ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Mayim Bialik, neuroscientist and star of The Big Bang Theory, thinks it's time to change the way we talk about boys' bodies. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, she reveals the cover of her upcoming book Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant. She also discusses how the book delves into what it means to be male from a scientific perspective -- and how we should be raising boys in the #MeToo era. "It is not a biology book and it is not a psychology book," says the 42-year-old mom of two sons, Miles, 12, and Frederick, 9, "It's a little about the variations in our genetics, the variations in our hormones, and the variations in our lifestyles that lead to all of the decisions that we get to make. My hope is that for boys, or anyone who loves a boy or has a son, that this will be a way to open up conversations with children." Boying Up serves as a companion to Bialik's previous book, Girling Up, which she created to answer the questions she had about her body and the sometimes difficult experiences of growing up (she's a self-described "late bloomer"). For both books, Bialik says she had to find a balance as scientist and mother. "That's the story of the balance of my life. Obviously, I think like a scientist. That's what happens when you spend 12 years at school getting a Ph.D. in science," she says. "I write a lot about how my explanations for my kids need to be tempered by some non-scientific and more human aspects. But we also include voices from men throughout the book because obviously I can't speak for men. I don't know anything about shaving -- that's not my thing." She says she spoke with a range of men who have "gone through some sort of self-awareness or psychology in their life" so they could provide insight into the "heavier" topics of growing up male. "The idea was to see some of the more vulnerable sides to them, which I think is missing from a lot of education for boys," she says. "That notion of how important it is to be vulnerable." The book, out May 8, answers a wide range of issues boys face: why their voice cracks, how to handle a crush, how to build muscle, gender stereotypes. It even provides drawings of different penises so readers understand the different sizes and shapes. But Bialik admits that one of the most difficult chapters to write about was male culture. "Boying Up got really special attention in terms of culture," she says. "There wasn't a similar equivalent in Girling Up. [In Boying Up I wrote about] frat culture and what happens when groups of men engage in what is being called 'locker room talk.' "What's the impact of that? I also paid special attention to the ways boys are kind of enculturated with the images we see in media and ... the way that they should treat women," says Bialik. The book educates readers about assault and makes clear what behavior is illegal. The actress says she has had multiple conversations with her sons about the way people should treat others -- both female and male. "My younger son had a really interesting question when we were talking about what assault means. He said, 'Well, what about man on man assault, if it's a gay couple?'" she says. "It made me realize what a different world they're growing up in. They have an understanding and they know about the politics of how we interact. For those of us who were raised without this kind of consciousness, it was a lot more of learning on the fly." While neither of her sons have read Boying Up yet, they were thrilled to pose for the cover. They also love that she's dedicated all of her books to them. But that's where the glamour ends. For Miles and Frederick, this book is just their mom being "science mom." "They think I'm ridiculous in general. I'm just their mom. They really think of me as a scientist more than a celebrity mom, so I think for them [the book] just feels like an extension [of me] always wanting to explain things scientifically," Bialik says. "I have a cold sore right now, which I get every couple of years. It's grossing my children out, like they don't want to look at it. 'Can't you cover it up with makeup?' So I explained to them that the life cycle of a virus has to die by exploding on your face." She laughs and adds, "They don't want science mom." Bialik says that when her older son Miles read Girling Up, he got uncomfortable when he came across the sections on anatomy and dating. Boying Up also touches on female anatomy so that boys can have a better understanding of it -- and that's exactly the way Bialik wants it. "[My editor and I] wanted to present a book that raises the kind of people we hope our children will be," she says. "Meaning I want my boys to know about a girl's body, to not be grossed out or weirded out or avoid talking about it. My sons don't like talking about my 'moon cycle' as I call it, but it's important for them to know that there's nothing wrong with the female body. It's not gross, it's not weird. Sure it's different." She adds: "It may not be pleasant for you to think about, but that's really kind of the overarching principle of this book: What are the things that we would want boys to know about? That's why [Boying Up] includes all of those things, even though my boys are like, 'Eh, do we really have to look at that?'" Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant hits shelves May 8. (People)

Haley Joel Osment's Super Sunday is officially a very messy Monday after he got so pissed about missing a flight out of Las Vegas ... cops had to be called. Haley was trying to get out of Sin City Sunday night, but missed his American Airlines flight ... so they put him on standby Monday morning. Emphasis on standby. According to American ... Haley showed up Monday at 7 AM, but the flight was full, and he started going off -- yelling and swearing in the gate agent's face. Police were called, but we're told Haley left the gate area before the officers arrived. Then came the sequel -- we're told Haley went back to the gate around 8 AM and was even more aggressive. A witness says Haley yelled at the gate agent, "I'll destroy you!" Cops responded again, but again ... he'd fled the gate. Little context, if you haven't been -- Vegas is nuts for the Super Bowl, and flights out are ALWAYS fully booked. Point is ... missing your flight is pretty much a guarantee you ain't getting home anytime soon. (TMZ)

Playboy Bunnies left out in cold during Super Bowl party. A group of Playboy Bunnies at the Super Bowl inadvertently starred in a real-life "Frozen" as arctic weather in Minneapolis toyed with Saturday night's party scene. Snoop Dogg grooved onstage inside Playboy's hot "Big Game" bash at Prive -- where a group of Playmates strutted in their signature satiny outfits and ears. But later, the poor Bunnies were left out in the cold. At 1:30 a.m., with the party packed and Snoop playing Prince's "Let's Go Crazy," the Bunnies headed out as a group into the night. But when they went to a coat check located in a tent outside the club, two of the Playmates were frozen out -- their coats were gone! The brand's beauties, who seemingly hadn't brought any other clothes besides their coveted costumes, frantically searched through the coat racks themselves to no avail as the temperature hit 2 degrees. One Bunny wound up in tears. But beautiful Playmate Nina Daniele -- who's up for Playmate of the Year -- intrepidly told us when Page Six offered her a coat that she was OK, and a colleague hugged her and said, "I'll keep her warm." Meanwhile, over at a Maxim party, there was complete coat-check chaos. One commenter wrote on Facebook: "Our group spent an hour sifting through the piles jackets on the floors ... mink coats, Canada Goose ... all gone." Another commenter added that there were "people fighting for their coats," with another figuring, "Whoever took my jacket better be happy because North Face ain't cheap." (PageSix)

Guess Jeans co-founder Paul Marciano says Kate Upton is lying when she says he sexually harassed her, adding she's about to make a false claim he groped her. Marciano gave TMZ a statement, responding to Upton's tweet that he used his position "to sexually and emotionally harass women." Marciano says, "Ms. Upton provided no details ... She leveled this malicious and false accusation only hours before a gala event at our headquarters in Los Angeles unveiling a new Guess campaign. Ms. Upton told TMZ that 'I'm excited to tell my whole story.'" He goes on ... "I am told that she has been working with others for some time to defame me and will claim that I groped her among other things." Marciano's response ... "This accusation is false. I have never touched Kate Upton. I have never been alone with Kate Upton. I have never acted inappropriately towards her." Sources connected to Marciano tell us he believes Upton is lashing out because Guess ended its relationship with her after a disastrous photo shoot. (TMZ)

Paul Mitchell's son Angus, a co-owner of the Paul Mitchell Company, is being sued for allegedly coercing and cajoling an employee to have sex with him. Tally Rossi claims in a new lawsuit she was hired back in 2012 as a project manager for media/education for the famous hair care company. She claims Angus -- who was married at the time -- used the company as a "hunting ground to find women to date and have sex with." Rossi says Angus began flirting with her, saying he wanted someone just like her. She says in Sept. 2015, Angus invited her to his home, gave her a glass of wine, and while he was talking about his recent divorce, he grabbed her face and forcibly kissed her. She says she cried and pulled away. Rossi says although she rejected him she felt pressure to get into a sexual relationship with him. Specifically, she says he pressured her into taking ecstasy and having sex. She says she felt like she had to do it to save her job. In the lawsuit, filed by Ben Meiselas and Mark Geragos, Rossi says they broke up in January 2016 and no sooner did that happen than she got demoted after getting a negative performance review. Now the twist ... she says in March 2016, she had sex with him again and he wired her $50k because he felt bad she was treated poorly at work. Then, she says, the President of the company lowered the boom, giving her the option to quit immediately or at the end of the day. Rossi is suing for sex discrimination and harassment. We reached out to Angus and the Paul Mitchell Co. ... so far, no word back. (TMZ)

Kim Cattrall's Brother Found Dead After Being Reported Missing. Kim Cattrall announced on Sunday that her brother Christopher Cattrall has been found dead, hours after she posted on social media a plea to help find him after he was reported missing in their native Canada. Royal Canadian Mounted Police had said the 55-year-old had not been seen in Lacombe, Alberta since January 30 and was found deceased on his property. While his death remains under investigation, preliminary information indicates it is not being considered suspicious, they said in a statement to E! News. Christopher, whose family called him Chris, was one of the Sex and the City actress' three siblings and her only brother. "It is with great sadness that myself and my family announce the unexpected passing of our son and brother, Chris Cattrall," Kim, 61, said on Twitter and Instagram later in the day, alongside a photo of her and her brother "At this time we ask for privacy. We want to thank you all on social media for your outpouring of love and support in this trying time." In her earlier plea, the actress had called Christopher a "a one of a kind brother." She said he had left his home with his keys, cell phone and wallet left on the table and his front door unlocked, saying, "This is not like Chris. He would never leave his unlocked home without those items nor his 7 beloved dogs." (Eonline)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Kate Middleton Launches Children's Mental Health Week 2018 With Personal Video. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Royal Patron of children's mental health charity Place2Beho, has recorded a special video message to help launch Children's Mental Health Week 2018, which is from Feb. 5-11 in England. In the video, fans can see a rare peek at the royal, who is pregnant with her third child, as she tells the camera, "Childhood is an incredibly important moment in our lives. It is the time when we explore our personalities, discover the potential that lies within us and learn how to be ourselves." In the video message was filmed at last month's visit to Reach Academy Feltham, the mother of two, going on three, says, "Our experience of the world at this early stage helps to shape who we become as adults, how we begin to feel comfortable in our own skin." The theme of the 2018 campaign, which was created by Place2Be, is "Being Ourselves" and works to encourage children and young people to feel comfortable with who they are in order to cope with life's challenges. George and Charlotte's mother said, "Some children will be facing tougher challenges than others, but I firmly believe that while we cannot change their circumstances, we can ensure that every child is given the best possible support to ensure they fulfill their true potential." "This is best achieved when we, the adults in their lives, work together to give children the emotional strength they need to face their futures and thrive," said the do-gooder. Kate, who has been on a royal tour of Sweden and Norway with husband Prince William, added, Whether we are school leaders, teachers, support staff or parents, we each have a role to play. When we are open and honest with each other about the challenges we face, we can work together to ensure the children in our care have the chance to become the best version of themselves." The Duchess of Cambridge has been Royal Patron of Place2Be since 2013. Kate is also the Patron of Action on Addiction, Royal Patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices, Royal Patron of The Art Room, Patron of The National Portrait Gallery, London, Patron of SportsAid, and Patron of The Natural History Museum and Patron of the 1851 Trust. (Eonline)

Gisele Bundchen is extending an olive branch to the Philadelphia Eagles after her husband Tom Brady's team, the New England Patriots, fell to them, 41-33, at Sunday's Super Bowl LII. "Congratulations Eagles for winning the Super bowl, what a game that was!" wrote Bundchen on Instagram. She continued, "Congratulations Patriots for giving your best and to my love, we are incredibly proud of you because we are able to see every day all the commitment, sacrifice and hard work that you have devoted to become the best in what you do. We love you!" In the accompanying photo, Brady appeared emotional as he hugged his wife and one of their children (the couple shares Benjamin Rein, 8, and daughter Vivian Lake, 5, and Brady is also dad to John "Jack" Edward Thomas, 10, from a previous relationship). Much of Brady's family was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the quarterback's big game. On Saturday night, he shared a group photo taken on the field, writing, "Family and Football." Despite Sunday's loss, Brady still had something to celebrate: he was named MVP for the third time in his NFL career. Brady is also now the oldest player to ever win the title. (People)

Von Miller almost didn't make it Super Bowl LII because his Uber ride broke down before he could even hit the road ... but luckily, the crisis was averted. We got Von boarding an Uber Sunday in Minneapolis ahead of the big game between the Pats and Eagles, and his driver's car wouldn't start. The Broncos star wasn't about to sit around and miss the kickoff -- he bolted from the car and ordered himself a new one. The OG driver told us the car malfunction wasn't due to any icy conditions --as our photog first thought. Seems like it was a combo of headlights and a long wait time for Von. (TMZ)

Kevin Hart Fights With a Super Bowl Security Guard and Drops the F-Bomb on Live TV. Kevin Hart was excited the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots at the 2018 Super Bowl. In fact, he was so excited that he tried to join the winning team on stage for the presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But when a security guard told the 38-year-old comedian he couldn't come up, Hart began to argue with the official. Fans also couldn't help but notice there was a considerable height difference between the two. The entire incident was captured during the live broadcast and immediately turned into Internet gold. However, this wasn't Hart's only memorable moment of the night. The Ride Along star also made headlines when he interrupted a post-game interview and dropped the f-bomb on live TV. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was answering questions about the big game when Hart swooped in and started flapping like an eagle. He then started yelling that Cox was "the best" defensive player in the league. He also admitted he had been drinking. "You know what Philadelphia is a great city," Hart said at one point during the broadcast. "I hope this is an example of what we can do. We gave a f--k." After he realized he swore on live TV, Hart was ejected from the set. Thankfully, everyone was a good sport and laughed about the incident. What was your favorite moment from the Super Bowl? (Eonline)

Logan Paul Returns to YouTube After "Suicide Forest" Video Scandal. Logan Paul has returned to YouTube. The YouTube star, who was at the center of scandal last month after he temporarily posted a video showing the body of a suicide victim while in a forest in Japan, has since returned to YouTube with a new vlog. "Im back," he announced to more than four million of his Twitter followers. "New vlog go watch." The video features the 22-year-old dressed as a bearded man who's washed up on shore. "The maverick Logan Paul showing his face for the first time after the disgraced YouTuber has been spotted across the country hiding his face from paparazzi and seen swallowing his tears on social media like a little baby," a narrator describes in the background. "Yo, hold up -- disgrace? What you mean disgrace, boy? I took a break," he says as he fights with the narrator. "What other YouTuber you know can take a three-week break and still gain 1 million subscribers? After poking fun at the aftermath of the scandal he faced in January, Paul then switches gears from the bit into regular life as he addresses a variety of topics including a $4 million lawsuit he's facing and his recent social media blackout, during which he spoke to suicide prevention experts and released a suicide prevention video. He also pledges to donate $1 million to suicide prevention organizations and signs a petition to have his YouTube account deleted. "No matter how much hate or comments from random strangers... it's noise to me," he says into the camera. "I will never ever ever forget who I am at my core and no one can make me think I'm something otherwise and as long as I'm learning and improving and getting better as a person then we good." "I know for a fact everything I do from this point on will get criticism. It will get backlash because I'm a very polarizing dude," Paul acknowledges. However, he assures his fans, "I'm not going anywhere. Before signing off, he makes a bold pledge. "I am not leaving without denting the mother f--king universe." (Eonline)

Music

Prince's Appearance in Justin Timberlake's 2018 Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Backlash. Prince fans can't stop the feeling that something wasn't right during Justin Timberlake's 2018 Super Bowl halftime show. For the Grammy winner's highly anticipated performance in Minnesota this year, the star elected to feature video of the late icon projected onto a giant white curtain behind him as Timberlake sat at a white piano and performed "I Would Die 4 U" along with the star's vocals. Prior to the performance, reports circulated claiming this year's halftime performer was planning to use a hologram of the musician and Minneapolis native, inciting a mix of responses, including rejection from Prince's former collaborator Sheila E. "Prince told me don't ever let anyone do a hologram of me. Not cool if this happens!" she tweeted on Saturday ahead of the show. However, she later clarified, tweeting, "Family, I spoke w/Justin 2nite and he shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans. I look 4wrd 2 seeing what I'm sure is going 2 be a spectacular halftime show. There is no hologram." While Prince did not ultimately take shape as a hologram, he did appear in the performance through the video footage, causing many of his devoted fans to express their discontent online and point to Prince's previous comments on the subject. "I wish #Prince had written a will. All of this could've been avoided," one fan tweeted. "Honoring Prince is a good thing. Disrespecting his wishes and using his image anyway is damned disrespectful," another fan chimed in. In 1998, Prince addressed the possibility of a technological performance during an interview with Guitar World. "With digital editing, it is now possible to create a situation where you could jam with any artist from the past. Would you ever consider doing something like that?" he was asked. "Certainly not," Prince replied at the time. "That's the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing... it really is demonic. And I am not a demon. Also, what they did with that Beatles song ["Free As a Bird"], manipulating John Lennon's voice to have him singing from across the grave... that'll never happen to me. To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control." However, there were some fans who were happy with the end result. As one Twitter user defended, He honored a legend, made the fans apart of it, and looked like he really enjoyed it. #JustinTimberlake you did a fantastic job haters gonna hate. #prince." E! News has reached out to Timberlake's camp for comment. (Eonline)

Justin Timberlake's 2018 Super Bowl Halftime Show Features Prince, Jimmy Fallon and Plenty of Throwback Hits. Timberlake put on the show of a lifetime. After late-night host and personal pal Jimmy Fallon introduced the performer while perched on a Pepsi sign, Timberlake kicked off his career milestone moment with "Filthy" off his latest album Man of the Woods as he performed for a smaller crowd before making his way into the stadium for the full halftime show. "Let's go!" he urged the thousands of fans watching from inside the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. as he transitioned into his throwback hit "Rock Your Body" surrounded by backup dancers all in sync. However, unlike the 2004 Super Bowl, he was not surprisingly joined by Janet Jackson as some fans had expected. It seemed like Timberlake acknowledged the many rumors when he very briefly paused the performance by shouting "Hold up -- stop!" before launching back into the routine. Joined by his big band, the Tennessee Kids, it was time to launch into a remixed version of "SexyBack" as his dancers and band kept the performance pulsing. While he recently released his fifth album, it didn't stop him from entertaining the crowd with his older hits, including the 2002 track, "Cry Me a River." He then gave the mic a break and showed off his moves on the field. For a change of pace, a full marching band dressed in suits surrounded him on the field as Timberlake started his "Suit & Tie" bit. He slowed it down even further when he urged the fans to turn on their phone lights while he took a seat behind a white piano for "Until the End of Time." While Timberlake wasn't joined by Jackson or 'N Sync, the rumors proved to be true when a video of Prince was projected onto a giant banner behind the performer as the two sang the late icon's classic track, "I Would Die 4 U." After a 360-degree performance of "Mirrors," the show would not be complete with Timberlake's recent chart-topper, "Can't Stop the Feeling!" While he sang the hit, the Grammy winner paid a visit to fans in the stands as he walked up and down a staircase while dancers dressed in colorful shirts kept the show going down below. "It's gonna go by quick," Timberlake said in a behind-the-scenes video ahead of the show -- and he wasn't kidding. Before we knew it, the singer's grand finale had arrived. Just like that, he took back football's night and made it his very own. (Eonline)

Justin Timberlake followed through on his plan to honor Prince during his Super Bowl halftime show ... projecting a video of the late singer instead of a full-blown hologram. JT paid tribute to Prince about halfway through the show with a partial cover of "I Would Die 4 U" -- during which Justin was on piano, and Prince's image appeared on a giant flowing sheet behind him. As we reported ... Justin was expected to use a straight up hologram during the performance based on footage that surfaced during a rehearsal. We were later told it would be a video projection of Prince rather than a hologram ... and it looks like they stuck to that. Prince's ex, Sheila E., and his brother, Omarr Baker, both objected to a Prince hologram and assured fans this weekend that one would not appear. (TMZ)

Pink Kicks Off 2018 Super Bowl With Powerful National Anthem Performance. Before the New England Patriots faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles at the 2018 Super Bowl, Pink took the field to sing the National Anthem. The "Beautiful Trauma" singer didn't let the frigid temperatures at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. hinder her performance. Dressed in silver, the artist belted out the lyrics and gave a truly memorable performance that spurred a roaring round of applause. Singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl is a dream come true for Pink. In a recent Instagram post, the artist revealed she's wanted to sing the song ever since she saw her "idol" Whitney Houston perform the National Anthem at the big game in 1991. However, her dreams were also dashed when the artist came down with the flu. "And now, my chance has finally come. And it just so happens that this chance comes when I have two small Petri dish kids who literally cough INTO MY MOUTH and rub their snot on my cheek. You can't write this stuff I swear!" she wrote on Instagram. "And here we are. I've arrived at another one of my dreams which is slowly becoming a sort of nightmare. I will tell you, this is one of the biggest honors of my life, singing this song in front of my family, my military family, my dad and brother and step mama and family and the world. And the EAGLES!?!?! I promise I will do my best, as I always do. As far as the gremlins that got me into this mess, you can cough at me for the rest of your lives. If it's a contest, babies, you win." (Eonline)

Pink Defends Her 2018 Super Bowl National Anthem Performance. Pink clapped back at haters who criticized her National Anthem performance at the beginning of the 2018 Super Bowl. After one Twitter user said the "Beautiful Trauma" singer "sucks," the artist fired back. "Yeah but at least I suck while singing our countries national anthem, and you just suck by yourself on a dirty couch. #winning," she tweeted. She also bit back at people who criticized her for spitting out what appeared to be gum during her performance. "It was a throat lozenge," she tweeted, defending herself. On the eve of her big game performance, Pink revealed she had come down with the flu. "Trying to practice the flu away," Pink wrote on Instagram. "I've been waiting to sing this song ["The Star Spangled Banner"] since 1991 when I saw my idol, Whitney Houston, own this song. And now, my chance has finally come. And it just so happens that this chance comes when I have two small Petri dish kids who literally cough INTO MY MOUTH and rub their snot on my cheek. You can't write this stuff I swear! And here we are." She then added, "I've arrived at another one of my dreams which is slowly becoming a sort of nightmare," Pink wrote. "I will tell you, this is one of the biggest honors of my life, singing this song in front of my family, my military family, my dad and brother and step mama and family and the world. And the EAGLES!?!?! I promise I will do my best, as I always do. As far as the gremlins that got me into this mess, you can cough at me for the rest of your lives. If it's a contest, babies, you win. #spreadthelove #spreadthegerms #pleasegivememyvoiceback #ificansingimgonnakillit." (Eonline)

Forget the hologram drama, Prince fans are still VERY upset over Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl halftime performance ... and it all stems from an interview the Purple One did in 1998. At the time, Prince sat down with Guitar World Magazine and was asked about the trend of live musicians using technology to duet with someone who had passed away ... think Natalie Cole's version of "Unforgettable" she did with her dad. Here's what Prince said at the time ... Guitar World: "With digital editing, it is now possible to create a situation where you could jam with any artist from the past. Would you ever consider doing something like that?" Prince: "Certainly not. That's the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing... it really is demonic. And I am not a demon. Also, what they did with that Beatles song ["Free As a Bird"], manipulating John Lennon's voice to have him singing from across the grave... that'll never happen to me. To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control." So, when Timberlake used Prince's voice and image to create a duet -- seems like JT did exactly what Prince didn't want. There's more ... Sinbad, the comedian, went off on social media about the drama between JT and Prince that started back in 2006 when Timberlake dropped "Sexy Back." GOIN' IN ON JT At the time, Prince joked that sexy never left ... and Timberlake responded with a diss verse in "Give It To Me" in which he said to Prince, "Don't hate on me just because you didn't come up with it." Timberlake later pulled a stunt where he lowered the mic for Prince to mock his height at the Golden Globes. Sinbad called Timberlake a "punk ass" for the performance -- and seems to want Timberlake to apologize. Don't hold your breath ... (TMZ)

Rae Sremmurd Get Ready for 'Sremm Season' with Booming 'T'd Up'. Raps most energetic duo, Rae Sremmurd, is gearing up for the hyped-up release of the third installment to their SremmLife series. The group dropped their latest record "T'd Up" after Sunday's Super Bowl (Feb. 4). Super-producer Mike WiLL Made It took to Twitter to announce that "Sremm Season" would begin this week, tweeting. "SR3MMSEASON STARTING THIS WEEK. IT'S TIME TO START GIVING Y'ALL THESE NEW WAVES TO VIBE TO. WE APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE & SUPPORT, SREMMLIFE." The track, produced by Metro Boomin, Swae Lee, and Chopsquad DJ, kicks off at high gear from the get-go. Machine gun fast hi-hats, a crisp snare, and deep, brooding 808 drums create the platform for Swae Lee to cruise on the beat. I'm so fresh I need a f**king lint brush/ I don't want the truck if it ain't lifted up/ Drink so fast, I just done got the hiccups/ Took her shopping, she think that I'm the shoe plug," Lee flows. (Billboard)

Drake Rules Australia's Singles Chart With 'God's Plan'. Drake is in Australian chart heaven this week as "God's Plan" (Republic/Universal) rises 5-1 on the ARIA Singles Chart, while The Greatest Showman (Atlantic/Warner) enters a fifth week atop the albums survey. With "God's Plan" summiting in its second week, the Canadian hip-hop star has a second No. 1 after "One Dance" held top spot on the national singles survey in May 2016. "God's Plan," lifted from the Scary Hours EP, is also No. 1 in the U.S. and U.K. With Drizzy taking the Australian crown, last week's top four each drop down one position as Bruno Mars' "Finesse" (Atlantic/Warner) featuring Cardi B leaps 11-6, a new peak, after the song was performed at the 60th Grammy Awards, where Mars was the big winner with six prizes. Just one place behind is Camila Cabello's "Never Be The Same" (Syco/Sony), which rises 12-7, a new best in its third week on the survey. It's Cabello's second top 10 in Australia after "Havana," which topped the singles chart last November. Sydney electronic dance music trio Pnau blast a second top 10 with "Go Bang" (Universal), which improves 14-9 after the track came in at No. 7 on Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown, unveiled on Jan. 27. The winner of the annual poll, Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE." (Interscope/Universal), soars 45-20 in its 44th week on the chart as its parent Damn. vaults 23-13 on the albums list. Another beneficiary of the Hottest 100 is Angus & Julia Stone's "Chateau" (EMI), which landed at No. 3 on Triple J's poll and improves 48-26 on this week's ARIA Singles Chart. On the ARIA Albums Chart, The Greatest Showman continues to entertain the masses as it logs a fifth week at the top while a pair of former No. 1s occupy positions 2 and 3 (Ed Sheeran's Divide and Pink's Beautiful Trauma, respectively). With four entries in this year's Triple J Hottest 100, Youths enjoy a boost on the albums chart as their ARIA Award-winning sophomore album Go Farther In Lightness (Sony) spikes 28-4 in its 24th week. Foo Fighters have just completed their latest stadium tour of Australia, but their impact is still felt on the national albums chart as their Greatest Hits (RCA/Sony) leaps 11-5 and latest studio set Concrete and Gold improves 15-14. Metal rock act Machine Head enjoys the highest new entry with Catharsis (Chaos Reigns/Universal), new at No. 10. (Billboard)

Movies

Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible -- Fallout Trailer Is Full of Car Chases, Helicopters and Explosions. Your first look at Mission: Impossible-Fallout is finally here. In the trailer, which was released during Super Bowl 2018, Tom Cruise returns to the big screen as agent Ethan Hunt with his Impossible Mission Force team by his side. Together, they will fight their way through the streets of Paris, London and many other big cities in their quest to save the world from evil forces. Unsurprisingly, the movie will be filled with helicopters, gun fights and car chases, with Cruise occasionally jumping from one rooftop to another -- minus the broken ankle. And despite taking a break from production to allow the star of the film to heal, fans will be relieved to know that the sequel is still set to be released on July 27. Recently, Cruise told the host of The Graham Norton Show, "It's not fully healed but we are shooting and we have a release date so I just have to keep going." Besides Cruise, famous stars like Alec Baldwin, Henry Cavill and Simon Pegg will be featured in the sixth installment of the Mission: Impossible series, with Cavill and Pegg following Cruise's suit and performing their own stunts. (Eonline)

Dinosaurs Face Extinction (Again) in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Trailer. The dinosaurs are in danger. While some fans tuned in to Super Bowl LII to watch the New England Patriots play the Philadelphia Eagles, movie buffs were excited to see the second trailer for Universal Pictures' Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom debut on NBC Sunday. Debuting in theaters June 22, it stars Geraldine Chaplin, James Cromwell, Jeff Goldblum, Bryce Dallas Howard, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, Daniella Pineda, Chris Pratt, Isabella Sermon, Justice Smith, Rafe Spall and BD Wong. Directed by J.A. Bayona and written by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow, the movie picks up four years after the theme park and luxury resort was destroyed by dinosaurs on the loose. Now, Isla Nublar sits abandoned while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves in the jungle. With the island's volcano ready to erupt, Owen Grady (Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Howard) decided to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from extinction. Owen, in particular, wants to find Blue, his lead raptor who's still missing in the wild. During their expedition, they discover a conspiracy that could return the planet to a "perilous order not seen since prehistoric times." All that begs the question -- do the dinosaurs need saving, or does the human race? As Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) warns, "These creatures were here before us, and if we're not careful, they are going to be here after. Life cannot be contained. Life breaks free. Life finds a way." (Eonline)

There's a petition to get 'Dundee' movie made. Crocodile Dundee is back -- well, sort of. After a "trailer" for "Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home" aired on Super Bowl Sunday, many fans were disappointed to learn what appeared to be a star-packed "film" wasn't ever coming to theaters. Despite the convincing teaser, the spot, starring Hugh Jackman, Chris and Liam Hemsworth, Danny McBride, Isla Fisher, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Ruby Rose and more, is actually the latest campaign for Tourism Australia. Viewers liked the "trailer" so much that a petition was quickly created in hopes that fans could convince the actors to sign on for another installment of the movie franchise, which first began in 1986. "On behalf of Crocodile Dundee lovers around the world, we petition Paul Hogan and actors to create a new installment of the movie. Australia wants it, the world wants it. Stop teasing us and make it happen!" the petition reads. (PageSix)

An exhaustively researched feature documentary about "Lord of the Rings" star Ian McKellen has been acquired by Trafalgar Releasing for the U.S., U.K., and Scandinavia. "McKellen: Playing the Part" is built around 14 hours of interviews with the legendary actor and has a raft of never-before-seen archive material, including behind-the-scenes footage from film and stage. The authorized documentary covers his early years, with access to diaries and private photo albums, his acting career, and his role in the gay rights movement. Trafalgar, formerly known as Picturehouse Entertainment, will release "McKellen: Playing the Part" in the U.K. and Scandinavia this spring and in the U.S. later in the year. In the documentary, McKellen delves into his film work and roles, including Magneto in the "X-Men" franchise and Gandalf in "Lord of the Rings." The film features dramatic re-creations starring Luke Evans, Frances Barber, Adam Brown, Scott Chambers, Milo Parker, and Edward Petherbridge. Joe Stephenson ("Chicken") directed the film. "It was always my intention to make this documentary for theatrical release, to find a way to celebrate the life of one of our greatest actors on the big screen, so I'm delighted to be working with Trafalgar to give audiences the chance to see it as intended with a unique and exciting release," he said. The film is a B Good Picture Company production, produced with Surreal Film Company in association with Ugly Duckling Films and Blue Topaz Productions Ltd., with the support of Great Point Media and Lipsync Productions. International sales are handled by Independent, which did the deal with Trafalgar. Trafalgar's recently promoted director of distribution, Alice De Rosa, said: "We are excited to be working with director Joe Stephenson and his team on this fantastic film, bringing to life the story of Ian McKellen with an unprecedented amount of access to the acting legend." (Page Six)

'Dovlatov' Takes on Censorship and Fake News in 1970s USSR. Aleksey German Jr.'s biopic on Russian journalist and writer Sergey Donatovich Dovlatov has its world premiere in competition in Berlin. Forget the Mueller investigation. If you want a real look at Russian fake news and Moscow's political meddling, check out the trailer for Dovlatov, the new drama from Russian auteur Aleksey German Jr. Posited as six days in the life of writer and reluctant journalist Sergey Donatovich Dovlatov, it traces his struggles to write, and publish, under the censorious strictures of the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Unable to join the Soviet-controlled writers' union, a condition for having his books published, Dovlatov was forced to work as a "journalist," publishing state propaganda as news. It's familiar territory for German Jr., who explored the stifling nature of Soviet culture in his 2008 feature Paper Soldier, which won the Silver Lion in Venice. Dovlatov, which will have its world premiere in competition at the Berlin film festival, follows six days in the life of Sergey Dovlatov and his friend, the poet Joseph Brodsky, before both of them emigrate to New York and escape the Soviet machine. Dovlatov would go on to publish his stories in the New Yorker, but he died of a heart attack in 1990 before he could witness the huge success of his work in post-Soviet Russia. His books have since sold millions of copies and he is one of the best-loved contemporary Russia authors. Check out the first trailer of the film, which gives a feel for Dovlatov's ironic charm, as well as the desperation of his life in the USSR. (Hollywood Reporter)

'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Trailer Brings Back a Sci-Fi Icon. Ron Howard directs the film, which opens May 25. The first full trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story has arrived. After debuting a 40-second teaser during Super Bowl Sunday, the longer look followed on Monday's Good Morning America broadcast. The film stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, with him stepping into the iconic role played by Harrison Ford in the original trilogy as well as 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Donald Glover stars as Lando Calrissian, first played by Billy Dee Williams, while others among the cast include Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson. Ron Howard directs the film, with the filmmaker stepping in last year following the exits of original helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Solo: A Star Wars Story opens May 25. (Hollywood Reporter)

Gabriela Pichler's 'Amateurs' Wins Goteborg Film Festival. Alen Drljevic's 'Men Don't Cry,' about the traumas suffered by Yugoslav war vets, won the first-ever best international film honor. Amateurs, the second feature film from Swedish director Gabriela Pichler (Eat Sleep Die), has won the Dragon Award for best Nordic film at this year's Goteborg Film Festival. The prize comes with a cash bursary of 1 million Swedish krona, around $125,000, making the Dragon Award one of the world's most lucrative film honors. Amateurs is the story of a small Swedish community that, in an effort to attract a big German discount supermarket to bring in jobs, asks local youths to produce films praising their community. But the films do not turn out as planned. The Goteborg jury praised Amateurs for its "vibrant, nuanced and intelligent portrait of a small town in contemporary Sweden, which embraces different generations, backgrounds and mediums." Iram Haq's What Will People Say, about a Pakistani girl living a double life in Norway, received a special mention from the jury. The drama, however, won over Goteborg audiences, picking up this year's audience prize for Best Nordic Film. The Dragon Award for best documentary went to Simon Lereng Wilmont for The Distant Barking of Dogs, a portrait of 10 year-old Oleg and his grandmother, who live in a rundown house on the frontline of the war in eastern Ukraine. Director Wilmont followed them for several years, watching Oleg grow up on the edge of war. Sofia Haugan's My Heart Belongs to Daddy, in which the director reconnects with her father, an amphetamine-addicted criminal, earned a special mention from the documentary jury. Another autobiographical story -- Cristina Pinheiro's Menina -- took this year's Ingmar Bergman award for best debut feature. The film follows a 10-year-old girl, growing up in a Portuguese family in southern France, caught between a love of home and longing to escape. The first-ever Dragon Award for best international film, picked by the audience of the Goteborg festival, went to Men Don't Cry from Alen Drljevic, making his directorial debut after working as an assistant director on the films of Berlin Golden Bear winner Jasmila Zbanic (Grbavica, On the Path). The drama follows macho war veterans from former Yugoslavia who gather for a therapy session to discuss their shared trauma. Other awards handed out in Goteborg Saturday night include the Sven Nykvist cinematography award for Sophia Olsson for her lensing of Milad Alami's psychological drama The Charmer; the international film critics honor, the Fipresci, for Isold Uggadottir's And Breathe Normally; and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for best Scandinavian TV series, for the Danish drama series Ride Upon the Storm and its writer Adam Price. This year's Honorary Dragon Award for lifetime achievement went to French actress Juliette Binoche, while Alicia Vikander won the Nordic Honorary Dragon Award, presented to Scandinavian talent. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

This Is Us Super Bowl Episode Finally Reveals What Happens to Jack. Surprise! Jack Pearson didn't die in the fire. We kinda thought we were being tricked when Jack emerged relatively sorta kinda unscathed from the burning house with the dog in his arms at the start of Sunday night's "historic" Super Bowl episode. But alas, we were not being tricked. Jack is dead, and he was killed by the fire. Just not in the fire. And as cavalier as we're trying to be right now, that's not how we're feeling. That was incredibly devastating in so many ways, but mostly because of Mandy Moore 's Emmy-worthy performance. This was her episode to shine and Rebecca's to both fall apart and stay so impossibly together. The first couple minutes were wildly terrifying, with Jack rushing to save his family from the fire, lowering them out of a second story window on a rope made of sheets or shielding himself and Kate with a mattress that was only kind of working. Then, he ran back in to get Kate's poor dog, which is exactly how everyone assumed Jack would die. But then, after way too long, Jack came back out with the dog and a few important family belongings, like a photo album and the video of Kate singing. The EMT told him to go to the hospital because he needed burns treated and he inhaled a lot of smoke. Aside from the fire, the hardest part of the episode was watching Rebecca try to make hotel reservations and call her kids at a payphone and seeing that something was clearly going on in the background. The smoke inhalation apparently was so hard on his lungs that he went into "catastrophic" cardiac arrest and died while she was arguing with a hotel and making fun of Randall on the phone. Her last interaction with her husband was sticking her tongue out at him when he joked that she was in front of the TV. She laughed at the doctor and stuffed a Twix bar in her mouth when he told her what had happened, and only believed it when she got to Jack's room and saw him lying there. The entire grown-up family spent the episode dealing with the 20-year anniversary of Jack's death. Kate wallowed, watching the audition tape Jack made of her, while Randall tried to be positive, throwing a Super Bowl party for his daughters and their friends until a dead lizard ruined the day a bit. Rebecca made Jack's favorite lasagna and ate it while watching the game. She invited Kevin to join her, but his strategy involved ignoring any and all things dad-related. When that didn't work, he ended up going to Jack's tree and having a talk with him. And then, obviously, the episode couldn't leave us without another twist. While Randall and Beth were waiting for a call telling them they had a new foster kid and comforting Tess over her fears that her dad wanted a new life, we saw a young kid talking to a social worker who explained that she had found him a new family. We were led to believe that the new family was Randall and Beth until a white couple arrived, and an assistant arrived to tell the social worker that her dad was there. In walks a much older Randall, there to hang out with social worker Tess. Meanwhile, back in the present, Deja had returned to the Pearson house. That was just an incredible, beautiful hour of TV, but what's new? This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)

Ryan Murphy's The Politician Starring Ben Platt (and Maybe) Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbra Streisand Lands at Netflix. Not content with owning airwaves on Fox and FX, Ryan Murphy is expanding his reach to Netflix once again. A source told E! News Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan have sold The Politician, a musical political comedy starring Ben Platt, to Netflix with a two-season order. Murphy currently has Ratched, the One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next prequel starring Sarah Paulson, also in the works with the streaming giant. The Politician, according to reports, centers on the Dear Evan Hansen star as Payton, a wealthy man with political ambitions. Each season will see the character in a new race with plenty of musical numbers. Sound appealing? Wait, there's more: Barbra Streisand and Gwyneth Paltrow are also in talks to star. "I've been anxiously waiting to share this news with the world. Life, and @MrRPMurphy, are but a dream. We're gonna knock your socks off. See you on @netflix," Platt tweeted. Deadline, which first broke the news, reports Murphy will direct the pilot and Streisand could step behind the camera to helm episodes of the series as well. Netflix declined to comment on the reports. Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan created Glee together. Oscar winner Paltrow is engaged to Falchuk and previously appeared on Glee. Her guest appearance got her an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Platt, who previously appeared in the Pitch Perfect movies, won a Grammy and a Tony for the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. Streisand, who has two Oscars, 10 Grammys, five Emmys and a special Tony, previously teamed with Netflix for Barbra: The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic!, a concert documentary. In addition to The Politician, Murphy's shows include American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Feud and Pose at FX. His Fox drama 9-1-1 was recently renewed for a second season and the previously mentioned Ratched it in the works. (Eonline)

Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. Channel Dirty Dancing in 2018 Super Bowl Commercial. i We all know Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. can play football, but who knew they could also dance? The two football players showed off their moves in a 2018 Super Bowl commercial. In the ad, Manning throws a pass to Beckham Jr. After the wide receiver catches the ball, he turns to look at the quarterback and "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing starts playing. The two players then break out into a full dance routine. The choreography is pretty impressive, too. It includes everything from spins, to shuffles to a full-on lift that would even make Patrick Swayze proud. What did you think of their routine? (Eonline)

Tiffany Haddish Shows the Pains of Not Shopping Local in 2018 Super Bowl Commercial. Not only is Tiffany Haddish hilarious, beautiful and relatable, she's also an avid Groupon user. So it only made sense for the discount site to hire her as their official spokesperson, especially after her funny story about taking her co-star Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith on a Groupon swamp tour went viral. When Groupon heard about the viral story in which she took the ultra-famous couple on a tour through the swamps of Louisiana, they knew they had to have her as their spokesperson. In her official commercial debut as the company spokesperson during the 2018 Super Bowl, Haddish showed just what happens to people who don't support local businesses -- you can basically expect a football being kicked to your groin. The 38-year-old can attest to how good it feels when you do support local businesses, as the actress exclusively told E! News, "It is the best damn thing in the world." She even revealed that she not only purchased a bidet off the discount site, but also a coat and gloves -- all while saving herself her well-earned money. (Eonline)

Surprise! The Cloverfield Paradox Streamed on Netflix After the 2018 Super Bowl. Ava DuVernay promised something big and she wasn't kidding! Ahead of the 52nd Super Bowl Sunday night, the Oscar-nominated director teased her millions of followers with a hint about something in store for the night's broadcast. "#FilmTwitter is going to explode tonight," she alerted everyone online. "Something is coming that I can hardly believe. Lawd. History in the making." Naturally, the hint sent followers into a frenzy theorizing over what she could be referencing. However, it wasn't long before the proof was on everyone's screens when a trailer for The Cloverfield Paradox aired with little prior publicity. As an added twist, the film will be available to stream on Netflix after the big game. With the story by Oren Uziel and Doug Jung, screenplay by Uziel and directed by Julius Onah, the movie also stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo among others. "Woman of color-led, sci-fi thriller released worldwide day + date w/ big Netflix muscle for black director, his super producer + POC cast," DuVernay tweeted. "No advance press, ads, trailer. Straight to the people. Gamechanger. Congrats to helmer #JuliusOnah + my dears JJ, Gugu, David. #Cloverfield." Meanwhile, fans joked about the Cloverfield franchise's increasingly quick transitions from trailer to silver screen -- or, in this case, small screen. As for a synopsis of the wave-making film, Netflix has described the plot as the following: "Orbiting above a planet on the brink of war, scientists test a device to solve an energy crisis and end up face-to-face with a dark alternate reality." Thankfully, you don't have to wait very long to watch the movie and figure out the mystery! (Eonline)

Chris Pratt Bares his Abs in 2018 Michelob ULTRA Super Bowl Commercial. Chris Pratt is training for the role of his lifetime -- starring in a Michelob ULTRA Super Bowl commercial. In the 2018 Super Bowl ad, the Guardians of the Galaxy actor gears up for a starring role in the Big Game commercial. From lifting mini weights to naming his beer commercial character, Pratt goes all in to get ready for big ad. At one point, he even gives viewers a glimpse of his abs. "You gotta be fit. You gotta love Michelob Ultra," he says in the spot. "It's not like anyone else could do this." But when Pratt shows up at the studio lot to film the commercial he sees a crowd of people looking to audition. (Eonline)

Natalee Holloway's mom is suing Oxygen Media, claiming they duped her into providing a sample of her DNA under the false claim they had discovered what they believed were her daughter's remains. Elizabeth Ann Holloway says in the lawsuit, Oxygen set out to do a 6-part docuseries on Natalee's 2005 disappearance. The premise was that the network had new evidence concerning her disappearance. Elizabeth says she was told they found human female remains that could be her daughter's. Elizabeth says Oxygen lied to her ... no such remains were ever found. She says she was horribly embarrassed and never would have provided her DNA or participated in the show had she known the truth. She's also suing on behalf of her daughter using a legal theory called "outrage." She says the series was not legit ... rather it was a "pre-planned farce." (TMZ)

'Property Brothers' Ink New Deal to Stay Put at HGTV. Drew and Jonathan Scott are the de facto faces of the Scripps network, with four series on the air. HGTV is not letting go of The Property Brothers. The Scripps-owned network just wrapped up a deal to keep renovation siblings Drew and Jonathan Scott put for at least several more years. The Scotts, who broke out on HGTV with their first namesake series in 2011, now have four series on the air and are responsible for more original episodes annually on the top 10 cable network than any other talent. Their current roster includes the original Property Brothers, spinoffs Buying & Selling and At Home and competition series Brother vs. Brother -- many of them produced in part by their Scott Brothers Entertainment shingle. "Their work ethic and commitment means they can produce and star in an incredible amount of content in a very short period of time," Scripps Networks Interactive GM of U.S. programming and development Allison Page tells The Hollywood Reporter. "It also ensures we have a premiere episode with them 52 weeks a year, which is an amazing feat and not something we've achieved with anyone else." The exclusive pact comes as the brothers become more Los Angeles-based and an increasingly mainstream presence. Drew competed on the most recent season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars, placing fourth. They have a combined Instagram following of roughly 2.5 million. "We're beyond excited to continue the relationship with our incredibly talented friends at HGTV," Drew said in a statement about the news. Jonathan added: "We truly love what we do, and promise that even though we have a ridiculous amount of fun, we'll actually get a little work done, too, and continue helping families through our shows." With the exception of retiring series Fixer Upper, the Property Brothers are also responsible for HGTV's highest-rated programs. The original and Brother vs. Brother both regularly fetch more than 2 million live viewers before substantial time-shifting lifts. Their portfolio also held a significant percentage of appeal in the massive streaming deal that moved much of Scripps' catalog from Netflix to Hulu. Securing a future with the Scotts comes at a time when HGTV is particularly incentivized to hold onto such talent. The stars of Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines, wrap their series in April -- and Discovery Communications' massive $11.9 billion deal to acquire Scripps Networks Interactive is also expected to be finalized in 2018. Page says that, finances aside, the Scotts and similar talent get something from HGTV that isn't easily found at other outlets. "What we provide is a robust, multiplatform brand that's committed to them," she says. "It's not about a single show or a single idea, it's a 360-commitment." The Scotts are repped by CAA. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV Ratings: Super Bowl 2018 Slides a Little in Early Numbers. Sunday's game is off a mere 3 percent from that of 2017, though it's enough to spell a potential eight-year low among households. Sunday's Super Bowl, the highest-scoring game in its 52-year history, look slightly diminished in early numbers. The marquee event of the television calendar, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles nab their first Super Bowl victory, averaged a 47.4 overnight rating among metered market households on NBC. That's down 3 percent from initial numbers for the 2017 game, a modest drop but one that marks the franchise's lowest performance since 2010. The past two Super Bowls, which averaged a respective 48.8 (2017) and 49 (2016) overnight ratings, were each steady with over 111 million viewers. (There was a massive spike in streaming in 2017, which technically put the game at 113.7 million viewers.) It was certainly a competitive game. Though the Eagles maintained a lead for all but a few minutes in the fourth quarter, the New England Patriots had a very real chance of winning their sixth championship with quarterback Tom Brady until the final minute. Still, the 2018 Super Bowl seemed predestined to see fatigue no matter the kind of game. Concerns about NFL interest were aplenty heading into Sunday. Overall league ratings were down for the second year in a row, falling just shy of 10 percent for the regular season. There's no singular reason for the drops -- but poor primetime match-ups early in the season, ongoing controversy about players choosing to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality against black Americans and the natural ebb and flow of interest all clearly played some part. The league was gifted two seemingly ideal markets for the 2018 pairing in Philadelphia and New England, though another real concern over the Super Bowl's TV appeal, frankly, has been the frequency with which the Patriots have appeared in recent years. The Super Bowl's highest rating was the last time NBC aired the game. The 2015 NFL Championship, a narrow Patriots win over the Seattle Seahawks, averaged a stunning 114.4 million viewers. (Overnights for that game were also at a high, with 49.7 rating and a 72 share.) Updates and additional ratings to come throughout Monday, including viewership for the game and information on who watched NBC's special airing of This Is Us. (Hollywood Reporter)

Discovery Wants to Leverage the Olympics to Create a "Netflix of Sports" for Europe. The U.S. company behind 'Shark Week' and 'Deadliest Catch' is using Pyeongchang to launch what it hopes will become a pan-European player. When the Olympic torch is lit in Pyeongchang, David Zaslav will be paying close attention. The CEO of Discovery Communications has put down a $1.6 billion bet that the Games can transform his business in Europe, turning a cable company best known for the likes of Shark Week and Deadliest Catch into a "Netflix for Sports" on the continent. Discovery picked up exclusive rights across Europe, excluding Russia, for the next four Olympics for 1.3 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in 2015, making it the second-biggest Olympics broadcaster after NBC. But while NBC is targeting only American audiences, Discovery's Olympics audience will be spread across 50 countries on its pan-continental Eurosport channel, an ESPN-style network Discovery acquired from French network TF1 for $1.7 billion in two stages across 2014-15. Discovery is going all in with its coverage in Pyeongchang, promising more than 4,000 hours, including some 900 hours of live action. Pyeongchang 2018 is "the biggest undertaking of a single event" in Discovery's history, according to Jean-Briac Perrette, president of Discovery Networks International. But the real innovation, and the true testing ground of Discovery's new sports strategy, will be the Eurosport Player, an interactive platform that will offer, according to the channel's hype, "every minute, every athlete and every sport" of the 2018 Olympics, "live and on-demand" for viewers on PCs, tablets and mobile devices. The Eurosport Player does away with traditional Olympics programming by letting viewers pick the sports they want to watch, from figure skating warm-ups to the curling semi-finals. Crucially, given that Eurosport is targeting viewers across dozens of competing countries, the player will allow national audiences to customize which teams or local heroes they choose to follow. It's what Zaslav means with his "Netflix of sport" analogy. A lot is riding on Discovery's Olympics streaming experiment. Last November kicked off with news of a slight dip in Discovery Communications' third-quarter earnings, which fell from $219 million to $218 million, and Zaslav has made it clear the company is shifting its business model toward a more direct-to-consumer approach. Zaslav outlined in an industry talk in early January that Eurosport aims to create online subscription services catering to superfans of particular sports. To see if they're reaching those ski-jump and luge fanatics, Discovery will be aggregating viewing figures in a completely new way, tracking viewership across all platforms, both live and catch-up. "We'll be rolling out this new metric, which we think is more applicable to the 2018 reality of how people are consuming content," said Perrette in late 2017. While the new metric isn't yet a currency in the ad sales market, Discovery is hoping it will be recognized as a more accurate way of capturing true viewing figures compared to overnight ratings, which Perrette termed a "prehistoric way of looking at video consumption." What Discovery learns from its Olympics trial run -- and the company will be sharing all of its viewership data with the International Olympic Committee -- will inform future Games coverage. Still, Pyeongchang is looking like a loss leader for Discovery. Jefferies analyst John Janedis estimated, in a report late in 2017, that the Olympics would result "in a $40 million drag on 2018 operating income before depreciation and amortization." But Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels points to lucrative sublicensing deals the company has signed with the likes of the BBC and German public broadcasters, as well as with Amazon in select European territories, to provide them with live footage of the 2018 Games. Overall, "we do not expect the Olympics to have a material impact on our full-year profit," Wiedenfels said about the 2018 Games. "Content licensing will help recoup much (or possibly most?) of the 1.3 billion euro commitment the company made," wrote Pivotal Research Group analyst Brian Wieser in a Jan. 9 report on Discovery's Olympics deal, estimating that Discovery stands to make $123 million to $184 million in licensing fees for the 2018 and 2020 Games in Germany alone. Discovery is looking to build on the next two Olympics in Asia -- the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing -- before a presumed payoff in 2024, when the Summer Olympics will be held in Eurosport's home city of Paris. Discovery helped the French capital secure the Games over its main rival, Los Angeles, backing the city in the first round of bidding in 2017. Eurosport now stands to reap the benefits of having an Olympics in a European time zone. But first, it has to make things work in Pyeongchang. (Hollywood Reporter)