ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Enrique Iglesias is so enamored with his twins! The singer, 42, expressed the joys of being a father to his fans during a concert in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday evening, marking the first time he has publicly spoken out about his kids, Nicholas and Lucy. "I became a father 12 weeks ago and I can absolutely tell you two things: I love my babies! I love them very much," Iglesias enthusiastically told the crowd at the Budapest Sports Arena as seen in video captured by attendees. In addition to the sweet shout-out, the father of two also dedicated a message to the mother of his twins and partner of 16 years, Anna Kournikova. "Actually three things: I love my girl and I super f -- ing love you guys for being here tonight. This is for your loyalty," Iglesias added. The couple welcomed their son and daughter on Dec. 16 in Miami. Earlier this month, Iglesias shared a sweet video on Instagram, showing him kissing one of his twins over and over again while repeating, "Muah!" And in a separate post, Kournikova copied Iglesias' caption as she smooched the cheek of the other baby. Their joint clips came nearly two months after the pair confirmed the arrival of their babies when they shared the first photos of the twins. Iglesias has long thought Kournikova would be the "ideal mother," telling PEOPLE en Espanol in 2007, "I think she'd be the perfect mother, and I say it regardless of whether I'd be with her or not." (People)

She wants to be his end game! Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn's relationship is more serious than ever. The 10-time Grammy winner, 28, and the British actor, 27, are going steady and already thinking about settling down. "Taylor really believes Joe is the one for her," an insider reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. "She wants to get engaged to him. She just doesn't feel as though she has to impress anyone at this point." Although Swift has notoriously dated former suitors in the public eye, she's enjoying keeping her romance with Alwyn out of the spotlight. "This is the first time she's kept the guy private," the source tells Us. "She really likes Joe. She wants to keep her personal life separate from her work life." Adds the pal, "Joe feels privileged that he gets to be with Taylor. And he is happy being out of the spotlight." The Mary Queen of Scotts actor has also supported Swift as she prepares for her Reputation world tour, and he'll be joining her on the road! "[Taylor's] gonna be on tour soon and Joe will be there and she realized there's no point in not living her life," a source told Us in December. "All her friends know about their relationship anyway. She feels confident in their relationship and Joe really loves her. She really thinks he might be the one. She loves that he is confident and has his own career. She also likes that he doesn't seek attention and is low-key." Us exclusively reported the "Delicate" crooner and the The Favorite actor's romance in May 2017. Although it is unclear when they started dating, the duo first crossed paths at the Met Gala in 2016 while Swift was still dating ex Calvin Harris. (US Weekly)

Bristol Palin Reacts to Being Named Sister Willow's Maid of Honor. It's time to start planning a wedding! Less than two months after Willow Palin received a romantic proposal from boyfriend Ricky Bailey, the bride-to-be is preparing for her big ceremony. First on the agenda? It's time to ask older sister Bristol Palin to be the maid of honor. "It's official, I cannot wait!!" Bristol revealed on Instagram Tuesday afternoon after saying yes. "#MOH #1" According to the post, Willow asked her family member by making a pizza with olives that spelled out MOH. She also received a gift box complete with nail polish, Sugarfina candy and more. "You're #2 actually," sister Piper Palin later joked in the comments. Bristol would reply, "Not even sorta." LOL! Back in December, Sarah Palin confirmed her daughter's engagement on Instagram with photos from the proposal. Days before Christmas arrived, Ricky got down on one knee at Rockefeller Center in New York City where he popped the all-important question. After saying yes, Willow showed off her engagement ring on Instagram and revealed just how supportive her sisters were. "@bsmp2 spoiling me all the way from Texas! Thank you sis," she shared on social media. "Anyone else become a hot friggan mess when they get wedding gifts? I am such a baby and cry over everything wedding related." While the wedding date remains a secret, all signs point to a bride-to-be making big progress on her big day. "Thank you @bateaubridalboutique for making this so easy!" Willow recently wrote on Instagram with a sign that read "I said yes to the dress." We can't wait to see! (Eonline)

Annette Bening, Warren Beatty angling to get daughter into Juilliard. Hollywood stars Annette Bening and Warren Beatty are on a charm offensive to help get their 18-year-old daughter Ella Beatty into the prestigious Juilliard School, sources tell "Page Six TV." The legendary music, arts and acting school is notoriously difficult to get into, and the audition process is famously tough. We hear that at this stage, there are about 50 finalists who have been attending a three-day intensive immersion at the Lincoln Center-based school to face teachers, administrators, matriculating students and run a gamut of performance and dance workshops. Four-time Oscar nominee Bening even showed up last Friday with her daughter and stood in line with other proud parents. We hear that when the parents were asked to introduce themselves by first names and hometowns in front of the group, Bening said she was "Annette from Kansas." (The "American Beauty" star was born in Topeka.) Sadly for some excited moms in the group, there was no sign of handsome Beatty. (Perhaps after last year's Oscars snafu, the family was worried he'd plug the name of the wrong student.) Ella will find out in the coming weeks if she made it in. She's made a splash before with her famous parents when she accompanied them on the red carpet of Los Angeles' AFI Fest in 2016 when her mother was honored. One enthused report at the time read, "Ella, 16, stunned in a navy-blue bandage mini-dress and nude-colored pumps. The beauty (who's the youngest of four) is a perfect mix" of Bening and Beatty. The starry parents have three other kids: Stephen, Benjamin and Isabel. Other stars who got their start at Juilliard include Robin Williams, Kevin Spacey, Kelsey Grammer, Adam Driver, Kevin Kline and wife Phoebe Cates, Val Kilmer and Jessica Chastain -- who seems to mention graduating from the school in nearly every interview she does. (PageSix)

Cheryl Burke Taking a Break From Social Media While "Dealing With Some Personal Things." Cheryl Burke is hitting the pause button on social media. On Tuesday evening, the Dancing With the Stars pro announced to her Instagram and Twitter followers that she won't be posting for the immediate future. "I'm dealing with some personal things right now and need to take a break from social media," Cheryl wrote. "Thanks for understanding and remember to tell the people who are important to you just how much you love them each and everyday." She would sign the note, "Xoxo Cheryl." Immediate reaction from fans and followers was supportive and encouraging as the Dancing Lessons author signed off from the sites. It's been a big year for Cheryl who continues her romance with Matthew Lawrence. After a stint on Dance Moms and competing on Dancing With the Stars with partner Terrell Owens, the dancer continued working on her CeeBee activewear line as seen on QVC. And while Cheryl is staying mum on the specific reasons behind her break, she certainly isn't the first -- or last -- celeb to take a well-deserved hiatus from social media. Iggy Azalea, Ed Sheeran, Kerry Washington and Demi Lovato are just some of the familiar faces who have taken a step back at one point in their career. And as it turned out, they all eventually returned to social media in some capacity. Hope to hear from you soon Cheryl. (Eonline)

Justin Theroux Is Reportedly Rebounding With Artist Petra Collins -- But Has The Romance Cost Her A Friendship With Selena Gomez? Justin Theroux has reportedly found love again following his split from Jennifer Aniston! On Tuesday, reports emerged that The Leftovers actor is now dating 25-year-old artist Petra Collins. Damn, he moves on quickly. Hey, we can't be the ONLY ONES thinking this!! Justin and Jennifer only JUST announced their breakup back in February. Nonetheless, per Star magazine, the 46-year-old star is "obsessed" with Miz Collins, who is best known for being pals (and a collaborator) with Selena Gomez. It's said the new couple have been enjoying "cozy dinner dates" together. On the budding romance, a source spilled: Yeah, we wouldn't "buy it" either if we were Aniston. So how did these two meet?? According to gossip, Justin and Petra met via the NYC art scene, where they "hit it off right away." This explains why the Mute star was SO EAGER to remain living in the Big Apple. For further evidence that these two are connected, Theroux tagged Petra in an Instagram post -- just BEFORE news of his breakup went public. He shared: We see you, Petra!! Speaking of IG clues, Selly G recently unfollowed Collins on the picture sharing site. Perhaps the Wolves singer doesn't approve of the match?? We're speculating, but we wouldn't be shocked if this were true, as Selena and Jennifer ARE ALSO FRIENDS. Looks like some divorce drama is about to unfold. (Perez Hilton)

After Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their separation in 2015, the couple went through a heartbreaking period of nearly two years where the actress tried to save their marriage. "She put her heart and soul into fixing the relationship and wanted so desperately to turn things around for the children's sake as well as theirs," says a pal. "She forgave him for so much, and still he couldn't change." That didn't stop the Oscar winner from trying to win his ex-back after the divorce, an insider reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. Since the April 2017 divorce filing, "he's begged her to come back several times, but she has no interest," says the insider. Yes, even though the Batman v. Superman actor, 45, has officially moved on to Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus, he had at one point been telling friends he wanted his ex-back. (A source close to the couple denies Affleck is "looking back," insisting, "When they filed and decided they were moving on, that was it.") For the Peppermint actress, also 45, his efforts were ultimately too little, too late. But for a brief moment, reveals another source, a reconciliation seemed possible. As Us previously reported, Garner helped Affleck enter rehab for alcohol abuse late last year. "When Ben was in rehab, Jennifer was there every day, visiting," says the source. "They did family counseling to work on their relationship." "Things looked positive," the source says of the parents, who share children Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6. "Jennifer was very caring, very present. They both wanted it to work." Ultimately, Garner was reminded of the struggles her ex would always have. The source close to the duo notes, however, "there were a number of reasons" their relationship failed. And Affleck "is continuing to work on himself and stay healthy." The pair announced their separation on June 30, 2015, 10 years after they wed on June 29, 2005. Now, Affleck has been with Shookus, 37, for nearly a year. "He loves and adores her," says a source. "This is a relationship he takes seriously." The Alias alum, too, is open to loving again. Recently, Garner has begun going on few quiet L.A. dates with new men -- including one Affleck look-alike, says a source. "Jen is ready to go with her feelings and give love another try," explains the pal. And while it's "no exaggeration to say that Ben broke her heart and left her in a terrible place emotionally," adds the pal, "it's been almost three years since they called it quits. It's time for her to move on." (US Weekly)

Chris Sullivan filmed 'This Is Us' wedding with food poisoning. Kate and Toby's wedding looked every bit like a dream ceremony on Tuesday's finale of "This Is Us," but as actor Chris Sullivan recalled, the experience was anything but enjoyable. "At my real wedding, I wore traditional Celtic garb -- a kilt. At Kate and Toby's wedding I had food poisoning," Sullivan revealed Tuesday on "The Tonight Show." Sullivan, 37, has been married to short-film producer Rachel Reichard for six years. And while he didn't divulge what prompted the sickness, Sullivan said there was "some sweating" and heavy breathing. "This Is Us" wrapped its sophomore season with yet another tearjerker, as Sullivan's Toby Damon wed Chrissy Metz's Kate Pearson. While all the Pearsons made an appearance Tuesday night -- spoiler alert: including patriarch Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) -- the episode also introduced Toby's parents, played by Wendie Malick and "Wonder Years" alum Dan Lauria. "Fred Savage and I have something in common," Sullivan joked. As for what fans can expect in Season 3, Sullivan wasn't up for much sharing. "There will be ups, there will be downs. All you need to know is that 'This Is Us,'" he said. "This Is Us" returns to NBC this fall. (PageSix)

Death of Ellen DeGeneres' girlfriend kickstarted her career. Despite being one of the funniest people in Hollywood, Ellen DeGeneres has suffered through tragedy. "My girlfriend was killed in a car accident when I was, like, 20 years old," DeGeneres shared on Dax Shepard's podcast "Armchair Expert." "And I wasn't doing comedy, I think I was probably waitressing someplace at the time. I was living with her when she was killed." Unable to afford their apartment after her girlfriend's passing, DeGeneres moved into a crummy basement apartment. "... I was sleeping on a mattress on a floor and it was infested with fleas. And I used to write all the time, I wrote poetry and songs and stuff, and I thought, 'Why is this beautiful 21-year-old girl just gone and fleas are here?'" she recalled. The talk show host, 60, turned her mourning into the material for her first stand-up routine, which ultimately launched her career. "I just thought it would be amazing if we could just pick up the phone and call up God and ask questions and get an answer," DeGeneres said of her "Phone Call to God" sketch. "It just unfolded, I just wrote the entire thing and when I finished, I read it and I thought, 'Oh my God, that's hilarious. I'm going to do this on Johnny Carson and I'm going to be the first woman in the history of the show to be asked to sit down.'" Her dreams came true, as she was the first female comedian to ever be asked to sit down after her act on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." (PageSix)

Tori Spelling's mother, Candy Spelling, isn't a huge fan of the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum's husband, Dean McDermott, a source tells Us Weekly exclusively. "She can't stand him," the insider says, adding that Tori, 44, and Candy, 72, also have a "really complicated, kind of horrible relationship." Still, another source claims, "Tori and Dean's marital problems have nothing to do with Candy." After all, the True Tori alum and the Stories From Candyland author have been through plenty of highs and lows through the years. Back in 2014, Tori admitted on Access Hollywood Live that there was "not currently much of a relationship" nor "much communication" between her and her mom at the time. "You always want that relationship, and you keep wanting to attain it, even if it's something you can't ever get ... and it's hard," she explained during the interview. "I think the biggest thing in a mother-daughter relationship is accepting the relationship for what it is, not what you want it to be. And I haven't gotten there yet. I still want that mother-daughter relationship that I hope it can be." Tori also explained at the time that her issues with her mom stemmed, in part, from their mutual affection for the actress' father, TV legend Aaron Spelling, who died in 2006. "I was very much a daddy's girl," she said. "And as an adult, I can go back and look at the relationship and see that he kind of always positioned [Candy] as, like, he was good cop, she was bad cop. And he kind of created a little bit of that dynamic. It wasn't just all her." Earlier in 2014, Candy told Access Hollywood, via her rep, that she "reaches out often to see" her grandchildren, but Tori and McDermott, 51, "are not often responsive." More recently, a source told Us exclusively that "Candy pays for all of the kids' expenses." (The couple share Liam, 11, Stella, 9, Hattie, 6, Finn, 5, and Beau, 12 months.) Tori and the Chopped Canada host's marriage has been making headlines as of late after police visited them three times within a nine-day period earlier this month. "She and Dean have been fighting a lot lately," a source told Us. After the troublesome week, the spouses of 11 years were spotted kissing on the set of a TV spot for the upcoming movie Sharknado 6 in Malibu on Monday, March 12. An eyewitness told Us, "Tori and Dean walked to set together, holding hands. They were in great moods." (US Weekly)

Nick Gordon is back on the radar of Georgia authorities who are still investigating Bobbi Kristina's death ... after his recent domestic violence arrest ... TMZ has learned. Sources with the Fulton County District Attorney's Office tell us investigators are aware of Gordon's arrest in Seminole County this past weekend, and they are factoring that into their Bobbi Kristina homicide investigation. As we reported ... Gordon was a person of interest when her case initially became a homicide investigation in 2015, although he was never criminally charged in connection with her death. He was, however, found liable for BK's death in a civil lawsuit and ordered to pay $36 million. Here's why this latest news matters ... Gordon's other DV arrest from last year (with the same girl) also went under a microscope in GA. At the time, the Fulton County Assistant D.A. said her team had interviewed Gordon's GF, and that she "had a lot to say." The Asst. D.A. also said their interview with the alleged victim, Laura Leal, moved them closer to figuring out the truth behind the circumstances surrounding Bobbi Kristina's death. You gotta wonder if they're gonna wanna talk to Leal again, and what more -- if anything -- she can tell them that'd help them close this case or break it wide open ... a case that has lingered for 3 years. (TMZ)

Nick Gordon's girlfriend -- the one he was arrested for beating -- has fired off a letter to the judge saying it was all her fault. Laura Leal filed docs in Seminole County, Florida ... and they include the letter asking the judge to lift the no-contact order. Laura says she needs Nick's love and guidance and wants to speak to her boyfriend again. In the letter, obtained by TMZ, Laura says the case against Nick is not accurate, particularly when it comes to her alleged injuries on the night of Nick's arrest. She writes, "Pictures were taken of my face the night of the incident because cops stated my lip was 'bleeding' when in all reality my lips were chapped and dry ... There was no marks on my face." Laura says she suffers from severe anger issues and the whole thing was a misunderstanding. She wrote, "I am seeking help and determined to take the condition seriously as I have been diagnosed bipolar. He is not at blame and should not be pushed into any trouble or consequences due to my actions." This all seems to line up with what Nick said when he called 911. TMZ broke the story ... Nick sounded frantic and cried as he said he "sounds so lame because I'm getting beat up by a woman." (TMZ)

Hollywood producer David Guillod's fate is now in the hands of the L.A. County D.A. after cops investigated actress Jessica Barth's claim he drugged and raped her. LAPD reopened the 2012 case after new evidence came forward, and law enforcement sources tell us police have sent their investigation results to the District Attorney's Office. As we first reported, Jessica claims she blacked out after having wine and dinner with Guillod and a friend, and when she regained consciousness ... she was in her car, and Guillod was standing outside of it, yelling at her. She says Guillod admitted they made out but said they didn't have sex. Barth went to a hospital for a rape kit, anyway ... which she says revealed bruises on her thigh and forehead, and potential saliva on her breast and neck. The D.A. will determine if Guillod is charged with a crime. (TMZ)

The woman who played Kes on "Star Trek: Voyager" has come crashing back down to Earth, courtesy of cops in Tennessee ... who keep busting her for driving when she shouldn't be. Law enforcement tells us Jennifer Lien was arrested March 2 for driving on a revoked license, which should have sounded very familiar to her. Cops hauled her in for the same exact thing earlier that week on Feb. 27! We're told Lien was pulled over, for the 2nd time, because she was driving with no visible tags. Officers broke out the cuffs again when they discovered her license was revoked for a previous DUI. Lien is working on quite the rap sheet near her Tennessee home. She was also charged in 2015 for exposing herself to children under the age of 13 -- although it was later dismissed when she paid restitution. Lien was on 'Voyager' for 3 seasons before leaving the show. We'd like to say she went on to better things. (TMZ)

Stephen Hawking Dead at 76. Renowned physicist and scientist Professor Stephen Hawking has died at 76. "Professor Hawking died peacefully at his home in Cambridge in the early hours of this morning," a spokesperson for the family said in a statement according to NBC News. "His family have kindly requested that they be given the time and privacy to mourn his passing, but they would like to thank everyone who has been by Professor Hawking's side -- and supported him -- throughout his life." His three children also issued a statement when the news was confirmed. "We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today," Lucy, Robert and Tim expressed. "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years." The statement continued, "His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world. He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.' We will miss you forever." According to the family's spokesperson, The University of Cambridge has kindly offered to open a book of condolences at Gonville and Caius College for anyone who would like to pay tribute to Professor Hawking. Stephen is well known for his groundbreaking work on physics and science. In fact, his life story was portrayed in the 2014 film titled The Theory of Everything. Eddie Redmayne had the honor of portraying the professor. In fact, his role would earn him an Oscar and Golden Globe award. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Stephen's passing during this difficult time. (Eonline)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Countdown to the Royal Wedding: The Heartbreak That Helped Bond Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. From the moment Prince Harry met Meghan Markle in the summer of 2016, he was smitten. His choice to take her to Botswana for their third date, so they could camp out under the stars in the African bush, was all the evidence his friends needed that he had finally met someone exceptional. It's not hard to see why he fell so quickly for the American actress. Aside from the obvious, that she's beautiful and intelligent, she also has a robust empathetic streak, a personality trait we also associate with the fifth-in-line to the throne. Harry's easygoing and caring nature is often credited as an inheritance from his mother, Princess Diana, and has undoubtedly played a role in his massive popularity. But there's something else, a shared experience, that might have strengthened their bond: both are the offspring of couples who fell out of love. Meghan's parents, Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle, divorced when she was just 6 years old. Harry was slightly older at 8 when Diana and Prince Charles finally admitted to the world their 11-year marriage was kaput. Meghan told Vanity Fair last year that despite the split her parents remained amicable: "My dad would come on Sundays to drop me off, and we'd watch Jeopardy! eating dinner on TV trays, the three of us... We were still so close-knit." But in a tell-all interview given by her childhood best friend Ninaki Priddy, a different picture was painted. "It could be hard for her," Priddy said. "Sometimes she felt she had to pick sides. She was always trying to make sure each of them was happy. She'd have to relay messages. It was literally stuff like, 'Tell your mother... ,' or 'Tell your father... '" Regardless of the circumstances, Doria had a significant influence on the woman Meghan grew up to be. Even before she met Harry, whenever Meghan wasn't on the set of Suits, the 36-year-old was heavily involved in humanitarian endeavors. "Both my parents came from little, so they made a choice to give a lot," Meghan explained on her now defunct website, The Tig, in 2016. "Buying turkeys for homeless shelters at Thanksgiving, delivering meals to patients in hospice care, donating any spare change in their pocket to those asking for it, and performing quiet acts of grace -- be it a hug, a smile, or a pat on the back to show ones in need that they would be alright. This is what I grew up seeing, so that is what I grew up being." Meanwhile, Thomas' job as a lighting director on shows such as Married... With Children and General Hospital gave Meghan an opportunity to learn about Hollywood. She would often visit him once she had finished her day at the Immaculate Heart Girls' High School. Having parents who led entirely separate lives is something Harry also had to endure. While Charles and Diana described their split as "amicable," when their separation was finally announced on Dec. 9, 1992, it was anything but. There was the infamous Camillagate tape, Diana's explosive Martin Bashir interview and, of course, the humiliating Andrew Morton biography. A series of scandals, which finally led to the Queen deciding the only option left for the erstwhile fairy-tale couple was to divorce. For Harry, the impact of bouncing between warring parents has only recently come to light. Last year, he admitted in a documentary marking the 20th anniversary of his mother's death that he often felt torn between his mom and dad. "There was a point in which our parents split, and the two of us [Prince William and Harry] were bouncing between the two of them [Charles and Diana] and we probably never saw our mother enough, or saw our father enough. You know, there was a lot, a lot of traveling, and a lot of fights on the back seat with my brother... of which I'd win. So, there was all of that to contend with, and I don't pretend that we're the only people to have to deal with that. But it was an interesting way of growing up." Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, also spoke about that time, saying, "It was upsetting for them to watch the fall-out of their parents' marriage and whenever Diana got upset, they would push notes under her door saying, 'It will be OK.' Diana smothered them in love, and they always slept in her room during that time and not the nursery." Last Christmas, after Meghan spent her first holiday with the royal family at Sandringham, Harry raised eyebrows among members of the Markle family by proclaiming her cozy experience with his relatives was one "that I suppose [Meghan's] never had." Priddy, who was best friends with Meghan for 31 years before they eventually fell out, backs up Harry's statement: "The idea of having a family was something Meg very much wanted, particularly because she was from a family that felt very disjointed." As anyone who has gone through a personal battle knows, finding solidarity in the company of others can be a much-needed reminder you are not alone. For Meghan and Harry, their similar struggles seem to have helped cement their connection. Last month, Meghan joined Harry, William and Kate Middleton on stage for their first official appearance as patrons of their joint charity, The Royal Foundation. All four are highlighting issues that are close to their heart. William, Harry and Kate are trying to eradicate the stigma around talking about mental health. Kate is specifically focusing on young parents; Harry and William are speaking out about bereavement. Then there is their work on behalf of wildlife conservation, as well as Harry's creation of the hugely successful Invictus Games. As yet, we know very little about where Meghan will concentrate her efforts once she becomes a Duchess on May 19. All we've been told is she wants to take her time deciding, but there have been a few clues. While on stage with her new fiance and future brother- and sister-in-law, Meghan hinted about the importance of women's rights. Hardly a surprising choice considering the feminist credentials passed down to her by her independent single mother. There's no doubt family is critical for both Meghan and Harry, and it seems inevitable that in the future they will do everything they can to avoid the mistakes of the past. (Eonline)

Prince George Is Still ''Obsessed'' With All Things Police. The kid loves the fuzz! Prince George may be growing up but he isn't growing out of his love of all things police related. Prince George fans may fondly recall back in November when the boy-prince wrote a letter to Santa Claus saying all he wanted for Christmas was a police car. Well the obsession is still very much omnipresent for the 4-year-old -- so said Georgeyboy's famous father Prince William during an event honoring the men and women who work at New Scotland Yard on Tuesday. While at the reception held at Kensington Palace, police commissioner Jayne Richardson, joked to the second in line to the crown that the district needed more officers, "We are recruiting, actually, so if George and Charlotte are keen?" Vanity Fair reports that William responded, "[George] is obsessed, actually, by the police...cars, toys, everything." Could Prince George one day grow up to be on the Criminal Investigation Department? Perhaps he'll become a DCI or eventually work his way up to Chief Officer? Seems doubtful given his royal pedigree, but a boy can dream... Last November, the Duke of Cambridge met with Kris Kringle during a trip to Finland and presented Old St. Nick with his son's simple Christmas list, asking only for a police car. "I've seen you, and I had to give you this letter, " William told the jolly fellow at a Christmas market in Helsinki. "He hasn't written down many requests, so I think one request is probably OK," William added with a laugh. Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting ready to soon welcome their third child, expected this April. In September, the Palace announced, "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their third child. The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news." (Eonline)

U.K. prime minister Theresa May just laid down the gauntlet to Russia -- saying NO members of the British government OR the royal family will attend the World Cup over a chemical attack on a double agent living in England. May is FURIOUS over the attack on Sergei Skripal -- a former Russian spy who was jailed in Russia in 2006 for selling state secrets to British intelligence officers. He was released in 2010 as part of a spy swap -- and was living in England. He was being visited by his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, when they were both poisoned in an attack British officials are blaming on Russia. May has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the country -- and has blocked Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov from his upcoming planned visit to Britain. But, May REALLY let the Russians know she's pissed when she called off plans for high-ranking British officials and Royals to attend the 2018 World Cup in Russia. "There will be no attendance by ministers or indeed members of the royal family at this summer's World Cup in Russia," May proclaimed in a speech to Parliament. It seems the England team will compete as scheduled -- but those plans could change, too ... and that would be a HUGE deal in the U.K. where soccer is life. (TMZ)

Victoria's Secret Model Bridget Malcolm: "I Have Gained Weight and I Do Not Give a F--k About It." Victoria Secret's model Bridget Malcolm is loving the skin she's in. The 26-year-old Australian model shared a picture of her in a bikini on Instagram Tuesday and described the pressures she faced to fit a certain body type. "This girl is not fat. I remember around when this photo was taken, I had been told that I needed to lose weight. Not for the first time and not for the last time," she wrote. "Always fun trying to act like you're confident and happy in swimwear when you're at war with your body..." This isn't the first time Malcolm has reflected on her relationship with her body. In the "scariest blog post" she'd ever written, the runway star opened up about her promise to "make peace" with her body. "I threw away my scales, my measuring tape and my body checking. I threw away all my clothes from when I was at my smallest. I deleted all the gym selfies from my instagram, and all of the "progress" shots from my phone," she wrote. "Basically, I wanted no point of reference any more of a time when I was smaller, or larger. I just wanted to stop looking in mirrors and telling myself that I was "too fat", and "not doing enough." However, Malcolm claimed this was easier said than done and that she was trying to "undo 12 years of being told to lose weight and 'tone up.'" After a day of criticizing herself on set, Malcolm spoke with a colleague who told her there were two paths in life: the "easy, shady" ego path and the "right, harder, harsher way." "And that was it," she wrote. "I looked at my life, and I realized through obsessing over my body I was selecting the easy path. I was choosing to focus on externality and ignoring the larger picture. I was choosing the ego path." Ever since then, Malcolm has focused on having a positive relationship with her body. "If body talk came up with friends, I shut it down and refused to engage. If I felt the need to look in a mirror, I read a book instead," she wrote. "When I was ordering food for dinner, I ordered what I wanted. And strangely enough -- the need to gorge myself is slowly fading away. But most importantly, when I saw my body reflected back at me, I said nice things to myself. I chose to empower myself." While the journey hasn't always been easy, Malcolm is well on her way to accepting and embracing her body. "I have gained weight. And I do not give a f--k about it," she wrote. "My life is so much more than my jean size. And every day when that voice in my head tries to tell me I am worthless, it gets a little easier to shut it down. I am setting myself free slowly." (Eonline)

Kendall Jenner denies rumors that she's gay. "I think it's because I'm not like all my other sisters, who are, like, 'Here's me and my boyfriend!" Jenner responded when Vogue asked why the Internet seems to think she's gay. "So it was a thing for a minute because no one ever saw me with a guy. I would always go that extra mile to be low-key with guys, sneaking around all the time. You don't want to, like, look crazy." The "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star also said her "male energy" might give fuel to the rumor mill. "I don't think I have a bisexual or gay bone in my body, but I don't know! Who knows?! I'm all down for experience -- not against it whatsoever -- but I've never been there before," she continued. "Also, I know I have kind of a ... male energy? But I don't want to say that wrong, because I'm not transgender or anything. I have a tough energy. I move differently." Kendall's father, Caitlyn Jenner, came out as transgender in 2015. "But to answer your question: I'm not gay. I have literally nothing to hide," she declared. "I would never hide something like that." The 22-year-old played coy about boyfriend Blake Griffin. "I'm happy. He's very nice," she said -- without naming names -- when asked if she has a boyfriend. "I have someone being very nice to me." (PageSix)

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada says if her life were on the line and she could only call one of her exes to save her ... she'd call Chad Johnson in a heartbeat. Shaunie O'Neal and Evelyn were on "Van Lathan's The Red Pill Podcast" when Lathan asked each lady which one of their famous exes they'd call if they were in a life-threatening situation and could only call one. Shaunie went with Shaq (duh, they have a perfect post-marriage life) while Evelyn chose the Ex-NFL star. "Chad. And not that I don't have faith in Carl, Carl would be there, but we're talking about if my life is on the line." The Carl she's referring to is ex-MLB star Carl Crawford, who Lozada was engaged to and had a son with before they broke up last year. As for Lozada, she was married to Ochocinco for a little over a month in 2012 before a highly publicized domestic violence incident led to divorce. Evelyn said she's not at all overlooking that or saying it's not a big deal, but based on the question, it's Chad over Crawford and former NBA star Antoine Walker ... her other famous ex. "We're talking about if your life was on the line -- just think about the question." (TMZ)

Tiger Woods' Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Lists Palm Beach Mansion for $50 Million. Elin Nordegren is making a big move. The Swedish model and ex-wife of Woods has put her 23,000-square-foot estate in North Palm Beach, Fla. on the market, E! News confirms. She listed the stunning mansion, which boasts 11 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms, for $49.5 million. Overlooking the ocean and nestled on 1.4 gated acres, Nordegren's home was built in the style of the British West Indies and features plenty of state-of-the-art amenities. Retractable glass walls enclose the first floor's main living area, which includes a massive kitchen that leads into an alfresco dining room and family room, as well as a more formal dining and living space. As residents make their way up the stairs, a three-story Swarovski crystal chandelier hangs from ceiling to floor. The master suite alone has not one, but three, fireplaces, two separate baths, a walk-in closet and a balcony overlooking the Atlantic. Not to mention the home's rooftop terrace, which offers breathtaking views of the beach. A swimming pool complete with a waterslide and spa, lounge areas with fire pits, a basketball court and putting green make up the estate's lush backyard. Out-of-town guests are also guaranteed privacy thanks to two, two-bedroom "apartments" on the property. Other perks include a temperature-controlled wine cellar, movie theater, fitness center, catering kitchen and four-car garage. Nordegren and Woods were married for six years between 2004-2010 and share two children together. She's maintained a low-profile since their contentious split, but was spotted kissing her billionaire beau, Chris Cline, in 2016. A rep for the 38-year-old told the Wall Street Journal is no longer modeling and looks forward to receiving her master's degree in psychology in May. So... any takers? (Eonline)

Teddi Mellencamp is holding McCain accountable for her comments against her. McCain, 33, gave her opinion of Beverly Hills' latest "Housewife" to the Bravo boss himself, Andy Cohen, in a February episode of "Watch What Happens Live." "The View" host said of Mellencamp, "I don't like her, she's so boring and please stop hiring people with famous last names and I say that as a woman with a famous last name." The newly minted reality TV star, 36, took the comment in stride with a nod to her career as an accountability coach where she helps women keep to their goals. "I would never comment on how I think Meghan McCain does at her job," Mellencamp told TooFab on Tuesday. "I just wouldn't. That's not my place. I'm about empowering other women to be the best they can be." "I take boring as a compliment," she added. "I truly do, because if anybody is such a show all the time, that's probably not their authentic self. Most of us are pretty boring. I love my life, and regardless of what my last name is, I think in every friend group, there's gotta be balance." But in true "Housewives" fashion, Mellencamp took to Twitter when McCain threw her initial shade. "Be right back, changing my last name to Boring," she wrote. (Page Six)

Trump's White House ain't playin' when it comes to March Madness -- so says Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah, who tells TMZ Sports a "very high stakes" pool is ON for the tourney. You might remember -- Donald caused quite a stir last year when he broke Obama's tradition and didn't fill out a bracket. So ... does this Oval Office pool signal a change of heart for POTUS?? Raj wouldn't say ... but he did reveal his pick -- and told us D.C.'s other power players are split on who's going all the way. Before you call foul -- Shah did NOT say cash was involved. Plus, it seems like an Executive Order covers them anyway. (TMZ)

From the outside, Erika Girardi looks to have a picture-perfect life. Outspoken and confident, Girardi, whose alter ego Erika Jayne epitomizes glamour, became a fan favorite on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when she joined the cast in 2015. But Girardi's past is far from flawless and she's opening up about her hardships in her new book, Pretty Mess. "I've worked very hard for everything I've ever had," she tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue. "But it's my journey. And I don't regret anything." Girardi, 46, was just 9 months old when her father left; she was raised by a young single mother, Renee, whose parenting style at times left something to be desired. "She was under a lot of pressure," says Girardi of her "critical" mother. "So it was definitely hard at times. There wasn't a lot of time to be coddled. So I had to grow up quickly." At 18, "my mother told me to pay rent or get out," says Girardi, who moved to New York City to pursue her love of performing. She began working as a Go-Go dancer where she realized her sometimes gritty upbringing came in handy in the real world. "It taught me to be self-reliant," she says. "It also taught me to be incredibly resilient, to bounce back and assess situations quickly. I trust my gut a lot." Girardi was 20 years old when she gave birth to a son, Thomas, now 25, but split from Thomas' father after a brief marriage. Determined to make it in Hollywood, Girardi decided to move to Los Angeles, leaving Thomas in N.Y.C. with his father. "It was the biggest risk I've ever taken," says Girardi, who admits that temporarily leaving her son, "weighed heavy on my heart." Says Girardi: "I was panicked, but I was committed to succeeding. And I knew he'd end up here with me eventually." The reality star was working as a cocktail waitress at the restaurant Chasen's (and auditioning for acting roles) when she met her future husband, famed attorney Tom Girardi. After they wed, Girardi says she settled into Tom's professional world, and though she was happy, she began to lose sight of herself. "I was living Tom's life," says Girardi. "There are only so many material things you can have before it becomes boring. There are only so many dinners, so many things you can buy. I was complacent. I was in a wealthy coma and I wasn't looking inward." And so Girardi, who had loved performing since she was five years old, decided to give the stage another shot. "I wanted to create again," says Girardi, whose alter ego Erika Jayne would eventually top the dance music charts with hits like "Painkllr" and "Get It Tonight." Says Girardi, "I had to be brave enough to say, 'I'm not fulfilled.'" The singer and reality star admits that starting a music career at 35 did raise some eyebrows. "People told me I was insane," says Girardi. "Erika Jayne was born out of rebellion. I like to break the rules." Now, Girardi says she's grateful she took chances, both with the show and with her career -- and says she's not slowing down anytime soon. "I'm a big dreamer," she says. "And I have a lot more things to do!" (People)

A professional baseball team in Pennsylvania has cut outfielder Danry Vasquez after a 2016 video surfaced showing him beating the hell out of his girlfriend IN A STADIUM. Vasquez was arrested for domestic violence in Texas back in August 2016 -- and despite the fact officials had the video showing him backhanding the woman in the face and continuing to beat her while dragging her down a stairwell ... he was only given probation. FYI, at the time of the incident, Vasquez was playing for the Corpus Christi Hooks -- the AA minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros. In fact, Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez says Vasquez has now completed the terms of his probation and the case has been dismissed. "At that point, probation checked with us, and he had done everything we asked him to do so I was forced to dismiss the case," said Gonzalez told KRIS 6 News. The Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball have now released Vasquez ... saying, "Upon being made aware of the nature of the incident, the Barnstormers made a prompt decision to cut ties with the 24-year old." Manager Ross Peeples added, "There is no choice but to sever the relationship. Neither I, nor the Barnstormers' organization as a whole, can condone or associate with that behavior." The Atlantic League of Pro Baseball is not affiliated with MLB -- but very high-profile players have competed in the league including Rickey Henderson and Roger Clemens. (TMZ)

A transgender woman is suing Tinder on behalf of other transgender people living in the Portland area, claiming it rejects all transgender people from the dating service. Ariel Hawkins claims in a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, a few days ago she edited her profile to disclose that she was a pre-op trans woman. She says Tinder immediately deleted her account. She says the company sent her email saying she violated its terms of service ... but didn't point her to any term and refused to explain the basis for the rejection. Hawkins tells us she thinks she got the boot because Tinder is trying to save its brand. She says, "I don't think the company understands trans people and they don't appreciate how we may represent ourselves" ... so she believes Tinder is trying to remove trans people altogether. Hawkins adds she's on Tinder to find love like so many others, but because it "refuses to provide transgender individuals full and equal access to its app" and has banned her ... she's being cheated of that chance. In the lawsuit, filed by Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas, Hawkins is asking a judge for an order prohibiting Tinder from discriminating against non-cisgender Oregon users. We reached out to Tinder ... so far, no word back. (TMZ)

United Airlines apparently thinks a ticket refund will make its latest scandal go away, but we've learned it may be on the hook for a lot more. As you know, a flight attendant shockingly ordered a passenger to put her dog, Kokito, in the overhead compartment and after prolonged, panicked barking, the dog died. Under Illinois law, where the airline is based, the woman could not only get the value of the animal but money for "emotional distress suffered by the owner." In addition, the dog owner could get up to $25,000 in punitive damages if a jury determines the dog died from abuse or neglect on the part of the flight attendant. The French Bulldog was 10 months old and the family had posted numerous photos of the dog with the family on social media. The reality ... even if United has to pay $30,000, or $50,000 or more ... this is a public relations disaster of epic proportions, especially given the airline's recent statement that all of its employees would be required to attend 4 hours of "compassion training." The move was a direct response to the horrific incident where a doctor was dragged off a plane. (TMZ)

Music

Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan can learn a thing or two from their rivals Adam, Blake, Alicia and Kelly ... and that's according to an "American Idol" winner! Nick Fradiani -- who won season 14 in 2015 -- watched the big premiere and says the "Idol" judges have some work to do if they're gonna build up the same kind of chemistry as "The Voice" coaches. To be clear, Nick thinks they can do it, but he has a deadline in mind for when it's all gotta come together on camera. As far as this year's contestants hooking up, as we reported, Nick ain't all that shocked ... and he spills some tea. (TMZ)

'New Rules' Singer Dua Lipa Cancels Bruno Mars Tour Dates to Get Her Wisdom Teeth Removed. Dua Lipa has taken a break from touring for oral surgery. On Wednesday, the 22-year-old "New Rules" singer -- who is currently opening for Bruno Mars on his 24K Magic World Tour in Australia and New Zealand -- revealed she had to drop out of two Brisbane concerts (March 14 15) to get her wisdom teeth removed. "Im so sorry to have to cancel some of my support shows with @brunomars. I've been performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth and as advised by my dentist and oral surgeon I have had to have them imminently removed," the British pop star tweeted. "I have been enjoying this tour so much and i'm so upset that life has gotten in the way but hopefully i'll have a speedy recovery and make it back as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding xx," she added. Along with the message, the singer -- who won two of the top awards at the Brit Awards in February -- also shared a selfie video, offering a glimpse of her swollen cheeks and an ice pack. On Sunday, Lipa hinted at her dental health with an Instagram photo of an oral X-ray, which she captioned: "Your girls been blessed with 33 teeth. I've always been an overachiever." Then on Monday, the star performed in Melbourne despite the pain in her mouth. "My face hurts but i'm ready for a party. I'm so excited nothing can stop me. Melbourne let's dance," she wrote ahead of the show on Instagram. The London-born Lipa rose to fame in 2017 with her self-titled debut LP, which featured a string of hits, including "Hotter Than Hell," "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" and her latest single "IDGAF." When the singer gets back to work, she'll resume her Self-Title Tour: Asia in Hong Kong on May 1. She'll will hit the festival circuit this summer, with U.S. appearances at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn. (June 10) and Panorama in N.Y.C. (July 27). (People)

Neil Young to release album from Daryl Hannah's film soundtrack. Rocker Neil Young has revealed he'll release a new album on March 23 of songs from the soundtrack for "Paradox," a film by his girlfriend, Daryl Hannah. It includes Young recording with an orchestra on the MGM Soundstage, as well as with his backing band, Promise of the Real, and on guitar solo. Willie Nelson contributes narration on one track. Young stars in the Netflix film, which premieres Thursday at SXSW with Nelson in the cast. (PageSix)

Miley Cyrus needs to stop making money off "We Can't Stop" ... according to an Jamaican dancehall artist who claims her hit would be nothing without his 1988 classic. The singer from Jamrock goes by Flourgon, and in his lawsuit he says Miley's 2013 song borrows heavily from his tune, "We Run Things." Mind you, Flourgon's song never charted in the U.S., and it came out 4 years before Miley was born, but anyway ... here's his claim. In the docs, Flourgon isn't saying Miley stole his music, or even a single line from his song. Instead, he says she jacked his "unique and creative lyrical phraseology in order to establish an overarching and pervasive theme ... in the realm of self-discovery and self-governings." We'll try to translate. Mr. Flourgon seems to thinks Miley's declaration of not stopping ... is the same thing as him saying he runs things. Hmmm ... listen to the songs and decide for yourself. Flourgon is suing Miley and Sony to block further distribution, sales, and performances of "We Can't Stop" ... and, of course, for money. They have really strong weed in Jamaica, right? (TMZ)

Roger Waters Recites Palestinian Poem In Video For New Anti-Trump Song 'Supremacy'. Roger Waters has become one of the most outspoken supporters of Palestine and the Boycott, Divestment, And Sanctions movement, and when President Trump decided to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv, he recorded a song in protest with the Palestinian oud group Trio Joubran. Now, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, the exodus of more than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs during the 1948 war with Israel, Waters and Trio Joubran are releasing the song, which features Waters reciting verses from Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwish's "the Penultimate speech of the 'Red Indian' to the white man," along with a stark video of Waters' disembodied face. "On the surface, [the poem] narrates the last speech of the Native American to the white man, but it speaks also to Darwish's beloved Palestine and its indigenous people," Waters says in a statement. "In fact, [it's relevant] to all victims of settler colonialism everywhere, always." Trio Joubran adds, "We have been touring the world with our ouds for the past 15 years, taking with us -- from city to city -- a bit of Palestine. We honor the struggles of indigenous peoples across the globe, and through our art, affirm that the relationship between people, culture and their homeland survives history." (Billboard)

Dua Lipa Scraps Australian Tour Dates to Undergo 'Immediate Dental Surgery'. Dua Lipa has canceled a string of shows on her current tour of Australia due to wisdom teeth troubles that require immediate surgery. The "New Rules" singer is supporting Bruno Mars on the Australia and New Zealand leg of his 24K Magic World Tour, but she won't be playing Wednesday (March 14) and Thursday (March 15) at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. According to a statement issued Wednesday by promoter Live Nation, the English pop star has "been advised by doctors to undergo immediate dental surgery" and, at this stage, she will miss just those two shows. "I'm so sorry to have to cancel some of my support shows with Bruno," she tweeted. "I've been performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth and as advised by my dentist and oral surgeon I have to have them imminently removed. I have been enjoying this tour so much and am upset that life has gotten in the way but hopefully I'll have a speedy recovery and make it back as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding." The tour will move to Sydney's Quodos Bank Arena for five dates starting March 17 before hitting Adelaide Entertainment Centre (March 26) and wrapping with two shows at Perth Arena, March 28-29. The singer has three top 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart with "Be The One" (No. 6 in May 2016), "New Rules" (No. 2 in September 2017) and "IDGAF" (February 2018). Her hit "New Rules" bagged top spot on the Official U.K. Singles Chart last July. (Billboard)

MTV Goes Dark to Honor Young Victims of Gun Violence. MTV's regularly scheduled programming will go dark for 17 minutes on March 14, at 10am EST, in tandem with the National School Walkout. The gesture is a tribute to the 17 lives lost in the Parkland shooting. During this time, MTV will spotlight 17 young people who are leading the fight against gun violence across the country. The global youth brand will also honor the initiative across its social media platforms, with students at different school walkouts taking over MTV's Facebook stories, Instagram stories, Snapchat and their Look Different (@LookDifferent) Twitter account. MTV will continue to highlight youth-led efforts with on-air and digital initiatives leading up to the March For Our Lives in Washington D.C. on March 24. MTV, MTV2, MTVU and MTV Live will change their logos to orange during the 10-day gap between the national walkout and the march. For more information on how MTV is bringing attention to gun violence, visit enough.mtv.com. (Billboard)

Movies

Eddie Murphy joins Arnold, DeVito in 'Twins' sequel. Arnold Schwarzenegger has confirmed that Eddie Murphy has joined the cast of the Twins sequel. The "Terminator" actor starred alongside Danny DeVito in 1988 buddy comedy which saw the pair take on the role of unlikely siblings, and it looks like there will be another member of the brood. According to Deadline, Schwarzenegger was speaking during a panel discussion at South by Southwest this week when he confirmed that Murphy, 56, was set for the long-awaited sequel "Triplets." While he noted that the script was finished, the former professional bodybuilder also addressed the physical differences between the three "triplets" in the movie, teasing: "Funny thing that happens in the mixing of the sperm." The original 1988 film -- directed and produced by Ivan Reitman -- saw Schwarzenegger, 70, and DeVito, 73, starring as unlikely twins Julius and Vincent Benedict who were separated at birth. "The Expendables" actor opened up about the idea of Murphy joining the cast in the past, and previously revealed it was something everyone was on board with. He said: "Eddie is hilarious. We've met several times, and I think we all want to do it, but some things take time to get off the ground." Meanwhile, "Beverly Hills Cop" star Murphy had insisted he would only join the "Triplets" project if the script was something special. Asked about the possibility in 2015, he said: "A couple of years ago I met with Arnold and Danny and some writer. We had a meeting but I didn't hear anything. I tell you I'm not doing anything unless the script's incredible. "I did some movies where they offer you a bunch of money and you go, 'OK, I'll do it!' I've done enough of those -- I don't have to do them anymore. "If 'Triplets' comes together and it's hysterically funny, I'll do it. Same with 'Beverly Hills Cop 4' -- the last couple of scripts weren't quite there." (PageSix)

Gwyneth, Kate Bosworth to be honored at Sun Valley Film Festival. Sun Valley, Idaho, has well preserved its long-established reputation as a winter playground for the millionaire sports enthusiast, with sparkling snow blanketing its ski slopes and throngs of snowboarders shredding the gnar. It's also a center of creative passion and grand literary achievement. Ketchum, minutes away from Sun Valley's main drag of town, is where Hemingway lived and died. His gravesite, spare and set in the grass, attracts thousands of tourists each year, who make their pilgrimage to commune with the great American writer, leaving behind half-drunk bottles of bourbon as a testament to Hemingway's liquor-fueled legacy. The affluent resort town is also home to the Sun Valley Film Festival, one of the best-kept secrets among cineastes and those craving a deeper connection to the arts. As far as film fests go, Sun Valley is not on the scale of Sundance or Cannes, but that's what makes it so desirable. Teddy Grennan, SVFF executive director, has dubbed the fest "a little Hollywood ski Shangri-la." "I think of us as being like a bonsai tree," says fest director Candice Pate. "We don't want it to grow that much, we just want it to be better and keep people really involved with the craft of filmmaking." Kicking off its seventh edition March 14, this year's five-day fest features star wattage by way of Gwyneth Paltrow, set to receive its Vision Award, as well as a stellar lineup of women working in various aspects of the film industry. Writer-director Lynn Shelton, whose latest feature "Outside In" is screening at SVFF, will receive the High Scribe Award and host the Screenwriters Lab, a script workshop. (Jay Duplass, who co-wrote and stars in "Outside In," will share the award also participate in a panel discussion.) Kate Bosworth, who produced and appears in the drama "Nona," will take part in a Q&A with husband Michael Polish, who wrote and directed the film, and actress Jeanne Tripplehorn ("Big Love," "Grey Gardens") will be there to participate in one of the fest's signature coffee talks. "It's sort of kismet," says Pate of these female headliners. "With the Me Too movement coming to light and all these powerful women whose films are screening at the fest, it all just started falling into place and aligning with the current zeitgeist." Shelton, who cut her teeth working on indie films in "the extremely progressive, feminist" city of Seattle, hopes that through her participation in SVFF, she can inspire other female filmmakers struggling to find their voice in an industry in which the "toxic male culture" still rears its ugly head. Storytelling, she says, can shift the entire world's perception of what it means to be a woman. "Storytelling is so important to human civilization," she says. "People just yearn for, hunger for, stories -- in whatever way they get them. Well, when the storytellers are all from one segment of the population, you get one lens. Right now I want to see women, other members of marginalized parts of our population; I want more diversity on every scale. I feel like it's of the moment. Now is the time. There's something brewing." For Bosworth, what's also key in terms of bolstering the #MeToo movement is encouraging and supporting male filmmakers with an eye toward creating female-driven content. Polish, she notes, was equally invested in making "Nona," which centers on a young woman from Honduras who falls victim to a sex-trafficking ring in Southern California. "The coming together has been critical, this idea of this being an inclusive movement is critical," she says. "I'm really lucky in that my husband came home and wanted to make a movie about a girl from a Third World country who falls into sex trafficking, and this is such a major issue for women in the world. That's the partner I live with, and it's inspiring and really validating because he's far more interested in female stories than male stories. "It's important for women to come together, and it's also important for men to say, we want female stories, too," she continues. That's an important aspect to moving the dial in a real, long-lasting way." Secured talent aside, the Sun Valley fest is also very female-driven in terms of its leadership. When it comes to who runs the show behind the scenes, Grennan is outnumbered. "We were looking around at our meeting the other day and it's 90% women working on this festival," says Emily Granville, who created and oversees the Screenwriters Lab. "The festival has been great for people like me and Candice [Pate] who have chosen to be mothers but have also been able to develop this fest in a way that fits into our lives. What's also a great thing is the amount of women submitting scripts to the lab. Over the last few years that number has risen about 17%. It's pretty incredible. It's like they say, if you build it they will come." (PageSix)

Ethan Hawke on his 'Reality Bites' legacy. One of the last film panels at SXSW featured four-time Oscar-nominated Ethan Hawke. An Austin native, Hawke has a deep connection with the city has appeared in many films set in the city and collaborating with fellow Texan Richard Linklater on numerous iconic indies including the coming-of-age opus and Before Sunrise franchise. With his films "Blaze" and "First Reformed" making his debut in his hometown, SXSW is fitting for Hawke's sensibilities and passion for genre and independent film. As Hawke sat down with IndieWire's Eric Kohn in front of a packed house to talk about his career which spans of three decades as well as his some of his most iconic films including the "Before" franchise, "Reality Bites," "Boyhood," and, of course, his very first film "Explorers." "13-year-olds don't have an agenda when acting -- they just want attention," joked Hawke when he spoke about the start of his career. The Academy Award-nominated writer and actor got his start in the Joe Dante movie "Explorers" alongside the late River Phoenix which captured the spirit of sci-fi through a youthful gaze. The movie came out during a time when movies like "The Goonies," "Gremlins," and "Flight of the Navigator" were all the craze and were a blatant inspiration for "Stranger Things" (the Netflix series recently cast his daughter Maya Thurman Hawke). As a writer-director-producer who has become an indie auteur, his initial movie with Dante sparked his interest in genre. Hawke says that Dante introduced him to a number of films and opened his eyes to what genre movies can do. He remarks how if you can make a traditional narrative into an out-of-this-world metaphor, "it comes alive." What he says rings true as his genre classics "Explorers" and "Gattaca" (which Bill Clinton told him was his fave) continue to resonate with audiences and have been on the table for remakes. Beyond films of the genre variety, Hawke has done theatrical fare, but it's his work with Linklater that has garnered him plenty of indie street cred. The romantic trilogy of "Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset" and "Before Midnight," two of which he c0-wrote with Linklater and his co-star Julie Delpy, has remained a touchstone for indie storytelling. But if you're looking for a quadrilogy that continues the ups and downs of Celine and Jesse, don't hold your breath. "There's something about 'Before Midnight' that feels like a complete circle," he said. He mentioned how in 1995's "Before Sunrise," the films starts with Celine and Jesse eavesdropping in on a couple in their 40s arguing. Fast forward to 2013's "Before Midnight," and Celine and Jesse have become that couple. "It feels finished to me -- which isn't to say Rick or Julie [are] finished," he said. Hawke has an affinity for projects that span over a decade. In addition to the Before franchise, he teamed with Linklater once again in 2014 for the coming-of-age odyssey "Boyhood" which took 12 years to make. Although he said he would have fun doing a project like this, it took a lot of patience and doesn't think he would go on a journey like that again. But if he did, it probably wouldn't be as highbrow. "I think it would play at the MoMA or something like that," he says. "It was a really good idea," he continued. "I had no doubt it would be high in quality, I just thought it would play at the MoMA or something like that." One of the many roles which Hawke is known for is the quintessential 1994 Gen X pic "Reality Bites" which also starred a collective of '90s icons including Winona Ryder, Steve Zahn, Janeane Garofalo, and Ben Stiller -- who also helmed the film. The movie popularized the song "My Sharona" and made us realize that Evian spelled backward is naive, but it also made Hawke's Troy Dyer a Gen X poster child. "I was afraid of being labeled as Gen X because it would lock me in a box," Hawke admitted. But he says, "I knew that the walk was going to be incredibly rough," but he managed to get out of that box and survived and pursued making things he believed in. Even so, Troy sticks with him to this day. In his Sundance film "Juliet, Naked" (opening August 21), Hawke says that his character is "Troy Dyer at 50." (PageSix)

China's Wanda Hit With Executive Resignations at Film Divisions. Jiang Defu, general manager of Wanda Pictures, and Que Wenxiong, general manager of Wuzhou Film Distribution, both exited last Friday. Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group was hit with the simultaneous resignations of two key executives from its film divisions last week, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Jiang Defu, general manager of Wanda Pictures, and Que Wenxiong, general manager of Wuzhou Film Distribution, both abruptly resigned last Friday. Wanda Pictures is Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin's flagship Chinese film production outfit, while Wuzhou is the group's local film distribution arm. Bloomberg was the first to report on the exits. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed the news to THR on Wednesday, but asked not to be named, citing confidentiality requirements. Meanwhile, AMC Entertainment, Wanda's U.S.-based theater circuit, announced in a filing Tuesday that its chairman Lincoln Zhang has resigned from the board. AMC said Zhang is stepping down so that he can take on new responsibilities at the Wanda parent company in Beijing. The U.S. theater company said its board will move "shortly" to select a new chairman from within its ranks. Zeng Maojun, president of Wanda Film Holding Co., remains on AMC's board. Wanda declined to comment on the leadership changes both stateside and in China. The executive ranks at Wanda's entertainment companies have been in a regular state of flux for at least a year. Last October, Jack Gao, the group's formerly high-flying senior vp, stepped down as Wanda deepened its retreat from international dealmaking. Wanda's U.S. film studio, Legendary Entertainment, later hired former attorney Josh Grode as its new, Los Angeles-based CEO in December, filling the vacancy left by studio founder Thomas Tull nearly a year prior. In January, Legendary hired local industry veteran Jiang Wei to head up its China unit. The sudden leadership vacancies at Wanda's top film units continue the turmoil. Wanda is currently in the process of attempting to inject Wanda Pictures, Wuzhou and other film assets into its publicly traded movie theater business, Wanda Film Holding Co. In a surprise deal last month, Wanda Group also sold a combined $1.24 billion stake in Wanda Film to former rival Alibaba Group and a state-backed investment vehicle. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Kit Harington Says He Won't Star in Game of Thrones Spinoff. Kit Harington knows nothing concrete about a Game of Thrones spinoff, and if one is made, he is not going to be in it. Last June, it was revealed that HBO plans to produce a prequel series and was weighing five possible ideas. Harington, who plays Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, told GQ Italia that while he thinks there may be spinoffs, he was "not going to be involved." He said that the great thing about the show is that HBO could set a prequel "300 years earlier and save a lot of money" because the cast has become "very expensive." In June 2016, Deadline reported that Harington and co-stars Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau would be paid more than $500,000 per episode for season seven, which ended in 2017. HBO does not comment on cast salaries. Harington will reprise his role in the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones, which is set to premiere in 2019. When asked about his future plans, the actor told GQ Italia that he has thought about doing more movie acting, starring in a play or another series and taking two months off and spending quality time with his fiancee, former Game of Thrones co-star Rose Leslie. (Eonline)

This Is Us Season 3 Will Be More About Jack's Life and Secrets. Now that we know how Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) died, it's officially time to focus on how he lived. This Is Us executive producers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger appeared in the season two finale aftershow to give a little insight into what we're going to see in season three. After we spent the season learning how Jack died from smoke inhalation during a house fire and seeing his children finally learn to let go, we're going to be learning new things about Jack's life. "I think season two was so much about Jack's death obviously, and I think season three, in a really cool way, is going to be more about his life and sort of focusing on these chapters that we haven't yet seen," Berger revealed. "I think Jack has alluded to Rebecca that he has a lot of secrets and there are parts of his life that even she hasn't been privy to, and we're going go get to really explore those parts in a really exciting way." The finale saw Kevin headed out with Beth's cousin/sister Zoe, who he appeared to be dating, to Vietnam in search of information about his dad and his uncle, so that storyline will most likely be giving us some answers into who Jack Pearson really was. We also got a glimpse of what things could have been like if Jack had lived in the finale, when Kate dreamed of her parents renewing their vows after 40 years. That appearance by Jack as an older man served as both a way for Jack to be present at the wedding and a way to help Kate move on after her dad's death. "Obviously a wedding is going to bring up so much for Kate especially in regards to her dad not being there, so we were sort of like how can we incorporate him into this and make him part of this day?" Berger said. "The whole episode for Kate is really this struggle of how to let go, in a way, of her grief for her father and move into this new relationship with Toby, and she's struggling with this notion of if I'm happy and I've found love with this new guy, am I sort of betraying my father in a way?" Aptaker explained. "So she's having trouble reconciling those two men. So when she's in this fantasy wedding, it's all about Jack and Rebecca, and she hasn't found a way to integrate Toby into that, and where she gets to in the episode is realizing that what her father would want for her is this new happiness with Toby." This Is Us returns to NBC for season three in September. (Eonline)

This Is Us Finale: 1 Real Wedding, 1 Imaginary Wedding, and 3 Very Different Glimpses of the Future. We thought it would be those old Jack dream sequences that got us the most in Tuesday night's This Is Us finale, but there was actually another scene that hit us harder. In the midst of her wedding, Kate was really struggling to fully come to terms with the fact that her dad wouldn't be there, hence her dreams of what should have been. But there was one thing Kate was finally not struggling with Tuesday night, and that was her often tumultuous relationship with her mom. After Kate had been running around trying to find something of her dad's to help celebrate her big day, Rebecca expressed to Kate that she was trying to stay out of her way during the wedding prep because she knows how she can make Kate upset. Kate, who had just finally found the strength to spread her dad's ashes at a special spot near the family cabin, quickly shut Rebecca's fears down. "Mom, I know that our stuff can be complicated sometimes, but it's because all that I've ever wanted was to be like you. I want to be a singer like you. I want to be a mom like you. I want to have a marriage like yours. Mom, you are not in my way, you are my way." Somehow, we managed to watch the rest of the episode through those messy sobs, and things didn't get much better for us. Wedding planners Randall and Kevin (a spinoff we need to see immediately) not only planned a beautiful wedding, but they also brought the house down with speeches on grief and love and the future. It was the perfect setting for a montage of three very important flash forwards. First, we saw Kevin sitting on a plane about to land in Vietnam, gazing at a picture of his dad and his uncle, and with someone quite unexpected leaning on his shoulder. Earlier in the night, we met Beth's cousin Zoe, who grew up as her sister. We later saw her compliment Kevin's speech, right after we saw that she would be accompanying Kevin to Vietnam. We also saw Kate and Toby in the future, but it wasn't a happy scene. Earlier in the night, Toby's parents warned him about marrying Kate because they knew how depressed he had gotten after his divorce, and they were worried about him falling into that again. In the flash forward, Toby was curled up in bed, unresponsive, as Kate came in and told him the doctor wanted to change his medication. We also watched Deja, who had been perked up by Beth's cousin, take Jack's baseball bat to the windshield of Randall's car. Many years in the future, older Randall told older (and just incredibly well cast) Tess that it was time to go see "her." Tess said she wasn't ready, and Randall said he wasn't either. Whether they were talking about Deja, Beth, or some other "her," we'll have to wait until September (or likely longer) to find out. In fact, creator Dan Fogelman told fans at SXSW this weekend that we'll have a general sense of where this is going by the end of the season, which means we're in for a bit of a mystery. It actually says a lot about that finale that the dream sequences in which Jack and Rebecca got to renew their vows after 40 years were not the parts that had the most lasting impact. Seeing them together in old age was nice, but it was also really, really nice to see Kate let herself off the hook, and to see older Rebecca and her adult children happy together for once. It also sure was nice to not end a season of This Is Us on an angry argument, a la season one, so we'll take these mysteries in exchange for happy family times, thank you very much. This Is Us returns to NBC in September. (Eonline)

This Is Us Star Milo Ventimiglia Has a Message for Fans Ahead of Season 3. Are you done crying yet? This Is Us ended its second season full of major twists, reveals and tears with, well, more of the same. "The Wedding" capped a full season of life for the Pearsons and the TV family's patriarch, Milo Ventimiglia, has a message for fans of the NBC drama. Hear what he wants to tell you in the video. "The Wedding" featured Ventimiglia getting the old-age treatment in a dream sequence. It's OK if you're crying just thinking about Jack and Rebecca (Mandy Moore ) growing old together. "It's a side of Jack that we haven't seen. It's something I think a lot of the audience would have loved to see is this man in his 70s and we're hoping that it maybe softens the blow a little bit of the fact that he's not around anymore," Ventimiglia said about old man Jack's finale appearance. "But I think it's probably going to do the opposite and people are going to be a little upset, but what a fun opportunity," he admitted. This Is Us has already been renewed for a third season on NBC. Chris Sullivan, Toby on the series, said he wants to explore more of the future timeline first introduced when Sterling K. Brown's Randall appeared alongside an adult version of daughter Tess. "One of our big new turns started at the end of Tuesday night's episode. We show a new timeline, in the future, which is extremely exciting for a show that plays in time and has till-now played in the past/present," creator Dan Fogelman told Deadline after the Super Bowl episode reveal. "But there is other stuff coming, too... there is a plan for the show, there always has been, we aren't just shooting from the hip." Expect more. "We didn't do it as a one-off...but it's safe to say the future can play a big part in seasons to come," Fogelman said. This Is Us will return for season three on NBC. (Eonline)

'This is Us' was originally supposed to be a movie. "This Is Us" was originally made for the big screen. At a SXSW panel on Tuesday, it was revealed that the show's creator, Dan Fogelman, initially wrote 80 pages of a script -- with the plot line revolving around seven interconnected stories, with a reveal that the characters were septuplets. The idea was shelved for six months, but the characters remained on Fogelman's mind, and the idea morphed into the NBC series. Stars Milo Ventimiglia, Justin Hartley and Mandy Moore were in Austin discussing the hit -- which is airing its Season 2 finale on Tuesday -- where it was mentioned that the beloved Pearson family had some tweaking done to their last name. Originally the Peasings, the family name was scrapped even after the pilot was filmed, so Sterling K. Brown's line at the doorstep of his biological father, played by Ron Cephas Jones, was changed with the help of automated dialogue-replacement technology. Ventimiglia also got candid about his character, Jack, whose cause of death was a major plot line this season, talking about Jack's struggle with alcohol addiction. "I've had handful of friends with drinking problems, I can only imaging how painful that can be to admit to a child," he said. "I try to be honest and make people as real as I can." However, Ventimiglia also recalled a lighter part of the job that comes when the cameras are off -- wild fan encounters. "[My] craziest was a 9-month-pregnant woman running at me like a freight train and screaming and flapping her arms," he recalled. "I said, 'Do not have baby on streets of Beverly Hills!' She said,' I won't have it the baby. I'm having it tomorrow, a scheduled C-section.'" It was also revealed at the event that "Wonder Years" star Dan Lauria and "Hot in Cleveland" star Wendy Malick will play the parents of Toby, Chrissy Metz's fiance on the show. (PageSix)

Jon Hamm Joins Natalie Portman in Astronaut Drama 'Pale Blue Dot' The film, from director Noah Hawley, is based on a true-life astronaut love triangle. Jon Hamm is heading to space. The Mad Men actor is in talks to star opposite Natalie Portman in Fox Searchlight's astronaut drama Pale Blue Dot. Noah Hawley, of FX's Fargo and Legion TV series, is directing. Pale Blue Dot centers on a married astronaut (Portman) who returns to Earth after a mission and begins an affair with a fellow astronaut. She heads into a downward spiral as she loses her connection to her family -- a condition that can afflict those who spend a long time in space -- and when her lover begins another affair with an astronaut trainee, the bottom drops out. Hamm would play the lover. A true-life astronaut love triangle in which a female mission specialist tried to kidnap a rival in 2007 is the inspiration for the script, which was written by Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi. Searchlight is riding is awards season from dramas The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which each racked up multiple nominations and wins. Reese Witherspoon, who was initially set to star, is producing along with Bruna Papandrea. Hamm won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for his role as Don Draper on AMC's Mad Men. Since the acclaimed series wrapped in 2015, he has appeared mainly in films, such as Baby Driver, Marjorie Prime and Keeping Up with the Joneses, and guest-starring roles on TV. He will next be seen in his return to the small screen for Amazon and BBC Studios' Good Omens, a six-part adaptation of the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. His next film, Beirut, premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. He is repped by CAA, Forward Entertainment and Wolf-Kasteler Public Relations. (Hollywood Reporter)

After Page Six reported that NBC brass are getting nervous about Lester Holt's ratings, it has emerged that his rival has struck another blow. The Wrap reported that ABC's "World News Tonight" with David Muir topped Holt's "Nightly News" for the first time in nearly two years. The industry site said Muir "won March 5-9 in the key 25-54 demographic, the 18-49 demo, and total viewers," adding that "ordinarily, it is the main demo that alludes" ABC. Last month we reported Holt's bosses are beginning to sweat, and -- due to its various crises -- NBC doesn't have an obvious replacement, should Holt's slide continue to terminal territory. (Page Six)

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