ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Natasha Bedingfield Gives Birth to Her First Child. Natasha Bedingfield is a mom! The 36-year-old "Unwritten" singer announced the news by sharing a picture of her lying in a hospital bed and holding a Starbucks cup with the word "Mum" on it. "Omg! Guess what just happened at the very end of this year!" she wrote on Instagram. "The happiest new Year ever!" Before the baby's arrival, Bedingfield described her pregnancy as her "favorite memory" of 2017. "And of course my favorite memory of the year is being blessed with the promise of a baby boy," she tweeted. "I can't wait to meet you very soon." Bedingfield announced she was expecting her first child with husband Matthew Robinson back in October. "Matt and I are thrilled to share with you all that we are bringing a new little life into the world!" she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her baby bump. "We can't wait to embark on this amazing journey together." The singer then revealed the sex of the child in November with the release of her song "Hey Boy." She even teased there would be a "fun gender reveal" in a new music video days before. The singer continued to document her pregnancy on social media. In November, she posted a video of her and her friends painting baby clothes for her son to wear as he grows. Bedingfield and Robinson tied the knot in 2009 after announcing their engagement in 2008. Congratulations to the family of three! (Eonline)

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and Girlfriend Meagan Camper Expecting Baby No. 2. Pete Wentz's family is getting bigger in 2018! The Fall Out Boy member and his longtime girlfriend Meagan Camper are expecting a baby in the New Year. "Happy New Year! We're kicking the year off with news of the best gift yet," he shared with his 1.5 million Instagram followers. "[Baby] coming to our family in 2018... love Pete, Meagan, Bronx and Saint." The pair, who began dating in 2011, is proud parents to 3-year-old Saint. Pete also shares Bronx with ex-wife Ashlee Simpson Ross. In the announcement, Saint had the honor of holding up a pink box causing fans to believe the sex of the upcoming family member is a girl. While his kids are still on the younger side, Pete previously revealed to Elle that his oldest son was showing an interest in music. At the same time, he loved the fact that Bronx saw him as dad first and foremost. "My [then] six-year-old comes out on the road, and he's endlessly curious about everything: 'Where is there ice under the arena?' For him, it's like being at your dad's office," Pete explained to the publication. "There's a picture of us playing for 40,000 people in Los Angeles, and there's a picture of my son on the side of the stage playing his Nintendo DS. I'm just his dad. It's such a cool relationship to have." As for his longtime partner Meagan, Pete is the first to share how much she's impacted his life for the better. "She is a person that puts up with my madness," he once told Howard Stern. "I'm a man in love! Not jumping on the couch, but..." We sense the happiness, Pete. Congratulations on the big news. (Eonline)

Brian McKnight gets married in lavish New Year's Eve ceremony. Brian McKnight is a married man. The "Back at One" singer, 48, made it official with fiancee Leilani Malia Mendoza on New Year's Eve. "Ladies and gentlemen introducing Mr. and Mrs. Brian McKnight," he captioned a snapshot posted to Instagram of the couple sharing a moment on the steps of Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York. McKnight captioned a video of them walking down the aisle, "Happiest day of our lives." It appears that the R&B crooner kept his attire simple with a black tuxedo while his wife went for pure opulence. Mendoza wore a sheer Sabrina & Mannings gown that featured 50,000 Swarovski crystals. According to the company, it took over a month to complete. "Truly a masterpiece in the making and one of a kind piece," said the fashion house's Instagram account. The pair got engaged in May. McKnight was previously married to ex-wife, Julie, for 13 years from 1990 to 2003. The former couple share two kids. (PageSix)

Paris Hilton Engaged to Chris Zylka: "Fairy Tales Really Do Exist!" The rumors about Paris Hilton are true! Chris Zylka proposed to the hotel heiress over the weekend, during a ski trip in Aspen, Co. Before announcing the news to the world, rumors of an engagement swirled on social media. Though she didn't address the reports, a source told E! News, "Paris was telling everybody they are engaged. She looked really happy!" Hilton's rep later confirmed the engagement to E! News Tuesday -- the same day she spoke to People about how it all went down. "I am so excited to be engaged to the love of my life and my best friend. I have never felt so happy, safe and loved," Hilton raved. "He is perfect for me in every way and showed me that fairy tales really do exist!" "Paris is the most beautiful and incredible woman both inside and out. I feel like the luckiest man in the world to be marrying my dream girl," Zylka, perhaps best known for starring in the HBO hit The Leftovers, told the magazine. "I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together." The 36-year-old former reality star described her ring as "gorgeous" and "sparkling." "I was shaking as I put it on," she admitted. "It is the most beautiful ring that I have ever seen!" Regarding Zylka's proposal, she added, "I was so excited and surprised! I immediately said yes!" Hilton and Zylka met an Oscars party eight years ago, but the they didn't reconnect until 2015; the former reality star took their romance public last year. "Ever since our first date I knew there was something special about him. I have never in my life met a man so loyal, dedicated, and loving," she told People. "I knew right from the start that I wanted to be with him forever." In March 2016, Hilton told E! News she knew Zylka was The One. "I've never been surer of anything in my life. He's so incredible in every way. We've actually been friends for a really long time, like the past six years. We just now started being serious in the past few months and it's really just changed my life in so many ways and brought so much happiness to my life," the former Simple Life star said at the time. "I feel so safe and he's so special. We're best friends and we're together every minute. I don't know what else I could ask for. He's perfect for me." This will be the first marriage for both stars. Hilton ended her engagements to Jason Shaw in 2003 and to Paris Latsis in 2005, while Zylka broke off his engagement to Hanna Beth in 2015. (Eonline)

Christie Brinkley's Daughter Alexa Ray Joel Is Engaged! New year, new relationship status! As Alexa Ray Joel kicked off 2018, the singer had a big announcement for her fans and followers on social media. As it turns out, she's totally engaged! "He said to me: 'Before I met you, my world was in black and white. You colored it in between the lines.' It was the most beautiful thing anybody's ever said to me. How could I possibly say no to that?!?!" Alexa shared on Instagram. "So I was completely taken off-guard, dumbstruck, and shell-shocked- and FOR ONCE in my life, I had absolutely no words, and I couldn't speak... I just kept staring at this ridiculously exquisite ring- and he was just hysterically laughing at me!!!" So who's the lucky guy? It's restaurateur Ryan Gleason who couldn't help but share a close-up shot of the special ring. "Luckiest guy in the world!!!!" he wrote online. It's a great surprise for Alexa who recently celebrated her 32nd birthday. In fact, it appears that the birthday girl was enjoying a family vacation at a tropical destination when the proposal occurred. Speaking of family, mom Christie Brinkley was recently asked about the special man in her daughter's life. Spoiler alert: She's a huge fan. "I totally approve. Nicest guy, real sweetheart," the supermodel explained to Entertainment Tonight. "He just gets her, and I see him sort of looking at her in that special way. It's sweet." Congratulations to the couple on their big news! (Eonline)

Carrie Underwood's Fall Needed 40-50 Stitches in Face 'Might Look a Bit Different'. Carrie Underwood might look different whenever she returns to the big stage ... 'cause she says she needed at least 40 stitches in her face after falling last month. Carrie reportedly sent a health update Sunday to members of her fan club, revealing her doctor patched her face up with "between 40 to 50 stitches" while undergoing surgery from a nasty fall she suffered at home in November. She also broke her wrist at the time. She goes on to say she's currently healing, but "not quite looking the same." She ends her note with a hopeful message about the new year ... adding "And when I am ready to get in front of a camera, I want you all to understand why I might look a bit different." Carrie posted a photo of her covered face this Christmas season, but didn't address anything about her facial injuries ... which were apparently very serious. #GetWellSoon. (TMZ)

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's son, Saint West, was hospitalized last week with a bad case of pneumonia ... TMZ has learned. Sources tell us the 2-year-old was brought to an L.A. area hospital Thursday with pneumonia, and that his parents were with him while he remained hospitalized, sharing overnight duties. We're told Saint was released on Saturday, so he was checked in for just a couple days. He's at home now, and sources say he's doing well. Kim shared a family photo from Christmas just a few days before Saint was admitted. Kim and Kanye also shared a New Year's Eve kiss on Sunday. The hospitalization went down right after her mid-week meet-up with J Lo and A-Rod -- where Kim and co. enjoyed a taco Wednesday party. Good thing Saint's on the mend ... his new baby sis is supposed to be coming home sometime this month. She'll probably need her big bro to show her the ropes, sniffle free. (TMZ)

Jesse Williams is asking a judge to modify his custody agreement with his estranged wife after he claims she stiffed him on time with the kids over Christmas. Jesse says Aryn Drake-Lee continues to make it difficult for him to maintain a stable relationship with his 4-year-old Sadie and 2-year-old Maceo. In docs, obtained by TMZ, Jesse claims Aryn has not followed the overnight agreement deal they struck back in November. Jesse says Aryn was stingy about giving him time with the kids on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and she kept them for New Year's Day, too. Not only has Aryn been tough on granting Jesse physical time with the kids -- he says she only answers one out of about every three FaceTime calls he makes to them, too -- and when he is able to talk to them, it's only for a few minutes. Jesse now wants a regular schedule with the kids enforced, and custody for 2 weekdays. (TMZ)

Audrina Patridge striving for forgiveness amid Corey Bohan divorce. New year, new outlook for Audrina Patridge. The "Hills" alum shared a reflective message on Instagram, subtly referencing her divorce from Corey Bohan, about how she'll be moving forward in a more positive way in 2018. "This year has been quite a year for me! Full of ups & downs, happiness & sadness," she captioned her Top Nine photos. "Despite the bad I'll always hold on to the happy memories and strive for love, positivity and forgiveness ... the unknown & change is always a scary feeling!" Patridge, 32, added that she was grateful for her daughter Kirra and will learn "to trust God even when I don't understand his plan." Patridge filed for divorce from Bohan in September after 10 months of marriage following an alleged domestic violence incident that spurred Patridge to obtain a restraining order against Bohan. In the divorce, Bohan is seeking spousal support and joint legal and physical custody of their daughter. He also wants to terminate the court's ability to award support to Patridge, and he also wants all legal fees to be paid by her. (PageSix)

Danielle Bregoli's got big-time money now ... which means hiring big-time help to clear up big-time legal issues comes easier, too. The 'Cash Me Outside' girl just hired attorney Doug Duncan ... the same guy that repped Tiger Woods in his DUI case. Doug joins Danielle's OG legal muscle, Scott Richardson, in her ongoing legal battles in Florida -- including a case where she allegedly stole her mom's purse and car. The 14-year-old was slapped with a 5-year probation back in May after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including 2 counts of grand theft ... she was also hit with a curfew that included needing a parent with her after 5 PM. Danielle and her attorneys were in court Thursday where we're told a judge agreed to modify Bregoli's curfew so that her management team be considered a guardian. Sources close to Bregoli tell us the slightly lax new rules will allow Danielle to spend more time in the studio and expand her work travel, too. We smell a tour. (TMZ)

Koch heir suing ex-fiancee for ring may have found a new flame. Billionaire Bill Koch's son, Wyatt Koch -- who Page Six reported is suing his ex-fiancee Ivie Slocumb to get back a $250,000, 8.24-carat ring after she broke off their engagement -- appears to have already moved on. Flame-haired fashion designer Wyatt has been seen out in Palm Beach, Fla., with actress and artist Alysha Grace Marko, according to her aunt Christine Pressman, wife of Barneys heir Gene Pressman, who was overheard talking about the new couple at a luncheon at the Brazilian Court hotel. Pressman said Wyatt may even be taking Marko -- whose website includes beautifully shot acting footage of her robbing a Texaco at gunpoint in a silver showgirl bikini -- to Aspen, Colo., to meet his parents and spend New Year's Eve with his family. Others at the luncheon given by Jean Shafiroff in honor of Jayne Chase, the new editor of Modern Luxury Palm Beach, were Lisa Kerkorian, Tatiana Platt and Christine Schott. Meanwhile, the ring saga sails on. Wyatt's lawyers claim he purchased the pricey Oscar Heyman cushion-cut diamond with two tapered baguette diamonds for $180,000 in March for Slocumb. But come May -- after she allegedly "broke off" the engagement -- Slocumb kept the rock, he claims. Wyatt's lawyers say -- just nine months later -- the ring is now worth $250,000, plus Wyatt also wants $15,000 in damages. According to court documents filed in Florida, Wyatt has "demanded the return of the ring .?.?. on multiple occasions" and says the would-be bride "received the ring as a conditional gift. She refuses to return it despite proper demand and the condition not being fulfilled." Slocumb has 20 days to respond to the suit, according to a summons dated Dec. 13. She could not be reached for comment. (PageSix)

The fate of the "Last Chance U" football star accused of murdering an 18-year-old man will be in the hands of a grand jury -- the murder case is moving forward in just a few weeks. Isaiah Wright was a stud running back at East Mississippi Community College -- and came off as a really happy, sweet kid on the Netflix docu-series. But in real life ... cops say he was involved in the stabbing death of 18-year-old Caleb Radford, who was attacked and killed in Blount County, Tennessee back in July. Wright and his brother Camion were among 4 suspects arrested in the investigation. Officials dropped the case against Camion, but not Isaiah. The 20-year-old is still locked up in Tennessee -- along with the 2 other suspects. Isaiah has been in custody since September. Court officials tell TMZ Sports ... Isaiah's case will be heard in front of a Circuit Court Grand Jury on January 12. The jury will decide if there is enough evidence to indict him. Attempts to reach a rep for Wright were unsuccessful. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

DJ Khaled Named Weight Watchers Social Media Ambassador. Major key alert: DJ Khaled has joined Weight Watchers Freestyle as a member and social media ambassador. The official announcement was made on January 1, 2018, just in time for New Years Day -- proving DJ Khaled definitely has his resolutions in order. In an accompanying video, fans follow the producer and recording artist during a day in the life as he tracks his meal points along the way. In the clip, Khaled describes the WW Freestyle plan as a "lifestyle." "I can do whatever I want to do, as long as I follow the points," he explains. The Weight Watchers team could not be more thrilled to have the influencer and music mogul on board. "DJ Khaled has an incredibly authentic drive and passion to inspire others through his wellness journey and experiences on WW Freestyle," Mindy Grossman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Weight Watchers International, Inc., said. "Being healthier is not just about weight anymore. It's about overall health and wellness -- being your best self. By capturing and sharing his process, he will enliven and inspire his community, showing that it's possible to integrate healthy habits into your life." His inspiration for joining? His beloved son, Asahd. "My son is my love, my life, and I need to be great for him," said DJ Khaled. "To be great is to be healthy; to be healthy means a shift in my lifestyle, and the new WW Freestyle program is all about healthier habits for my life. The WW program and community is my partner in this process to greatness, and I'm grateful for what's to come and to share my journey with you all." Asahd, also featured in the commercial, is seen with Khaled traveling, playing in the pool and sharing some healthy food. "My son is growing fast," Khaled comments while holding Asahd. The DJ adds he wants to be able to play basketball with his youngster, something he'll be able to do with the help of Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers has launched a page on its website for those who want to join DJ Khaled in the Freestyle movement. DJ Khaled plans to document his weight loss journey on his personal accounts, including Snapchat (@djkhaled305), Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. (Eonline)

Gretchen Carlson to Serve as Board Chair of Miss America Organization Following E-mail Scandal. The Miss America organization is hoping for a fresh start in 2018. After an e-mail scandal made headlines across the country just in time for the holidays, a new leader has been announced. E! News can confirm The Miss America Organization Board of Directors announced the election of Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson as the organization's new chairman effective immediately. "Everyone has been stunned by the events of the last several days, and this has not been easy for anyone who loves this program," Gretchen said in a statement. "In the end, we all want a strong, relevant Miss America and we appreciate the existing board taking the steps necessary to quickly begin stabilizing the organization for the future." Former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell resigned last month after HuffPost reported that several leaders at the organization spoke derisively about previous Miss America contestants. "The story is so unkind and untrue, and hurts me, my family, and the stewardship of this non-profit," Sam previously said in a statement. "Those who know my heart know that this is not indicative of my character, nor is it indicative of my business acumen." The Miss America Organization also named former Miss Americas Laura KaeppLauraeler Fleiss (Miss America 2012), Heather French Henry (Miss America 2000) and Kate Shindle (Miss America 1998) to the board. HuffPost was first to break today's news. (Eonline)

YouTube Star Logan Paul Apologizes After Posting Video Filmed in "Japanese Suicide Forest." Logan Paul is apologizing to his fans and followers after posting a controversial video. The YouTube star recently traveled to Aokigahara, a forest in Japan that is referred to as "suicide forest" because it's the site of hundreds of suicides. According to New York Magazine, Logan decided to post a video from the area titled "We found a dead body in the Japanese Suicide Forest... " that appeared to feature a deceased body. On Monday night, however, the video was removed and an apology was issued. "Let's start with this -- I'm sorry," Logan explained to his 3.9 million Twitter followers. "This is a first for me. I've never faced criticism like this before, because I've never made a mistake like this before. I'm surrounded by good people and believe I make good decisions, but I'm still a human being. I can be wrong." He continued, "I didn't do it for views. I get views. I did it because I thought I could make a positive ripple on the Internet, not cause a monsoon of negativity. That's never the intention. I intended to raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention and while I thought 'if this video saves just ONE life, it'll be worth it,' I was misguided by shock and awe, as portrayed in the video. I still am." In an intro to the footage, Logan reportedly called the 15-minute video, "the most real vlog I've ever posted to this channel." "I think this definitely marks a moment in YouTube history because I'm pretty sure this has never hopefully happened to anyone on YouTube ever," he shared via NY Magazine. "Now with that said: buckle the f--k up, because you're never gonna see a video like this again!" While the video reportedly received more than 6 million views in less than a day, many were quick to express their outrage leading to Logan's apology. "I do this s--t ever day. I've made a 15-minute TV show EVERY SINGLE DAY for the past 460+ days. One may understand that it's easy to get caught up in the moment without fully weighing the possible ramifications," Logan explained in his Twitter post. "I'm often reminded of how big of a reach I truly have & with great power comes great responsibility... for the first time in my life I'm regretful to say I handled that power incorrectly. It won't happen again." He added, "I love everyone. I believe in people. I'm out here. Peace. #Logang4Life." (Eonline)

The celebrity backlash against Logan Paul has begun ... with "Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul unloading on the YouTuber as "pure trash" over his dead body video. FYI, Aaron is not related to Logan -- but if they were, you can bet he would have disowned him by now. "Dear Logan Paul, How dare you! You disgust me." "I can't believe that so many young people look up to you. So sad. Hopefully this latest video woke them up. You are pure trash. Plain and simple. Suicide is not a joke. Go rot in hell." Piers Morgan is also slamming Logan ... saying, "You're a sick, twisted, heartless little prick." Logan tried to smooth things over after shooting and posting a dead body he found in Japan by writing an open letter ... but so far, it seems it's being rejected harshly. (TMZ)

Music

Justin Timberlake Announces New Album Man of the Woods. Justin Timberlake is revisiting his roots -- and taking us all with him. More than four years after the release of his last studio album, the Grammy-winning crooner surprised fans with a big announcement: new tunes are coming soon. With an earthy visual to accompany his news, the Tennessee native unveiled his new aesthetic to fans as he teased his fifth solo record, Man of the Woods, due out in February, just in time for his Super Bowl 2018 halftime show. "This album is really inspired by my son, my wife, my family, but more so than any other album I've ever written, where I'm from and it's personal," the star is heard saying as a montage of him outside in the snow, water and grass, holding his son Silas in front of a campfire and embracing his wife Jessica Biel plays out. While we can hear snippets of new music in the background, it's Pharrell William's reaction that seals the excitement. "That is a smash," he declares in a studio. While fans have a month left to go before the album drops two days before the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, Timberlake also has the perfect way to ring in the new year a few days late -- with a single. His first track off the album is due out on Friday. Needless to say, we're already drafting our listening party invites. (Eonline)

Mariah Carey Braves Subzero Temperatures to Prove She's Not Lip Syncing During New Year's Rockin' Eve Return. Mariah Carey made a triumphant (and sparkly) return to the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve stage Sunday night (Dec. 31), and it was beyond evident that the 47-year-old had one goal in mind upon ringing in 2018: Leave the now-infamous NYRE flub in 2017. As she took the stage before cameras started rolling, Carey -- dressed in a crystallized nude gown and elegant white fur coat -- laughed off just how freezing it was in Times Square (10 degrees, -7 with windchill, to be exact) by giving eager fans a couple camera-made shots. "Let's get some poses in while we wait," she tells the main stage crowd with a half-shivering smile. Despite clearly feeling the freeze, it was also easy to see that Carey was there to put the naysayers to rest. Once producers counted her into show time, Carey snapped out of her chill and into a roaring rendition of "Vision of Love." Remaining stationary for the entire performance, Carey belted out every note (with a few minor crackles along the way) and allowed for her voice to shine -- and show that she still has plenty of chops without the help of a backing track. Of course, even an almost flawless Mariah performance wouldn't be complete without a diva moment. After finishing "Vision of Love," Carey hinted that a part of her stage setting was missing. "I just want to take a sip of tea if they'll let me -- they told me there would be tea," she said. "Oh, it's a disaster. Okay, well we'll just have to rough it. I'm going to be just like everybody else with no hot tea." Following up the quip with a brief appreciation for those who try to make the world "a more united planet," Carey once again turned up the vocal valor with a run-filled performance of her angelic hit "Hero," complete with a backing choir in white robes. While Carey hit most of her notes and runs flawlessly, fans may have noticed that she toned down some of the more dynamic parts of the songs to cater to her lower register -- something that further displayed her efforts to show she really was singing. And judging by the look on her face as the performance came to a close this year as opposed to last, no technical difficulties got in the way this time around. Even when the cameras stopped, Carey was all smiles and gushed "I love you" back to adoring fans. As the most-hyped part of the four-hour special, Carey's segment was easily the standout of the night. But it certainly didn't make the rest of the night any less exciting, as recently reunited country duo Sugarland kicked things off with a medley of their biggest hits including "Stuck Like Glue," "Baby Girl" and "Something More." Although they didn't debut any new material, the pair's Jennifer Nettles promised that New Year's Rockin' Eve was just the beginning of Sugarland shows: "We'll see you on the road in 2018!" Camila Cabello only had time for one song during her appearance, but she made sure to make "Havana" a special -- and impressive -- moment. The 20-year-old worked her way around the stage as she delivered an energetic version of the Pop Songs-topping hit, taking her on-stage charisma beyond the cameras by engaging with fans as she came and went from the platform. Filling the slot before Carey was Nick Jonas, who made his first Times Square NYRE appearance since 2009 when he and the Jonas Brothers played a medley of their hits. But while Jonas' brothers were in attendance to watch, he did his own medley this time around starting with the Golden Globe-nominated "Home" -- but not before snapping a pic with Ryan Seacrest prior to going live. Like the rest of his fellow New Year's Rockin' Eve 2018 performers, Jonas played off being absolutely freezing almost without notice (aside from sneaking on his gloves during the set-closing "Jealous") and made sure to say hello to fans all around him. As soon as he was done singing, though, Jonas immediately ran for the gray puffy jacket waiting for him side-stage. Cabello, Sugarland and Carey surely made similar moves upon exiting the stage, well deserved after commendable subzero performances -- whether they had something to prove or not. (Billboard)

Movies

Anastasia Grey Learns She's Pregnant in Fifty Shades Freed Trailer. Fans of Fifty Shades Freed got a surprise Monday night. During the season premiere of ABC's The Bachelor, Universal Pictures released a titillating new trailer for the final installment in the trilogy (adapted from E.L. James' best-selling novel series). Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, sharing the screen with Bruce Altman, Kim Basinger, Jennifer Ehle, Marcia Gay Harden, Luke Grimes, Eric Johnson, Robinne Lee, Max Martini, Eloise Mumford, Rita Ora, Victor Rasuk and Callum Keith Rennie. Newbies Brant Daugherty, Tyler Hoechlin and Arielle Kebbel round out the ensemble. The trailer features a high-speed car chase, a power struggle, passionate sex and a wedding -- and it ends with Anastasia getting some surprising news: "It seems you're pregnant, Mrs. Grey." This isn't technically a spoiler, as Anastasia and Christian have two children in the books. For now, it's unclear if the scene from the trailer is related to Anastasia's first or second pregnancy. The first film in the series, Fifty Shades of Grey, was released in 2015 and earned $571 million worldwide against a $40 million budget; its sequel, Fifty Shades Darker, came out in 2016 and earned $381 million worldwide against a $55 million budget. Fifty Shades Freed debuts Feb. 9. (Eonline)

Jodie Foster slams superhero movies, compares studios' 'bad content' to fracking. If you're waiting for Jodie Foster to direct or appear in a superhero movie, don't hold your breath. The Academy Award-winning actress did not mince words when she expressed her thoughts on superhero pics and similar blockbusters. Foster, who recently directed the "Arkangel" episode in the fourth season of Black Mirror, told the Radio Times (via DailyMail) and did not hold back when talking about movies of the Marvel and DC variety saying, "Going to the movies has become like a theme park." She added, "Studios making bad content in order to appeal to the masses and shareholders is like fracking -- you get the best return right now but you wreck the earth." Then in a final jab she said, "It's ruining the viewing habits of the American population and then ultimately the rest of the world." The actress-turned-director made it clear that she does not want to make "$200 million movies about superheroes" and that CGI and that sort of "spectacle" is not the reason why she makes movies. "I feel like I make movies because there are things I have to say in order to figure out who I am or my place in the world, or for me to evolve as a person." (PageSix)

TV

Rose McGowan to Star in New E! Documentary CITIZEN ROSE. Get ready to see the world through Rose McGowan's eyes. E! announced Tuesday that McGowan will star in a new five-part documentary titled CITIZEN ROSE. The series will follow McGowan as she readies her memoir/manifesto BRAVE for release all while going up against the Hollywood machine and those who try to silence her activism. "You are formally invited into my mind and world. I am thrilled to partner with E! to amplify my message of bravery, art, joy and survival," McGowan said in a statement today. "As I ready my book, BRAVE, I realized I wanted to show how we can heal through art even when being hounded by evil. I want to have a conversation with everyone, and most especially, you, about looking at things differently and seeing beauty everywhere. E!'s tremendous reach and impressive platform allow me to globally communicate the importance of living a BRAVE life." "Rose McGowan's courage in addressing sexual abuse and harassment in Hollywood ignited a conversation and inspired other women to speak out against their abusers," Amy Introcaso-Davis, Executive Vice President of Development and Production at E!, said. "We look forward to taking viewers inside this talented, dynamic woman's world as the first allegations unfold and she becomes a leading voice in a critical cultural change." CITIZEN ROSE will premiere Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. with a two-hour premiere, followed by four additional episodes to air in the spring. CITIZEN ROSE is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions with McGowan also serving as Executive Producer. (Eonline)

Hoda Kotb Replaces Matt Lauer as Co-Anchor of NBC's Today. New year, new duo! Hoda Kotb has been named the co-anchor of NBC's Today, making her official debut Tuesday. Kotb will join Savannah Guthrie at the anchor desk during the first two hours of the morning news program -- and she will continue to co-host the fourth hour alongside Kathie Lee Gifford. "We are kicking off the year right because Hoda is officially the co-anchor of Today. Let's give her a round of applause!" Guthrie, who was named an anchor after replacing Ann Curry in 2012, said. "This has to be the most popular decision NBC has ever made, and I am so thrilled!" "I am pinching myself," Kotb said. "I think we should send some medics to Alexandria, Va., where my mom has likely fainted after hearing the open of that show!" Guthrie turned to her and said, "Hoda, you are a partner and a friend and a sister and I am so happy to be doing this." "Well," Kotb told Guthrie, "there is no one I would rather sit next to in 2018 than you." The rest of the NBC/Today family wasted no time congratulating Kotb. Kotb joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline, and she began co-hosting the fourth hour of Today in 2008. She has often filled in for absent anchors -- and she's replacing Matt Lauer, who was fired Nov. 28 after allegations of sexual misconduct by a female coworker. "Over the past several weeks, Hoda has seamlessly stepped into the co-anchor role alongside Savannah, and the two have quickly hit the ground running," NBC News Chairman Andy Lack said in an email Tuesday to staff. "They have an undeniable connection with each other and most importantly, with viewers, a hallmark of Today. Hoda is, in a word, remarkable. She has the rare ability to share authentic and heartfelt moments in even the most difficult news circumstances. It's a tribute to her wide range and her innate curiosity." Lauer, meanwhile, remains jobless. To celebrate her promotion, Kotb posed for the cover of People's Jan. 15 issue (on sale Friday). "When you click with someone, man, woman, it doesn't matter. If it works, it works," she said of her natural chemistry with Guthrie. "We're sort of like sisters, and everybody wants a sister." "There's so much of this that was unexpected. But what's really cool about this is just getting to get up everyday and do the things you love to do with your really good friend who you trust and love and enjoy," Guthrie added. "Our biggest problem is that we actually talk about other things all throughout the show. Sometimes we're like, 'OK, pay attention. Do your jobs ladies!'" The duo also discussed how difficult it was to break the news of Lauer's firing -- live and on-air. "That morning was so hard, but Hoda and I were in it together," Guthrie said. "We are family, and families do go through hard times, and when that happens in good families, you just get closer...It was such a shock to wake up one day and not have Matt, but it was the most natural and comforting thing in the world to have Hoda right there. No one wanted that to stop." Kotb substituted as Guthrie's co-anchor until before the holidays, when NBC execs made a job offer. Throughout the transitional month of December, Kotb insisted she never considered whether she would permanently fill Lauer's chair. "We were just trying to make it through those days together," she said. "Sometimes when you go through something with someone, you see something special. I think that's what happened. I didn't think about whether it would be me." (Eonline)

Mariah Carey was a ratings hero for New Year's Eve. Mariah Carey's comeback and the mercury's dip proved a potent combination for ABC's "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" as viewership soared over last year's telecast. ABC averaged 10.5 million viewers and a 3.0 rating/12 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, a spike of more than 50% in both measures over the 2017 telecast, for the 8-10 p.m. ET portion of the annual special. From 10-11 p.m., the crowd swelled to 15.7 million viewers and a whopping 5.2/20 in the key demo -- up 35% and 39%, respectively, from last year. Those numbers marked the highest scores in that hour since the Ryan Seacrest edition of the "New Year's Rockin' Eve" special bowed in 2000. Specific viewership figures for the 11 p.m.-midnight hour when Carey performed won't be available until Tuesday. But it's clear that America showed up to give the singer another chance after a technical debacle last year led an angry Carey to make a hasty exit from the stage. Meanwhile, Fox also saw a big bounce in viewership by planting Steve Harvey in Times Square for a live special. Compared to last year's Pitbull-hosted event from Miami, "Fox's New Year's Eve With Steve Harvey" attracted nearly five times the crowd (5.8 million from 8-10 p.m. compared to 1.4 million). It didn't hurt that an NFL overrun fed a much larger audience into Harvey's special than repeats of drama series "Bones" and "Lethal Weapon" did last year for Pitbull. Preliminary Nielsen estimates indicate at that Harvey had a lead-in of at least 10 million viewers from "The OT on Fox" in the 7 p.m. ET hour. The Harvey special pulled in a healthy 1.8/8 in adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. Fox carried the live Harvey special from 8-10 p.m. After an hour break for local news on Fox affiliate stations, Harvey returned for the big countdown to 2018 from 11 p.m.-12:19 a.m. Ratings for the final segment won't be available until Tuesday. (PageSix)

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