ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Jessica Alba Gives Birth! Actress and Cash Warren Welcome Baby No. 3. It's officially a party of five in Jessica Alba's household. The actress and The Honest Company co-founder has welcomed her third child with husband and Pair of Thieves founder Cash Warren. "Hayes Alba Warren 12/31/17 Best gift to ring in the New Year!!" Alba wrote on Instagram, revealing the child's name. "Cash and I feel so blessed. Haven and Honor are already obsessed with their new baby bro. #familyof5" Jessica and Cash are already proud parents to daughters Honor and Haven who have been more than excited to welcome a baby brother into their family. "It was always in the cards for them to have a third child," a source previously shared with E! News. "It was definitely part of the plan and they just wanted to wait a few years for the right time." Back in July, fans first learned that Jessica was expanding her family. In an Instagram post, the actress posed with her daughters for a boomerang while holding a giant No. 3 balloon. Most recently, the businesswoman received a special baby shower from her closest friends including Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims at Laduree in Beverly Hills. "Thank u @pierreantoineny -- Of course to @kellysawyer & @cathyalba for Hosting and to all my homegirls n boys who came to shower #babyboywarren," she wrote on Instagram after enjoying afternoon tea. "I felt so loved and I love u all to pieces." With a new baby in the house, both mom and dad will have their hands full like never before. Ultimately, these famous parents are ready for any and all experiences to come. "She is very healthy and her daughters are so excited to have a boy come into the family. They keep calling the baby the 'Christmas miracle,'" our source shared. "Jessica has been working her entire pregnancy and will still play a role when the baby is born. Her company means a lot to her, but she is thankful that she has a great team to help her." Congratulations to the couple on their newest arrival. (Eonline)

Rob Dyrdek Welcomes Baby Girl With Wife Bryiana. And another baby makes four! Rob Dyrdek and his wife Bryiana Dyrdek have welcomed a baby girl named Nala Ryan Dyrdek. "She is an angel from heaven. She is absolute perfection. She is our princess. She is Nala Ryan Dyrdek," Rob wrote on Instagram Friday evening. "So thankful for the strength of my amazing wife and grateful for our growing family." Bryiana added, "My heart has never been fuller than it is right now. @robdyrdek thank you for being the most amazing and supportive husband and the best daddy in the whole world! Kodah, your sissy is so lucky to have you as her big brother and I am so, so proud of you! Nala Ryan Dyrdek, welcome to our family. You are loved beyond measure and there will never be a moment in your life that goes by where you aren't reminded of that." This is the couple's second child, the Amazingness star and his wife welcomed a baby boy named Kodah Dash Dyrdek in Sept. 2016. Back in June, the couple learned they were having a baby girl during a reveal party. Rob and Bryiana shared a video with their followers on Instagram of the moment they popped the balloon, which was filled with pink confetti. "Twinkle, twinkle little star... we spent so much time wondering what you are," Bryiana captioned her post. "Now that we know Kodah will be a big brother to a little sister, we are over the moon and can't wait to meet you! You are the perfect addition to our family, sweet girl, and we love you so, so much! I can't believe this is real." Rob shared a similar post with the caption, "It's a girl!!! We decided to wait and let it be a surprise and as you can tell by our reaction we were very surprised! We are so blessed and thankful. We can't wait to welcome our little princess into our family." Rob and Bryiana tied the knot in Sept. 2015, one year before welcoming baby Kodah. In celebration of their second anniversary, Rob shared a photo from their wedding day on Instagram this past September. "I wake up everyday and give thanks that I have you by my side. Our forever started two years ago today and so did my understanding of true happiness. I love you so much @bryianadyrdek_ Happy Anniversary," he captioned the picture. Congratulations to the couple and their growing family! (Eonline)

America Ferrera Is Pregnant With Her First Child. And baby makes tres... America Ferrara took to her Instagram on New Year's Eve to make a very special announcement -- that she's pregnant with her first child. While donning colorful 2018 glasses, the former Ugly Betty actress and her husband Ryan Piers Williams posted a sweet kissy-faced pic on her Instagram with the caption, "We're welcoming one more face to kiss in 2018! Wishing you #MsBesos in the New Year! #babybesos #HappyNewYear." America tied the knot with her longtime beau back in June 2011. The duo, who first met as students at the University of Southern California, became husband and wife in an intimate Monday ceremony. Close friends and family were in attendance. (Eonline)

Jana Kramer and Husband Mike Caussin Renewed Wedding Vows. Jana Kramer has revealed that she and husband Mike Caussin renewed their vows earlier this month. The 34-year-old One Tree Hill star and country singer made her comments in an Instagram post on Sunday, New Year's Eve. She shared a message in which she reflected on her life over the past year. It included a reconciliation with her husband and a heartbreaking event; she had said earlier this month that she had suffered a miscarriage. She and Caussin, 30, first wed in 2015 and share a 1-year-old daughter. In her post, Kramer revealed that she and her husband renewed their vows on December 2 -- a week before she revealed her miscarriage. Kramer posted several photos from their vow renewal ceremony, which took place on a beach in Hawaii, as well as a pic of them with their daughter, Jolie, and their dog. "2017........you broke my heart, you broke me down, you made me question everything, but damn did you make me strong," she wrote. "You taught me patience, you taught me family was everything. You made me believe not only in myself but the power of forgiveness. You turned me into the women I always wanted to be." "I have NO clue what 2018 has in store for me but I've never been more ready to live day by day and enjoy each day as it comes at me," she wrote. "Here's to always believing in love and fighting for it.... (Pics from Hawaii Dec 2nd...vow renewal) . . . 2018, I'm ready for you!" Days before and after the vow renewal ceremony, Kramer had shared photos of her and Caussin walking on the beach in Hawaii. In August 2016, it was revealed that Kramer and Caussin separated after a year of marriage and it was later reported he had been unfaithful to her. He later underwent treatment for sex addiction at a rehabilitation facility. Kramer and Caussin were later seen together again. This past September, Kramer said on Bachelor alum Olivia Caridi's podcast, Mouthing Off that she and Caussin were "actively working" things out. "Trust is a hard thing when it's broke to get back," she said. "We're in so much therapy it's not even funny. But it's good, though. I've learned so much about myself in the process. And again, either way we'll come out healthier because of it." Caussin told People in October, "I acknowledge that certain actions and behaviors have caused issues in my marriage and I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused Jana. I have and will continue to take the steps needed to change who I am as a person in order to be a better husband and father." In November, Kramer posted sweet photos of her with her husband and daughter, including pics from a trip to Disneyland. "A family worth fighting for..." she wrote. (Eonline)

Chicago P.D.'s Jason Beghe Files for Divorce After 17 Years of Marriage. Chicago P.D. actor Jason Beghe is calling it quits on his 17-year marriage to wife and actress Angie Janu. The 57-year-old star, who plays Hank Voight on the series, filed divorce papers on Thursday and seeks joint legal and physical custody of the pair's two sons, Bix, 14, and Bo, 11. Beghe's wife, whose full name is Angeline Dawn Beghe, has not commented. Beghe states in the filing, obtained by E! News, that he and his wife wed in February 2000 and separated more than a year ago, in May 2016. He cites irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. In his filing, Beghe also offers to pay his wife spousal support, while requesting to keep an inherited Oklahoma property, inherited mineral rights from properties there and in Texas and proceeds from the sale of another property in Washington D.C. He also asks the court to determine the rights to the family's Malibu home and other community assets and debts. The actor also wants to share the costs of attorney fees with his wife. (Eonline)

"Remember the Titans" star Craig Kirkwood -- who played 'Rev' in the Disney flick -- is about to be solo, cuz his wife just filed for divorce. Craig married Katie Kirkwood in 2005 -- in court docs, obtained by TMZ, Katie says the couple split in November. They have a 3-year-old daughter together ... Katie's asking for physical custody and joint legal custody. She's also asking Craig to pay spousal support. In the docs, Katie alleges the two went to marriage counseling ... but their relationship took a turn for the worse. She claims during a counseling session, Craig touted he was smarter than her. She also says that while she was sick with the chickenpox and sitting near their young daughter -- who was vaccinated -- Craig became irate, asking her if she was "f***ing stupid" after she assured him their daughter would be fine. Katie details another incident when Craig allegedly "lost it" after their daughter hit their TV with a bouncy ball. She says Craig told their daughter she was going to be in "serious trouble" as he held up two knives in the kitchen, rubbing them together. Katie says Craig stopped after he saw how alarmed she was. Kirkwood hit it big with RTT in 2000, but didn't work much as an actor after the film ... he got a couple roles on "JAG." He now works as an attorney in Los Angeles ... and Katie is a manager at Costco. Craig tells us the two came to a mutual agreement to separate ... he wouldn't comment on Katie's additional allegations. (TMZ)

Serena Williams Returns to Tennis With Exhibition Loss 4 Months After Giving Birth. Serena Williams is back on the court after taking most of the year off following the birth of her first child, but her comeback was marred by a loss. On Saturday, four months after she and husband Alexis Ohanian welcomed daughter Alexis Olympia, Serena played an exhibition match against defending French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. She dropped the first set 6-2, rebounded to win the second set 6-3 and then fell behind 5-0 while losing the match tiebreaker 10-5, according to ESPN. "I'm excited. It's good to be back on the court," Williams said after the match, the outlet reported. "This was such a good time for me...First matches back are always super-incredibly hard, especially after having a baby. It was great. I was glad I could do it here." This marked Serena's first competitive game since she won her record 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open in January -- when she was nine weeks pregnant. Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told reporters earlier this month that Williams was "very likely" to return to play at the annual event, which begins on January 15, to defend her Grand Slam title. Serena's husband joined her and cheered her on in Abu Dhabi. "Mama is back in the office," he wrote on Instagram on Saturday. A day earlier, the 36-year-old tennis champion, the world's highest paid female athlete, posted on her Instagram page photos from her pregnancy, including a picture of her at the 2017 Australian Open. "This year has been amazing for me. As it comes to its end I want to share 10 personal moments," she wrote. "1. The day I found out I was pregnant. I had to pretend I everything was normal but I was dying inside. After all I had a grand slam to play. 2. Melbourne 7 weeks pregnant 3. Wow I won the Australian Open. I was 9 weeks by than. No one knew outside of [my sister] Venus Williams and my fiance Alexis." She also included pics of her playing tennis when she was over seven weeks pregnant, a photo of herself when she was 24 weeks pregnant, a pic of her a day before she checked into the hospital to give birth, images from her bridal shower, and Vanity Fair's cover of her posing nude while pregnant. Serena's rep had said in April that the tennis star would take maternity leave and take time off from tennis until 2018. Serena's husband, co-founder of Reddit, had also taken paternity leave to bond with their child. (Eonline)

Kendall Jenner Denies She's Pregnant Too After Photo Sparks Speculation. Calm down, Kendall Jenner is not joining the Keeping Up With the Kardashians baby boom. On Friday, the 22-year-old model and reality star posted on Instagram a mirror selfie showing her wearing a tight white and black polka dot dress that made it look like she might be sporting a baby bump, prompting many people to ask if she was pregnant. "I just like bagels ok!!!" she responded on Twitter on Saturday night. Her sister Khloe Kardashian, 33, recently confirmed she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Tristan Thompson, while multiple reports said in September that sister Kylie Jenner is also pregnant with her and Travis Scott's first child. Meanwhile, sister Kim Kardashian, 37, and husband Kanye West are expecting their third child via surrogate, who is set to give birth next month. (Eonline)

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend go after Pizzagate accuser. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend aren't taking accusations they're involved in a child-sex trafficking ring lightly. On Saturday, Teigen and Legend took aim at alleged journalist Liz Crokin, who rounded up pictures of the couple's 1-year-old daughter Luna dressed in several costumes, and suggested the child is part of the Pizzagate conspiracy. The conspiracy claims high-powered elected officials, such as the Clintons, are part of a child-sex ring through a Washington, D.C. pizza restaurant. In one of the shared photos Teigen, 32, used a pizza emoji. "Apparently dressing my daughter as 'Alice in Wonderland' and a hot dog and having a pizza emoji on Snapchat has to do with pizzagate and being uhhh darksided," Teigen wrote. "Holy sh-t. That thread is wild. Enjoy." "Yeah yeah it's 'just Twitter' but I'm pretty sure this *sick* person is saying we are darksided pizzagate pedophiles who traffic our daughter," the supermodel added. "Ummmmm this is really scary sh-t." Crokin shot back, "What's not OK is trafficking kids as sex slaves which is rampant in Hollywood. Why don't you use your platform to educate people?" Teigen and Legend then decided to get back up. "Anyone know any good lawyers," Teigen tweeted after Crokin claimed the couple socializes in circles with people who "rape, torture & trafficking kids." "You need to take my family's name out of your mouth before you get sued," Legend, 39, chimed in. The couple's public battle with Crokin, who has since lost her Twitter verification, even caught the eye of Chelsea Clinton, who voiced her support. "Chrissy, sending you & beautiful Luna a huge hug," Clinton tweeted. "It is awful & never ok when people threaten or demean any child. I've lost count of the Twitter accounts who've threatened Charlotte with #FGM (female genitalia mutilation). While I never bother to report threats against me, I now report everyone against her." She added in a separate tweet to the fashionista, "It is never silly to worry about your kids. Always here to support you and your family in any way. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this." (PageSix)

Nick Cassavetes has won a major victory -- he has his child back after claiming his baby mama stole their child from him ... TMZ has learned. Nick appeared in an Oklahoma courtroom Friday to square off with Heather Wahlquist over 12-year-old Barbie. Wahlquist was asking the judge for an emergency order to allow her to keep Barbie in her custody, despite the fact that it's a California case. The Oklahoma judge rejected her request. Nick has claimed Heather and her mother essentially stole Barbie and went on the run, despite the fact that the California custody order gave him physical custody effective December 18. Barbie went back into chambers with the judge for about a half hour, and after their talk the judge told Nick he was the one who had current lawful custody, so they left the courtroom together. The famed "Notebook" director tells TMZ Barbie is back in L.A. with him. Heather had claimed Nick neglected Barbie while he had custody and she returned recently with a bacterial infection. She made other claims as well but the Oklahoma judge rejected them. The fight isn't over. They're back in a California family law court January 18. (TMZ)

Backlash continues for Lewis Hamilton after shaming nephew. Formula One champion-turned-toddler fashion critic Lewis Hamilton's "Princessgate" scandal is showing no sign of slowing down. Hamilton was slammed on social media for shaming his young nephew for not following gender norms. He posted a video of the sweet, smiling young boy in the dress on Snapchat, and was heard yelling, "Boys don't wear princess dresses!" After coming under fire, Hamilton (later seen in a meme dressed almost identically to Princess Diana) deleted the video and apologized. Now the British Fashion Council is being urged to drop the fractious F-1 driver from its committee for Men's Fashion Week. Influential fashion criticism Instagram account Diet Prada slammed Hamilton, writing, "We are so sad right now. Thanks for the twitter apologies, but no thanks. We hope you took the time to apologize to your sweet little nephew instead to tell him that what you said is very wrong and that he should be able to dress however he wants. Your words won't harm the majority of us, but they can be really damaging to such a young kid. @britishfashioncouncil, as of now he's still on your current committee list for London Collections: Men. Do you think there could be a better representative for a fashion capital known for being so forward thinking?" (PageSix)

Tamar Braxton says the triggers that led her estranged husband Vincent Herbert to a jail cell on Christmas day were alcohol and a case of jealousy. Tamar tells TMZ, "Co-parenting while going through a divorce is not an easy task. While celebrating the Christmas holiday as a family, after a few drinks and some jealousy, things got a bit out of hand, which is common for most families during the holidays. In the midst of everything our family is going through things got heated and a bit exaggerated." Tamar makes it clear ... "There was no physical interaction between Vince and I on Christmas. While I do not appreciate his lack of respect for our family and him allegedly impregnating another woman, I cannot paint him as a vicious abuser that Vince is not." TMZ broke the story ... Herbert was arrested for spousal assault and taken to jail, where he bailed out after posting $20k. Tamar says, "I'm deeply hurt and saddened that this will be how we remember Christmas 2017, but, my motto is and maintains to be 'Bluebird of Happiness' and nobody will stop my joy and blessings going into the New Year! God Bless!" Tamar went ham a few hours ago on the woman claiming Herbert got her pregnant ... calling her a "whore." TMZ broke the story ... Tamar filed for divorce in October. (TMZ)

TMZ Sports has obtained the 911 call Tim Donaghy made while trying to bring his daughter home in Manatee County, Florida ... featuring 2 full minutes of hammer-wielding chaos. The ex-NBA ref tells the dispatcher he's on a mission to save his daughter ... who he claims is being held against her will at a house with marijuana and is "stoned out of her mind." Donaghy describes the scene as hostile, saying the parents at the house are screaming and yelling at him. He warns ... "There's about to be a major altercation." That's when Tim reveals he's got a hammer on him and is ready to throw down ... or as he puts it, "If anyone comes near me, I will crack him right in his f*cking head." Donaghy tells the 911 operator it's too dark to describe the people involved, but is adamant he needs help quickly ... before things go south. We broke the story ... Donaghy -- who went to prison for trying to fix games he officiated -- was arrested for threatening a man with the hammer, but insists the tool was for protection and he was just trying to be a good dad and save his daughter. (TMZ)

Mystery writer Sue Grafton dies at 77. Sue Grafton, the New York Times best-selling author behind the Alphabet Series, died Thursday night after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 77. Grafton's daughter, Jamie, announced the news on the writer's official Facebook page. "She was surrounded by family, including her devoted and adoring husband Steve," Jamie wrote in a message addressed to Grafton's readers. "Although we knew this was coming, it was unexpected and fast. She had been fine up until just a few days ago, and then things moved quickly. Sue always said that she would continue writing as long as she had the juice." The Alphabet Series, about private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional town of Santa Teresa, California, kicked off in 1982 with A is for Alibi. "I was reading an Edward Gorey cartoon book, and it went 'A is for Amy, who fell down the stairs, B is for Basil, assaulted by bears, C is for Clara' ... and I thought, God bless America, what a great way to link titles!" Grafton told The New York Post. "So I wrote as many crime-related titles [alphabetically] as I could think of to see if there were enough for 26 books. Again, not having finished the first. I was completely free to do anything I wanted and had nothing at stake. When that sold, I thought, 'Uh-oh. Now I'm in trouble!'" Set in the 1980s, the series included subsequent titles like B is for Burglar, H is for Homicide, M is for Malice, and T is for Trespass. Natalie Hevener Kaufman and Carol McGinnis Kay also penned a companion book called G Is for Grafton: The World of Kinsey Millhone. Grafton's last entry, Y is for Yesterday, was released this year with Z is for Zero meant as the final installment for release in 2019. Her husband, Steve Humphrey, told the Associated Press "nothing's been written" for the Z book. As he explained, Grafton struggled for an idea while undergoing treatment for a rare cancer of the appendix. "There is no Z," he said. "Many of you are asking (some quite plaintively) what I intend to do when I get to 'the end' of the alphabet," Grafton wrote in a letter published on her website. "I've been consistent in my response which is 'no clue.' I want to see what kind of shape I'm in mentally and physically. I don't want to keep on writing if the juice is gone. These novels about Ms. Millhone take incredible focus, ingenuity, energy, and imagination. If I have the wherewithal, I may write a Kinsey Millhone standalone or two. If I feel I've lost my touch, I'll retire with grace." As far as Grafton's family is concerned, "the alphabet now ends at Y." "Many of you also know that she was adamant that her books would never be turned into movies or TV shows, and in that same vein, she would never allow a ghost writer to write in her name," Jamie wrote. "Because of all of those things, and out of the deep abiding love and respect for our dear sweet Sue, as far as we in the family are concerned, the alphabet now ends at Y." (Entertainment Weekly)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Ringo Starr and Barry Gibb Receive Knighthoods in Queen's New Year's Honors. Music legend Ringo Starr is the latest music star to be knighted in the New Year's Honors. E! News can confirm The Beatles member is being recognized for his services to music and charity. "It's great!" Ringo said in a statement after learning about his award. "It's an honor and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love. Peace and love. Ringo." With the honor, Ringo will officially become Sir Richard Starkey. He's also the second member of The Beatles to receive the award. Paul McCartney received the honor nearly 20 years ago. Ringo isn't the only performer to receive a special honor from Queen Elizabeth II. Bee Gees member Barry Gibb will also become a knight in the honors lists. Other familiar faces to receive honors include House star Hugh Laurie who becomes a Commander of the British Empire. According to BBC, there are 1,123 people named on the main honors list issued by the Cabinet Office. 70 percent of the recipients are recognized for work in their communities in a voluntary or paid capacity. Officials said future lists would see honors for "inspirational action" by people following the Grenfell Tower fire and the terror attacks in London and Manchester. Anyone can nominate someone for an honor on the gov.uk website. (Eonline)

Sarah Michelle Gellar's Daughter Has a Very Special Ice Skating Teacher -- Michelle Kwan. Michelle Kwan skated her way into our hearts at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, earning a silver medal. Now almost 20 years later, the decorated Olympian is helping out some ice skating newbies learn the sport. But the ice princess isn't helping out just any rink ballerinas, she's teaching the oh-so-excited daughter of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Taking to the East West Ice Palace in Artesia, Calif., with a pal Elsa Marie Collins and 8-year-old daughter Charlotte Grace, the former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star posted a series of videos and photos on her Instagram. After the day of chilly fun, the hands-on mom wrote, "EPIC DAY!!! When your daughters want to learn to ice skate (I mean really learn) who is better (or more qualified) than the most decorated American skater in history - @michellewkwan." Charlotte got some major ice skating lessons from the skating superstar and SMG also showed off her impressive moves on the ice. The actress continued, "Thank you Michelle for a day, none of us will forget (no seriously my sore body won't let me) She even taught the adults a few tricks!!!" Looks like the kiddos weren't the only ones who got something from the lesson. Earlier in the week, the 40-year-old took her 5-year-old son Rocky Prinze for a manicure. Rocky opted for a glittering black polish. The star took to Instagram to document the whole adorable outing, sharing an image of their nails and writing, "We match." Charlotte got her fingertips done in blue. Looks like a holiday week of family fun for the Gellar/Prinzes! (Eonline)

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Threw Shade at Andy Cohen on New Year's Eve Broadcast. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban weren't afraid to clap back at Andy Cohen during CNN's New Year's Eve live broadcast. While interviewing the couple with his co-host Anderson Cooper, Cohen host asked them about Kidman's famous clapping at the 2017 Oscars and whether they expected it to become a popular meme. "I mean, it's called a logical clap when you don't want to slam your hands together with rings," Urban replied, "but what do you want to do?" The Oscar-winning actress then added, "I wish that there was more important things to be concerned about or that people were focused on more important things than that sort of clapping. That's what I would say." Unfortunately, things became more awkward when Urban -- who was calling in from Nashville with Kidman -- lost his earpiece and couldn't hear the interviewers. While the interview ended on an amicable note with everyone wishing each other a happy New Year, Cohen realized the Big Little Lies star just gave him a little jab. "That was amazing. That was so cool that Nicole Kidman joined in," Cohen said. "I think she just shaded me a little bit." "Well yeah, she did. Yes," Cooper agreed. "I guess she's not coming on my show," the Watch What Happens Live host concluded. Cooper seemed to understand Kidman's viewpoint. In a tweet, he described her comments as "some well-deserved shade." The CNN anchor then mentioned that Cohen has lots of celebrity guests on his Bravo talk-show. "Not Nicole Kidman," Cohen responded. Still, it looks like everyone enjoyed the night. The country singer performed at Jack Daniels' Music City Midnight New Year's Eve in Nashville celebration. (Eonline)

Guy Fieri closing his massive Times Square restaurant. Bottle-blond gourmand Guy Fieri is closing his absurd Guy's American Kitchen and Bar in Times Square. The 500-seat super-restaurant will shut its doors after a last hurrah on Sunday, according to Eater.com. When it launched in 2012, the restaurant -- which served Fieri's famous "Donkey Sauce," among other enduringly regrettable items -- was met with a critical reception frostier than Fieri's tips. But it has since been a sizzling hit with tourists. In a statement to Page Six, Fieri didn't give a reason for the closure, saying only that he is proud of the 5 /2-year run. But it could be because the restaurant couldn't match the culinary virtuosity of 44th Street rival Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Or it could be that, as one Yelp reviewer said while imploring diners to go literally anywhere else in the neighborhood, "the Guitar Center may actually have better service and food." Alas, hungry Times Square visitors will now just have to make do with triple-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin. (PageSix)

Joe Giudice has a pretty cush prison stay ahead of him while he's locked up in Pennsylvania -- the place is like a damn resort ... even though it's got its own "deal breakers." Like we told you, Joe was transferred from a federal prison in Fort Dix, New Jersey last month to a low security correctional facility in Allenwood, PA. Now, TMZ has learned exactly what's in store for him there -- and we gotta say ... it sounds nice for the pen. First off, Joe gets access to a wide variety of food and products. He can buy stuff like butter pecan ice cream, a mackerel fillet, Thai tuna steak, and cappuccinos. He can also buy Neutrogena shampoo, an MP3 player, and Skullcandy earbuds -- like we said, luxury living. If that doesn't convince ya, consider he also gets brunch every weekend, and can participate in yoga, fitness classes, bocce ball and even flag football. There are some ground rules, though. He's only allowed 5 guests at a time per visit -- and none of them can wear makeup or anything sexy. Sorry, Teresa ... save it for Mexico. (TMZ)

Hall of Fame voters listen up, Chauncey Billups says 3/5 of his '04 Pistons starting lineup should be enshrined, telling TMZ Sports that he, Rip Hamilton & Ben Wallace all belong in Springfield. Billups is a first-time nominee to the Hall this year, and when we talked with him the five-time all-star and former Finals MVP says he thinks he did enough to get in. "I think that I am, obviously there's so many other worthy guys, but I do. I think my story is really unique, my fight is really unique." Chauncey isn't the only guy from the '04 Pistons championship team up for the honor ... Rip Hamilton is also a first-time nominee, and Ben Wallace missed out on his first shot last year. Billups thinks they should ALL get in ... and he's 100% serious. "I think there's a case to be made for Rip ... I think Ben is the easiest case out of all 3 of us to be honest with you." With Hamilton, CB says his college days put him in (Rip won a national championship with UCONN) and with Wallace, he says if Rodman and Mutombo are in, he should be, too. If you're wondering, we didn't ask about Rasheed Wallace, but we're guessing Billups votes yes. (TMZ)

Becky G Reveals a Family Secret: She Has a Half Sister. Becky G opened up on Friday about a family secret: she has a half-sister and that now that the girl is an adult, she is reaching out to connect with her further. The 20-year-old singer announced the news on Twitter, telling her fans that it was the 18th birthday of her fourth sibling, Amber, who she had known about since she was 13. She said the two met for the first time earlier this year and that her relations to her family were always through her dad. "For the first time, I will be opening up about something that [my brothers] Frankie, Alex, [and sister] Stephanie and I, have lived with within our four walls, that I now feel ready in my heart to share with you guys, my extended family," Becky said. "Today is my half-sister's 18th birthday," she wrote. "Yes I said it. My half-sister. I learned about Amber when I was 13 years old. When Frankie was old enough and ready, my parents and I also shared this with him. Soon after that, my parents, Frankie, and I spoke to Stephanie and Alex. We all had questions and dealt with the information in different ways, but most importantly, we handled it together -- as a unit." Becky said Amber has not been a part of her family "for reasons bigger" than them and the rest of her siblings. "We met for the first time this year," she wrote. "Her relations to the family in the past were always through my dad. At least up until recently. Although there has been effort on both sides to move forward in a positive direction, it takes time to catch up on 18 years and to process it all. It's not something that happens overnight. It's all been an emotional roller coaster. The history behind it all, is something that I'd like to keep private for the sake of Amber's family and my own family's privacy." "I had made a promise to myself that the day that Amber turned 18, was the day that I would reach out," she continued. "As two individuals, legal, with no influence from either side, no baggage or bad blood from the past, in hopes that we can move forward in whatever direction us two decided to move in." "Now that she is 18, and her own person, so much in my life has changed and I now share my life with the world. But I'm sticking to my promise and I felt it in my heart to write this so that she knows..." (Eonline)

Naya Rivera and Ryan Dorsey Agree on Joint Custody of Son Josey. Naya Rivera and husband and fellow actor Ryan Dorsey recently reached a temporary joint custody agreement over their 2-year-old son, Josey, soon after she refiled for divorce. The former Glee actress had earlier this month filed new papers to legally separate from her ex. A week and a half prior, she was arrested and charged for misdemeanor domestic battery for allegedly assaulting him while walking with their boy. In her filing, Rivera requested joint legal and physical custody of the child. Rivera's rep told E! News on Friday that the actors have agreed on joint custody of Josey, adding, "The family is working together peacefully and all matters have been amicably resolved." E! News has confirmed that this week, Rivera and Dorsey reached a temporary custody agreement over Josey. According to The Blast, they agreed to share joint legal and physical custody of Josey and the actor has also agreed to consult with his ex "on all major decisions related to the child's health, education, and welfare." The custody agreement is temporary because Rivera and Dorsey are still working out a long-term schedule. Rivera had first filed for divorce from Dorsey in November 2016, two years after they wed. This past September, she filed a request to dismiss the case. At the time, a source told E! News that the actress and her husband were back together, adding, "They want to make it work for the sake of their son." In her latest divorce filing, Rivera listed the former pair's most recent date of separation as November 24. Her confrontation with Dorsey and her domestic battery arrest took place the following day. According to the custody agreement, there is a clause that indicates that Dorsey will not pursue domestic violence charges against the actress. Amid the legal turmoil, the two have made it a point to co-parent Josey. Rivera and Dorsey both celebrated Christmas with the boy. (Eonline)

Millie Bobby Brown Celebrates Her "Eleven" Million Instagram Followers. Eleven is celebrating 11 -- MILLIEon Instagram followers! Millie Bobby Brown who plays Eleven on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, has achieved a major social media milestone. The actress has reached 11 million followers on Instagram! In celebration of the achievement, 13-year-old Millie took to her social media pages on Friday to share a photo of herself on the ground covering her eyes with flower arrangements surrounding her that read, "MBB 11." She captioned the post, "11 MILLIEon." This news adds on to an already exciting month for Millie. The actress was recently nominated for a 2018 Screen Actors Guild Award for her work in Stranger Things. Millie, who was nominated individually and with her cast, reacted to the news on social media. "Screen Actors Guild! Thank you SO much for recognizing me and our cast for the second year in a row!" Millie wrote. "This means the world coming from you, our peers. I am so lucky and honored to have the privilege of playing Eleven - a strong, powerful, badass, strange, wonderful character! Can't wait to celebrate with my Stranger Things family." Stranger Things was also nominated for a 2018 Golden Globe Award earlier this month. (Eonline)

Prince Harry Tops Prince William and Kate Middleton in Official Royal Engagements. Prince Harry attended 139 royal engagements in the U.K. this year, according to a new report. U.K.'s The Times has revealed the number of official appearances each of the royal family members made in 2017 and Harry has topped his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton. In addition to Harry's 139 domestic engagements, he also made 70 official appearances overseas. While William reportedly made 117 appearances in the U.K. and 54 abroad in the past year. And Kate, who is currently expecting the couple's third child and had to miss several events due to Hyperemesis Gravidarum earlier this year, still made 63 appearances in the U.K. in 2017 and 42 abroad. And although Harry topped William and Kate, Princess Anne is the member of the royal family who made the most official appearances in the U.K. in 2017, making 455 appearances domestically and 85 overseas. William and Harry's father, Prince Charles, made 374 engagements in the U.K. this year and 172 overseas. Queen Elizabeth II made 296 official appearances this year, according to the report. This time next year, we'll also get to see the number of engagements Prince Harry's fiancee and soon-to-be wife Meghan Markle will make in 2018. On Nov. 28, Meghan made her first public appearance as a future royal. The couple will tie the knot on May 19 at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Eonline)

Luann de Lesseps to Check into Alcohol Treatment Center After Arrest. Luann de Lesseps is heading to rehab after her recent arrest. The Real Housewives of New York City star was booked early Christmas Eve morning after allegedly kicking a police officer while intoxicated at a hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. She later apologized. De Lesseps issued a new statement on Friday, saying, "After the events of last Saturday night in Palm Beach, I am truly embarrassed. I have decided to seek professional guidance and will be voluntarily checking into an alcohol treatment center. I intend to turn this unfortunate incident into a positive life changing event. Once again, I sincerely apologize for my actions. I have the greatest respect for police officers and the job they do. My actions alleged in the police report do not reflect my core values and my law-abiding character." "I am so grateful for the love and support that I am receiving from my family, friends and loyal supporters," she added. De Lesseps is "completely in shock" over what happened," a source told E! News exclusively, adding. "No one thought going to Palm Beach was a good idea. She was in Jupiter and last minute decided to go to Palm Beach before the wedding in Chile. No one knows why. People told her it wasn't a good idea." Last New Year's Eve, Luann married Tom D'Agostino in an extravagant Palm Beach wedding. She filed for divorce seven months later. "Luann has talked about self-medicating in the past, but no one saw this coming," the source added. "Everyone is worried the judge is going to make an example of her. There's a serious chance she's facing jail time." A source told E! News that Bravo and de Lesseps' cast mates have been reaching out to her to offer support and see how they can help and that she has not been returning phone calls for the most part. According to a police report, a security guard at a Palm Beach hotel reported de Lesseps and an unidentified male trespassed in a room and where found in bed. Police discovered the reality star and another person, a female friend, inside the room in question. The friend, who had complied with police's orders to leave, told Page Six the man who was allegedly found in bed with de Lesseps earlier is "a guy [Luann] had previously dated." Police alleged that de Lesseps resisted arrest and later said "I'm going to f--king kill you" after being placed in a patrol car. The reality star was arrested and charged with battery on an officer, disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest with violence and corruption by threat against a public servant. "This was my first time in Palm Beach since my wedding, and being here brought up long-buried emotions," Luann had said in a statement to E! News after being released from custody. "I want to offer my sincere apologies to anyone I might have offended with my behavior. I am committed to transformative and hopeful 2018." A network rep told The Daily Dish, "Bravo supports Luann's decision to get help, and we wish her strength during her recovery process." (Eonline)

Target has apologized and vows to remove an anti-Semetic expansion pack of the popular game Cards Against Humanity from its shelves. A customer on Twitter discovered his local store selling the CAH "Chosen People Pack" ... which featured cards with inscriptions like, "Torturing Jews until they say they're not Jews anymore," and "The part of Anne Frank's diary where she talks about her vagina." The posting caused immediate backlash, Target responded with, "We are aware of this extended card pack of the game Cards Against Humanity and are in the process of removing it from our stores. We apologize for any disappointment as it is never our intention to offend our guests with the products we carry." Cards Against Humanity is known as a game that tests social and conversational boundaries. (TMZ)

Music

Mariah Carey Makes Her Triumphant Return to New Year's Rockin' Eve With a Medley and a Joke. After last year's epic mishap and ensuing drama on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, Mariah Carey made sure she made a big comeback for this year's second chance -- and she did not disappoint! The big-voiced singer razzled and dazzled during her New Year's Eve performance on Sunday night, singing not one, but two songs for the freezing crowd. The notorious diva wowed with her glittering medley of "Vision of Love" and "Hero" and even made a joke at her own expense, saying to the audience that the night was a "disaster" because she didn't have her hot tea. "They told me there would be hot tea," she quipped. Earlier in the day, the 47-year-old singer prepped for the big comeback by rehearsing in Times Square. The smiling big-voiced singer was caught by fan Dyana (and shared by Erica0808m) getting in a last-minute rehearsal before her late-night set. The singer, who was with Bryan Tanaka, donned a golden bomber jacket, black pants and some sky-high boots for the run through. After the rehearsal, the "Sweet Fantasy" hitmaker took to her Instagram to share some positive (but chilly) vibes with her fans, writing, "Festive even in single digits! See you tonight, everybody!!" Carey headlined the night of music and festivities, along with performers Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland who gave music for the masses in Times Square. Alessia Cara, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey and Hailee also joined the lineup for the special's West Coast celebration, Alesso, G-Eazy, Portugal. The Man, Bebe Rexha, watt and Zedd also hit the stage. On Dec. 22, dick clark productions and ABC today announced that multi-platinum selling songstress would be returning to Times Square to perform for a live audience of more than one million people, just minutes before the ball drops on NYE. Previously, Carey appeared on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 2005. She came back and made headlines last year due to a disastrous performance, after which she said, "It became an opportunity to humiliate me." But it looks like Carey changed her tune. At the time of the announcement, both the singer and dick clark productions gave a statement to E! News: "We can all agree that last year didn't go exactly as planned and we are thrilled to move forward together to provide America with an incredible night of music and celebration on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018. See you in Times Square!" She came, she saw, she conquered! (Eonline)

Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes and Nick Jonas Wow at New Year's Rockin' Eve. Camila Cabello brought her sultry moves to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest on Sunday night, giving a rousing performance of her hit song, "Havana." Sadly, she couldn't bring some of the actual heat from Havana to warm up the chilly New York weather. The 20-year-old did bring her vocal prowess to the freezing people of New York City, who waited in the cold to see the sultry performer and many others on the long-running show hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy. Cabello hit the stage on the East Coast on a lineup that included Nick Jonas, Sugarland and Mariah Carey, who are are set to perform for the masses in Times Square. Meanwhile, Canadian crooner Shawn Mendes warmed up West Coast fans with his hit song "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" on the #RockinEve stage in L.A. Additionally, Kelly Clarkson, Kane Brown, BTS, Fitz and The Tantrums, Khalid with Marshmello, Charlie Puth, Florida Georgia Line, Halsey, Portugal. The Man, and Hailee Steinfeld will take the stage in Los Angeles. Later in the night, Nick Jonas hit the Times Square stage with a sexy medley of "Home," "Close" and "Jealous." Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest airs on ABC on Dec. 31 starting at 8 p.m. ET. (Eonline)

Camila Cabello Unveils 'Never Be the Same' Video As New Year's Gift to Fans. Camila Cabello gives fans a look at some of the special moments that have led up to the release of her much-anticipated solo album in her new "Never Be the Same" video. It's a montage of childhood home videos and behind-the-scenes footage, plus clips of Camila and various fans singing along to the song, which is the opening track on the upcoming Camila album. "i wanted to give this to you guys as a New Year's Eve present but i was too excited and couldn't wait!!!!" she wrote on Twitter Friday (Dec. 29). "this is a thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being here for me and for all the memories we've made together this year." "i frickin love you all so much and PS my family and i cried several times watching this back," she added. "IT'S END OF THE YEAR EMO TIME." (Billboard)

Jay-Z's "Family Feud" Video Features Beyonce, Blue Ivy, Mindy Kaling and More Celebs. Jay-Z just dropped his "Family Feud" music video on TIDAL. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the video features appearances by Beyonce, Blue Ivy, Mindy Kaling, Michael B. Jordan, Niecy Nash, Rosario Dawson and Susan Kelechi Watson, who plays a grown up Blue Ivy. In the video, we see the year 2050, where Blue Ivy is President of the United States of America and has herself surrounded by strong women in the office. Mindy took to Instagram Friday to share a picture of some of the celebs appearing in the video. "Nobody wins when the family feuds Family Feud music video is now on Tidal directed by @ava #jayz," Mindy captioned the pic. "Family Feud" premiered one day after TIDAL released a teaser, showing Jay-Z and Bey in a confessional box. (Eonline)

Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson are under fire for their Grammy winning single, "Uptown Funk" by a rap group who claims the song is just way too similar to their 70s hit. A female rap trio named The Sequence released the single "Funk You Up" in 1979 ... a hit that was the third rap song ever to reach Billboard's Top 50 Singles. In court docs, obtained by TMZ, the group claims Mars' hit has "significant and substantially similar compositional elements" of "Funk You Up." Mars and Ronson have faced several lawsuits stemming from the single ... most recently in September. The Sequence is asking for a jury trial and unspecified amount of money from Mars -- and songwriter Ronson -- who penned the track. We reached out to a rep for Bruno ... so far, no word back. (TMZ)

'Rolling Stone' Co-Founder Jann Wenner Accused of Sexual Assault by Former Employee. Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner has been accused of sexual assault by a former employee with the company. While visiting Wenner's Manhattan apartment in February 1983, then-28-year-old Jonathan Wells alleges he was pinned down and forced to engage in oral sex, according to reports from BuzzFeed News. "I was lying back and he put himself on top of me," Wells said. "He was kissing me, but you know, normal stuff, kissing my chest. I remember him putting his penis in my mouth. I remember him sucking me, going down on me. I remember his hair on my stomach." In the early 1980s, Wenner was a notorious partier, described as "unhealthy, bloated from alcohol and cocaine abuse" by author Joe Hagan in his recent biography Sticky Fingers. Wenner's home on New York's East 66th Street was "the locus of a rolling party. The door was never locked, and anyone could walk in." After the incident, Wenner offered Wells a job at Rolling Stone Press, where he would oversee the company's book publishing division. Wells, who says that working in publishing and for Rolling Stone had been lifelong dreams of his, said that the job had perhaps been "created specifically for him" in the wake of their encounter. "I never went into the office, never had an interview with anyone there -- I certainly don't recall one," Wells shared with BuzzFeed News. "I knew when I started working there, there was always the question of a continuing sexual relationship." Two years later, in February 1985, Wells was unexpectedly fired from the company, told that Rolling Stone was "rearranging 'the Press.'" "I did not perceive it as retaliation at the time... I don't know if I was especially stupid or just couldn't understand the whole thing," he continued. Wenner has since responded to these allegations, telling BuzzFeed News that "he believed the encounter was consensual." "I am completely surprised by these allegations, as we have remained friends for almost 35 years since then," Wenner said. "I sincerely believed our relationship was totally mutual and consensual -- absolutely, and without question. I am saddened to hear this is his memory of that evening, because it is different than mine." This article was originally published on SPIN. (Billboard)

Movies

"All the Money in the World" hits very close to home for Balthazar Getty -- the story's about the 1973 abduction of his father, John Paul Getty III -- and for that reason ... he says he's not going to see it. We got the actor at LAX Wednesday getting ready for vacay and asked for his thoughts on the movie, but he says the fam decided to stay mum. He does concede it's an interesting story. As we reported ... Kevin Spacey was set to play the role of Getty's great-grandfather -- J. Paul Getty, who refused to pay the $17 mil ransom to get John back -- but got axed amid allegations of sexual assault and was replaced by Christopher Plummer. When asked about that, Balthazar had a lot more to say ... specifically on the subject of karma. (TMZ)

Jude Law and Johnny Depp Appear in New Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Sneak Peek. New images have just been released from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The sequel to 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will hit theaters on Nov. 16, 2018 and now we're getting a new sneak peek at the upcoming movie. Back in April, it was revealed that Jude Law had been cast in the second installment of the film series as Albus Dumbledore, who audiences were introduced to in his later years at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. In Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the audience will meet Dumbledore in his earlier years. Johnny Depp reprises his role of Gellert Grindelwald in the sequel and is seen standing in the street alongside Rosier (Poppy Corby-Tuech) in the just-released photos. "At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings," a description of the Warner Bros. movie reads. The description continues, "In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world." (Eonline)

Stan Lee's checking account is $300k light, and cops are on the hunt for the perp who swiped the cash ... TMZ has learned. We're told the Marvel Comics legend filed a report with Beverly Hills PD Tuesday after one of Stan's business partners discovered the money had been withdrawn without his knowledge. After some digging, it was discovered a $300k check was written to Lee's own charity, Hands of Respect, for a "loan." Sources tell us neither Stan or his money managers wrote or authorized the transaction, and Bev Hills PD is investigating the case as a check forgery. We're told Stan's people believe this might be an inside job -- someone within the foundation wrote the check in an attempt to keep the cash themselves. Either way, it's not a very nice bday gift for the comic book icon ... who just turned 95 on Thursday. (TMZ)

TV

Ellen DeGeneres gets her game on in new prime-time show. Ellen DeGeneres, known for keeping her comedy on the nice side, lets her inner meanie out for "Ellen's Game of Games." NBC's new prime-time game show, which begins its regular run at 8 p.m. EST Tuesday after a December sneak peek, subjects its contestants to measured torments that delight host and executive producer DeGeneres. "It's hilarious to see the panic and fear on their faces if they get the answer wrong," she said, knowing the possible consequences include being drenched with something gooey or launched airborne or dropped through the stage floor. "But no one can get hurt. It's only public humiliation," she said, drolly. "It builds character, and to win $100,000 it's what we must go through." That's the top prize for those who conquer a variety of games, including some played on DeGeneres' syndicated daytime talk show -- "but on steroids, bigger, higher and more dangerous," she said -- and newly devised ones. Challenges on the hour-long show include Blindfolded Musical Chairs, Dizzy Dash and Scary Go Round. The host's quick patter fills in the gaps, with an assist from "Ellen" DJ and sidekick Stephen "tWitch" Boss. "Game of Games" is part of a resurgence of popularity for game shows, a trend that makes sense to DeGeneres. "When you have times that are difficult or stressful in the world ... we need an ace to look at something that's mindless but entertaining," she said. She makes an effort to bring the fun to whatever she's doing. DeGeneres has built a production company and a lifestyle brand, published books and hosted awards shows, for starters. It suits her and her body to stay busy, she said. "It's best I keep working, because if I take too much time off, I get sick," DeGeneres said, blaming a recent minor bug on a two-week vacation. She shrugs off the idea she's a workaholic. Her wife, Portia de Rossi, is starting her own company, and DeGeneres says she has friends who put in far more hours than she does. She names one, a fellow TV host. "Ryan Seacrest, I don't know how he does what he does," she said. (PageSix)

Law and Order: SVU Midseason Premiere: Benson Suffers No Fools While Looking for Her Son. Hell hath no fury like Mama Bear Benson on Law & Order: SVU. The midseason finale ended with Noah (Ryan Buggle) disappearing while shopping with is grandma Sheila (Brooke Shields). Sheila then called Benson (Mariska Hargitay). The midseason premiere, "Gone Baby Gone" picks up with the frantic phone call and Benson assembles the squad. "You OK, Liv?" Fin (Ice-T) asks his boss. "No, I'm not. It's Noah," she says in the clip. All of this of course happened after Sheila told Noah about his birth mother, something Benson had yet to do. So to say things were already a little tense between Benson and Noah's biological grandmother would be an understatement. And then he goes missing? Yeah, Benson is understandably unraveling. Just look at their scene. "Was he mad? Was he upset?" Benson questions Sheila in the clip, first posted by TVLine. "No, of course not," she says. "I'm just trying to figure out what happened because he doesn't walk away when I'm with him," Benson says. Viewers will remember he might not have wandered away on his own volition -- there was a hooded figure watching Noah and Sheila. Benson means business. This is her son. See her heated confrontation with the mall manager now. When E! News spoke with Hargitay for "Something Happened," the Emmy winner said she was impressed by "Gone Baby Gone." "I remember saying to [SVU showrunner Michael Chernuchin], 'I don't know how we did it. I don't know how we did it.' It's just like this whole other flavor," Hargitay said about the upcoming episode. "We just dove into motherhood, and what it means to be a mother and what we would do for our children. And again, we keep finding all these beautiful areas to excavate and it's deeply exciting." Law & Order: SVU returns Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 9 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)

Grey's Anatomy: Is Love on the Way for Meredith Grey? If you're hoping that the exit of Nathan Riggs earlier this fall on Grey's Anatomy means that the door is open for another suitor to enter into Meredith Grey's life once the show finally returns next month, then this might not be the news you're looking for. In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Krista Vernoff opened up about Mer's (Ellen Pompeo) love life -- or lack thereof -- now that Nathan (former series regular Martin Henderson) has left Seattle behind for the sunnier skies of Los Angeles with his presumed-dead fiancee, Megan. And while she remains hopeful that the widow will find love again, it doesn't sound like she's got any immediate plans to make that happen. "What is next for Meredith in terms of a love life remains to be seen," Vernoff said.. "I believe that romance and love are always a possibility, especially after we've lost the loves of our life. We have to evolve out of our immediate grief. I believe that immediate grief takes more than a couple of years. I don't want to ever short-shrift the people who have gone through the death of a spouse and say you just move on, or you just move on with the first person." Following the shocking and painful loss of her soul mate Derek (Patrick Dempsey) at the end of season 11, Mer had a one-night stand with Dr. Thorpe (remember him?) before connecting with Nathan over their shared loss. For Vernoff, the connection with Nathan served a vital purpose of opening Meredith back up to the idea that she could care about someone else again. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that person is your person for life," she added. "One of the things that I love that we do on the show is show this very human journey." With a 300th episode that saw Meredith win the coveted Harper Avery Award thanks to a refined dedication to her life's passion -- her work -- it's clear that, whether or not romance comes, it's not what defines the character any longer. (If it ever even truly did.) "Love is possible for Meredith 100 percent," Vernoff said, "but it's not her focal point." Are you hoping Meredith finds love again or are you just fine with watching her be a boss in the O.R. instead? Grey's Anatomy returns on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)

'Flip or Flop' star Tarek El Moussa launching new show. Now that his battle with cancer is safely behind him, "Flip or Flop" star Tarek El Moussa is hoping to give back with his all new show, "Tarek's Pick Me Up Project." In November, the star posted a video to Facebook asking his fans to direct message him the name and information of people they know who might need a helping hand. "It doesn't matter the struggle, it could be a failing business, a bad breakup, mental health, physical health or even just a lousy few months," he said. "We're going to reach out to them and find the absolute best way to put a smile on their face." Since the video's posting, more than 4,000 people submitted names to the project. Now, the HGTV star has made a bold announcement. He'll personally be paying a surprise visit to some of the people who were submitted in a new show. In another video announcement on Facebook, El Moussa promised "the first of many" episodes begin on Monday. "I've always lived my life with the belief that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. I also believe that in order to succeed, you have to be willing to accept that failure is most definitely part of the journey. While failure may be difficult, it should also be viewed as a motivator because failure is absolutely necessary to succeed," he says in the video. "The experience of dealing with cancer treatment made me realize that nothing is more important than my family. I also made a commitment that one day, when I was in a position to help others, I would do so. I feel that my purpose is to give back, lend a hand and really help others." It's unclear from the announcement exactly how El Moussa will go about putting a smile on these struggling people's faces, but fans can apparently tune in Monday to find out. (PageSix)



Dr. Phil's Show Denies Claims That Guests Were Encouraged to Use Drugs and Alcohol. UPDATE on Friday, December 29: A Dr. Phil spokesperson has responded to the allegations, saying in a statement to E! News: "The Stat article does not fairly or accurately describe the methods of Dr. Phil, the TV show, or its mission to educate millions of viewers about drug and alcohol addiction. The show does not give drugs or alcohol to its guests and any suggestions to the contrary is errant nonsense. " "For the past 16 years, the Dr. Phil show has provided valuable information to viewers by telling compelling stories about people who are fighting the battle to overcome alcohol and drug addiction," the statement continued. "Unfortunately, addicts often lash out at the very people who are trying the hardest to help them break the cycle of addiction. Although terribly unfortunate, this is an understandable part of the behavior of addicts on their journey to recovery. Deception, dishonesty and denial are hallmarks of addiction. It tears families apart and certainly creates levels of complexities when we produce these important shows. None of this will deter the Dr. Phil show from it's commitment to continue to educate and inform the public about the worsening epidemic of addiction." A new investigation uncovers troubling allegations against Dr. Phil and his daytime talk show. STAT and The Boston Globe published an expose on Thursday, which includes accounts from multiple guests who say their substance addictions were enabled by members of the TV psychiatrist's staff in hopes of boosting ratings. Todd Herzog -- who struggled with alcohol abuse in the years after winning Survivor -- said that when he arrived on the Dr. Phil studio in 2013, he found a bottle of vodka in his dressing room and was given a Xanax to "calm his nerves." Herzog had to be carried on set before his sit-down with Dr. Phil (whose real name is Phil McGraw), and registered a .263 blood alcohol content -- more than three times the legal limit. Additionally, family members of guests say their health and welfare was put at risk by Dr. Phil staffers who allegedly played a role in their search for drugs. The investigation also looked into the level of medical care guests with addiction issues receive while filming in Los Angeles and Dr. Phil's relationship with the treatment centers his guests often seek further help from. Martin Greenberg, Director of Professional Affairs at the Dr. Phil show, described the above claims as "absolutely, unequivocally untrue." "We do not do that with this guest or any other," Greenberg said when asked to address Herzog's account. He later said in a statement to the publications, "Addicts are notorious for lying, deflecting and trivializing. But, if they are at risk when they arrive, then they were at risk before they arrived. The only change is they are one step closer to getting help, typically help they could not have even come close to affording." Herzog said he detoxed for two days in a hotel paid for Dr. Phil, and was sober when he appeared for his scheduled taping. Greenberg initially told STAT and The Boston Globe that the show did not have a responsibility to monitor guests with substance abuse problems ("No, of course not, it's a television show."), but later said Herzog was "medically supervised the entire time" by personnel from an unnamed treatment center during his taping schedule. The report states Greenberg shifted his stance a third time, saying in a statement, "We mean 100% of guests agreeing to treatment. It does not mean that a guest is being monitored 100% of the time." However, the executive director of the center Herzog sought treatment from after Dr. Phil, contested claims that his staff supervised Herzog in L.A. and said doing so would violate their licenses. "I honestly regret ever having done it," Steve Thomason said in reference to his treatment center's participation on the show. During Herzog's third appearance on Dr. Phil, he alleged finding vodka in the dressing room but did not drink all of it. Again, the show denied his claim. Marianne Smith told the publications that when her niece, Jordan, appeared on the show in 2012 and was suffering from heroin withdrawals, producers suggested she try Skid Row in Los Angeles to find drugs. Smith also said Dr. Phil did not offer her niece any medical assistance as they awaited her taping for two days. Greenberg issued a denial: "We could go on and talk about Jordan L. or ten others. Same reality. All had medical supervision." Likewise, Joelle King-Parrish said the show did not provide any medical attention to her pregnant daughter Kaitlin when she was detoxing in the hotel. Staff members reportedly told her to "take care of it," and one Dr. Phil employee ultimately joined the mother and daughter with a camera in hand as they drove to Skid Row looking for heroin. In response, Greenberg said Kaitlin's mother had previously "agreed to be 100% responsible for managing her daughter's health and possible withdrawal" and the individual who filmed the incident "simply documented the natural behavior she observed, which would have occurred whether she was there or not." Herzog appeared on Dr. Phil for a fourth time in 2016, and said he recently wrote a letter to the television personality thanking him. "I'm grateful in a lot of ways for the show. For getting me help in the nicest places in the country. That's a gift right there," he said. "There are some things about the show that I don't like, and that I don't think are real... I should have been in the hospital, in that sense. There should not be liters of vodka in my dressing room." Others interviewed for the story also praised Dr. Phil and the show for getting them the help they needed. Former heroin addict Niki Dietrich is one of those people, who described the show's efforts as a "miracle," adding in part, "I have nothing bad to say about that experience." "Few people contact us just to let us know how well things are going," the show stated in a statement to STAT and The Globe. "The fact you can 'cherry pick' three, or thirty, or three hundred guests for that matter, who seek to blame others for their plight or struggle in life, is not the least bit surprising." (Eonline)