ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

This Is Us' Justin Hartley Marries Chrishell Stause. Justin Hartley is married! The This Is Us star tied the knot with actress Chrishell Stause on Saturday, People confirms. After her wedding, Stause told the publication, "They don't make them any better than Justin, and I could not be more thrilled to officially be Mrs. Hartley!" Back in Jan. 2014, a rep for Stause confirmed to us that Hartley and Stause were dating after they were spotted walking the red carpet together at an event in Los Angeles. The next year, the couple took the next step in their relationship by getting engaged. Since then, we've seen 40-year-old Hartley and 36-year-old Stause walk the red carpet together on a number of occasions. Mostly recently, the couple attended the 2017 Emmys in September where This Is Us was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. This is the second marriage for Hartley, who was previously married to actress Lindsay Korman. The duo tied the knot in May 2004 and welcomed a daughter, Isabella Hartley, that summer. The couple split in 2012. Earlier this month, Hartley dished about how much he was looking forward to marrying Stause. "I love the fact that she's going to be my wife. I love the fact that I will have a wife and we'll be husband and wife and live together," Hartley told Us Weekly. "I love that, but I'm actually really looking forward to the wedding day. I'm going to have friends coming in from out of town that I haven't seen in a few years. It's going to be great." Congratulations to the couple! (Eonline)

Jersey Shore Star Deena Cortese Marries Christopher Buckner. MTV's resident "blast in a glass" is now a bride! Jersey Shore alum Deena Cortese said "I do" to Christopher Buckner at the Laurita Winery in New Egypt, New Jersey on Saturday, nearly a year to the day he popped the question. Deena's rep confirmed the happy event to E! News, "Finally the special day for these two amazing people together has come that will never be forgotten! So glad they shared the memories with her fellow cast mates who came out to show love and support to the ultimate duo." Of course, Cortese could not get married without her best pals. Fellow former co-stars Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Jenny "JWoww" Farley, Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola, DJ Pauly D and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino were all on hand to watch their girl tie the knot and post the good news on their social media accounts. Deena paid tribute to her late father John Cortese by wearing a piece of one of his shirts sewn into her wedding dress. Once the vows were exchanged, the bride and groom switched into party mode with a reception at the Laurita Winery. For fans of the reality series, Cortese's nuptials mark a fairytale ending to her search for, in her words, a "lean cuisine." She and Buckner have been dating since 2011 and got engaged in November 2016. "I always knew I would spend the rest of my life with Christopher Buckner... but last night while we were walking on the Beach in Mexico he made it official!!" she wrote on Instagram. "We're engaged!!!!!" Since the proposal, the now-husband and wife chronicled their wedding planning on social media, complete with cake tastings, a bridal shower, bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner earlier this week. Cortese's nuptials mark the third among the cast, as Snooki married Jionni LaValle in 2014 and JWoww wed Roger Matthews the following year. Welcome to the married club, Deena! Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs.! (Eonline)

Matt Damon Has "Family Emergency" and Is Unable to Attend Britannia Awards. Matt Damon received the Stanley Kubrick Award for Excellence in Film at the 2017 Britannia Awards on Friday but could not attend the event due to a "family emergency." Kate Mara accepted the honor, presented by British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles, on his behalf. "Unfortunately, Matt has urgently needed to travel back to Boston and couldn't join us tonight. As much as we wish he was here with us, we know family comes first. So our thoughts are with you, Matt and much love from your friends here in L.A. A videotaped message from Damon was then screened. "Hello and thank you to everyone at BAFTA," he said. "I found out about this award six months ago and I was just so incredibly honored to receive it and I was really looking forward to tonight. Unfortunately, I had to go back to Boston for a family emergency. I'm really sorry not to be with you tonight. Thank you for this wonderful honor and I hope you have a lovely evening. See you soon." Mara attended the award ceremony with husband Jamie Bell. Claire Foy won the Britannia British Artist of the Year Award and cried as The Crown co-star John Lithgow spoke about her and present her with the honor. Edgar Wright presented Aziz Ansari with the Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy. Dick Van Dyke won the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television. Kevin Spacey presented him with the honor. Van Dyke appeared to be a great mood at the event. (Eonline)

Anna Faris and her new boyfriend are getting more comfortable with PDA ... we got the couple sipping wine and holding hands on a romantic lunch date. Anna and Michael Barrett -- a cinematographer she met on set of her upcoming movie "Overboard" -- were spotted together Friday at Cutters Crabhouse in Seattle. The two were very close and handsy while sharing a bottle and some food. We're told there was even some kissing. As we reported ... Anna and Michael were seen spending time together last month in Malibu and Pacific Palisades, so it's pretty clear they're not trying to hide their relationship. Anna and Chris Pratt separated in August after 8 years of marriage. (TMZ)

Prince Harry Had a Crush on Meghan Markle 2 Years Before They Met, Royal Expert Says in Documentary. When you're a prince, you can easily arrange to meet your dream woman. In the upcoming British documentary about Prince Harry and American girlfriend Meghan Markle, When Harry Met Meghan: A Royal Romance, Royal expert and journalist Katie Nicholl says he had a crush on her Suits character, paralegal Rachel Zane, two years before they met, according to The Sun. Kensington Palace had confirmed their relationship in late 2016, a few months after they met. "He had a crush on Rachel Zane two years before he met Meghan and the reason I know is because I was having drinks with one of his friends," Nicolls, who tweeted a link to The Sun's story, reportedly says in the documentary. "She told me she'd been on a night out with Prince Harry. He was single at the time, so she said, 'Harry, who's your ideal girl?' And he said 'Meghan Markle from Suits.'" According to Nicoll, Harry, 33, orchestrated a meeting with Meghan, 36, in July 2016 through mutual friend Markus Anderson when the actress was in London to see friend Serena Williams play at Wimbledon. "He asked Markus if he could set up, not a date, but an opportunity for them to meet and that happened in one of the private rooms of Soho House," Nicoll said. "There were about seven or eight of them altogether and it was a perfect opportunity for Harry and Meghan to come together in a really informal environment and actually talk." "She was funny, feisty, confident and she wasn't swayed or knocked by the fact that he was Prince Harry. She thought he was terribly cute," Nicoll said, adding that Harry later told his circle that the actress was a "cracking girl." According to The Sun, the documentary also reveals Meghan, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, has English roots; At age 1, her great-great-grandmother, Martha Sykes, and her family moved from Yorkshire to the United States. Kensington Palace has not commented on the documentary, which airs on Saturday in the U.K. at 9 p.m. local time. (Eonline)

Khloe Kardashian's Boyfriend Tristan Thompson Says He Listens to Taylor Swift Before NBA Games 'to Calm Myself Down'. Tristan Thompson shakes off his pregame jitters by blasting Taylor Swift in his headphones. "Yes, I definitely listen to Taylor Swift. I like to be relaxed before the game," the Cleveland Cavaliers forward, 26, said during his appearance on MTV's Total Request Live Thursday. "I love hip-hop and rap to get me going [but] I gotta be able to calm myself down, all the anxiety and all the stress. I gotta be able to relax," Thompson shared, adding, "I listen to "Shake It Off" and a little "Bad Blood" for rivalries like Golden State." (He may not be well-versed on the bad blood between the singer, 27, and pregnant girlfriend Khloe Kardashian's sister Kim Kardashian West.) Swift and Kardashian West have had a rather interesting history, especially after the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, 37, released footage of Taylor and Kanye West's phone call about those "Famous" lyrics, as well as Taylor's supposed rebuttal in the form of her new single, "Look What You Made Me Do." Khloe, 33, has previously defended sister Kim amid the Swift drama. Thompson's TRL appearance comes one day after multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE that he and Kardashian are going to be parents to a son. The couple -- who have been dating since September 2016 -- will welcome a baby boy together early next year. This will be Kardashian's first child. Thompson has a 10-month-old son named Prince Oliver from a previous relationship with his ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig. PEOPLE previously confirmed in September that the pair is over the moon to become parents. "Yes, Khloe and Tristan are expecting and they are absolutely thrilled," a source revealed at the time. "This is something Khloe has wanted for years and years and yet it's more than that: She didn't want it unless she was in the right relationship for it," the insider added. "But this is such a wonderful moment for her: not only is she going to be a mother, she is going to be raising a child with a man she truly loves. Everyone is over the moon for them both." Kardashian isn't the only person in her famous family who will be welcoming a new addition. Kylie Jenner and boyfriend Travis Scott are expecting a baby girl. She is due in February. In addition, Kim Kardashian West and husband Kanye West are also expecting their third child -- a daughter -- in January after hiring a surrogate to help them expand their family. TRL airs weekdays on MTV at 3:30 p.m. ET. (People)

Selena Gomez Cries in First TV Interview About Life-Saving Kidney Transplant. Just months after undergoing a kidney transplant, Selena Gomez is opening up about how Francia Raisa saved her life. "My kidneys were just done. That was it," the tearful singer said in a sneak peek of Today's exclusive interview with the star. "I didn't want to ask a single person in my life and that was the day, when I came home, I found out she volunteered and did it." "You feel that Francia saved your life," Today host Savannah Guthrie said to the "Bad Liar" singer. "Because she did," Gomez said. "That's it." The 25-year-old pop singer underwent the transplant due to her Lupus this summer. Raisa was her donor. The former Disney star announced the news via Instagram by posting a picture of her and The Secret Life of the American Teenager actress holding hands on their hospital beds. "There aren't words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis," part of the photo's caption read. Raisa, 29, also shared the photo and said she was "beyond grateful" to have had the opportunity to help her friend. "I am beyond grateful that God would trust me with something that not only saved a life, but changed mine in the process," she wrote. "This was part of our story, and we will share it soon, but what is important now is that this is not the only story." The two stars are obviously close. As E! News previously reported, they met in 2007 when Disney and Freeform (formerly ABC Family) had the stars visit a children's hospital. Raisa told Latina, "Selena and I were in the same group and we just clicked." They've been dear friends ever since. In fact, Raisa's mother Virginia Almendarez told Al Rojo Vivo, "They're like sisters." Gomez has been recovering since the transplant but is set to perform her new single, "Wolves," at the 2017 American Music Awards. The singer publicly revealed that she battles Lupus in 2015. (Eonline)

Chrissy Teigen Trolls Husband John Legend's Lack of Baseball Knowledge After He Went to a World Series Game. Chrissy Teigen is calling out husband John Legend for cluelessly jumping on the baseball bandwagon. The model, 31, posted a photo of the singer, 38, sharing a high-five with fashion photographer-and celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin's husband-Mike Rosenthal while at the World Series Game 2 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. While Legend and Rosenthal appeared to be enjoying the game, the two were photographed high-fiving some diehard Dodger's fans -- which caught the attention of Teigen. "*watches baseball once* #pinotgrigio #grigioboys #chocolatecroissants #baseballfanatics #aleagueoftheirown #bleedblue @mrmikerosenthal @johnlegend @jentkinhair," Teigen captioned the photo. Teigen kept it up, sharing more photos of the two at the game, writing in a second post, "I'm dying. No one in the world knows less about baseball than these two @mrmikerosenthal@johnlegend @jenatkinhair." She then photoshopped a wine glass into her husband's hand a piece of bread-to represent a chocolate croissant-into Rosenthal's hand, to represent what the model says is what they actually know about, as opposed to baseball. While baseball is not normally Legend's game, in June, the singer and his wife took their 18-month-old daughter Luna to Safeco Field before the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins game. The little girl was offered the chance to participate in an MLB tradition: throwing the first pitch -- which she nailed! The "All of Me" singer took to Instagram to show his pride in his daughter, writing, "Proud papa #LunasFirstTour" in the caption of a photo of him with his family. (People)

"Happy Gilmore" star Christopher McDonald has been arrested for drunk driving ... TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell us "Thelma & Louise" actor was driving in the Lake Arrowhead area Saturday at 9 PM when he was taken into custody. An eyewitness tells TMZ McDonald drove his classic silver Porsche off the highway, taking out a gas meter at Stater Bros. and ending up in an embankment. The eyewitness says McDonald told cops he appeared in "Happy Gilmore." They were not impressed. McDonald was taken to a nearby jail where he was being kept until he sobered up. He will be released without bail. This is not McDonald's first drunk driving case. He was arrested in 2013 for DWI in Wilmington, North Carolina. At the time he blew .15 ... almost double the legal limit. And this past July McDonald gave advice to Tiger Woods, assuring him he would bounce back from his DUI. (TMZ)

Jim Edmonds Slams Kelly Dodd's Accusation That Meghan King Edmonds Was His Mistress. Jim Edmonds wants to make one thing clear: Don't believe everything Kelly Dodd says. Earlier this week, the Real Housewives of Orange County star went on E!'s Daily Pop where she dropped one jaw-dropping allegation. "I don't pinpoint [Meghan's] stuff out when she was having an affair with Jimmy when he was married to Allison," Kelly told hosts Catt Sadler, Justin Sylvester and Carissa Culiner. "I don't put that stuff out there. Sorry, spilling the tea now." Ultimately, Meghan's husband caught wind of the interview and is setting the record straight once and for all. "I think it's ridiculous first of all and second of all, we have a family and to sit there and say that [Meghan] was my mistress is beyond crazy," Jim explained to us exclusively. "This is the first time I've ever said anything to anyone but I just can't deal with the bulls--t lies anymore." The sports broadcaster and Vice President of K. Hall Studio added, "I'm 100 percent sure she's fully aware that she's making up lies and the information she got was incorrect." During her appearance on Daily Pop, Kelly also shared with viewers that she's no longer friends with Meghan. In fact, she doesn't trust her. In comparison, Meghan previously told E! News that she regrets introducing Kelly to the group as her friend when first joining the Bravo show. "I just think that there should be repercussions for people who make up flat-out lies just to put themselves on TV because they have nothing better to say. I am tired of listening to Kelly's lies," Jim shared with E! News. "I'm tired of her trying to make herself look better at the expense of everyone else. I'm just trying to do the right thing and protect my wife and my family." The former MLB player continued, "I'm not looking for publicity, I just can't let my wife sit there and be killed and have to worry about this bullsh--t when she has a baby and all this IVF stuff going on." While Jim has yet to confront Kelly about the allegations, the current season of Real Housewives of Orange County is far from over. And there's always the unpredictable reunion where the entire cast comes together to discuss the season. "Her relationship is completely a disaster. She's filed for divorce and moved out and was having her own situations. I think she should worry about her own damn self," Jim explained to us. "If you're going to spread rumors about somebody, they better be true or you should have to pay some consequences for spreading lies." Real Housewives of Orange County airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. only on Bravo. (Eonline)

Corey Bohan Wants Spousal Support From Audrina Patridge and Joint Custody of Kirra. Corey Bohan is seeking spousal support from ex Audrina Patridge. E! News has obtained Bohan's divorce response and the court documents show he wants spousal support from Patridge and he is also seeking joint legal and physical custody of their 1-year-old daughter Kirra Max. The documents also show that Bohan wants to terminate the court's ability to award support to Patridge and he wants attorney's fees to be paid by his ex. Back in September, the former Hills star filed for divorce from her husband of 10 months and obtained a temporary restraining order. Patridge's rep told E! News last month, "Audrina's number one priority is her daughter and she asks for privacy at this time." No charges were filed against Bohan due to lack of evidence, but E! News confirmed last month that there is still a pending domestic violence case in family court against him. On Oct. 6, Patridge and Bohan appeared in an Orange County court and E! News learned that Patridge and Bohan came to an agreement about their housing situation. Bohan agreed to move out of their family residence, the home in which they lived in together while still married. Patridge agreed to pay Bohan $35,000 to help with the move. Bohan seeking spousal support and joint custody comes two weeks after the couple reached a custody agreement. Court documents obtained by E! News on Oct. 11 showed that Patridge received full legal and physical custody of Kirra while Bohan was granted visitation rights three days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays. In addition to the agreement, Patridge was granted a personal conduct and stay away order from Bohan. Other than "brief and peaceful" interactions, Bohan was ordered to say 100-yards away from Audrina, her home, job, vehicle and Kirra's school or childcare. A source told E! News at the time of the agreement, "Audrina and Corey came to the agreement themselves. There is still a lot to be determined, but for now Audrina has primary custody of their child and Corey is getting visits each week." (Eonline)

Dr. Phil's not going to skate after hitting a dude with his car, because the skateboarder he struck is gearing up to go after him in court ... TMZ has learned. Terrence Bembury's lawyer John Mardoyan tells us ... he's already filed an insurance claim over the accident, and it's very likely a lawsuit's coming next. The lawyer says Terrence sustained a serious shoulder injury and possible head trauma. Bembury's also got a major problem with how he says Dr. Phil handled the situation. He claims he was in a state of shock after being hit by a celeb and was definitely not OK before Phil took off ... even though cops say he told Phil he was fine -- which gave the Doc the right to leave. Terrence thinks whatever he said, Dr. Phil had a civic duty to stay until help arrived. As we reported ... the skateboarder posted a pic from an exam room after the accident and lashed out at Dr. Phil online, but cops dispute some of his allegations toward the TV host. A rep for Dr. Phil doesn't deny he hit the skateboarder, and has no problem doing what's right. We're guessing if the skateboarder tries to gauge Phil, the doctor will fight back. (TMZ)

Stranger Things Star Charlie Heaton Denied Entry Into U.S. Over Cocaine Possession: Reports. Notice someone missing from the night's premiere of Stranger Things season two? That someone was actor Charlie Heaton, and according to The Sun and other outlets, it's because he was denied entry into the United States when authorities discovered he was in possession of cocaine. The 23-year-old British actor was reportedly en route to Los Angeles from London last Saturday when U.S. border officials detained him. The outlet reports drug-sniffing dogs detected the substance. A source says, "He was not arrested. He was held at the airport for a while and then put back on a plane to London that night." Heaton has not commented publicly on the report. E! News has reached out to his rep for comment. Meanwhile, plenty of his co-stars, including rumored girlfriend Natalia Dyer, walked the red carpet in Los Angeles to celebrate Stranger Things' arrival on Netflix. Millie Bobby Brown turned heads with her suddenly longer hairstyle, an extreme departure for the buzz cut made famous by her character on the sci-fi series. The young starlet told us she prefers her short 'do over the layered bob she's currently rocking, dishing, "Shaved head will always be my favorite hairstyle." None of the other Stranger Things actors made mention of Heaton's absence. (Eonline)

Tiger Woods Pleads Guilty to Reckless Driving After DUI Arrest. Tiger Woods pleaded guilty on Friday to reckless driving and has agreed to enter a diversion program, avoiding a DUI conviction stemming from his May arrest. The 41-year-old former golfer, who last won a championship in 2008, was booked on a driving under the influence charge in Jupiter, Florida after he was found asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz, which was parked about 15 miles away from his home. As part of his plea deal and diversion program, the four-time Masters champion will spend a year on probation, attend DUI school within a month, perform 20 hours of community service, attend a workshop where victims of impaired drivers discuss how their lives were damaged and pay a $250 fine within six months as well as court costs and make an additional $250 donation to Palm Beach County Victim Services. If he completes his duties, his reckless driving charge will be expunged from his record. If he violates probation, it will be revoked and he could face a 90-day jail sentence and a fine of up to $500. In August, it was reported that Woods planned on accepting a reckless driving plea and enter a Palm Beach County first-time DUI offender program, which would spare him jail time. After his arrest, toxicology tests showed Woods had no alcohol in his system, according to court documents, but did test positive for Alprazolam/Xanax [anti-anxiety drug], Hydrocodone [narcotic painkiller], Hydromorphone [opioid painkiller], Zolpidem [anti-insomnia drug] and THC [the active ingredient in marijuana]. Woods said in a statement in August that he has "received professional help to manage my medications," adding, "I had been trying on my own to treat my back pain and a sleep disorder, including insomnia, but I realize now it was a mistake to do this without medical assistance." A month earlier, Woods tweeted that he had "completed an out of state private intensive program," adding, "I will continue to tackle this going forward with my doctors, family and friends. I am so very thankful for all the support I've received." In 2009, Woods was charged with careless driving after crashing his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and neighbor's tree. Following the crash, rumors surfaced that Woods had been having extramarital affairs, which he later admitted. He and wife Elin Nordegren divorced the following year. (Eonline)

Ex-boxing champ -- turned "Dancing with the Stars" contestant -- Victor Ortiz struck a plea deal in his DUI case ... and he's on thin ice for the next 3 years. TMZ Sports broke the story ... Ortiz was arrested on Sept. 24 in Ventura County, CA around 7 PM when cops pulled over his BMW and smelled booze. Officials say Ortiz's BAC was MORE than .15 ... which is a huge deal because in California, that triggers a "special allegation" which carries a tougher penalty if convicted ... more jail, higher fines, etc. But Ortiz caught a huge break -- cutting a deal with prosecutors in which he plead guilty to a misdemeanor DUI and in exchange the "special allegation" was dismissed. He was sentenced to 3 years' probation and 8 days in county jail -- but he'll get credit for time served for 4 days and the remaining 4 days will be served as part of a work release program. As part of his probation, Ortiz is not allowed to patronize bars -- or places where alcohol is the main draw. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Amy Schumer Gets a Glowing Review From Her Dad Before Her Big Broadway Debut. Amy Schumer's dad is giving his regards to Broadway -- and his reviews! On Saturday, the funny lady shared an oh-so-sweet Instagram post with her father Gordon Schumer before her big Broadway debut next week in Steve Martin's new comedy, Meteor Shower, which opens for previews on Nov. 4. The comic-turned-actress posted an adorable image hugging her proud papa with the caption, "@meteorshowerbwy previews begin next week. My dad came to watch rehearsal yesterday and loved it so the important reviews are in!" While Schumer has stormed comedy stages all over the world, taken Hollywood by force and tackled TV -- she's yet to lend her talents to the Great White Way...until now. Meteor Shower also stars Broadway vet Laura Benati and Key and Peele's Keegan Michael Key. And if you know anything about Schumer, other than that fact that she's funny, you know she loves her dad -- so his positive review of her big undertaking has to be a big deal for the Broadway newbie. Amy and her dad have quite the special relationship and it's been well documented by both the media and the Trainwreck star over the years. Earlier this year, she introduced her father to her Snatched co-star Goldie Hawn, who got so overwhelmed at meeting his idol that he began to cry. Of course, the whole thing was shared with Amy's numerous fans, who loved the sweet video. In 2016, the comedian took to Instagram to reveal that she bought her father's farm back after losing it years ago. At the time, the actress posted an adorable old home video of herself after announcing it. "Video from the farm when I was running away in the cornfield and my dad was taunting me because I wanted him to come with me," she wrote. "We lost the farm when we lost everything else. But today I got to buy it back for him." The family's finances turned upside down after Schumer's father was diagnosed with multiple-sclerosis when she was just 12-years-old. They ended up going bankrupt and lost the farm -- literally. But luckily, Schumer's big success meant she could buy it back, much to her dad's delight. In 2013, she opened up about her father's illness while speaking with the Morning Edition's David Greene for NPR. She recalled, "It's the most painful thing in the world to just watch this person that you love ultimately just digress and kind of decompose. And it's too heavy and you have to find a way to laugh at it." The star continued, "I will on stage go to a very dark place and make light of things that are painful. And it makes me feel better to hear about other people's struggles, so I like to share mine." (Eonline)

The Hollywood Bowl's taken a gigantic proactive step to prevent a psychopath from unleashing a deadly assault similar to the Las Vegas shooter -- by closing and patrolling a park with unobstructed views of the venue from afar. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Bowl's new security plan will now extend some approximately 900 feet from the venue at the famous Mulholland Overlook Park ... popular among tourists for its picturesque views of DTLA and, of course, the Bowl. We're told several agencies -- including LAPD and Park Rangers -- have begun dispatching officers for security on nights the Bowl has scheduled events. The park will also be closed to the public. The Bowl's plan is a direct response to the Vegas massacre ... where Stephen Paddock was perched from his 32nd floor Mandalay Bay hotel room and killed 58 people. He hatched a similar plan from a Chicago hotel overlooking Lollapalooza, but he never followed through. (TMZ)

Music

From American Idol to American Powerhouse: How Kelly Clarkson Soared While Other Past Winners Failed to Launch. "Catch my breath, no one can hold me back," Kelly Clarkson once belted. "I ain't got time for that." It was 2012 when the songstress delivered the lyrical thesis. Already a decade after her pioneering American Idol win in 2002, Clarkson had managed to propel her initial success in the Wild Wild West of reality talent competition into a career that continues to thrive to this day. With the debut of her album, Meaning of Life, on Friday, the star with the velvety pipes currently has eight studio albums to her name (six of them have gone platinum), three Grammy Awards and 10 more nominations, and is among the top earners in American Idol alumni history. As history shows, not every winner can say the same. Still, Clarkson managed to rise to the top -- not just among her Idol competitors, but in the once foreign world of Hollywood. While several of her fellow victors saw with their debut records, they weren't able to maintain that momentum beyond the initial finish line. Clarkson, on the other hand, kept fans singing along single after single as her star power spread. While the mom of two is not the only American Idol winner with serious pipes, her talent still very much warrants mentioning. Whether she's belting an octave above, riffing through melodies or simply serenading fans with her smooth sound, there's no denying the woman has incredible music ability. Paired with the right songs, she found the sweet spot -- at the top of the charts. With 11 top 10 songs -- three of them reaching #1 -- Clarkson dominated the radio year after year with hits like "Stronger," "Since U Been Gone" and "My Life Would Suck Without You." Despite the commercial success, the songstress didn't let the industry strip away her authentic character. A goofball Texas native with a humble attitude, Clarkson felt just as much like your BFF as she did a musical powerhouse one, five 10 years into her career. As the fans who first met her as teens grew up virtually with her, they faced the challenges of adulthood together -- including learning how to stand up for yourself. When faced with having to work with Dr. Luke after she specifically asked not to, Clarkson refused to take a writing credit on a song next to him even if that meant losing out on "millions." "I was making a point to the people working with me going, 'This is how much I didn't want to do this.' I don't care about the money. I don't care about, 'Oh, you're going to be the most famous person ever if you do this,'" she explained to Z100's Mo' Bounce. "That's not what holds weight in my life." When famed record producer Clive Davis allegedly insulted her music writing, she rose above. As she wrote in 2013, "Growing up is awesome because you learn you don't have to cower to anyone -- even Clive Davis." That genuine, relatable connection with her fans only strengthened personally as she got married, became a mom and fought off public attacks about her weight. "There are just some people who are born skinny and with a great metabolism -- that is not me. I wish I had a better metabolism," she told Redbook in 2015. "But someone else probably wishes they could walk into a room and make friends with everyone like I can. She was right -- while the music never waned, fans fell just as much in love with the lady behind the lyrics. As fellow pop stars gripped tightly to their shiny, seemingly perfect veneers, Clarkson openly addressed her mishaps, whether she was mispronouncing former President Barack Obama's name or laughing off her first film, From Justin to Kelly. "I have a little joke with our nanny, because she told me she loves that movie. She was like, 'My roommate and I used to watch it all the time! I'm totally going to show your daughter From Justin to Kelly,'" Clarkson told Rolling Stone. "I'm like, 'I will fire you.'" Now, fifteen years after she first performed "Express Yourself" for Jackson, Paula and Simon Cowell at her American Idol audition, the star has once again put in the work and released The Meaning of Life, an album to encapsulate the resilient woman she continues to be, now free from the record label she once described as her former "arranged marriage." While there's no clear-cut recipe for post-Idol success, Clarkson managed to already have all of the right ingredients -- talent, identity and drive. Like she sang herself those years ago, "No one can hold me back." (Eonline)

Taylor Swift Goes Full Cyborg in "...Ready for It?" Music Video. Taylor Swift and Joseph Khan released another mini-movie just after midnight. The duo, who previously collaborated on "Blank Space," "Bad Blood," "Wildest Dreams," "Out of the Woods" and "Look What You Made Me Do," teamed up to create "...Ready for It?," the second music video from Swift's forthcoming sixth studio album, Reputation (available Nov. 10). Kahn has directed music videos for some of the biggest musicians in the world, including Christina Aguilera, Blink-182, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Maroon 5, Shakira and Britney Spears. Swift teased the first footage from her "...Ready for It?" music video via Instagram Monday. Kahn later tweeted it featuring some "homages" to anime: "Some obvious, some not so obvious." The video, rumored to be inspired by sci-fi movies like Blade Runner 2049 and Ghost in the Shell, features a scene in which Swift stands on a platform that reads: "They're Burning All the Witches." In that moment, she strikes a pose -- as if nailed to a cross -- and then emits lightning. After Swift shared three stills on Instagram, the director re-grammed one of them and added, "Such a pleasure to collaborate with both a powerful creative artist and fantastic human being." Per usual, Swift's video is littered with secret messages (and multiple references to her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn) -- which fans wasted no time finding and posting about on social media. Swift's latest music video premiere comes as anticipation grows for her new album. While the Grammy winner continues to hold secret sessions for deserving fans across the country, her good friend Selena Gomez recently shared her honest reviews on the finished product. "I obviously love her so much and want her to do what she does and she's killing it," she gushed to Zane Lowe on Apple Music. "It's everything you would want and more so very proud and obviously a major fan." "It's honestly so inspiring," Gomez added. "It's really cool to surround yourself with people and be involved with people who are inspiring and changing the way that they dictate what they love -- whether that's acting or music -- and she's one of those people who continue to do that." And while Swift has yet to announce a tour, a few lucky fans will be able to see her perform before the end of the year. Yes, the "Shake It Off" singer is scheduled to perform in Los Angeles and New York as part of the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball tour. As for other exciting announcements possibly coming in the future, we're not sure we're ready for it. (TMZ)

Enrique Iglesias Honors Pitbull With Dick Clark Award at 2017 Latin American Music Awards. Bring out your tissues! Pitbull was honored at the 2017 Latin American Music Awards with the first-ever Latin AMA Dick Clark Achievement Award by none other than his friend Enrique Iglesias. The coveted award recognizes a Latin artist that inspires all of the humanity with his or her dedication to music and because he or she uses his or her fame and influence to help those in need. As the network explains, this artist does not hide in a recording studio, but gives brightness and hope to those that have no other alternative. "For the folks that are helpless right now, I want to motivate them and inspire them to stay strong, to rebuild even stronger," Pitbull said during his acceptance speech. "All the way from Puerto Rico to Cuba, the Keys, Houston, the earthquakes in Mexico, may God bless the souls of those in Las Vegas and to all the fires that are happening right now in Northern California, this is the time you've got to take and really appreciate what life is about. Live life, don't let life live you." He continued, "And I want you to remember one thing before I leave here, guys don't ever forget that immigrants built the United States of America." In September, Pitbull quietly transported cancer patients from Puerto Rico to Miami and ensured that they received their chemo treatments. "Thanks to singer @pitbull for lending private plane to transfer cancer patients from Puerto Rico to the United States so that they can take their chemo," tweeted Jenniffer González, congresswoman for Puerto Rico. The star never shared his good deed on social media but did tell E! News, "Thank God we're blessed to help. Just doing my part." The Cuban-American singer also premiered, "Por Favor," his new single with Fifth Harmony and they performed it for the first time on the Latin AMA stage. After a jam-packed night inside the Dolby Theatre, Pitbull and Enrique are back on the road as they continue their tour. On Friday night, the pair headed to The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (Eonline)

Ty Dolla $ign Checks Into 'Beach House 3'. Ty Dolla $ign's sophomore album, Beach House 3, is now available to stream. The album includes a number of power-play collaborations, such as "Dawsin's Breek" and "Message In A Bottle" with Jeremih; "Don't Judge Me," with Future and Swae Lee; and "Love U Better," featuring The-Dream and Lil Wayne. Beach House 3 follows Ty's 2015 debut Free TC. The rapper became a more established force in hip-hop after his breakout appearance on Fifth Harmony's chart-climbing 2016 hit "Work From Home." (Billboard)

Secret Weapon In Pink's Chart-Topping Strategy: Visiting Spotify Offices Around the World. There were a number of factors that helped P!nk land a No. 1 album this week, from a concert ticket/album sale redemption promotion to the music itself. But the artist had a third trick up her sleeve that could help sustain her going forward: she went on a world tour of streaming-company offices. "She spent a lot of time going into Spotify offices around the world -- literally, she went into Spotify offices in Berlin, in London, in New York, in Los Angeles. We also did the same for Apple Music," John Fleckenstein, evp of P!nk's RCA label, tells Billboard. "She really took the time to make sure that she went in and met with these accounts and established herself with them to make sure they understand." P!nk's partnership with Apple Music included a 34-minute documentary around the recording of Beautiful Trauma, which premiered exclusively on the service on the album's release date and features a collage of candid interviews and behind-the-scenes studio footage. While artists have long made extensive rounds at radio stations in hopes of maximizing their airplay, acts are now increasingly touring streaming offices instead. A Spotify rep tells Billboard that it is now standard practice not only for artists to visit the company's offices, but also for Spotify teams to spend time with artists in the studio, in order to get richer context around their music and creative process. Beautiful Trauma's SEA start was a third of the streaming sum posted by rapper Gucci Mane's Mr. Davis (46,000 SEA units), which bowed at No. 2 on the new Billboard 200. Hip-hop albums tend to be streaming superstars, regularly pulling in large streaming bows. Still, Beautiful Trauma's SEA bow was larger than the first week streaming debuts of 2017 pop albums by the likes of Fifth Harmony's self-titled album and Miley Cyrus' Younger Now (10,000), but smaller than Demi Lovato's Tell Me You Love Me (19,000), and Kesha's Rainbow (19,000). Winning the support of streaming services is increasingly paying off for artists as their first-week buzz dies down. It's particularly important for artists like P!nk, since pop albums haven't been racking up huge streaming numbers in today's hip-hop-dominated universe. Many of P!nk's diehard fans, meanwhile, grew up in the CD and download eras. Fleckenstein says that the need to appeal to a younger streaming audience did not trickle down into P!nk's creative output itself, but rather was simply a marketing imperative of the times. "There's this notion that you just put records out and all this stuff happens, but the reality is that it's a really competitive marketplace out there," says Fleckenstein. "Most of the time, when records look like they 'just happened,' there was a considerable amount of planning and attention that went into making them come out the way they did." In fact, P!nk's thorough campaign sets an example for other pop stars -- whether peers of P!nk or younger, emerging acts -- who are looking both to nurture long-term relationships and to make a bigger splash in an increasingly crowded music market. "What I would recommend to new artists that are just starting out is to establish a great team, communicate openly about what your ambitions are and what your plan is, and then carry it out," says Fleckenstein. "Don't take anything for granted, and really focus on setting things up." (Billboard)

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' Pianist Conway Savage Recovering From Surgery for Brain Tumor. Fans who saw Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds on tour this summer may have noticed that keyboardist Conway Savage was missing from the group's live line-up for the first time in his nearly 30 years with the band. In a note on their official site, the group revealed that Savage has been struggling with a major health issue that required surgery and rest. "Many of you have noticed the absence of Conway Savage from this Summer's North American tour and from the current European tour. Conway was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent an operation just before the start of the North American shows," read the note. "The operation was largely a success and he is currently at home in Australia undergoing follow-up treatment. I'm sure you'll all join us in sending our beloved Conway lots of love & very best wishes. We are missing him enormously." Savage joined the legendary Australian band in 1990 and has released a number of solo albums and EPs, including 2010 Pussy's Bow EP. The Bad Seeds' European tour in support of their 2016 Skeleton Tree album continues through a pair of dates in Tel Aviv, Israel in November. (Billboard)

Movies

Box Office: 'Thor: Ragnarok' Opens to Thunderous $107.6M Overseas. Hollywood and theater owners are counting on the superhero film to breathe life back into the U.S. box office when it opens Nov. 3. Marvel Studios and Disney's critically acclaimed Thor: Ragnarok opened to a thunderous $107.6 million at the foreign box office over the weekend from roughly 50 percent of the marketplace. So far, Thor 3 is performing ahead of such titles as Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Doctor Strange. And in many markets, it posted the biggest October opening ever, including in South Korea ($15.5 million), Australia ($8.4 million) and Brazil ($8.3 million), to name a few. Leading all markets was the U.K, which turned in $15.8 million, the best October number there outside of a Bond film. Directed by acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi, Thor: Ragnarok sees the Asgardian god (Chris Hemsworth) team up with brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and pal Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) to fight the goddess of death, Hela (Cate Blanchett). Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins also star. The superhero film is likewise expected to do big business when it rolls out in North American theaters on Friday -- and none too soon after a late-October slump. Tracking suggests Thor: Ragnarok will debut to $100 million or more domestically; some think it even has a shot of approaching $125 million. And it still has a number of major overseas markets in which to open, including China, Japan, Mexico, Germany and Russia. Disney also debuted Pixar's Coco in Mexico over the weekend ahead of the Dia de Muertos holiday. The animated event film, which is set to open Nov. 22 in the U.S., took in a stellar $8.4 million, the highest opening weekend for an original title. Thanks to Thor and Coco, Disney has crossed the $4 billion mark at the worldwide box office, making it the only studio to achieve this threshold for the last five successive years. (Hollywood Reporter)

Megan Fox "Felt Like Joan of Arc" After Being Fired From Transformers. Megan Fox is a martyr -- or so she once believed. The actress graces the December cover of Cosmopolitan U.K. (on newsstands Oct. 30), in which she speaks candidly about her public firing from the Transformers franchise in 2009. Around that time, in an interview with Wonderland, she spoke ill of director Michael Bay, saying, "He wants to create this insane, infamous madman reputation. He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is." Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was cast as Fox's replacement, and in 2011, Bay told GQ producer Steven Spielberg had told him to "fire" Fox. (Spielberg later denied his claim.) Fox and Bay eventually made peace, and the actress went on to star in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film franchise (which he produced). Still, life after Transformers wasn't easy. "That was absolutely the low point of my career. But without 'that thing,' I wouldn't have learned as quickly as I did. All I had to do was apologize -- and I refused. I was so self-righteous at 23, I couldn't see [that] it was for the greater good," Fox admits. "I really thought I was Joan of Arc." The fallout was instant. "It hurt me and a lot of other people. However, that darkness that descended caused enormous and brisk spiritual growth, "she tells the magazine. "Once I realized I'd brought it on myself, it was an invaluable learning experience, looking back on it." Today, motherhood is Fox's priority. "I would never pick work over life. I'm the least ambitious actress! I pick movies that'll be fun to make. I'm not here to suffer for the art of movie-making or 'bleed for the craft.' And I'm not going to be an actress forever," says Fox, who also co-owns a luxury lingerie company, Frederick's of Hollywood. "I've always known I have another calling." Fox isn't turning her back on acting altogether, but she does hope to be seen as more than a sexpot onscreen. "I still get offered a lot of 'genius strippers' and 'funny escorts' by guys in the business," she says. "But I don't want to be involved with something genuinely degrading, or that encourages negative sexual ideals about women. Old-school male attitudes towards women, it's still in all the adverts. When my kids grow up, hopefully that attitude will be gone." To be clear, she says, "I'm not ashamed of sexy poses or parts. Women shouldn't go out of their way to be dowdy. Being feminine is a very sexy thing. It's just a biological fact: sex does sell. But I wish it were more gender equal. I'm happy to buy some sex, too. It's not wrong; it just needs to go both ways. Women shouldn't have to carry the burden. And I think we have so far." While Fox loves acting, she doesn't like being a celebrity. "I understand I'm a product -- but I don't have to like it," Fox, 31, tells Cosmopolitan U.K. "The truth is, I'm actually very private." (Eonline)

Kristin Davis Isn't Giving Up on Future Sex and the City Projects: "Maybe We'll Figure Out Something." Like so many fans, Kristin Davis really wanted to see a third Sex and the City movie. But as fans of the TV and movie franchise know, plans were ultimately scrapped partly because Kim Cattrall didn't want to participate. Before hosting the 2017 Princess Grace Awards Gala Wednesday night at the Beverly Hilton, Kristin was asked about the change of plans for Charlotte and the ladies. As it turns out, there's still a bit of hope from the actress that the ladies can come together in the future and do something special. "I'm just grateful. I know my co-stars are grateful as well that we have the fan support, that we have each other, that we love each other," she explained to E! News exclusively. "We still... maybe we'll figure out something to do, I don't know, it would be great." Kristin continued, "I just feel like it's a positive thing all the way around. I'm sad that we're not doing the movie but at the same time, I love the support so much and I'm so grateful for it." Back in September, it was reported that Warner Bros. Pictures canceled plans to begin production. Many of the ladies would also confirm the news on social media. "It is true that we are not going to be able to make a 3rd film. I wish that we could have made the final chapter, on our own terms, to complete the stories of our characters," Kristin shared just last month. "It is deeply frustrating not to able to share that chapter (beautifully written by MPK) with all of you." Ultimately, the actress is forever grateful for everything the cast and crew accomplished thanks to loyal fans. "For us, It's hard because we have been doing it for a long time and it has been an amazing journey," Kristin explained to us. "We have a franchise that we built over 20 years almost for 4 leading women which is almost unheard of." At Wednesday's star-studded event, Kristin helped recognize James Cameron, screenwriter Bridget Carpenter and choreographer Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. Additional attendees included Jerry Bruckheimer, Sharna Burgess, Sofia Carson and Bethany Mota. (Eonline)

First Look: 'Black Panther' Action Figures from Hasbro Revealed. Based on the upcoming Marvel movie that stars Chadwick Boseman as the king of the African nation Wakanda. Talk about Marvel jungle action! On Friday, Hasbro revealed some of its Black Panther figures, based on the upcoming Marvel movie that stars Chadwick Boseman as the king of the African nation Wakanda. The toys are being shown at the MCM London Comic Con. The six-inch figures are part of the Marvel Legends line and feature cate deco and premium articulation. Like other Legends lines, they will have a Build-a-Figure in which each set will come with a body part so that when you collect them all, you complete Okoye, the character that is one of Panther's bodyguards. Among the characters in the line are Black Panther, the villainous Erik Killmonger (played in the movie by Michael B. Jordan), and Nakia, a deadly fighter played by Lupita Nyong'o. The movie comes out Feb. 16, 2018, but you'll have to wait a bit longer for the toys, which hit shelves spring 2018. They will be sold separately and retail for $19.99. (Hollywood Reporter)

Jack Nicholson Almost Hit Crew Member With Ax While Getting Hyped For 'Shining' Scene. "Here's Johnny!" Jack Nicholson got himself so worked up to film the iconic ax scene in the horror classic The Shining that he nearly hit a crewmember with the wood-chopping tool. A behind-the-scenes video shot by director Stanley Kubrick's daughter, Vivian, shows how Nicholson got pumped for one of the most intense scenes, not only in the 1980 flick, but it all of the horror genre. The multiple Oscar-winning actor runs in place, grunting to himself before picking up what appears to be a real ax off the bed and swings it around. Unbeknownst to Nicholson, a crew member is right behind him at that very moment and has to quickly react so he doesn't get hit by the pointed side of the ax. If it is the same ax used in the film to break down the door, which it more than likely is, it is very real. It is clear from the footage Nicholson is in full-on crazed Jack Torrance mode, and he doesn't even flinch when he likely noticed the crew member finally getting past and out of the shot. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Why Stranger Things' Eleven Is the Feminist Hero We Need Right Now. (Warning, spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season two, which premiered on Friday, October 27.) "I'm a fighter." When Stranger Things debuted in 2016, it was clear that the breakout character was Eleven, played with a quiet intensity by a then 11-year-old Millie Bobby Brown. Though she barely spoke, you felt yourself leaning in whenever the psychokinetic pre-teen appeared on-screen. And in season two, Eleven came of age before our eyes, and it was a journey we really needed right now. This is the story of a girl who took back control of her life from a man intent on controlling her for his own personal gain. That story could not be any timelier, given the entertainment industry's recent scandal involving the many sexual assault allegations against mega-producer Harvey Weinstein, and the domino effect of women coming forward with their own stories over the years. When we catch up with Eleven in season two (Spoiler alert: She didn't die. Duh.), she is once again answering to a man of authority, at least in the beginning. In a flashback in episode two, we learn Hopper (David Harbour), who was seen leaving a box of Eggos at the end of season one, took Eleven in, hiding her out in his old family cabin tucked away in the woods, giving her a home, a TV, a sense of security, and a freezer full of Eggos. They developed a quasi-father-daughter relationship, but still, Eleven was listening to a man in a position of power; just wait, he told her. It's not safe, he told the young girl capable of killing men with a flick of her head. You need to listen to me, he said. "We're not stupid." Unlike Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine), her "Papa," Hopper had the best intentions when it came to keeping Eleven in the small cabin, with only All My Children's Erica Kane to keep her company as he spent almost a year dealing with the fallout of Will's return and the Upside Down turning life in Hawkins upside down. And like any young girl on the cusp on puberty, Eleven is restless, cooped up, desperate to see the boy she has a crush on, desperate for any human interaction. When she breaks down after Hopper learns she left the house and was scene, we don't just see her anguish, we feel it. The entirely Eleven-centric seventh episode, "The Lost Sister," gave us the rebellion and realization (oh, and punk makeover) we so desperately wanted. Eleven heads to Pittsburgh to seek out her "sister," Roman (aka Eight, played by Linnea Berthelsen), another young woman whose life was ruined by Dr. Brenner. She joins her band of misfit thieves, intent on seeking revenge on behalf of her mama. But when given the opportunity to kill one of the men responsible for shocking her mother into a vegetable, for taking away her chance at a normal childhood and creating her in a lab, for just what he was asked to do, Eleven can't do it. That flicker of humanity -- sparked by Mike (Finn Wolfhard), the gang, and Hopper -- burned brighter than her thirst for vengeance. When at the crossroad between finding those who wronged her and returning to Hawkins to help her friends, Eleven chooses the harder path, reasoning, "But I can save them," as she's already saved herself. She does just that, saving her new father figure (who finally comes to see her as his equal, standing by her side as she closes the gate), her friends, Hawkins, and the world, all in time to make it to the 8th grade dance to share a sweet, slightly awkward dance (to The Police's "Every Breath You Take") and kiss with the boy she likes... and rescued, her own damsel in distress. Bitching, indeed. Stranger Things 2 is now available to stream on Netflix. (Eonline)

Your First Look at Ryan Murphy's 9-1-1- Is Here. "It must be hard being a first responder. Would you ever consider a less stressful position?" "Never." The first look at 9-1-1, Ryan Murphy's take on the procedural drama for Fox, is finally here, having just made its debut during game three of the 2017 World Series. And with its powerhouse cast (Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, and Connie Britton, oh my!) and promising mix of lighthearted and deadly serious emergencies to respond to, this thing could be the hit that the network is looking for. From Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, 9-1-1 explores the high-pressure experiences of police officers, paramedics and firefighters who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives. "There are two types of emergency," Britton's 911 operator narrates. "The first kind is the one we all have everyday. Then there's the second kind of emergency. The kind that comes without warning." 9-1-1 also stars Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi and Rockmond Dunbar in series regular roles, as well. 9-1-1 is set to debut in 2018 on Fox. (Eonline)

Grey's Anatomy Admits One Tree Hill Alum Bethany Joy Lenz for Season 14 Guest ARC. From Tree Hill to Seattle! E! News has confirmed that One Tree Hill alum Bethany Joy Lenz will soon be roaming the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial as the actress has landed a season 14 guest arc. Though in which capacity remains to be seen. In true Shondaland fashion, details about her character are being kept under wraps for the time being. What we do know about the role? The character's name is Jenny. (Like we said, under wraps.) Lenz's casting comes just after Grey's Anatomy said goodbye to series regular Martin Henderson, whose Nathan Riggs went off into the sunset (a Los Angeles sunset, to be exact) with guest star Abigail Spencer's Megan Hunt in Thursday night's episode. The casting marks a return to quasi-return to Shondaland for Lenz. She was previously cast in the pilot of the now-canceled The Catch, which aired for two seasons as a part of the beloved #TGIT block, but was recast when the show went in a different direction. She was replaced by Sonya Walger. Since One Tree Hill, Lenz has also appeared on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Dexter, American Gothic, and most recently, Colony. The casting was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Aside from the high-profile departures and Lenz's upcoming appearance, Grey's Anatomy is also welcoming a slew of new faces in season 14 as Grey Sloan's new class of interns. Continuing with the season of change, series regular Jason George will depart the show at around the midseason point to join the cast of the still-untitled spinoff, which expands the Grey's universe, taking place in a Seattle firehouse. Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)

Grey's Anatomy Goes Back in Time as [Spoiler] Leaves For Good. Happy endings are so rare on Grey's Anatomy, so let us savor this moment. Thursday night's episode went back in time to 2007, when Owen, Riggs, Teddy, and Megan were all in the army, when Megan was waiting to find out if she ranked high enough to get promoted and Riggs had just cheated on her. When she found a fancy necklace on his floor, he took the opportunity to propose with a joke about how she loses all her rings. In fact, Riggs had panicked, and it wasn't a necklace for Megan. It was actually the engraved necklace of the girl he was cheating on her with, and sooner or later she was going to figure it out. When he went to confess, she confessed at the same time that she had also slept with someone else, but she was so angry that when her patient -- a woman who she believed was the victim of an attack -- needed to be airlifted, Megan asked to go with her. Owen, as the CO, approved. And of course, as it turned out, the woman was actually one of the attackers, and that was the last time anyone saw Megan for the next 10 years. In present day, Riggs had taken Farouk to LA to get started on Megan's house by the beach, and Megan and Owen took a little road trip from Seattle to meet them. While Owen tried to convince her to stay in Seattle, they hashed out issues like why Owen prevented Megan from getting that promotion 10 years ago, and why he was trying to control her life now. Once she admitted to him that she had cheated on Riggs too, Owen let up a bit, and the big revelation of the episode was that sometimes you have to let go of your ideals in order to be happy. That left us with Riggs, Megan, and Farouk happy as could be on the beach, where the show is apparently leaving them for good, since Shonda Rhimes released a statement on Twitter announcing Martin Henderson's exit from the show. "I love that we were able to give Riggs a happy ending worthy of his character and talent," she wrote. "As for Martin, this is not an ending for our relationship. He has been a part of the Shondaland family since the pilot of Inside the Box and he will always be family. I can't wait to find a new project to work with him on in the future." Back in Seattle, Owen went home to Amelia to tell her it was over. She completely understood, since he married a brain tumor, and now they barely know each other. They handed each other their rings and hugged, both looking strangely happier than either has looked in a long time. So while we'll miss Riggs and particularly Abigail Spencer as Megan, perhaps their happy ending is exactly what we all needed. Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)

The Crown Taps Olivia Coleman as Claire Foy's Successor for Seasons 3 & 4. Netflix has crowned its new Queen Elizabeth II. The streaming giant has landed on Claire Foy's successor for the third and fourth seasons of their award-winning historical drama The Crown. Your new monarch? Olivia Coleman, E! News has confirmed. Coleman recently took home a Golden Globe for her work in AMC's mini-series The Night Manager and will next be seen in Kenneth Branagh's star-studded adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. News of Coleman's involvement comes before Foy's second season in the role has even had the chance to debut on Netflix. The intention was always to replace Foy after season two, as with series creator Peter Morgan hoping to better portray all the character as they age. "What's so beautiful about Claire is her youth," he told Variety. "You can't ask someone to act middle-aged. Someone has to bring their own fatigue to it. The feelings we all have as 50-year-olds are different than the feelings we all have as 30-year-olds. That informs everything we do." With Foy's replacement in place, now we wait to see who will join Coleman as Matt Smith's replacement in the role of Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Season one of The Crown was a critical success for Netflix, earning Foy a Golden Globe for her performance, as well as an Emmy for John Lithgow's work as Winston Churchill. Coleman has also starred in Broadchurch and Fleabag, among many others. The Crown is her second brush with the Royal Family, after playing QEII's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in the 2012 Bill Murray film, Hyde Park on Hudson. The Crown returns for season two on Friday, Dec. 8 on Netflix. (Eonline)

"We Own Christmas": How The Hallmark Channel Found Massive Success With the Holiday Spirit. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas -- on The Hallmark Channel, anyway. The network kicks off "Countdown to Christmas," its annual round-the-clock holiday programming event, with the premiere of Marry Me at Christmas, the first of 21 new original movies set to debut during 2017's festive line-up. When it comes to holiday programming, Hallmark gives and receives, as it provides its tradition-loving audience an endless supply of Christmas cheer to enjoy from Halloween through New Year's Eve, while consistently breaking their own ratings records in the process. Leaning into their seasonal programming made Hallmark Channel the highest-rated cable network among women ages 25 to 54 (aka the demo every advertiser wants to see underneath their tree) in the fourth quarter of 2016. The Hallmark Channel's goal with "Countdown to Christmas," which launched in 2011 after airing their first original holiday movie in 2000, was "creating a destination and understanding this appetite" for seasonal fare, Bill Abbott, CEO of Hallmark Channel, said, noting the channel acts as a "safe space, a feel-good space" in a marketplace that has gone "past the point of edgy." Michelle Vicary, the executive vice president of programming, simply said, "We own Christmas and we are going to do it in a bigger way and a better way and really speak to the spirit of the season that I don't think any of our competitors do." And own it they seem to. The 2016 "Countdown to Christmas" line-up reached 70.2 million viewers, according to Hallmark, which is a 22 percent increase from 2015, a then record-breaking year. And if you factor in Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' "The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas," you're looking at 110 million total viewers between the two channels. Cue even more (often fake) snow, a seemingly endless supply of twinkle lights and good old-fashioned love stories, where holding hands is an OMG moment and couples often don't kiss until the final scene of a two-hour movie. Speaking to the appeal of their movies' chaste approach to romance (with no hints at sex aside from the occasional child-with-one-parent trope), Abbott credited viewers' desire for "innocence... people are longing for that in a lot of ways." The old-fashioned love stories about star-crossed pairs they swoon over and the small town traditions put on by the communities in their movies depict "a behavior that resonates in a time where entertainment and reality is a lot harsher," Abbott continued. "It's all I watch just about," Becky Gay, a stay-at-mom grandmother from Athens, Georgia, said of her dedication to the Hallmark Channel. "It's clean and I just don't enjoy cussing... naked movies." For Vicary, she highlights a few factors to explain Hallmark's success during the holidays, starting with the brand itself. Founded in 1910, the American brand has been "a celebration destination" for over 100 years, focusing on "emotional connections." Mix that with the anticipation ahead of the holiday season and you have a simple but potent recipe for success. While The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones are killing characters faster than you can say "Bah humbug," and the teens on Riverdale are steaming up car windows with taboo sex scenes, the biggest cause for concern on Hallmark is often whether or not the Christmas parade will go off without a hitch. What the movies can sometimes lack in stakes they make up for in sentiment. "It's a behavior that resonates in a time where entertainment and reality is a lot harsher," Abbott said. Who wouldn't want to retreat to the idyllic escape provided by Hallmark for two hours? "I watch the holiday movies year-round. When I turn on the Hallmark Channel and watch their movies I know I can escape the rest of the world," Kris Bruns, 50, a retail sales associate, a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and a Young Living Essential Oils distributor from Minnesota, said. "There are no politics, there is no crime, no hate, no war." Leslie, who is 45 and lives in Wisconsin, also highlighted the family-friendliness of the channel's offerings. "Other channels such as Showtime, Starz and many more do not produce the Christmas movies, they run the movies that were previously in the theaters and...shows that are too mature." Ann, a retired senior from North Carolina who has been watching the Christmas movies since they began airing, echoed her fellow viewer's sentiment. "There is no profanity nor any sex offensive acts in any movie I have ever seen," she said. "It is different from all other networks; there is no violence, no profanity, and no needed sexual behavior with the exception of a couple of sitcoms which are not Hallmark productions and are on late night." But it's not just about the family-friendly movies they make, as Abbott stressed the importance of spending their licensing budget wisely, paying more to use music and graphics to elevate the overall experience. Consider it the bow that is the perfect finishing touch on an already impressively wrapped present. "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is a "key" annual favorite that makes its debut each November because it "builds the anticipation" during interstitials. More recently, the network also has a relationship with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a "thoughtful" addition, and, of course, there's Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas," which Abbott said they "utilize for a lot of what we do." Simply put, Hallmark is creating the coziest atmosphere to entice viewers, where even the interstitials cause a case of the warm and fuzzies and can persuade a viewer to hold off fast-forwarding through a commercial break. "Internally, it was a natural for us to create this spirit of the holiday season in every graphic and every treatment and every promo and every interstitial and every movie and the traditions of the season," said Vicary. "It really is about creating an entire experience. When [viewers] come to Hallmark, it's not just coming to watch a show, but it's coming for an experience. "It just adds that additional emotional connection that says, 'I hear you and I know how you're feeling and I want you to spend time with us as a network,'" she continued. And it is working, as Bruns, who owns about 60 of the Hallmark Christmas movies on DVD, said, "One of the things I love most about the Hallmark movies are that they always leave you wanting more." While most networks deliver one or two original holiday-themed events (This December, Fox is putting on A Christmas Story Live!, while NBC has teamed with Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson for past holiday specials, to highlight a few), Hallmark owns the season. "Countdown to Christmas" began in 2011, the network really started leaning into the Christmas spirit in 2013, when it aired 12 original movies, one on Saturday and one on Sunday for six weeks. In 2016, 21 original movies aired, and in 2017, 33 originals will air between Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel. For Abbott, it's all about "creating a destination and understanding this appetite at Christmas," with Vicary explaining the expanded line-up being due to the "audience is asking for it," noting the 2016 "Countdown to Christmas"' ratings went beyond their projected expectations, as did the ad sales revenue. But Christmas isn't the only seasonal programming the network is experiencing huge success with its "Fall Harvest" programming event, which wrapped its 2017 run last weekend. The highest rated offering, All Of My Heart: Inn Love, starring Lacey Chabert, reached 3.9 million unduplicated viewers. Three years ago, the push for more year-round seasonal programming began, with "Fall Harvest" really taking off. While the network always centered programming around Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, Abbott said they wanted to recreate "the retail experience at Hallmark," where walking into the store at fall was a different experience than at spring or summer. "Ratings are through the roof," Abbott said of the network's recent six-week fall programming run, explaining it's "much easier to capture" the essence of fall as opposed to its sunnier siblings. In addition to the strong ratings, the official website's digital views have tripled this fall, because of the imagery of the season and the sense of feelings, according to Abbott. "Fall has a defined period of time for everybody" as opposed to spring, where the weather can be unpredictable, or summer, a time when people's activities and time off varies, Abbott theorized. Hallmark is challenging its team to create year-long programming to entice its viewers to keep the TV on Hallmark as they tear the calendar pages, a welcome reliability in an uncertain time, both socially and on television. Vicary said they "lean" into providing an escape because viewers "thank" them for it. "We're doing it all year-long, and we did it really consciously because I think it's really hard to feel like you're being related to or someone cares about what you think or someone cares about what you think," Vicary said. "The Hallmark brand is all about that." So all they want for Christmas is you... every season of the year. "Countdown to Christmas" begins Saturday, Oct. 28 with Marry Me at Christmas, airing at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel. (Eonline)

TV Ratings: CBS' Final 'Thursday Night Football' of Season Hits Low. The game briefly heads to NFL Net exclusively before heading over the NBC. CBS aired its final Thursday night NFL match-up of the season, a shutout, dropping to a 2017 ratings low in the process. The game, simulcast on CBS, the NFL Network and Amazon, averaged a 8.4 overnight rating among households, a low for this season's Thursday Night Football showings. It marked a 15 percent decline from the previous week -- which is not much of a surprise, given the incredibly lopsided score. The Baltimore Ravens embarrassed the Miami Dolphins, 40-0. There's no year-to-year comparison, as the 2016 week eight game aired just on the NFL Network. (Those games see typically the most modest ratings returns of each season, a fact we'll be reminded of after the Oct. 2 game. Next week's game airs on the NFL Network exclusively, before the rest of the year's Thursday games see NBC enter as the broadcast network partner. But this Thursday was still a win for CBS, which will emerge as TV's top performer of the night, though a soft way to end its string of NFL games this season. No. 2 status of the night goes to ABC, which narrowly outperformed NBC in the key demo -- thanks to the return of Grey's Anatomy. After a one-week break, the drama returned to the schedule with a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49. That was down from its last outing, but Scandal (1.1 adults) and How to Get Away With Murder (0.9 adults) were unmoved just after. Will & Grace led NBC's lineup, sharing Grey's Anatomy's 1.8 rating among adults 18-49. Superstore (1.2 adults), The Good Place (1.1 adults) and Chicago Fire (1.2 adults) were both steady -- while Great News saw some more significant improvement, rising to a 1.0 rating in the key demo. Speaking of growth, The Orville was up to a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49 on Fox. The network just released live-plus-35 day ratings for The Orville premiere, by the way. And the episode has already fetched more than 14 million viewers and a 3.9 rating among adults 18-49. Thursday's Orville was an improvement from an even Gotham (0.9 adults) at 8 o'clock. On the CW, Supernatural (0.6 adults) and Arrow (0.5 adults) were both steady. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC Sued By Insurance Company Over "Pink Slime" Settlement. AIG is resisting reimbursement of $25 million by arguing that the broadcaster had an obligation to go to outside counsel before running its controversial reporting. ABC would surely love to puts its "pink slime" nightmare in the rear-view window. This summer, the Disney-owned broadcast network traveled to the heart of Trump country to defend its 2012 reporting about the beef sold to consumers. In the middle of trial, ABC settled with Beef Products Inc., but the litigation isn't quite over. In fact, thanks to an insurance dispute, we're learning more about what happened both five years ago and about the settlement itself. On Thursday, AIG Specialty Insurance Company sued The Walt Disney Co., ABC, and correspondent Jim Avila. The insurer seeks a declaration that it doesn't have to cover the BPI settlement. BPI claimed in its defamation lawsuit that a series of reports had tarnished its reputation in the market by stating or implying that lean finely textured beef (LFTB), which critics have dubbed "pink slime," is is unsafe, not nutritious, and not really beef nor meat. The case brought the possibility of up to $5.7 billion in damages. In a securities filing, Disney would reveal that it paid $177 million to settle the case, though by looks of the court papers, the settlement was likely worth at least $50 million more than that. Disney had insurance policies with Swizz Re, Illinois Union Insurance Company, and Beazley that provided up to $50 million in coverage. There doesn't appear to be any controversy with any of these insurers. Instead, it's the $25 million in excess coverage from AIG that's in dispute. Disney has already made a move to compel arbitration, but AIG insists that that the arbitration option went out the window upon mediation. So AIG is now in New York court with its arguments. AIG acknowledges that the policy covers defamation claims, but alleges that a "carve-out" applies when ABC defames with "actual malice" unless the network obtained an advance written opinion from outside counsel concluding that whatever was to be said was legal. "The reason for this is obvious," states AIG's complaint. "If an insured consults outside counsel concerning potentially defamatory statements prior to making them, the insured will be less likely to engage in conduct that gives rise to liability. In order to incentivize insureds to consult with counsel, the CSIC policy provides coverage to an insured that consults with counsel even if the counsel's advice ultimately proves incorrect. On the other hand, if an insured publishes defamatory content about a public figure with actual malice without having consulted outside counsel (or against the advice of outside counsel), then the insured bears the responsibility for his reckless conduct." This essentially means that ABC is now back in court over whether its reporting was reckless. The stakes may only be $25 million this time rather than $5.7 billion, but nevertheless, the newest "pink slime" dispute raises an important question about what news organizations must do to immunize themselves from legally hazardous reports about public figures. That is, assuming other news outlets have similar insurance policies. The complaint that AIG has filed is filled with redactions, so not everything is entirely clear, but it does appear from AIG's lawsuit that Disney/ABC is raising the argument that consulting with outside counsel is unnecessary so long as the conclusion is drawn of no malice. According to AIG, the news organization is contending that the proper standard is what's "commercially reasonable." AIG rejects this. Writes the Kasowitz attorneys representing the insurer, "If Defendants believed the terms of the Defamation Carve-out were commercially unreasonable, the time to raise that concern at the time Defendants were negotiating the Policy." (Hollywood Reporter)

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