. versus 9 p.m.? I'd buy that." Doing so also would break with the more recent morning show trend of focusing on the group dynamic rather than promoting one star. But keeping Kelly in the news fold eliminates some of the risk. "She will need the promotional juice that Today confers in order to succeed," says another source. "They will want her showing up in the 8 a.m. hour of Today to tease her show." The addition of Kelly -- and, to a lesser extent, Van Susteren -- also brings challenges and could destabilize the delicate anchor ego ecosystem. "Why didn't MSNBC try out one of its road warriors in the 7 p.m. slot?" asks Tyndall, referring to the female campaign troika of Hallie Jackson, Katy Tur and Kasie Hunt. (Sources say Jackson is expected to be named White House correspondent, while Tur likely will remain in New York.) NBC News locked Lauer and Guthrie into new long-term deals recently; and Guthrie's five-year pact was finalized in December before she went on maternity leave. Though NBC pointedly did not include MSNBC in its plans for Kelly, some believe she may end up there, especially by the next election cycle. An industry source says if current plans for Kelly don't work out, MSNBC could be a "safety valve." (Hollywood Reporter)

How Will Hulu's Live TV Stand Out Among Competitors? CEO Mike Hopkins revealed the streamer's new pact with CBS will offer live streams of everything from NFL Games to the Grammys for less than $40 a month, but analysts remain skeptical of its prospects. Outside of the robots and voice technology that impressed at the annual CES tech conference in Las Vegas from Jan. 5 to 8, it was a yet-to-launch live TV service from Hulu that stole the show. But many questions remain about the product. Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins revealed Jan. 4 that the streamer is one step closer to launching its cable competitor after inking a deal with CBS that will include live streams of NFL games and the Grammys. Hulu already has struck licensing deals with part-owners 21st Century Fox, Disney and Time Warner. The CBS pact means fellow Hulu owner NBCUniversal's NBC remains the lone broadcast holdout. (Hopkins did say that Hulu was in "active discussions" to bring NBCU programming to the service.) While a robust lineup of channels will be key to helping Hulu compete in the increasingly crowded live TV space, it won't be the only feature needed to stand out against the likes of DirecTV, Dish and PlayStation -- all of which have launched digital live TV services in the past two years. Hopkins revealed the service will cost less than $40 a month, including a membership to Hulu's $8-per-month subscription video-on-demand service, but he hasn't yet disclosed the final price point. "We wanted to make sure it wasn't confusing to customers," Hopkins tells THR of the decision to include the $8-a-month on-demand offering in the live TV package. "We're Hulu. We have all these originals and all these acquired shows and films. We wanted to make sure that you're getting the whole offering." Instead, executives at CES placed an emphasis on a new, more personalized product and interface that Hopkins says "is key" to differentiating it from competitors. "You have to get to our product and say, 'This is different, and it works really well for me,'" he adds. Other features will include cloud DVR storage, though just how much storage has yet to be announced, and support for multiple user profiles, a product that has already begun to roll out. Though a launch date, full channel lineup and price have yet to be announced, analysts remain bullish on its prospects. Pivotal senior analyst Brian Wieser wrote in a note that Hulu "has so far provided its owners with some strategic advantages" and that the live TV service "will provide another one." (Hollywood Reporter)