ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Mindy Kaling Gives Birth to First Child, Welcomes Daughter Katherine Kaling. Congrats to Mindy Kaling! E! News has exclusively learned that the 38-year-old actress welcomed her first child, a baby girl named Katherine Kaling on Dec. 15. Back in July, E! News learned that Kaling was pregnant with her first child and that it was "an unexpected surprise." She broke her silence about her pregnancy the following month, saying on NBC's Today show that she is "really excited" to become a mom. "I'd like to be the fun mom, I know I'm gonna be the dorky mom," she added. "So if I can be kind of fun too, I think that would be nice." Kaling, who is notoriously private, has not revealed the identity of her baby's father. She is not currently publicly linked to anyone romantically. "My professional life is the only thing that I feel I have a lot of control over -- romantic stuff is a little bit more mysterious," she told American Way magazine in an interview published in September. Also that month, Kaling's Mindy Project co-stars spilled the beans about the sex of her child. The actress confirmed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in October that she was expecting a girl. "I am not waiting," the actress told Ellen DeGeneres. "I wanted to know way early." Kaling's Wrinkle in Time movie co-star Oprah Winfrey had also talked to the press about her baby. "At first it was like, 'OK, if anyone was going to announce big news about your private life, Oprah Winfrey is the person,'" she said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "You can't complain that much about it. You also can't be like, 'Hey, Oprah, zip it.' Because she's almost like a religious figure." "I actually thought, 'Well, OK, if there's one person I have to tell my daughter about that revealed her existence to the world, Oprah's pretty good," Kaling added. "At a certain point, I was like, you can't take it back, so I thought -- there are worse things." (Eonline)
Eva Longoria Is Pregnant! Actress Expecting First Child With Husband Jose Bastón. There's about to be a new addition to the Longoria household! Eva Longoria and husband Jose Bastón are expecting a baby boy, her rep confirms to E! News. This will be the couple's first child together. Longoria has been open about wanting to have children of her own -- she has also praised being a stepmother to her husband's three children from a previous marriage -- in past interviews. "If it happens, it happens, if it's meant to be it would be a blessing," she told Ocean Drive magazine last year. And even earlier than that, the 42-year-old explained how neither she nor her hubby feel as though they've been missing out on certain aspects of parenthood simply because they hadn't had a child of their own. "[My stepchildren] have been such a gift in my life," she told People. "I don't feel like we're lacking because we don't have a baby." But now it seems that the husband and wife have been blessed (four times over!) by the news that Longoria is expecting her first bundle of joy in the coming months. After her whirlwind wedding in May 2016, E! News caught up with the star to get some inside details on her special day. "[Our wedding] was so magical. We had so much fun as you can see from all the posts from everybody," she told us at the premiere of her new movie Lowriders. "It was the funniest wedding I had ever been to. I'm glad it was mine." Congratulations to Longoria and Bastón on their pregnancy news which is bound to be just as (if not more) magical! HOLA! was first to break the news. (Eonline)
New parents Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova are going all Donald Trump to make their Miami mansion a fortress of privacy for their twins. We broke the story ... Anna gave birth to the twins, a boy and a girl, and while she was secretly pregnant, the couple started building a huge 16-foot-tall wall around their Miami home. Construction started in late summer, deep into Anna's 2nd trimester. According to city building permits, they're also adding a 2-story single family residence to their property -- along with baby-proofing measures, like a "child barrier for pools." The wall makes sense. Privacy is totally Enrique and Anna's M.O. -- since they clearly went through a whole pregnancy without anyone ever knowing. The docs say the home makeover will cost $600k when it's all said and done. (TMZ)
Lala Kent isn't keeping her married man a secret anymore. In exclusive photos and video obtained by Page Six, the "Vanderpump Rules" star, 27, can be seen kissing Hollywood producer Randall Emmett at a FabFitFun event at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills on Dec. 7. "They were side by side the whole time, but they weren't doing the PDA snuggly thing," an insider told Page Six of the pair. "They didn't leave each other's side." Emmett, 46, is the executive producer of "Power." He is married to actress Ambyr Childers, who starred in "Ray Donovan." The couple has two children. "He was definitely being more cautious than her," the insider said. "They weren't being shy about [their relationship]. Even when they left, they were together but he was still two feet in front of her. She was hugging people and taking photos when she was leaving." (Page Six)
Janet Jackson Is 'Back Together' With Jermaine Dupri. As Janet Jackson wrapped the United States leg of her State of the World tour on December 17, she was also rejoicing in new beginnings. During the show's after party in Atlanta, the five-time Grammy winner was joined by a surprise guest: Jermaine Dupri. A source tells Us Weekly exclusively: "They were cuddled up and holding hands." Eight years after Jackson, 51, and the music producer, 45, ended their seven-year romance, they're picking up right where they left off. As the insider tells Us, "They are 100 percent back together and in love." Jackson's escapade started after her tumultuous April split from husband Wissam Al Mana, father to her 11-month-old son, Eissa. When the singer was with Al Mana, she and Dupri "had zero communication -- she would not talk to him," notes the insider. So when she ended their marriage, "Jermaine reached out," says the source. "They are getting to know each other all over again." Dupri recently raved exclusively to Us Weekly about his ex's tour. "I haven't seen [it]. But I have seen a couple clips from the show," the rapper said at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The 90s Game Changers event in Hollywood in September. "The tour looks good." Following their 2009 split, Jackson gushed over her former love. "Jermaine is one of my best friends," she told Atlanta's The Bert Show at the time. "I love him to death. We're still connected. We're still good friends. We still talk." "We're there for one another," she continued. "I think it will remain that way for the rest of my life." (US Weekly)
How Battling Cancer Changed Val Kilmer's Perspective on Fame. Val Kilmer is opening up about his two-year fight against throat cancer and how it's changed his outlook on life. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 57-year-old actor admitted he was "too serious" about having an A-list career. "I'd get upset when things like Oscars and recognition failed to come my way," he told the magazine. However, his perspective changed when he received his cancer diagnosis. Shortly after, his daughter Mercedes, 26, was involved in a car accident, leaving her in the hospital with her father. "I was just, you know, miserable, distraught, sitting next to these two," Kilmer's 22-year-old son Jack told THR. Rumors of Kilmer's health problems started spreading in 2015. The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star denied having a tumor in January 2015. His rep had previously told E! News the actor was "undergoing tests" for a "possible tumor" at a Los Angeles hospital. Kilmer emerged from the hospital two weeks later after experiencing an undisclosed "complication." He then denied having a tumor a second time in October of that year. "There's a rumor I'm unwell again and in hospital which is totally untrue," part of his Facebook post at the time read. "I was in to verify I have no tumor or infection of any kind which was verified by the very caring experts at UCLA." Michael Douglas also fueled the rumors when he reportedly suggested Kilmer had cancer in 2016. Kilmer responded to the comments on Facebook and called his co-star from The Ghost and the Darkness "misinformed." But in April, Kilmer said he "did have a healing cancer" and that his "tongue is still swollen altho healing all the time." According to THR, Kilmer has undergone chemotherapy to fight the cancer. And while the Top Gun actor's perspective on fame has changed, he still has strong ambitions. "I would like to have more Oscars than anybody," he said. "Meryl Streep must feel pretty good, you know? It must feel nice to know that everyone loves her. It's about being loved." To read the full interview, check out The Hollywood Reporter's Dec. 18 "Hollywood Legacies" issue. (Eonline)
Jessica Chastain is standing by former E! News host Catt Sadler, who told PEOPLE exclusively on Tuesday she had left the network after learning that her male co-host Jason Kennedy earned "double" her salary and had been "for several years." "It's almost insulting because you know you work really hard," Sadler, 43, said of the decision to leave her job of nearly 12 years. "I'm a single mom of two kids [sons Arion Boyd, 12, and Austin Boyd, 16]. I've given my all to this network. I've sacrificed time away from my family and I have dedicated my entire career to this network. And when you learn something like that, it makes you feel very small and underappreciated and undervalued. It's heartbreaking." Learning of the story on Twitter, where Sadler had linked to an entry on her personal website TheCattwalk.com about her exit, Chastain stood firmly on Sadler's side. "WOW this is so disappointing," the two-time Oscar nominee wrote. "When are companies like @e_entertainment going to understand that women should be paid fairly. 1/2 of her male counterpart is not appropriate." It's not the first time Chastain has used her voice to fight for the cause. She had long been an advocate for equality of women in the workplace, even banding together with Hollywood hotshots Queen Latifah, Frieda Pinto, Juliette Binoche, Ziyi Zhang and Twilight director Catherine Hardwick to form a non-profit production company dedicated to women empowerment called We Do It Together. "There's no excuse," Chastain told Variety in October 2016. "There's no reason why [an actress] should be doing a film with other actors and get paid less than her male costars. It's completely unfair. It's not right. It's been happening for years and years and years. I think it's brave to talk about it. I think everyone should talk about it." "I'm working hard to break free of stereotypes that the film industry has created and nurtured around women," she told Town & Country in their December/January issue. "If I'm in a situation where I have equal experience to the actor and my role is just as significant, there is no reason why I should be paid less. It's not really part of my world anymore, because I just won't accept it." Sadler began working at E! News in 2006, the same year as Kennedy, and has gone on to serve as a red carpet correspondent and anchor shows like the two-hour live daytime talk show, The Daily Pop. She told PEOPLE Tuesday she had attempted to negotiate a higher salary with E! News after learning that network executives wanted to extend her deal. Although Sadler was hopeful that she would be able to extend her contract, "not only did [E!] refuse to pay me as much as my male counterpart, but they didn't come close -- nowhere close, not even remotely close." In a statement to PEOPLE, an E! spokesperson said on behalf of the network and Kennedy, "E! compensates employees fairly and appropriately based on their roles, regardless of gender. We appreciate Catt Sadler's many contributions at E! News and wish her all the best following her decision to leave the network." While the decision to part ways from the place she has called home for more than a decade was a difficult one, Sadler is focused on "this obligation that I now have, which very much informed my decision that I too have to be an agent of change." "If I stay and do the easy thing, I don't serve myself and I don't serve every other female in the world. It's like I now feel inspired and empowered by these women before me who refused to be silent," she said, referencing Jennifer Lawrence, Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou. "And I now join them in what I believe to be a very important movement towards creating change." (People)
Country star Michael Ray's definitely NOT singing "I'm Lovin' It" ... after a minor collision at McDonald's got him busted for DUI and drugs. The Eustis PD was called to McDonald's just after 3 AM Wednesday in Florida after Michael's 2012 Jeep hit the car in front of him while waiting in a drive-thru line. According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops say Michael told them his foot slipped off the pedal. Cops say Michael had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, reeked of alcohol and he stumbled when he got out of the car. Cops say he told them he was coming from a bar. They conducted a series of sobriety tests, which cops say Michael bombed. He was arrested for DUI and felony possession of weed oil, which cops say they found while searching him. Michael's expected to be released from jail soon. We've reached out to Michael's reps, so far no word back. (TMZ)
Sylvester Stallone is ready to demand police investigate a woman who, he's been told, filed a report claiming he raped her 27 years ago ... TMZ has learned. Stallone's attorney, Marty Singer, tells us he believes the woman recently filed a false police report with Santa Monica PD. Singer says this all started more than a month ago when a media outlet, not TMZ, informed him the woman was alleging Stallone raped her in 1990 in his Santa Monica office. Stallone denies the allegation. He admits he had spent 3 days with her during a 1987 movie shoot in Israel. He was single, she was not a minor and he says there was never a rape. He also denies he saw her at all in 1990. Sources with direct knowledge tell us the media outlet that contacted Singer refused to publish the woman's story due to a lack of corroborating evidence, and because, at that time, she had not filed a police report -- not in 1990, and not at any time since then. We're told the woman finally did file a police report with Santa Monica PD in mid-November. However, the media outlet still did not publish. Our sources say it appears she filed the report in an effort to get the story out to the public, but failed. However, Singer says a different reporter called him Tuesday and stated, definitively, that the woman -- who sources say was once married to a convicted killer-for-hire -- had now filed a police report. Singer says he contacted Santa Monica PD late Tuesday night to confirm the report, but the investigations division was closed. He tells us IF he confirms Wednesday morning she did indeed go to police and accuse Stallone of rape -- Stallone WILL file a complaint requesting she be investigated for filing a false police report. (TMZ)
McKayla Maroney wants convicted molester Dr. Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics to pay for the hell they put her through ... according to a new lawsuit. The Olympic gymnast blames Michigan State University for hiring Nassar when they knew he was a child molester. According to the suit, she's also pissed USA Gymnastics forced her to sign a confidentiality and non-disparagement clause as part of her settlement with Team USA. She says they were silencing her, and she only agreed to sign it because she was in a desperate situation. McKayla says she needed the money in Dec. 2016 to pay for psychological treatment to recover from the trauma caused by Nassar. As we've reported ... McKayla says Nassar molested her with his un-gloved hand before competitions. He was convicted earlier this month of criminal sexual misconduct and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the child porn conviction. He is still awaiting sentencing for the assault convictions. At least 78 women filed a very similar lawsuit against Nassar, MSU and USA Gymnastics. (TMZ)
Heather North -- the long-running voice of Daphne Blake in the classic cartoon, "Scooby-Doo" -- has died. The actress passed away late last month. A report says she died at her home in Studio City following a long illness. Heather first voiced the famous character in the second season's premiere in 1970. She went on to voice Daphne all the way through 2003. Heather also had roles in "Days of Our Lives," The Barefoot Executive," "Mr. Novak," and "The Fugitive." She was married to H. Wesley Kenney, the Emmy-winning producer whom she met on "Days of Our Lives." Kenney died in 2015. A memorial service is set for Wednesday at 11:30 AM at First Christian Church in Studio City, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported Heather's death. She was 71. #RIP. (TMZ)
Reggie 'Combat Jack' Osse dead at 48. Hip-hop has lost one of its most important voices. Attorney-turned-podcast host Reggie "Combat Jack" Osse has died at age 48 from colon cancer, reports Hot 97. Osse was the host of the famous podcast "The Combat Jack Show" and had an array of influential guests from Russell Simmons to RZA and more. Members of the hip-hop and Hollywood communities have been tweeting their reactions and condolences. Hot 97 personality Peter Rosenberg shared, "Hip Hop has lost one of its most important historians and voices... we had serious ups and downs but I was so happy we had made things good... Rest In Peace to my friend Combat Jack... " Power 105.1 The Breakfast Club co-host Angela Yee expressed her condolences adding, "Lost for words right now. My prayers to the beautiful children and family @Combat_Jack leaves." Actress Naturi Naughton, who stars on "Power" and played in "Notorious," tweeted, "My heart is so heavy. We lost @Combat_Jack & he was truly one of the great ones! Thank you... " In October, Osse announced he was diagnosed with colon cancer, adding, "I got hit with some real life sh-t." He underwent surgery and chemo treatment and encouraged everyone to "take care of your health." Funeral arrangements have not be announced. (PageSix)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Prince Harry Gets a Promotion Ahead of His Wedding to Meghan Markle. Next year is already shaping up pretty well for Prince Harry! Not only has he set his May 19 wedding date with Meghan Markle, but he's also just received news of a big promotion. After 64 years, Prince Philip has stepped down from his role as the Captain General of the Royal Marines, handing the duties over to Harry with Queen Elizabeth II's approval. "The Queen has been pleased to give her formal approval to the appointment of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales as Captain General Royal Marines," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Philip was given the honorable role of Captain General in 1953 after King George VI's death. Meanwhile, Philip announced his retirement last May and carried out his final public engagement with the Royal Marines. On Aug. 2, he attended a parade at Buckingham Palace to mark the Royal Marines 1664 Global Challenge. It was the last of his 22,219 solo official engagements, carried out since 1952. We're certain Prince Harry will follow properly in suit! (Eonline)
Meghan Markle Joins Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton for Her First Christmas Lunch With Queen Elizabeth II. To grandmother's house we go! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended Queen Elizabeth II's annual pre-Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The royal was photographed driving his fiancee to the event. The bride-to-be wore a black and white dress by the British brand Self Portrait, as well as diamond earrings by the Canadian company Birks. Her future husband opted for a formal suit and tie. Prince William was also photographed driving his wife Kate Middleton to the luncheon. Their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte rode along in the back seat with their nanny. Still, these weren't the only royals to attend. The Duchess of Cornwall Camilla and Prince Charles also attended the event as did Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Princess and Prince Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra. They were joined by Katherine, Duchess of Kent and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. The Queen traditionally hosts the luncheon before departing for her private Sandringham estate, where she'll celebrate the holidays. While Harry is surely glad to spend the holidays with his bride, it isn't customary. Markle is the first royal fiancee to celebrate Christmas with the royal family. Royal admirers may recall how Kate only spent the holidays with William after they tied the knot in April 2011. However, the royal family surprised us all when it was revealed the former Suits star was the special guest at the Queen's staff Christmas party last week. Harry also attended the event held at Windsor Castle. In addition, a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed Markle will spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham. It's been a busy week for the couple. On Tuesday, Harry was promoted to Captain General Royal Marines -- taking over the role from Prince Philip. Markle was also dubbed Woman of the Year by Hello! magazine. The two are scheduled to tie the knot on May 19, 2018 at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Eonline)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Broadway? Rachel Bloom Is Actively "Pursuing It." If Rachel Bloom has her way, Broadway could get a whole lot crazier. The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator and star told Variety she has a Broadway musical written titled Broadway Crazy -- but that's not the only crazy idea: She's actively looking at bringing the story of Rebecca Bunch and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to stage. "We are actively looking into it and pursuing it," Bloom told Variety about bringing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to Broadway. This would be after the CW series wraps. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is in season three now and Bloom has been open about her desire to do four seasons of the show. "It's four at most. It's a series that lives in being finite," Bloom previously told E! News. "It's because [co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna] is a screenwriter. She was like, 'I just want to map out the whole series.' We spent months just marinating the characters and really mapping it out. Our ratings aren't amazing, so I don't think CW would be like, 'Please give us 10 seasons!' It works to our advantage in that sense." She echoed those sentiments to Variety as well and revealed details of her other musical. And then there's Broadway Crazy, which she describes as Thoroughly Modern Millie meets 42nd Street. "Basically, it's about a girl who escaped from a mental institution, this takes place in the '20s, to become a Broadway star," she said. But there are a lot of similarities between Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Broadway Crazy, specifically the main character's penchant for burning things down, so would she have to change Broadway Crazy or just acknowledge, "well this is going to be a lot of the same s -- t"? Movies have a long history of becoming musicals on stage, but TV shows are another story. Currently SpongeBob SquarePants is on Broadway and NBC has been working on bringing Smash's in-series musical Bombshell to Broadway since 2015. "There is a still a lot of love for Smash and a rabid fan base out there, and we're thrilled to be able to keep the dream alive as we work towards bringing Bombshell to theatre audiences," Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in a statement. "Smash was ambitious because every episode was a complicated musical for television and we also built the foundation of the musical-within-the-musical about Marilyn's endlessly fascinating and tumultuous life. Over the course of two seasons an entire Bombshell score was written to service Smash storylines, and now that show will have a chance to stand on its own." Would you see Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Broadway? Crazy Ex-Girlfriend airs Fridays, 8 p.m. on The CW. (Eonline)
Neil Patrick Harris does weddings. Neil Patrick Harris is available for weddings. We hear that at a party for the star's Modern Luxury cover, he was overheard joking to the mag's recently engaged VP James Aguiar and fiance Mark Haldeman, that "they should do a pop-up ceremony right there at the party and that he would officiate," says a spy. Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo "interjected that she was already getting her license to do the honors." Also at the bash at Mr. Chow were designer Todd Snyder and Alex Lundqvist. Magician Jonathan Bayme kept guests entertained. (TMZ)
Hugh Jackman is just crazy about his wife. The actor opened up about his 21-year marriage to wife Deborra-lee Furness during the latest edition of The Jess Cagle Interview (streaming now on People TV), saying one of the reasons he loves their relationship so much is because they formed their bond before the Wolverine star became famous. "One of the great pieces of fortune in my career, it started late, but that Deb and I were already set together, a team, madly in love, like literally before it all happened," Jackman tells PEOPLE's editor-in-chief Jess Cagle. "We can kind of see all the ups and downs for what they are. Our priority is our family, and we're there for each other no matter what." The Greatest Showman actor, 49, says he actively reminds himself that he wouldn't be where he is today without his wife. Calling Furness, 62, his "rock," Jackman says he always makes his wife a priority -- no matter what the occasion may be. "Even at the Oscars, I walk out, I put my hand on my heart and I always look to Deb in the audience," he says. "Straight afterwards, I will not see anybody in my dressing room until Deb's been in. Because that is my foundation, that is the rock, that is the foundation of our family, and therefore my life." The couple met on the set of the Australian drama Correlli in 1995 and have two kids together, Oscar, 17, and Ava, 12. Jackman says that while his career may hit highs and lows, he can always count on his wife and family to be there for him. "Underneath the surface where it's real, and where it's still and where it's deep, that is the love I have with Deb." The Greatest Showman opens Dec. 20. (People)
Jane Fonda was fêted at a "pre-celebration" for her upcoming 80th birthday, sources tell Page Six, at the chic Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, home of former White House decorator Michael S. Smith and his partner, former Ambassador to Spain and Andorra James Costos. In a toast to Fonda, whose birthday is Thursday, Smith declared, "80 is the new 20" to roaring applause from a crowd that included Sally Field, Brie Larson, Diane Keaton and Marcia Gay Harden. Other guests at the party with music by buzzy jazz singer Chris Norton and DJ Rashida included Chelsea Handler, Jon Hamm, Lauren Hutton, Lisa Kudrow, Maria Shriver, Michael Patrick King, Rashida Jones, Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen, Rosanna Arquette, Wanda Sykes, architect Frank Gehry and former pol Barbara Boxer. Smith and Costos' cocktail menu for the occasion included "Holiday Sidecars" made with Remy 1738, as well as ginger mint rickeys, cava from Barcelona, Spain, and 3 Kilos Gold vodka. Partygoers noshed on a feast of roast beef tenderloin, salmon and zucchini cakes, black truffle and Parmesan pasta, root vegetable gratin, balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate salad. (Page Six)
Phaedra Parks is having a good ole fashioned French provincial sale ... which has less to do with 18th Century Paree, than it does 21st Century ATL. "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star's unloading her 4-bedroom, 6 bath home which she bought in 2013 for $845k. Phaedra could be turning a nice profit since she's listed it for $1.195 million. That's the bargain price, too -- she initially put it on the market in July for $1.499 mil. The pad has a pool, nice yard and a sweet covered patio area for chilling through hot ATL summers. As for why Phaedra's bolting -- we're told she has another home in Atlanta. So, this beautiful spread was just her backup. Nice. (TMZ)
Could Chris Martin Be Walking Gwyneth Paltrow Down the Aisle at Her Next Wedding? We're on rumor patrol! Gwyneth Paltrow and boyfriend Brad Falchuk are reportedly engaged, and rumors have been swirling that she wants her ex-husband Chris Martin to walk her down the aisle. Sounds kind of insane but could it be true? Before you freak out, this rumor is definitely false. Gwyneth has made no public plans regarding her nuptials, and it seems no matter how conscious their uncoupling, they're definitely not that chummy. (Eonline)
The UFC is talking to Floyd Mayweather about a REAL fight in the octagon ... with Dana White saying it's a "realistic possibility." "We're talking to Floyd about doing a UFC deal," White told ESPN. "It's real. He was talking about [boxing] Conor McGregor. Was that real? Have you heard Floyd talk about many things that aren't real? He usually tips his hand when he's in the media and then that sh*t ends up happening." White added, "We're interested in doing something with Floyd. Everything is a realistic possibility. Mayweather vs. McGregor f*cking happened. Anything is possible." (TMZ)
Air Force Veteran Granted Dying Wish to See Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Star Wars superfan Ron Villemaire didn't need the power of The Force to fulfill his dying wish; just the kindness of strangers. The 69-year-old air force veteran and cancer patient, who is in hospice care in New Hampshire, wanted to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was released last week. His daughter, Elizabeth Natalie Louise Ngo, bought tickets for a showing but he was unable to attend due to pain. WMUR-TV reported. Ron, who has been a fan of Star Wars since the first movie was released in 1977, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer earlier this year and has undergone chemotherapy and radiation. So Elizabeth started promoting the hashtag #RonsLastJedi, tweeting at Disney, which owns the franchise, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. The campaign caught the attention of a couple of local fire departments and the family was also interviewed by WMUR-TV. On Saturday, Ron's wish was granted. It started with a bedside visit from a man dressed as Darth Vader, who told him, "Ron Villemaire. You have been summoned by the Emperor." First responders then transported him via ambulance to a theater, where members of Star Wars fan clubs and the 501st New England Garrison, a unit of the 501st Legion, greeted him sporting Star Wars costumes and props. He and his family were then treated to a private screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. "I hope God will bless each and every one of them just the way I feel blessed right now. He's definitely with me right now," Ron told WMUR-TV. "It's just unbelievable all these people are here, and thank God for Star Wars fans!" "This, I'll tell you right now, is my favorite movie so far," Ron told FrameofMindPhoto.com, adding that he gives Star Wars: The Last Jedi five out of five stars. "I loved it too although I must admit I was worried about his comfort so I missed a lot," Elizabeth tweeted. "It's ok I know I can see it down the road. I was just He was so happy. I couldn't stop looking at his reaction. He yelled at the screen a lot lol." "It was incredible. We are so blessed," she added. "We don't know how long we have, but we'll always have these memories." (Eonline)
'JEOPARDY!' HOST ALEX TREBEK Tells Contestant Her Job Must've Been Hard ... CUZ SHE'S A WOMAN. Answer -- These 3 words don't need to be said when asking a female "Jeopardy!" contestant to describe her military experience. What is "For a woman?" Correct! Unfortunately, Alex Trebek did NOT nail that one on Tuesday night's episode. While interviewing Lisa Beth Davis about being a retired Army Master Sergeant, he made what came off as pretty sexist commentary. To her credit, MSgt. Davis took it all in stride and handled it like a pro. Too bad she finished second -- would've loved to see Alex chat with her the second time around. (TMZ)
Music
Donald Fagen Discusses the Future of Steely Dan in First Interview Since Walter Becker's Death. Donald Fagen has given his first in-depth interview since the death of Steely Danco-founder Walter Becker back in September. On Rolling Stone's Music Now podcast, Fagen reveals that he had hoped to record another Steely Dan album, but Becker wasn't interested. "Walter had some health problems, and especially after 2011-12, I think just being ill for so long, he had a little bit of a personality change and he was much more isolated, and he kinda wasn't that interested in working on Steely Dan records anymore," Fagen says. "It also might have to do with the specter of doing an album that would be on the same standard that we did previously. Maybe that scared him a little bit, or maybe he didn't have the energy. I did ask him once in a while if he wanted to do something -- and he'd usually say, 'Yeah, sure,' but then he wouldn't call me or whatever, so it was obvious that he lost some of the enthusiasm." Since Becker's passing, Fagen has continued to tour with the rest of the live band under the name Steely Dan, but he doesn't necessarily want to keep doing that. "I would actually prefer to call it Donald Fagen and the Steely Dan Band or something like that," he says before explaining that promoters have insisted that he call it Steely Dan for commercial reasons. "That's an ongoing debate. To me, Steely Dan was just me and Walter, really -- it was like a concept we had together." (Billboard)
Khalid & Imagine Dragons Release Booming Medley Of 'Thunder/Young Dumb & Broke'. "American Teen" singer Khalid has teamed up with alt-rock maverick band Imagine Dragons for a mash-up of their respective smashes "Thunder" and "Young Dumb & Broke." The song was released digitally on Tuesday (Dec. 19) after the two acts recently performed the medley at the American Music Awards in November. The track begins bare, with booming kick drums, a crisp snare, rattling hi-hats and Khalid's warm vocals. But less than a minute in it swiftly transitions into the familiar boombing strains of "Thunder," with Imagine Dragons lead vocalist Dan Reynolds taking the driver's seat, leading the song into a chorus which intermixes both tunes seamlessly. The monster mash-up caps a strong musical year for both Khalid and Imagine Dragons, with both nominated for Grammys. "Thunder" remains at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, after having spent 33 weeks charting; the single peaked at No. 4. Khalid's "Young Dumb & Broke" peaked at No. 22 on the Hot 100, spending 22 weeks on the charts. Imagine Dragons have established a reputation for performing unexpected medleys, having also previously recorded and performed a mash-up of "M.A.A.D. City" and "Radioactive" with Kendrick Lamar at the 2014 Grammy awards show. (Billboard)
Katy Perry Teases Marie Antoinette-Style 'Hey Hey Hey' Video. "Katy-Claus is coming down ur chimney," the singer promises. Christmas is coming early for Katy Kats. Katy Perry began teasing the video for the fourth single from her Witness album on Tuesday (Dec. 19), with a series of Marie Antoinette-themed stills that suggest fans will get an elaborate "Hey Hey Hey" video on Wednesday (Dec. 20). An eagle-eyed Kat spotted Perry on the set of the clip last month and now we have proof courtesy of the singer in a series of pics in which she's in full towering wig, hoop skirt and beauty mark regalia. One of the sneak looks has Perry wearing one of her eyeball-themed Witness stage outfits while surrounded by courtiers with the promise "TOMORROW." At press time the posts had collectively racked up nearly two million views. The posts also include a brief preview of the video -- time-stamped Nov. 4-5 -- in which we see Perry goofing on set in a short black bob wig and some behind the scenes looks at the filming of the clip. "Katy-claus is coming down ur chimney tomorrow with a visual gift ok," she wrote. (Billboard)
Jani Lane's estate is screwing Jani Lane's ex-managers out of the dough they earned by selling off his catalog for a shockingly high price ... according to the lawsuit they just filed. The late Warrant frontman's managers -- Just Having Fun Productions -- filed the suit, claiming Jani's estate has yet to pay them some heft commissions. According to the suit, the managers engineered a deal to sell a chunk of Jani's music to a publishing company. The deal was worth $3.75 million, and in the suit the managers say they're entitled to 15% of that amount ... which is $562k. However, they say they offered the estate a discount ... a mere 12.5% ... but still haven't gotten paid. Jani died in 2011 from alcohol poisoning. Just Having Fun is suing for fraud and breach of contract, and they're no longer offering that discount. They want the full $562k. By the way ... gotta give 'em props for getting nearly $4 mil for the catalog. How many times can ya play "Heaven" and "Cherry Pie?" (TMZ)
Movies
Star Wars 'Last Jedi' Toy Shipments Down Sharply From 'Force Awakens'. Retailers are trying to gain a sense of "what the steady state" of product for the franchise is, an analyst says. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a hit, but The Force may not be as strong for Disney when it comes to merchandise sales this year. Panjiva, a data company that tracks the giant shipping containers that arrive at U.S. ports, says 6,587 of them with Star Wars gear were shipped in the seven months leading up to The Last Jedi, but that's down 47?percent from the seven months leading to Rogue One in 2016 and off 56 percent from the same time period ahead of The Force Awakens in 2015. Once the containers land in the U.S., these products go to Walmart, Amazon.com and every other retailer. Panjiva research analyst Chris Rogers says that part of the problem is the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed by Toys R Us, which not only has the giant retailer ordering less product but has spooked the industry. Also, retailers are trying to gain a sense of "what the steady state" of Star Wars product is, as 2015's The Force Awakens was the first, and therefore a curiosity, after a 10-year hiatus since Revenge of the Sith. Consumer Products and Interactive Media is Disney's smallest segment, but it can little afford another disappointment after reporting operating income of $373 million, a 12 percent decline, in the most recent quarter because of weak sales of Cars 3 toys. Nearly 80 percent of this year's Star Wars haul hails from China. The containers are about half the size of a big semitruck, and each one can hold about 6,000 Stormtrooper action figures, which happen to be among the biggest products this year. Adds Rogers, "Hasbro ships Stormtroopers by the container-full." Other product, according to the bills of lading, include: "Star Wars Space Punch" (a drink); "Star Wars Handbags" from Loungefly; "Star Wars Chewbacca Pillows" (mostly headed for Kohls); and, for Disney theme parks, "Star Wars Glow Ears." And, of course, there are lots of Legos, including the $800 Millennium Falcon. Legos, in fact, might be the only Star Wars-related toy that ships as much this year as in previous ones, as Panjiva's data doesn't include Lego shipments driven in from Mexico, which is increasingly common for that particular product. Sometimes, says Rogers, it takes a little investigative work to glean exactly what's inside the shipping containers. For example, the Sphero BB8 electronic toy that has been popular since the droid was introduced in The Force Awakens is labeled: "Robotic Ball." While sales of the merchandise may not stack up compared to the past few Christmases, the movie will do its traditional massive business. Eric Wold of B. Riley FBR estimates The Last Jedi will generate domestic box office of $785 million, off a respectable 16 percent from the $937 million generated by The Force Awakens two years ago. "Merchandise is falling back, but it doesn't mean Disney won't make a killing," says Rogers. (Hollywood Reporter)
'Bright' Screenwriter Max Landis: No, My Dad Didn't Give Me My Big Break. The hot screenwriter gets candid about his "complicated" relationship with director father John Landis and how his upbringing helped him get ahead (it's less than haters think). A lot of people I know whose parents are powerful and famous go out of their way to present themselves as an underdog. I feel bad presenting myself as a wounded underdog because I'm never going to seem that way to someone who's at film school in Wisconsin. But my story is a little bit complicated because I had a poor relationship with my parents. I had emotional problems and significant learning disabilities -- something called dysgraphia, where I cannot write with my hand. It's like written dyslexia. When I try to write with my hand it comes out in these garbled hieroglyphics that are incredibly hard to read. The letters stack on top of each other. I also have a lot of emotional problems. I had a lot of anxiety as a kid and it was very stressful for my parents. They are big personalities, and they weren't ready for this nut job to fly into their lives. They worked very hard with the school systems to try to make an environment where I could succeed. Even with all their work, I failed. I was horribly depressed. And I ended up at a special education school in Connecticut, and my parents were very much the enemy in my mind. I always loved writing. By the time I was 20, I had written about 24 scripts -- not good scripts, but a lot of them -- and that led to me reconnecting with my dad. His career had mostly slowed down, and he was not really in a position to feed me the world, but at the same time, there is never a day that I don't feel tremendously lucky. What is always interesting to me is how many people who were raised in the industry with way more powerful parents than I had, like Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams, and it's not brought up because their parents weren't famous. My first "break" came from an agent, David Kopple, who read a script of mine called Hometown Hero. He didn't say, "I'm your agent now." He said, "You should meet with some management companies," which someone who sent a blind submission could have done. But I am not blind to my privileges, not just being from a Hollywood family but also being an upper-class white guy in Los Angeles -- and the name didn't hurt. Yet for all the people who have famous parents and are out there trying, it's incredible how many are out there and not trying, who will say they are a director, writer or an actor but never direct anything or write or act in anything. Their Instagrams get huge because they're on yachts in Italy all summer, and I'm in an office in Canada at 2 a.m. trying to figure out shooting schedules. If your father is a carpenter, and he's a well-known carpenter and you become a carpenter, nobody's like, "Look at this asshole. He got his father's tools." If your mother runs a restaurant and you take over, no one's shitting on you, because that's what families do. But in entertainment, it really does often feel like there's only so many slots, so you feel like that guy is taking a slot that maybe he didn't earn. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
The Voice Season 13 Crowns a Winner: Chloe Kohanski. Congratulations are in order! The Voice has crowned its newest winner, Chloe Kohanski! The 23-year-old rocker from Nashville was on Team Blake, meaning that not only is Blake Shelton People's reigning Sexiest Man Alive, but he's also the reigning Voice champ. Apparently, that man can do anything. Kohanski impressed throughout the season, and particularly killed it during a duet with Billy Idol during Tuesday night's finale, which also included performances from Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato Sia, Charlie Puth, N.E.R.D., and Chris Blue, as well as collabs with Bastille, Vince Gill, Jessie J, Norah Jones and Bebe Rexha. Our own poll after Tuesday night's show predicted that Chloe would reign supreme, and it also predicted that Red would come in fourth place, Brooke would come in third, and Addison would come in second, which is exactly what ended up happening. Clearly, Chloe was meant to win this thing. The Voice will return to NBC in February with Clarkson as a coach. (Eonline)
David Letterman's return to the talk show world has been shrouded in mystery, but this video reveals a huge puzzle piece -- youngest ever Nobel Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai. Malala was spotted leaving a taping of Dave's Netflix show in NYC Monday night. She says it went great, and best we can tell -- she's guest #2 of 6. Rumor is Barack Obama was Dave's first guest a month ago. Dave's not confirming that, or much at all, about his new gig. It's unclear who the next 4 guests will be, but we did see 2 other famous possibilities. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt were spotted leaving the studio, but they could've just been guests in the audience. Again, Letterman ain't saying much. Malala's gotta be great though. Pretty sure it's Dave's first time sitting down with a 17-year-old Nobel winner who fought for girls' rights to education, and survived the Taliban. (TMZ)
'Vikings' Creator Launches TV Banner, Strikes MGM Deal for 'Ronin' Adaptation. Michael Hirst has set up Green Pavilion Entertainment alongside longtime producing partners Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn. Michael Hirst, the BAFTA-nominated showrunner and creator of both Vikings and The Tudors, has launched his own independent production company alongside his longtime producing partners Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn. Green Pavilion Entertainment will develop and produce high-end dramas for international and domestic markets and is set to work with established writers and directors, alongside emerging talent. In addition to the announcement, made Wednesday, the company revealed that it has struck an exclusive first-look deal with MGM Television. As part of the multiyear deal, Green Pavilion is developing Ronin, a television series inspired by the 1988 spy thriller starring Robert De Niro and Jean Reno. Hirst, O'Sullivan and Flynn previously collaborated with MGM TV on the hit History Channel show Vikings, which was recently renewed for a sixth season. To bolster Green Pavilion's team, Sharon Remmer has been named creative director. Remmer was previously head of drama in charge of development and production at Frank Spotnitz's Big Light Productions, with her recent credits including The Man in the High Castle and Medici: Masters of Florence. "Green Pavilion has been a long time in the making," said Hirst. "Everyone involved in this new venture has experience developing and making premium content which appeals to international audiences. Having MGM Television as an ally in this venture will help us to build on our strengths and draw the best writers, directors and creative talent in the industry to our projects." Added Mark Burnett, MGM's president, television group and digital, and Steve Stark, MGM's president, television production and development: "Michael Hirst, Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn have brilliantly shepherded Vikings for the past five years and, during that time, we have witnessed first-hand the quality of artists and talent that this team have expertly assembled to produce premium content on a massive scale. We look forward to continue working with their whole team at Green Pavilion." (Hollywood Reporter)
Eva Longoria Is Pregnant! Actress Expecting First Child With Husband Jose Bastón. There's about to be a new addition to the Longoria household! Eva Longoria and husband Jose Bastón are expecting a baby boy, her rep confirms to E! News. This will be the couple's first child together. Longoria has been open about wanting to have children of her own -- she has also praised being a stepmother to her husband's three children from a previous marriage -- in past interviews. "If it happens, it happens, if it's meant to be it would be a blessing," she told Ocean Drive magazine last year. And even earlier than that, the 42-year-old explained how neither she nor her hubby feel as though they've been missing out on certain aspects of parenthood simply because they hadn't had a child of their own. "[My stepchildren] have been such a gift in my life," she told People. "I don't feel like we're lacking because we don't have a baby." But now it seems that the husband and wife have been blessed (four times over!) by the news that Longoria is expecting her first bundle of joy in the coming months. After her whirlwind wedding in May 2016, E! News caught up with the star to get some inside details on her special day. "[Our wedding] was so magical. We had so much fun as you can see from all the posts from everybody," she told us at the premiere of her new movie Lowriders. "It was the funniest wedding I had ever been to. I'm glad it was mine." Congratulations to Longoria and Bastón on their pregnancy news which is bound to be just as (if not more) magical! HOLA! was first to break the news. (Eonline)
New parents Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova are going all Donald Trump to make their Miami mansion a fortress of privacy for their twins. We broke the story ... Anna gave birth to the twins, a boy and a girl, and while she was secretly pregnant, the couple started building a huge 16-foot-tall wall around their Miami home. Construction started in late summer, deep into Anna's 2nd trimester. According to city building permits, they're also adding a 2-story single family residence to their property -- along with baby-proofing measures, like a "child barrier for pools." The wall makes sense. Privacy is totally Enrique and Anna's M.O. -- since they clearly went through a whole pregnancy without anyone ever knowing. The docs say the home makeover will cost $600k when it's all said and done. (TMZ)
Lala Kent isn't keeping her married man a secret anymore. In exclusive photos and video obtained by Page Six, the "Vanderpump Rules" star, 27, can be seen kissing Hollywood producer Randall Emmett at a FabFitFun event at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills on Dec. 7. "They were side by side the whole time, but they weren't doing the PDA snuggly thing," an insider told Page Six of the pair. "They didn't leave each other's side." Emmett, 46, is the executive producer of "Power." He is married to actress Ambyr Childers, who starred in "Ray Donovan." The couple has two children. "He was definitely being more cautious than her," the insider said. "They weren't being shy about [their relationship]. Even when they left, they were together but he was still two feet in front of her. She was hugging people and taking photos when she was leaving." (Page Six)
Janet Jackson Is 'Back Together' With Jermaine Dupri. As Janet Jackson wrapped the United States leg of her State of the World tour on December 17, she was also rejoicing in new beginnings. During the show's after party in Atlanta, the five-time Grammy winner was joined by a surprise guest: Jermaine Dupri. A source tells Us Weekly exclusively: "They were cuddled up and holding hands." Eight years after Jackson, 51, and the music producer, 45, ended their seven-year romance, they're picking up right where they left off. As the insider tells Us, "They are 100 percent back together and in love." Jackson's escapade started after her tumultuous April split from husband Wissam Al Mana, father to her 11-month-old son, Eissa. When the singer was with Al Mana, she and Dupri "had zero communication -- she would not talk to him," notes the insider. So when she ended their marriage, "Jermaine reached out," says the source. "They are getting to know each other all over again." Dupri recently raved exclusively to Us Weekly about his ex's tour. "I haven't seen [it]. But I have seen a couple clips from the show," the rapper said at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The 90s Game Changers event in Hollywood in September. "The tour looks good." Following their 2009 split, Jackson gushed over her former love. "Jermaine is one of my best friends," she told Atlanta's The Bert Show at the time. "I love him to death. We're still connected. We're still good friends. We still talk." "We're there for one another," she continued. "I think it will remain that way for the rest of my life." (US Weekly)
How Battling Cancer Changed Val Kilmer's Perspective on Fame. Val Kilmer is opening up about his two-year fight against throat cancer and how it's changed his outlook on life. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 57-year-old actor admitted he was "too serious" about having an A-list career. "I'd get upset when things like Oscars and recognition failed to come my way," he told the magazine. However, his perspective changed when he received his cancer diagnosis. Shortly after, his daughter Mercedes, 26, was involved in a car accident, leaving her in the hospital with her father. "I was just, you know, miserable, distraught, sitting next to these two," Kilmer's 22-year-old son Jack told THR. Rumors of Kilmer's health problems started spreading in 2015. The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star denied having a tumor in January 2015. His rep had previously told E! News the actor was "undergoing tests" for a "possible tumor" at a Los Angeles hospital. Kilmer emerged from the hospital two weeks later after experiencing an undisclosed "complication." He then denied having a tumor a second time in October of that year. "There's a rumor I'm unwell again and in hospital which is totally untrue," part of his Facebook post at the time read. "I was in to verify I have no tumor or infection of any kind which was verified by the very caring experts at UCLA." Michael Douglas also fueled the rumors when he reportedly suggested Kilmer had cancer in 2016. Kilmer responded to the comments on Facebook and called his co-star from The Ghost and the Darkness "misinformed." But in April, Kilmer said he "did have a healing cancer" and that his "tongue is still swollen altho healing all the time." According to THR, Kilmer has undergone chemotherapy to fight the cancer. And while the Top Gun actor's perspective on fame has changed, he still has strong ambitions. "I would like to have more Oscars than anybody," he said. "Meryl Streep must feel pretty good, you know? It must feel nice to know that everyone loves her. It's about being loved." To read the full interview, check out The Hollywood Reporter's Dec. 18 "Hollywood Legacies" issue. (Eonline)
Jessica Chastain is standing by former E! News host Catt Sadler, who told PEOPLE exclusively on Tuesday she had left the network after learning that her male co-host Jason Kennedy earned "double" her salary and had been "for several years." "It's almost insulting because you know you work really hard," Sadler, 43, said of the decision to leave her job of nearly 12 years. "I'm a single mom of two kids [sons Arion Boyd, 12, and Austin Boyd, 16]. I've given my all to this network. I've sacrificed time away from my family and I have dedicated my entire career to this network. And when you learn something like that, it makes you feel very small and underappreciated and undervalued. It's heartbreaking." Learning of the story on Twitter, where Sadler had linked to an entry on her personal website TheCattwalk.com about her exit, Chastain stood firmly on Sadler's side. "WOW this is so disappointing," the two-time Oscar nominee wrote. "When are companies like @e_entertainment going to understand that women should be paid fairly. 1/2 of her male counterpart is not appropriate." It's not the first time Chastain has used her voice to fight for the cause. She had long been an advocate for equality of women in the workplace, even banding together with Hollywood hotshots Queen Latifah, Frieda Pinto, Juliette Binoche, Ziyi Zhang and Twilight director Catherine Hardwick to form a non-profit production company dedicated to women empowerment called We Do It Together. "There's no excuse," Chastain told Variety in October 2016. "There's no reason why [an actress] should be doing a film with other actors and get paid less than her male costars. It's completely unfair. It's not right. It's been happening for years and years and years. I think it's brave to talk about it. I think everyone should talk about it." "I'm working hard to break free of stereotypes that the film industry has created and nurtured around women," she told Town & Country in their December/January issue. "If I'm in a situation where I have equal experience to the actor and my role is just as significant, there is no reason why I should be paid less. It's not really part of my world anymore, because I just won't accept it." Sadler began working at E! News in 2006, the same year as Kennedy, and has gone on to serve as a red carpet correspondent and anchor shows like the two-hour live daytime talk show, The Daily Pop. She told PEOPLE Tuesday she had attempted to negotiate a higher salary with E! News after learning that network executives wanted to extend her deal. Although Sadler was hopeful that she would be able to extend her contract, "not only did [E!] refuse to pay me as much as my male counterpart, but they didn't come close -- nowhere close, not even remotely close." In a statement to PEOPLE, an E! spokesperson said on behalf of the network and Kennedy, "E! compensates employees fairly and appropriately based on their roles, regardless of gender. We appreciate Catt Sadler's many contributions at E! News and wish her all the best following her decision to leave the network." While the decision to part ways from the place she has called home for more than a decade was a difficult one, Sadler is focused on "this obligation that I now have, which very much informed my decision that I too have to be an agent of change." "If I stay and do the easy thing, I don't serve myself and I don't serve every other female in the world. It's like I now feel inspired and empowered by these women before me who refused to be silent," she said, referencing Jennifer Lawrence, Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou. "And I now join them in what I believe to be a very important movement towards creating change." (People)
Country star Michael Ray's definitely NOT singing "I'm Lovin' It" ... after a minor collision at McDonald's got him busted for DUI and drugs. The Eustis PD was called to McDonald's just after 3 AM Wednesday in Florida after Michael's 2012 Jeep hit the car in front of him while waiting in a drive-thru line. According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops say Michael told them his foot slipped off the pedal. Cops say Michael had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, reeked of alcohol and he stumbled when he got out of the car. Cops say he told them he was coming from a bar. They conducted a series of sobriety tests, which cops say Michael bombed. He was arrested for DUI and felony possession of weed oil, which cops say they found while searching him. Michael's expected to be released from jail soon. We've reached out to Michael's reps, so far no word back. (TMZ)
Sylvester Stallone is ready to demand police investigate a woman who, he's been told, filed a report claiming he raped her 27 years ago ... TMZ has learned. Stallone's attorney, Marty Singer, tells us he believes the woman recently filed a false police report with Santa Monica PD. Singer says this all started more than a month ago when a media outlet, not TMZ, informed him the woman was alleging Stallone raped her in 1990 in his Santa Monica office. Stallone denies the allegation. He admits he had spent 3 days with her during a 1987 movie shoot in Israel. He was single, she was not a minor and he says there was never a rape. He also denies he saw her at all in 1990. Sources with direct knowledge tell us the media outlet that contacted Singer refused to publish the woman's story due to a lack of corroborating evidence, and because, at that time, she had not filed a police report -- not in 1990, and not at any time since then. We're told the woman finally did file a police report with Santa Monica PD in mid-November. However, the media outlet still did not publish. Our sources say it appears she filed the report in an effort to get the story out to the public, but failed. However, Singer says a different reporter called him Tuesday and stated, definitively, that the woman -- who sources say was once married to a convicted killer-for-hire -- had now filed a police report. Singer says he contacted Santa Monica PD late Tuesday night to confirm the report, but the investigations division was closed. He tells us IF he confirms Wednesday morning she did indeed go to police and accuse Stallone of rape -- Stallone WILL file a complaint requesting she be investigated for filing a false police report. (TMZ)
McKayla Maroney wants convicted molester Dr. Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics to pay for the hell they put her through ... according to a new lawsuit. The Olympic gymnast blames Michigan State University for hiring Nassar when they knew he was a child molester. According to the suit, she's also pissed USA Gymnastics forced her to sign a confidentiality and non-disparagement clause as part of her settlement with Team USA. She says they were silencing her, and she only agreed to sign it because she was in a desperate situation. McKayla says she needed the money in Dec. 2016 to pay for psychological treatment to recover from the trauma caused by Nassar. As we've reported ... McKayla says Nassar molested her with his un-gloved hand before competitions. He was convicted earlier this month of criminal sexual misconduct and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the child porn conviction. He is still awaiting sentencing for the assault convictions. At least 78 women filed a very similar lawsuit against Nassar, MSU and USA Gymnastics. (TMZ)
Heather North -- the long-running voice of Daphne Blake in the classic cartoon, "Scooby-Doo" -- has died. The actress passed away late last month. A report says she died at her home in Studio City following a long illness. Heather first voiced the famous character in the second season's premiere in 1970. She went on to voice Daphne all the way through 2003. Heather also had roles in "Days of Our Lives," The Barefoot Executive," "Mr. Novak," and "The Fugitive." She was married to H. Wesley Kenney, the Emmy-winning producer whom she met on "Days of Our Lives." Kenney died in 2015. A memorial service is set for Wednesday at 11:30 AM at First Christian Church in Studio City, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported Heather's death. She was 71. #RIP. (TMZ)
Reggie 'Combat Jack' Osse dead at 48. Hip-hop has lost one of its most important voices. Attorney-turned-podcast host Reggie "Combat Jack" Osse has died at age 48 from colon cancer, reports Hot 97. Osse was the host of the famous podcast "The Combat Jack Show" and had an array of influential guests from Russell Simmons to RZA and more. Members of the hip-hop and Hollywood communities have been tweeting their reactions and condolences. Hot 97 personality Peter Rosenberg shared, "Hip Hop has lost one of its most important historians and voices... we had serious ups and downs but I was so happy we had made things good... Rest In Peace to my friend Combat Jack... " Power 105.1 The Breakfast Club co-host Angela Yee expressed her condolences adding, "Lost for words right now. My prayers to the beautiful children and family @Combat_Jack leaves." Actress Naturi Naughton, who stars on "Power" and played in "Notorious," tweeted, "My heart is so heavy. We lost @Combat_Jack & he was truly one of the great ones! Thank you... " In October, Osse announced he was diagnosed with colon cancer, adding, "I got hit with some real life sh-t." He underwent surgery and chemo treatment and encouraged everyone to "take care of your health." Funeral arrangements have not be announced. (PageSix)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Prince Harry Gets a Promotion Ahead of His Wedding to Meghan Markle. Next year is already shaping up pretty well for Prince Harry! Not only has he set his May 19 wedding date with Meghan Markle, but he's also just received news of a big promotion. After 64 years, Prince Philip has stepped down from his role as the Captain General of the Royal Marines, handing the duties over to Harry with Queen Elizabeth II's approval. "The Queen has been pleased to give her formal approval to the appointment of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales as Captain General Royal Marines," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Philip was given the honorable role of Captain General in 1953 after King George VI's death. Meanwhile, Philip announced his retirement last May and carried out his final public engagement with the Royal Marines. On Aug. 2, he attended a parade at Buckingham Palace to mark the Royal Marines 1664 Global Challenge. It was the last of his 22,219 solo official engagements, carried out since 1952. We're certain Prince Harry will follow properly in suit! (Eonline)
Meghan Markle Joins Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton for Her First Christmas Lunch With Queen Elizabeth II. To grandmother's house we go! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended Queen Elizabeth II's annual pre-Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The royal was photographed driving his fiancee to the event. The bride-to-be wore a black and white dress by the British brand Self Portrait, as well as diamond earrings by the Canadian company Birks. Her future husband opted for a formal suit and tie. Prince William was also photographed driving his wife Kate Middleton to the luncheon. Their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte rode along in the back seat with their nanny. Still, these weren't the only royals to attend. The Duchess of Cornwall Camilla and Prince Charles also attended the event as did Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Princess and Prince Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra. They were joined by Katherine, Duchess of Kent and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. The Queen traditionally hosts the luncheon before departing for her private Sandringham estate, where she'll celebrate the holidays. While Harry is surely glad to spend the holidays with his bride, it isn't customary. Markle is the first royal fiancee to celebrate Christmas with the royal family. Royal admirers may recall how Kate only spent the holidays with William after they tied the knot in April 2011. However, the royal family surprised us all when it was revealed the former Suits star was the special guest at the Queen's staff Christmas party last week. Harry also attended the event held at Windsor Castle. In addition, a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed Markle will spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham. It's been a busy week for the couple. On Tuesday, Harry was promoted to Captain General Royal Marines -- taking over the role from Prince Philip. Markle was also dubbed Woman of the Year by Hello! magazine. The two are scheduled to tie the knot on May 19, 2018 at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Eonline)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Broadway? Rachel Bloom Is Actively "Pursuing It." If Rachel Bloom has her way, Broadway could get a whole lot crazier. The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator and star told Variety she has a Broadway musical written titled Broadway Crazy -- but that's not the only crazy idea: She's actively looking at bringing the story of Rebecca Bunch and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to stage. "We are actively looking into it and pursuing it," Bloom told Variety about bringing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to Broadway. This would be after the CW series wraps. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is in season three now and Bloom has been open about her desire to do four seasons of the show. "It's four at most. It's a series that lives in being finite," Bloom previously told E! News. "It's because [co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna] is a screenwriter. She was like, 'I just want to map out the whole series.' We spent months just marinating the characters and really mapping it out. Our ratings aren't amazing, so I don't think CW would be like, 'Please give us 10 seasons!' It works to our advantage in that sense." She echoed those sentiments to Variety as well and revealed details of her other musical. And then there's Broadway Crazy, which she describes as Thoroughly Modern Millie meets 42nd Street. "Basically, it's about a girl who escaped from a mental institution, this takes place in the '20s, to become a Broadway star," she said. But there are a lot of similarities between Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Broadway Crazy, specifically the main character's penchant for burning things down, so would she have to change Broadway Crazy or just acknowledge, "well this is going to be a lot of the same s -- t"? Movies have a long history of becoming musicals on stage, but TV shows are another story. Currently SpongeBob SquarePants is on Broadway and NBC has been working on bringing Smash's in-series musical Bombshell to Broadway since 2015. "There is a still a lot of love for Smash and a rabid fan base out there, and we're thrilled to be able to keep the dream alive as we work towards bringing Bombshell to theatre audiences," Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in a statement. "Smash was ambitious because every episode was a complicated musical for television and we also built the foundation of the musical-within-the-musical about Marilyn's endlessly fascinating and tumultuous life. Over the course of two seasons an entire Bombshell score was written to service Smash storylines, and now that show will have a chance to stand on its own." Would you see Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Broadway? Crazy Ex-Girlfriend airs Fridays, 8 p.m. on The CW. (Eonline)
Neil Patrick Harris does weddings. Neil Patrick Harris is available for weddings. We hear that at a party for the star's Modern Luxury cover, he was overheard joking to the mag's recently engaged VP James Aguiar and fiance Mark Haldeman, that "they should do a pop-up ceremony right there at the party and that he would officiate," says a spy. Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo "interjected that she was already getting her license to do the honors." Also at the bash at Mr. Chow were designer Todd Snyder and Alex Lundqvist. Magician Jonathan Bayme kept guests entertained. (TMZ)
Hugh Jackman is just crazy about his wife. The actor opened up about his 21-year marriage to wife Deborra-lee Furness during the latest edition of The Jess Cagle Interview (streaming now on People TV), saying one of the reasons he loves their relationship so much is because they formed their bond before the Wolverine star became famous. "One of the great pieces of fortune in my career, it started late, but that Deb and I were already set together, a team, madly in love, like literally before it all happened," Jackman tells PEOPLE's editor-in-chief Jess Cagle. "We can kind of see all the ups and downs for what they are. Our priority is our family, and we're there for each other no matter what." The Greatest Showman actor, 49, says he actively reminds himself that he wouldn't be where he is today without his wife. Calling Furness, 62, his "rock," Jackman says he always makes his wife a priority -- no matter what the occasion may be. "Even at the Oscars, I walk out, I put my hand on my heart and I always look to Deb in the audience," he says. "Straight afterwards, I will not see anybody in my dressing room until Deb's been in. Because that is my foundation, that is the rock, that is the foundation of our family, and therefore my life." The couple met on the set of the Australian drama Correlli in 1995 and have two kids together, Oscar, 17, and Ava, 12. Jackman says that while his career may hit highs and lows, he can always count on his wife and family to be there for him. "Underneath the surface where it's real, and where it's still and where it's deep, that is the love I have with Deb." The Greatest Showman opens Dec. 20. (People)
Jane Fonda was fêted at a "pre-celebration" for her upcoming 80th birthday, sources tell Page Six, at the chic Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, home of former White House decorator Michael S. Smith and his partner, former Ambassador to Spain and Andorra James Costos. In a toast to Fonda, whose birthday is Thursday, Smith declared, "80 is the new 20" to roaring applause from a crowd that included Sally Field, Brie Larson, Diane Keaton and Marcia Gay Harden. Other guests at the party with music by buzzy jazz singer Chris Norton and DJ Rashida included Chelsea Handler, Jon Hamm, Lauren Hutton, Lisa Kudrow, Maria Shriver, Michael Patrick King, Rashida Jones, Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen, Rosanna Arquette, Wanda Sykes, architect Frank Gehry and former pol Barbara Boxer. Smith and Costos' cocktail menu for the occasion included "Holiday Sidecars" made with Remy 1738, as well as ginger mint rickeys, cava from Barcelona, Spain, and 3 Kilos Gold vodka. Partygoers noshed on a feast of roast beef tenderloin, salmon and zucchini cakes, black truffle and Parmesan pasta, root vegetable gratin, balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate salad. (Page Six)
Phaedra Parks is having a good ole fashioned French provincial sale ... which has less to do with 18th Century Paree, than it does 21st Century ATL. "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star's unloading her 4-bedroom, 6 bath home which she bought in 2013 for $845k. Phaedra could be turning a nice profit since she's listed it for $1.195 million. That's the bargain price, too -- she initially put it on the market in July for $1.499 mil. The pad has a pool, nice yard and a sweet covered patio area for chilling through hot ATL summers. As for why Phaedra's bolting -- we're told she has another home in Atlanta. So, this beautiful spread was just her backup. Nice. (TMZ)
Could Chris Martin Be Walking Gwyneth Paltrow Down the Aisle at Her Next Wedding? We're on rumor patrol! Gwyneth Paltrow and boyfriend Brad Falchuk are reportedly engaged, and rumors have been swirling that she wants her ex-husband Chris Martin to walk her down the aisle. Sounds kind of insane but could it be true? Before you freak out, this rumor is definitely false. Gwyneth has made no public plans regarding her nuptials, and it seems no matter how conscious their uncoupling, they're definitely not that chummy. (Eonline)
The UFC is talking to Floyd Mayweather about a REAL fight in the octagon ... with Dana White saying it's a "realistic possibility." "We're talking to Floyd about doing a UFC deal," White told ESPN. "It's real. He was talking about [boxing] Conor McGregor. Was that real? Have you heard Floyd talk about many things that aren't real? He usually tips his hand when he's in the media and then that sh*t ends up happening." White added, "We're interested in doing something with Floyd. Everything is a realistic possibility. Mayweather vs. McGregor f*cking happened. Anything is possible." (TMZ)
Air Force Veteran Granted Dying Wish to See Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Star Wars superfan Ron Villemaire didn't need the power of The Force to fulfill his dying wish; just the kindness of strangers. The 69-year-old air force veteran and cancer patient, who is in hospice care in New Hampshire, wanted to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was released last week. His daughter, Elizabeth Natalie Louise Ngo, bought tickets for a showing but he was unable to attend due to pain. WMUR-TV reported. Ron, who has been a fan of Star Wars since the first movie was released in 1977, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer earlier this year and has undergone chemotherapy and radiation. So Elizabeth started promoting the hashtag #RonsLastJedi, tweeting at Disney, which owns the franchise, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. The campaign caught the attention of a couple of local fire departments and the family was also interviewed by WMUR-TV. On Saturday, Ron's wish was granted. It started with a bedside visit from a man dressed as Darth Vader, who told him, "Ron Villemaire. You have been summoned by the Emperor." First responders then transported him via ambulance to a theater, where members of Star Wars fan clubs and the 501st New England Garrison, a unit of the 501st Legion, greeted him sporting Star Wars costumes and props. He and his family were then treated to a private screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. "I hope God will bless each and every one of them just the way I feel blessed right now. He's definitely with me right now," Ron told WMUR-TV. "It's just unbelievable all these people are here, and thank God for Star Wars fans!" "This, I'll tell you right now, is my favorite movie so far," Ron told FrameofMindPhoto.com, adding that he gives Star Wars: The Last Jedi five out of five stars. "I loved it too although I must admit I was worried about his comfort so I missed a lot," Elizabeth tweeted. "It's ok I know I can see it down the road. I was just He was so happy. I couldn't stop looking at his reaction. He yelled at the screen a lot lol." "It was incredible. We are so blessed," she added. "We don't know how long we have, but we'll always have these memories." (Eonline)
'JEOPARDY!' HOST ALEX TREBEK Tells Contestant Her Job Must've Been Hard ... CUZ SHE'S A WOMAN. Answer -- These 3 words don't need to be said when asking a female "Jeopardy!" contestant to describe her military experience. What is "For a woman?" Correct! Unfortunately, Alex Trebek did NOT nail that one on Tuesday night's episode. While interviewing Lisa Beth Davis about being a retired Army Master Sergeant, he made what came off as pretty sexist commentary. To her credit, MSgt. Davis took it all in stride and handled it like a pro. Too bad she finished second -- would've loved to see Alex chat with her the second time around. (TMZ)
Music
Donald Fagen Discusses the Future of Steely Dan in First Interview Since Walter Becker's Death. Donald Fagen has given his first in-depth interview since the death of Steely Danco-founder Walter Becker back in September. On Rolling Stone's Music Now podcast, Fagen reveals that he had hoped to record another Steely Dan album, but Becker wasn't interested. "Walter had some health problems, and especially after 2011-12, I think just being ill for so long, he had a little bit of a personality change and he was much more isolated, and he kinda wasn't that interested in working on Steely Dan records anymore," Fagen says. "It also might have to do with the specter of doing an album that would be on the same standard that we did previously. Maybe that scared him a little bit, or maybe he didn't have the energy. I did ask him once in a while if he wanted to do something -- and he'd usually say, 'Yeah, sure,' but then he wouldn't call me or whatever, so it was obvious that he lost some of the enthusiasm." Since Becker's passing, Fagen has continued to tour with the rest of the live band under the name Steely Dan, but he doesn't necessarily want to keep doing that. "I would actually prefer to call it Donald Fagen and the Steely Dan Band or something like that," he says before explaining that promoters have insisted that he call it Steely Dan for commercial reasons. "That's an ongoing debate. To me, Steely Dan was just me and Walter, really -- it was like a concept we had together." (Billboard)
Khalid & Imagine Dragons Release Booming Medley Of 'Thunder/Young Dumb & Broke'. "American Teen" singer Khalid has teamed up with alt-rock maverick band Imagine Dragons for a mash-up of their respective smashes "Thunder" and "Young Dumb & Broke." The song was released digitally on Tuesday (Dec. 19) after the two acts recently performed the medley at the American Music Awards in November. The track begins bare, with booming kick drums, a crisp snare, rattling hi-hats and Khalid's warm vocals. But less than a minute in it swiftly transitions into the familiar boombing strains of "Thunder," with Imagine Dragons lead vocalist Dan Reynolds taking the driver's seat, leading the song into a chorus which intermixes both tunes seamlessly. The monster mash-up caps a strong musical year for both Khalid and Imagine Dragons, with both nominated for Grammys. "Thunder" remains at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, after having spent 33 weeks charting; the single peaked at No. 4. Khalid's "Young Dumb & Broke" peaked at No. 22 on the Hot 100, spending 22 weeks on the charts. Imagine Dragons have established a reputation for performing unexpected medleys, having also previously recorded and performed a mash-up of "M.A.A.D. City" and "Radioactive" with Kendrick Lamar at the 2014 Grammy awards show. (Billboard)
Katy Perry Teases Marie Antoinette-Style 'Hey Hey Hey' Video. "Katy-Claus is coming down ur chimney," the singer promises. Christmas is coming early for Katy Kats. Katy Perry began teasing the video for the fourth single from her Witness album on Tuesday (Dec. 19), with a series of Marie Antoinette-themed stills that suggest fans will get an elaborate "Hey Hey Hey" video on Wednesday (Dec. 20). An eagle-eyed Kat spotted Perry on the set of the clip last month and now we have proof courtesy of the singer in a series of pics in which she's in full towering wig, hoop skirt and beauty mark regalia. One of the sneak looks has Perry wearing one of her eyeball-themed Witness stage outfits while surrounded by courtiers with the promise "TOMORROW." At press time the posts had collectively racked up nearly two million views. The posts also include a brief preview of the video -- time-stamped Nov. 4-5 -- in which we see Perry goofing on set in a short black bob wig and some behind the scenes looks at the filming of the clip. "Katy-claus is coming down ur chimney tomorrow with a visual gift ok," she wrote. (Billboard)
Jani Lane's estate is screwing Jani Lane's ex-managers out of the dough they earned by selling off his catalog for a shockingly high price ... according to the lawsuit they just filed. The late Warrant frontman's managers -- Just Having Fun Productions -- filed the suit, claiming Jani's estate has yet to pay them some heft commissions. According to the suit, the managers engineered a deal to sell a chunk of Jani's music to a publishing company. The deal was worth $3.75 million, and in the suit the managers say they're entitled to 15% of that amount ... which is $562k. However, they say they offered the estate a discount ... a mere 12.5% ... but still haven't gotten paid. Jani died in 2011 from alcohol poisoning. Just Having Fun is suing for fraud and breach of contract, and they're no longer offering that discount. They want the full $562k. By the way ... gotta give 'em props for getting nearly $4 mil for the catalog. How many times can ya play "Heaven" and "Cherry Pie?" (TMZ)
Movies
Star Wars 'Last Jedi' Toy Shipments Down Sharply From 'Force Awakens'. Retailers are trying to gain a sense of "what the steady state" of product for the franchise is, an analyst says. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a hit, but The Force may not be as strong for Disney when it comes to merchandise sales this year. Panjiva, a data company that tracks the giant shipping containers that arrive at U.S. ports, says 6,587 of them with Star Wars gear were shipped in the seven months leading up to The Last Jedi, but that's down 47?percent from the seven months leading to Rogue One in 2016 and off 56 percent from the same time period ahead of The Force Awakens in 2015. Once the containers land in the U.S., these products go to Walmart, Amazon.com and every other retailer. Panjiva research analyst Chris Rogers says that part of the problem is the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed by Toys R Us, which not only has the giant retailer ordering less product but has spooked the industry. Also, retailers are trying to gain a sense of "what the steady state" of Star Wars product is, as 2015's The Force Awakens was the first, and therefore a curiosity, after a 10-year hiatus since Revenge of the Sith. Consumer Products and Interactive Media is Disney's smallest segment, but it can little afford another disappointment after reporting operating income of $373 million, a 12 percent decline, in the most recent quarter because of weak sales of Cars 3 toys. Nearly 80 percent of this year's Star Wars haul hails from China. The containers are about half the size of a big semitruck, and each one can hold about 6,000 Stormtrooper action figures, which happen to be among the biggest products this year. Adds Rogers, "Hasbro ships Stormtroopers by the container-full." Other product, according to the bills of lading, include: "Star Wars Space Punch" (a drink); "Star Wars Handbags" from Loungefly; "Star Wars Chewbacca Pillows" (mostly headed for Kohls); and, for Disney theme parks, "Star Wars Glow Ears." And, of course, there are lots of Legos, including the $800 Millennium Falcon. Legos, in fact, might be the only Star Wars-related toy that ships as much this year as in previous ones, as Panjiva's data doesn't include Lego shipments driven in from Mexico, which is increasingly common for that particular product. Sometimes, says Rogers, it takes a little investigative work to glean exactly what's inside the shipping containers. For example, the Sphero BB8 electronic toy that has been popular since the droid was introduced in The Force Awakens is labeled: "Robotic Ball." While sales of the merchandise may not stack up compared to the past few Christmases, the movie will do its traditional massive business. Eric Wold of B. Riley FBR estimates The Last Jedi will generate domestic box office of $785 million, off a respectable 16 percent from the $937 million generated by The Force Awakens two years ago. "Merchandise is falling back, but it doesn't mean Disney won't make a killing," says Rogers. (Hollywood Reporter)
'Bright' Screenwriter Max Landis: No, My Dad Didn't Give Me My Big Break. The hot screenwriter gets candid about his "complicated" relationship with director father John Landis and how his upbringing helped him get ahead (it's less than haters think). A lot of people I know whose parents are powerful and famous go out of their way to present themselves as an underdog. I feel bad presenting myself as a wounded underdog because I'm never going to seem that way to someone who's at film school in Wisconsin. But my story is a little bit complicated because I had a poor relationship with my parents. I had emotional problems and significant learning disabilities -- something called dysgraphia, where I cannot write with my hand. It's like written dyslexia. When I try to write with my hand it comes out in these garbled hieroglyphics that are incredibly hard to read. The letters stack on top of each other. I also have a lot of emotional problems. I had a lot of anxiety as a kid and it was very stressful for my parents. They are big personalities, and they weren't ready for this nut job to fly into their lives. They worked very hard with the school systems to try to make an environment where I could succeed. Even with all their work, I failed. I was horribly depressed. And I ended up at a special education school in Connecticut, and my parents were very much the enemy in my mind. I always loved writing. By the time I was 20, I had written about 24 scripts -- not good scripts, but a lot of them -- and that led to me reconnecting with my dad. His career had mostly slowed down, and he was not really in a position to feed me the world, but at the same time, there is never a day that I don't feel tremendously lucky. What is always interesting to me is how many people who were raised in the industry with way more powerful parents than I had, like Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams, and it's not brought up because their parents weren't famous. My first "break" came from an agent, David Kopple, who read a script of mine called Hometown Hero. He didn't say, "I'm your agent now." He said, "You should meet with some management companies," which someone who sent a blind submission could have done. But I am not blind to my privileges, not just being from a Hollywood family but also being an upper-class white guy in Los Angeles -- and the name didn't hurt. Yet for all the people who have famous parents and are out there trying, it's incredible how many are out there and not trying, who will say they are a director, writer or an actor but never direct anything or write or act in anything. Their Instagrams get huge because they're on yachts in Italy all summer, and I'm in an office in Canada at 2 a.m. trying to figure out shooting schedules. If your father is a carpenter, and he's a well-known carpenter and you become a carpenter, nobody's like, "Look at this asshole. He got his father's tools." If your mother runs a restaurant and you take over, no one's shitting on you, because that's what families do. But in entertainment, it really does often feel like there's only so many slots, so you feel like that guy is taking a slot that maybe he didn't earn. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
The Voice Season 13 Crowns a Winner: Chloe Kohanski. Congratulations are in order! The Voice has crowned its newest winner, Chloe Kohanski! The 23-year-old rocker from Nashville was on Team Blake, meaning that not only is Blake Shelton People's reigning Sexiest Man Alive, but he's also the reigning Voice champ. Apparently, that man can do anything. Kohanski impressed throughout the season, and particularly killed it during a duet with Billy Idol during Tuesday night's finale, which also included performances from Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato Sia, Charlie Puth, N.E.R.D., and Chris Blue, as well as collabs with Bastille, Vince Gill, Jessie J, Norah Jones and Bebe Rexha. Our own poll after Tuesday night's show predicted that Chloe would reign supreme, and it also predicted that Red would come in fourth place, Brooke would come in third, and Addison would come in second, which is exactly what ended up happening. Clearly, Chloe was meant to win this thing. The Voice will return to NBC in February with Clarkson as a coach. (Eonline)
David Letterman's return to the talk show world has been shrouded in mystery, but this video reveals a huge puzzle piece -- youngest ever Nobel Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai. Malala was spotted leaving a taping of Dave's Netflix show in NYC Monday night. She says it went great, and best we can tell -- she's guest #2 of 6. Rumor is Barack Obama was Dave's first guest a month ago. Dave's not confirming that, or much at all, about his new gig. It's unclear who the next 4 guests will be, but we did see 2 other famous possibilities. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt were spotted leaving the studio, but they could've just been guests in the audience. Again, Letterman ain't saying much. Malala's gotta be great though. Pretty sure it's Dave's first time sitting down with a 17-year-old Nobel winner who fought for girls' rights to education, and survived the Taliban. (TMZ)
'Vikings' Creator Launches TV Banner, Strikes MGM Deal for 'Ronin' Adaptation. Michael Hirst has set up Green Pavilion Entertainment alongside longtime producing partners Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn. Michael Hirst, the BAFTA-nominated showrunner and creator of both Vikings and The Tudors, has launched his own independent production company alongside his longtime producing partners Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn. Green Pavilion Entertainment will develop and produce high-end dramas for international and domestic markets and is set to work with established writers and directors, alongside emerging talent. In addition to the announcement, made Wednesday, the company revealed that it has struck an exclusive first-look deal with MGM Television. As part of the multiyear deal, Green Pavilion is developing Ronin, a television series inspired by the 1988 spy thriller starring Robert De Niro and Jean Reno. Hirst, O'Sullivan and Flynn previously collaborated with MGM TV on the hit History Channel show Vikings, which was recently renewed for a sixth season. To bolster Green Pavilion's team, Sharon Remmer has been named creative director. Remmer was previously head of drama in charge of development and production at Frank Spotnitz's Big Light Productions, with her recent credits including The Man in the High Castle and Medici: Masters of Florence. "Green Pavilion has been a long time in the making," said Hirst. "Everyone involved in this new venture has experience developing and making premium content which appeals to international audiences. Having MGM Television as an ally in this venture will help us to build on our strengths and draw the best writers, directors and creative talent in the industry to our projects." Added Mark Burnett, MGM's president, television group and digital, and Steve Stark, MGM's president, television production and development: "Michael Hirst, Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn have brilliantly shepherded Vikings for the past five years and, during that time, we have witnessed first-hand the quality of artists and talent that this team have expertly assembled to produce premium content on a massive scale. We look forward to continue working with their whole team at Green Pavilion." (Hollywood Reporter)
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