ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Claire Danes is going to become a mom again! The 39-year-old Homeland actress revealed to Stern on the X-rated Howard Stern Show on Sirius XM on Wednesday that she is expecting her second child with husband Hugh Dancy. Danes, who shares a 5-year-old son, Cyrus, with the actor, said she is currently in her second trimester. "I'm pregnant," she said on the Howard Stern Show. "I'm seriously preggo. I'm deep into my second trimester." "You look so thin," Stern said. "I'm seated," Danes replied. When asked about the sex of her second child, the actress said, "I'm going to keep that to myself." Danes and Dancy have been married since 2009. Danes was pregnant with her first child while shooting season two of Homeland. Filming on the final and eighth season began late last year. Danes revealed to Stern that she shot a nude scene while pregnant. "The director's a really dear friend, she's been working on the show since the second season," she said. "I trust her totally...I feel safer in that environment than any other." "Morgan Spector is a wonderful actor and friend," she said. "I was in fine company. You just have to laugh because it's just ridiculous." (Eonline)

Chris Pratt Breaks His Silence on Anna Faris Split: "Divorce Sucks." Chris Pratt hasn't spoken publicly about his divorce -- until now. In August 2017, the actor and Anna Faris announced they were separating after eight years of marriage. The actors, who met on the set of the film Take Me Home Tonight a decade earlier, share son Jack Pratt, 5. Chris broke the news of their split via social media, telling fans, "Anna and I are sad to announce we are legally separating. We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed." Out of concern for their son, he vowed to "keep this situation as private as possible moving forward." Chris added that he will always "love" Anna and would continue "to have the deepest respect" for her; Anna echoed his sentiments on her own Twitter account. During the press tour for her memoir, Unqualified, Anna often fielded questions about their split. And in every interview, she reiterated their commitment to amicably co-parenting Jack. Chris, meanwhile, was busy filming Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War and Universal Pictures' Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom -- meaning he was able to avoid the talk show circuit. Chris eventually filed for divorce in December, and Anna filed a response days later. In Entertainment Weekly's Summer Movie Preview issue (on newsstands Friday), the actor finally breaks his silence on last summer's breakup. "Divorce sucks," he says matter-of-factly. "But at the end of the day, we've got a great kid who's got two parents who love him very much. And we're finding a way to navigate this while still remaining friends and still being kind to one another. It's not ideal, but yeah, I think both of us are actually probably doing better." (Chris is believed to be single, while Anna is currently dating cinematographer Michael Barrett.) Both stars are seeking joint custody of Jack. "He's surrounded by so much love," Anna told E! News in January. "We constantly reinforce what a great kid he is." Ultimately, the Overboard star added, "The key is surrounding him with a lot of joy and happiness, which he has a ton of." (Eonline)

Pink and Her Kids Cover People's "Beautiful" Issue 2018. It's time to meet People's "Most Beautiful Woman in the World" of 2018. Drumroll, please...it's Pink! The singer, 38, shares the cover with her son, Jameson Moon Hart, 15 months, and daughter, Willow Sage Hart, 6. The magazine announced this year's honoree Wednesday, and to celebrate, the "Beautiful Trauma" singer also stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Pink told DeGeneres she "laughed out loud" when she learned about the honor. "I immediately turned to whoever was in the room, and said, 'Did you ever think this was as good as it gets?'" Joking about her new status, she added, "I feel more beautiful [now] -- and I have decided that for the whole week that the magazine is out, no one is allowed to look me directly in the eyes." Inside the magazine, on newsstands Friday, Pink also opens up about motherhood. "The thing about parenting is you never know if anything you're doing is working. That's been the most humbling thing for me. In my head, I sound amazing and then I turn around and her eyes are completely glazed over. I have no idea. We'll see," Pink, who believes in showing her kids "affection" on a regular basis, tells People. "I believe in needs being met and faith being implemented, and I believe in letting your kids know they can count on you, and that you'll be there," she adds. "My parents obviously did not believe in that and I worked out OK. I always tell Willow, 'I'm going to teach you the rules so that you'll know how and when to break them.'" Pink says she strives to create a gender-neutral environment for her two children. "Absolutely. [But] I feel like gender-neutral is in itself a label and I'm label-less. I don't like labels at all so I believe that a woman and a girl can do anything,'" the pop star says, adding, "And I believe that a boy can do anything. So I have boys that flip dirt bags and I have boy friends that wear dresses. It's all OK to me. It's whatever floats your boat. So that's the kind of house that we live in." Other famous females honored include celebrity moms Kelly Clarkson, Courteney Cox and Olivia Wilde, as well as Amy Schumer, Julia Roberts, Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling, Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez and more. A special section dedicated to "Stars Without Makeup" recognized Emmy Rossum, Issa Rae, Alison Brie, the ladies of the Real Housewives franchise and other A-listers. Previous cover girls include Michelle Pfeiffer (1990, 1999), Jodie Foster (1992), Cindy Crawford (1993), Meg Ryan (1994), Courteney Cox (1995), Catherine Zeta-Jones (2001), Nicole Kidman (2002), Halle Berry (2003), Jennifer Aniston (2004, 2016), Angelina Jolie(2006), Drew Barrymore (2007), Kate Hudson (2008), Christina Applegate (2009), Jennifer Lopez (2011), Beyonce (2012), Gwyneth Paltrow (2013), Lupita Nyong'o (2014), Sandra Bullock (2015) and Julia Roberts (1991, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2017). Congratulations to all the lovely ladies honored by People! (Eonline)

Riverdale's Lili Reinhart Explains Why She Won't Talk About Her Romance With Cole Sprouse. When it comes to Cole Sprouse -- or any possible boyfriend for that matter -- Lili Reinhart's lips are sealed. The 21-year-old Riverdale actress has been reported to be dating her co-star for a year now, but neither of the two have publicly confirmed that is the case. Sure, they've taken vacations together, photographed each other and have been spotted canoodling on more than one occasion, but fans have been left to come to their own conclusions. As for Reinhart, her love life is simply not something she wants to discuss. "Every time someone asks me about it, I make a decision then and there about whether I'm comfortable," Reinhart told Seventeen. "It's not like I'm in some kind of contract, but I'm not in the place where I want to talk about it, and that's totally fine." According to the star, being a public figure doesn't mean having to disclose every last detail. "It's called a private life for a reason -- it's mine, and it's special and sacred," she continued to the magazine. "My relationships are between me and whomever I'm with, not between me and the world." Meanwhile, Sprouse, 25, offered his younger self some relationship advice. "Relax! I spent so much time trying to be perceived as some kind of playboy instead of someone who spent 90 percent of his day playing video games," he told Seventeen. Now, if only they could stop playing games with us about this romance... (Eonline)

Khloe Kardashian was horribly conflicted on what last name to give her baby girl in the wake of Tristan Thompson's cheating scandal ... before finally deciding to go with Thompson. Our Kardashians sources tell us ... Khloe chose the name True about a month ago, and up until the cheating scandal broke -- it was a lock that True's last name would be her father's. We're told that quickly faded after video from October surfaced -- days before Khloe went into labor -- of Tristan cheating on her ... and she was beyond conflicted on whether to go with Kardashian or Thompson when it was time to fill out True's birth certificate. Our Kardashian sources say it took Khloe a couple days after True was born before she finally decided the right thing to do was give the baby Tristan's surname. It's interesting ... someone extremely close to Khloe placed an order for blankets and other baby stuff at Petit Tresor in Bev Hills. We're told the order was placed right when the scandal broke and the store was told not to embroider the initials until Khloe made her decision. The call was finally made Monday to use the initials TT. (TMZ)

Courteney Cox Opens Up About Raising Daughter Coco and How They're Surviving the Teen Years. Courteney Cox says that when she was growing up, she wanted to tell her own mom everything, but her experience with her teenage daughter Coco has been the exact opposite. "I want her to tell me everything, and she doesn't want to tell me anything," says Cox, who sat down with Coco for their first interview together as part of PEOPLE's The Beautiful Issue. "Exactly the opposite of the childhood I had." But just because Coco doesn't share everything with her mom doesn't mean the two aren't extremely close. "We bicker, let's be honest, but we love each other," says the 53-year-old Friends alum. "We laugh a lot, for sure." Coco adds, "I would also describe it as, well, I am a 13-year-old girl, you are a mom, so I love you, but of course we're gonna get in fights. But we're very close. Very close. I love you a lot." Cox, who co-parents Coco with her ex-husband David Arquette, says keeping their daughter supported and balanced -- and supporting each other as parents -- is an important part of raising her. "You don't want to go in one house and have anything split," Cox says. "You want it to be harmonious in both places." Now that Coco has entered the teen years, Cox says one of the toughest parts, like many parents of teens face, has been getting her to come out of her room. "It's mostly me telling Coco, 'Please get out of your room and come and have dinner in the kitchen.' There's a lot of that, for sure," she says. "She's 13, she likes to be in her room. Unfortunately, I got her this big bed and that was the biggest mistake I've made," adds the star, joking, "You need to make a bed really uncomfortable so all they wanna do is just go there for those hours they have to. That's the big thing, I think." Although Cox says she's not super strict, she is very particular about one thing: making sure Coco has a hobby. "My daughter is an incredible singer," says Cox. "She does plays. No, I'm not being a stage mom. Well, I mean -- " "At times," Coco says, cutting her off. (Cox tells PEOPLE Coco has been in 16 musicals and although she isn't sure if she will go into acting down the road like both of her parents, the actress will support anything she wants to do.) "I'm sitting there watching you be incredible, I just send you off to the plays to be incredible," Cox says. "She is really good. I want her to have a hobby, to make her play the piano. I wish my mom had made me play the piano because I do it on my own now, but if I'd done it consistently since I was a kid, I'd be great." Adds the former Cougar Town star, "And she's got this instrument in her voice that I want to be backed up with either guitar, piano, I don't care, but she has to have an activity. That I'm strict about." Coco says her mom has taught her "so much" in her 13 years, explaining, "If a stressful situation is going on, she helps me contain my stress and make me feel better. She's taught me a lot about how to be a stronger person in general." While Cox is instilling in her daughter how to be strong and confident through her teen years, she says Coco has also taught her a lot. "She's taught me patience," Cox says. "Probably one of the biggest things she's taught me is to not take things personally, because really it's not about us. Whatever moods that she goes through where things happen, I'm the safest place to be able to take it out on. It's never about me, unless it's actually about me." "But it's really not about me, and I think that's something in life that we can learn. Whatever happens, it's on our own experiences, not usually about the other person." (People)

Jim Carrey Crashes Jeff Daniels' Interview for a Dumb and Dumber Reunion. It's a Dumb and Dumber reunion! Jim Carrey crashed Jeff Daniels' guest appearance on Conan on Tuesday and brought Lloyd and Harry back together again. Conan O'Brien was asking Daniels about the legacy of the film when Carrey walked onto the set and attempted to give his old co-star a hug. At first, The Newsroom star dodged the embrace, but then he brought it in for a sweet moment. "I wanted to come out and say in front of the world, 'You're in town and you don't call me,'" Carrey teased. "Not an email, nothing." The Bruce Almighty star also poked fun at the press Daniels was doing for the TV drama The Looming Tower. "I love being around him though," the Ace Ventura star told O'Brien. "I've been watching your press. I watch everything he does. He's incredible, most versatile actor working today -- unbelievable all the things he does. I especially enjoy watching you do interviews because I know you love them, especially the parts where you talk about how working with me changed the course of your life." However, most of the interview was spent reminiscing about the 1994 comedy. "Shooting Dumb and Dumber with Jim was, I mean, you grab onto the tornado that is Jim Carrey and you hang on," Daniels said, "and it was such a joy." Carrey agreed shooting the film was "a blast" and even said the two "had a great time" making the 2014 sequel Dumb and Dumber To. "OK, it wasn't as well received as the first one," he said. "F--k them," Daniels replied. "We don't care about that." The actors also talked about their chemistry and how their on-screen relationship turned into a genuine friendship. "It's like, when I saw him, there was a tingling in my groin," Carrey explained, "and that's the sign. That's when I know I'm with the right person." (Eonline)

Abby Lee Miller Has Emergency Spinal Surgery. Earlier Tuesday, Dance Mom star Abby Lee Miller has had emergency spinal surgery, E! News can confirm. Samer Saah, a rep Orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Hooman Melamed, tells E! News that Abby Lee had emergency surgery due to an infection in her spine. The 51-year-old underwent surgery in order to remove a mass close to her spine. Saah explains that if the mass had not removed it could have caused her to die or be paralyzed. According to the doctor, the reality star, who recently was released from prison, was paralyzed and could not move. However, she is now able to move her arms, toes and can feel touches from the doctor, post-surgery. On March 27, Miller was transferred from the FCI Victorville prison in California to a halfway house in Long Beach, after spending over eight and a half months in federal prison. As E! News reported in March, Miller's June 21 release date was moved up to May 25 and now it's expected she'll serve the remaining two months of her term at the halfway house. Miller was famously sentenced to one year and one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release in May 2017 after she pleaded guilty to the charge of concealing bankruptcy assets and to one count of not reporting an international monetary transaction. She was also fined $40,000 and ordered to pay a $120,000 judgment. The reality star reported to FCI Victorville two months later. "Sometimes in life you make mistakes," she wrote on social media in January. "I trusted the wrong people and didn't pay any attention to things I should of. I'm more than sorry for the mistakes I have made. My world flipped upside down when I had to enter prison. I did so with grace." During her time in prison, Abby Lee passed a real estate class and received a personal finance class diploma. As she later updated in February, "I'm surviving because the fire inside me burns brighter than the fire around me." Extra was the first to report this story. (Eonline)

It ain't easy being Mrs. Cheesy, apparently ... because the guy who voices Chester Cheetah is getting divorced. Maral Leadbeater filed her divorce petition Tuesday in Los Angeles, officially calling it quits from Adam Leadbeater ... best known as the voice of the Cheetos mascot. The docs are pretty straightforward ... Maral cites irreconcilable differences and says their date of separation was April 15. Tax day can be a bitch. They were married for 2 and a half years and have no little cheetah cubs at home. According to the docs, Maral is not asking for spousal support, and she doesn't want to pay either. The one thing she does want is her maiden name back once the divorce is final ... 'cause Derohanessian beats Leadbetter any day, for her, at least. (TMZ)

Rebel Wilson fights appeal of her $3.6M defamation win. Rebel Wilson returned to court on Wednesday to fight a magazine publisher's appeal of an order to pay the Australian actress a record 4.6 million Australian dollars ($3.6 million) in damages for defamation through articles that claimed she lied about her age, the origin of her first name and her upbringing in Sydney. The 38-year-old comic, best known for the movies "Pitch Perfect" and "Bridesmaids," sat with her mother Sue Bownds in a packed Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal in Melbourne but did not testify. Bauer Media, which publishes Australian magazines Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly, NW and OK, argued that the largest defamation payout in Australia legal history awarded against the German company in September was "manifestly excessive." Bauer's lawyer, Michael Wheelahan, said the publisher would not appeal the defamation verdict reached by a jury in July. Bauer is challenging the finding that Wilson should be compensated for film roles, including "Trolls" and "Kung Fu Panda 3," which she testified she had lost following the publications in 2015. Wheelahan argued that Wilson's career earnings had been on an upward trajectory in 2015 with a few "speed bumps" along the way, but there was no evidence that the articles had any influence. He argued that Hollywood agent Peter Principato, an industry person "on the grapevine," had not heard of the defamatory articles at the time. Speaking outside court, Wilson said Hollywood had been well aware of her case. Bauer "maliciously defamed me and I'm here to hold them accountable for that," she said. The hearing before three judges is to continue on Thursday. Before the trial, Bauer rejected Wilson's offer to settle the case for AU $200,000. (PageSix)

Judge tears into Taylor Swift over legal-fees shakedown. Winning a "Shake It Off" lawsuit doesn't entitle Taylor Swift to a legal-fees shakedown, a California judge has ruled. US District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald has denied Swift's attempt to make a pair of songwriters pick up her $75,000 legal bill -- and took time out to accuse the pop star of belittling infringement claims of the sort she'll likely be making herself someday. "Be careful what you wish for," Fitzgerald wrote in his 10-page decision. "There are very few recording artists, if any, who have a greater interest than Ms. Swift in a robust regime of copyright law." Songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, who wrote "Playas Gon' Play," a 2001 song by the girl group 3LW, had sued Swift in September for allegedly lifting the lyrics -- "playas gonna play" and "haters gonna hate" -- from their song. Swift's 2014 "Shake It Off" went on to sell 9 million units. After Fitzgerald tossed the $30 million suit in February, Swift quickly moved to have them pay her $75,000 legal bill. But the judge put a blank space on what Taylor would collect, ruling that the "Playas" lawsuit was "not factually spurious or farfetched." "There are at least colorable arguments on both sides," the judge said. Fitzgerald also claimed that demands for the plaintiffs to cover Swift's legal fees defied the Copyright Act's goal of "striking a balance" between rewarding a creator's work and allowing others to build on it. The jurist then dismissed the claim the Swift team tried to position as a deterrent to other frivolous suits as an unwarranted money grab. "Put more bluntly," the judge wrote, "if the court's only choice were between awarding fees to defendants based on the complaint or fees to plaintiffs based on the motion, the court would without hesitation award the fees to plaintiffs." (PageSix)

Former First Lady Barbara Bush Dead at 92. America is mourning the loss of one unforgettable first lady. Barbara Bush has passed away this evening after it was announced that she decided to decline further medical treatment after consulting her family and doctors. She was 92. A statement announcing the news was released by the office of George H.W. Bush via Twitter on Tuesday: "A former First Lady of the United States of America and relentless proponent of family literacy, Barbara Pierce Bush passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the age of 92. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, President George H. W Bush; five children and their spouses; 17 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and her brother, Scott Pierce. She was preceded in death by her second child, Pauline Robinson "Robin" Bush, and her siblings Martha Rafferty and James R. Pierce." The statement ended, "The official funeral schedule will be announced as soon as is practical." While the news may still be a shock to some, those close to the former first lady were aware that her health was declining. "Following a recent series of hospitalizations, and after consulting her family and doctors, Mrs. Bush, now age 92, has decided not to seek additional medical treatment and will instead focus on comfort care," a spokesperson for the Office of George H. W. Bush said in a statement posted on Twitter April 15. "It will not surprise those who know her that Barbara Bush has been a rock in the face of her failing health, worrying not for herself -- thanks to her abiding faith -- but for others. She is surrounded by family she adores and appreciates the many kind messages and especially the prayers she is receiving." Jenna Bush Hager echoed those sentiments on the Today show one day after the announcement was made. "We are grateful for her. She's the best grandma anyone could have ever had -- or have," she shared on NBC's morning show. "She's in great spirits and she's a fighter. She's an enforcer. She reminded me not to believe everything you read, so we're grateful for her, for everybody's prayers and thoughts and just know the world is better because she's in it." While there are many attributes to admire during Barbara's long life, many have developed fond memories of her relationship with her husband. After meeting George when she was just 16 at a Christmas dance, the pair would develop a relationship that would lead to a wedding on Jan. 6, 1945. And for those keeping track, that's 73 years of marriage. In the world of politics, Barbara served as Second Lady from 1981 to 1989 before becoming first lady of the United States when her husband won the Presidency. During her time in the White House, she selected the promotion of literacy as her special cause. As first lady specifically, she called working for a more literate America the "most important issue we have." A strong advocate of volunteerism, Barbara also helped many causesincluding the homeless, AIDS, the elderly and school volunteer programs. As she got older, Barbara enjoyed family time in Houston while also serving on the Boards of AmeriCares and the Mayo Clinic. And while she may have unofficially earned the title of "everybody's grandmother," one quote from her continues to spread today. "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal," she once shared at a Wellesley College commencement speech in 1990. "You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent." The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy established a page on its website for people to send their well wishes to the former first lady. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Bush family during this difficult time. (Eonline)

Hall of Fame wrestler Bruno Sammartino is dead. Sammartino -- who was the longest reigning champion in WWE history (4,040 days) -- passed away at his home in Pittsburgh. Bruno got his start with the WWWF ... the promotion started by Vince McMahon Sr. -- which eventually led to the WWF and WWE. He was also a color commentator for WWF Superstars of wrestling and WWF All-Star wrestling, during the WWE's explosion of popularity in the 1980's. Bruno wrestled as far back as the 50's and went head-to-head with the likes of Freddie Blassie, Buddy Rogers and George "The Animal" Steele. His matches were called by the legendary announcer Dick Lane ... who made "Whoa Nelly" a household phrase. Later Sammartino served as a corner man for his son, David, during the first WrestleMania in Madison Square Garden in 1985. The cause of death is unknown but Bruno struggled with health issues for a long time before he passed. Bruno leaves his wife Carol, who he's been married to for nearly 60 years, and 3 kids. Bruno was 82. RIP. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles to host 2018 Tony Awards. Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles are hosting Broadway's biggest night this year, the Tony Awards announced on Wednesday. The pair of singer-songwriters both made recent Broadway debuts: Groban starred as the lead in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, while Bareilles took on the lead role in Waitress, for which she also wrote the music and lyrics. Both received Tony nominations for their work, for Best Lead Actor in a Musical and Best Original Score, respectively. "The Theater has completely transformed my life in every way possible. I have never felt more embraced and encouraged by a professional community, and I am so grateful for that," said Bareilles in a release. "I feel incredibly lucky to get to spend an evening celebrating and applauding this outstanding collective of artists, friends, collaborators, and creatives." Added Groban, "[To] be at the helm of a night celebrating the best of that theatre with a person I just laugh way too much with is beyond words. But I will have words on Tony night! The best words! I look forward to flailing about in front of my peers. It will be with all the love and respect in the world for the room we're lucky enough to be in." The duo also released a video to announce their hosting gig, showing off their natural chemistry. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss will executive produce this year's ceremony, with Weiss on board to direct. The 72nd Annual Tony Awards will air on Sunday, June 10, at 8 p.m. on CBS. Nominations will be announced Tuesday, May 1. (Entertainment Weekly)

Meghan Markle Breaks With Tradition to Join Prince Harry for Commonwealth Youth Forum. They may not be wife and husband just yet, but Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are already working like an official pair. Just two months ago, the American star shared how she has been preparing to join the Royal Foundation by working "quietly" behind the scenes ahead of their May nuptials. It seems Markle is ready to move into the forefront as evidenced by her Wednesday appearance at the Commonwealth Youth Forum alongside her royal beau. A few days earlier on Monday, Prince Harry arrived to the ongoing forum in London without his fiancee as the new Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, appointed by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. "I am also incredibly grateful that the woman I am about to marry, Meghan, will be joining me in this work, of which she too is hugely excited to take part in," he teased in a speech earlier this week. That time finally arrived today when the future bride and groom arrived in tandem to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, where they mingled with young delegates from all over the Commonwealth. As the couple chatted with the delegates, the young people shared what they have learned from each other during this week as they debate challenges their generation faces and work to create initiatives to influence decision makers. "You have this umbrella to hold you together," Markle told some of the delegates. "It's incredible. Stay in touch -- maximize it." The work plays into the forum's theme this year of "Powering Our Common Future." For the soon-to-be royal couple, Prince Harry and Markle seem to be shaping their future on their own terms. Seemingly keen on being involved, Markle's appearance on Wednesday marks a rare moment as it is typically unusual for someone who has not yet married into the royal family to be involved in a high-profile occasion like the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Summit, which the Commonwealth Youth Forum falls under. However, Markle's relationship with the royal family continues to break with tradition as she was also the first fiancee to join the family for Christmas. The work is just beginning for the soon-to-be married pair as they will also attend a women's empowerment reception on Thursday, hosted by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. The event will involve charities and organizations that work to promote global gender equality through education for girls -- a cause close to Markle's heart. "I said she was a great champion and ambassador for women and that she should start a SheForShe campaign," Karuna Rana, a Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network leader, said of Markle. "She said she'd think about it -- right after May 20." (Eonline)

Kathie Lee Gifford's sleep schedule sounds like a nightmare. Kathie Lee Gifford is a well-oiled machine who doesn't need assistance waking up in the wee hours of the morning. Talking about her morning routine on the "Today" show on Tuesday, the TV legend revealed she's the definition of an early riser -- adding her days start at 2 a.m. "No, I'm not a snoozer," the 64-year-old quipped to co-host Sheinelle Jones. "I don't even have an alarm. I've been doing it for... since the 1800s before there were alarm clocks!" When Jones, who appeared baffled by the confession, asked if Gifford is ever worried about oversleeping, she responded, "No, never." Gifford isn't just laying in bed twiddling her thumbs, though. "Then I lay there and pray for sinners like you, Sheinelle," Gifford said with a laugh. "I pray. I strategize. I think. I linger." Then, finally around 4 a.m., Gifford takes her dogs outside for a morning walk. Gifford began co-hosting the fourth hour of the "Today" show with Hoda Kotb in 2008. Before joining NBC, Gifford co-hosted "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" for 12 years from 1988 until she left in 2000. (PageSix)

Dwayne Johnson's finally got an answer to what The Rock is cooking ... tequila!! Dwayne's company filed docs -- and obtained by TMZ -- to lock down the name "Mana" and slap it on tequila bottles. It pays to be in the tequila biz. Just ask these guys. Dwayne's professed his love for the Mexican liquor in the past ... saying when it comes to booze on cheat days, his preferred spirit is tequila. And speaking of spirit ... it's what "Mana" means in the Polynesian culture Dwayne grew up in. "Mana" is richly embedded in Dwayne's life, even in his tattoos. The gigantic bull tattoo on his arm, Dwayne says, epitomizes the term. He broke down its symbolism in an August 2017 post. Dwayne included #TheMana in that post, but here's how he ended it -- #NowLetsBreakOutTheTequila. Ditto! (TMZ)

Christian Slater makes no bones about it ... "Mr. Robot" anticipated the Facebook and Russian hacking scandals 3 years ago, and the world is just now catching on to it. Too little, too late? We got Christian Tuesday at LAX and asked him about the eerie comparisons between his hit show, which tackles the dangers of cybersecurity ... and the recent plague of high-profile hackings of political, retail and social media platforms. Christian -- who plays Mr. Robot, the "fsociety" hacktivist leader -- credits the show's creator, Sam Esmail, for having the vision back in 2015 when the show premiered. He also gives him props for scaring the crap outta us. Not to worry, Christian says the future's not totally doomed. Or so he thinks. (TMZ)

Chrissy Teigen Invites Kim Kardashian to Move in After Kanye West Tweets About Getting 'Rid of Everything'. Even Kim Kardashian "needs clarity" about her husband's tweets. Kanye West returned to Twitter on Sunday, April 15, tweeting quite the variety of messages from tributes to Lamar Odom to promotional Yeezy tweets and everything in between. However, a specific tweet on Tuesday, April 17, caught the attention of his wife. "Sometimes you have to get rid of everything," the 40-year-old music mogul tweeted. Kardashian, 37, retweeted his message, adding, "Wait... EVERYTHING?!?!?!" with the emoji of a girl raising her hand. Chrissy Teigen, who is a close friend to the couple, responded to Kardashian, writing, "I have an air mattress here and I have been itching to bust it out if you need." To top it off, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star retweeted that, adding, "Might need some more for the kids? Just not clear on what everything really means. I need clarity. Thanks for being such a good friend. Maybe John can call and inquire? But maybe he means friends too? This is confusing." Teigen, 32, answered, "You're right. We are all screwed. I still have the bouncy house from Saturday!! It's a bed and a house in one." The reality star was clearly kidding but immediately started responding replies from her followers, concerned that she and West were actually separating. She later tweeted: "For anyone who has absolutely no humor in their soul please know my tweets are a joke and I will die laughing if I see blogs and media really think I am being serious. So don't even try it." In case some needed more reassurance, she also posted a selfie with West he doesn't look thrilled, while she's making a kissy face. (UsMagazine)

It looks like Lamar Odom could be gearing up for a return to the hardwood ... and TMZ Sports has the video. No, Lamar ain't crushin' it on the court ... but it's pretty clear the ex-Lakers star was getting back in game shape at the Gold's Gym in Glendale, L.A. earlier this week. In the video, Odom hits the weights like a boss -- pumping out sets on his bis, tris and shoulders under the close watch of an apparent personal trainer. Yeah, we know it ain't exactly "Rocky" ... but it's a great sign considering we've only really seen Lamar partying since he left rehab. Remember -- L.O. first expressed interest in joining the Cube's BIG3 league last summer ... and just a couple months ago, told us he wanted in THIS SEASON to honor his late friend, Rasual Butler. Better keep droppin' sweat, bro -- Season 2 tips off in June! (TMZ)

Ad eviscerates Sean Penn's debut novel. Finally, some truth in advertising. A clever print ad for Sean Penn's critically maligned debut novel, "Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff," gushes, "The critics agree!" But it then goes on to quote the outlets that have mercilessly drubbed the novel. The critics' cruel quips include: "Honestly, shut your face, Sean Penn" (Marie Claire), "Sean Penn the novelist must be stopped" (Huffington Post), "Ignore Penn" (Chicago Tribune) and "Repellent on one level, but stupid on so many others" (the Guardian). Publisher Atria then offers up, "For counterpoints by Salman Rushdie, Jane Smiley, Paul Theroux, Stuart Dybek, Sarah Silverman, Bill Maher, and others," to visit its Web site. Or just "read it and decide for yourself." (PageSix)

Olympian Jordyn Wieber Files Lawsuit Against USA Gymnastics in Larry Nassar Case. Earlier Tuesday, Olympic gold medalist gymnast Jordyn Wieber, 22, filed a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University in connection with the now-infamous Larry Nassar sexual abuse and molestation case. In January, the disgraced former doctor was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing girls under the guise of medical treatment. According to court documents obtained by E! News, the suit alleges that Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, their former President Steve Penny and former Chairman Paul Parilla, "Failed to disclose and hid" the former Olympic Team and MSU team doctor's criminal conduct from the public and law enforcement "by virtue of defendants conspiratorial and fraudulent conduct." According to the complaint, "The organizations that were responsible for caring for the plaintiff, and the individuals within those organizations who the plaintiff trusted to keep her safe, knew or should have known that he was molesting athletes but turned a blind eye to these warnings in order to maintain the status quo and in utter dereliction of their legal, moral, and ethical duties to protect the plaintiff." According to the complaint, the defendants' actions allowed Nassar "to remain in a position of influence and his unsupervised or negligently supervised conduct with minor participants and members made the molestation and abuse of minor participants possible." The lawsuit also alleges that USA Gymnastics destroyed the athlete's medical records, "in order to further conceal the sexual abuse of Nassar." In a statement released by the law firm Manly Stewart and Finaldi, Jordyn said, "My teammates and I were subjected Larry Nassar every single month at the national team training center in Texas. He was the only male allowed to be present in the athlete dorm rooms to do whatever he wanted. He was allowed to treat us in hotel rooms alone and without any supervision. Nobody was protecting us from being taken advantage of. Nobody was even concerned whether or not we were being sexually abused. I was not protected. My teammates were not protected." The Olympian added, "My parents trusted USA Gymnastics and Larry Nassar to take care of me and we were betrayed by both. And now, the lack of accountability from USAG and Michigan State, have caused me and many other girls to remain shameful, confused, and disappointed." More than 250 women and girls came forward to publicly accuse Nassar of sexually assault under the guise of medical treatment. Some of Nassar's alleged victims include three other members of the "Fierce Five", Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and McKayla Maroney, who took home gold in the team event at the 2012 Olympics. (Eonline)

Music

Prince's Official Memoir Will Be Released Later This Year. Prince's publishing agent Esther Newberg revealed that the first draft of the late icon's biography will be published by the end of 2018. ICM Partners' Esther Newberg announced on Wednesday (April 18) that Prince's memoir will be published by the holiday season. Three editors met with Prince at his Paisley Park home in Minneapolis, and a deal was made weeks before he died in April 2016, Newberg said on Variety's "Strictly Business" podcast. "It's never been done before," Newberg said when asked about the pitch process. "Editors don't like to be in the same room making their pitches to the same potential clients. We had to do it because I knew he would not want to meet individually with editors." Prince was "committed to the book project" and worked together with author Dan Piepenbring, personally handwriting over 50 manuscript pages. Reproductions of his longhand pages might be included in the book, according to Newberg. The project was originally announced about a month before Prince's death, with a tentative title of The Beautiful Ones. Publishers described it as being "an unconventional and poetic journey through his life and creative work." (Billboard)

Kelly Clarkson to Host 2018 Billboard Music Awards. Miss Independent is heading to the 2018 Billboard Music Awards! Yes, that's right... Kelly Clarkson is set to host the annual award ceremony, NBC announced Tuesday. "To prepare for hosting the Billboard Music Awards, I already have 20 costume changes planned," the pop star shared in a press release. "I will be flying in like my girl P!nk, and calling Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman for jokes. Well, or I'm just gonna show up and celebrate my favorite artists and get to know a few more. Yeah, maybe I'll go with that plan." Clarkson's latest gig marks her first as an award show emcee, but there's no question the American Idol alum and The Voice coach will totally rise to the occasion. To make Tuesday's announcement even more exciting, the BBMAs also unveiled their star-studded list of nominations just hours ago. Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift are all nominated for Top Artist. NBC will broadcast the show live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 20 at 8 p.m. ET, marking the first year the award show will air on the network. Tickets to attend the annual event are on sale now. (Eonline)

Ariana Grande Resurfaces on Twitter to Tease New Music. Ariana Grande is making her return to social media in a big way. After a nearly five-month long absence from Twitter, the musician returned to tweet a single teardrop emoji, causing patient fans to speculate that new music might be dropped in the coming days. The "Dangerous Woman" singer was not alone in sharing cryptic messages with the world. Her mom Joan Grande, brother Frankie Grande and manager Scooter Braun also tweeted the same emoji. She later tweeted the phrase, "No tears left to cry," which watchful fans also spotted Grande wearing on a sweater. This could be the name of her new album, seeing as the artist has used this same method to hint at the name for her previous album, Dangerous Woman. Not to mention that her brother and mom were sporting the same sweaters in their posts. And perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence is the static screen that appears on the pop star's website. Rumors of a new album first started to circulate after Grande seemingly confirmed on Instagram that a new album would be released in 2018. She shared a video of herself singing, with the caption, "See you in the new year." Those rumors gained traction after the "Side to Side" singer made her first public appearance in six months at an Oscar's after-party in March, following reports that she held a listening party earlier in the year. Her uncharacteristic silence on social media and in the public following her Dangerous Woman tour was no surprise to the people around her considering the trauma she suffered during the Manchester Arena explosion, which left 22 dead. "When she found out fans of hers had died, she was so sad, I mean, she cried for days," Braun revealed. (Eonline)

Lauryn Hill announces 'Miseducation' 20th anniversary tour. Lauryn Hill is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her multiple-Grammy-winning debut solo album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" with a North American tour, with international dates to follow. The tour kicks off on July 5 in Virginia and is produced by Live Nation. Tickets and VIP experiences go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 20 at 10 a.m. local time. A portion of the ticket sales go toward the MLH Foundation, which directly contributes support for education, health, agriculture, technology and community-based businesses and development initiatives "throughout the Diaspora," according to the tour announcement. Hill said in a statement, "This album chronicled an intimate piece of my young existence. It was the summation of most, if not all, of my most hopeful and positive emotions experienced to that date. I Loved and believed deeply in my community's ability to both Love and heal itself provided it received the right amount of support and encouragement. Our world today, both complex and changing, is in need of the balance between moral fortitude and cathartic expression. I hope the Love and energy that permeated this work can continue to inspire change with Love and optimism at the helm." The singer delivered a rousing rendition of the late Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland last weekend. In addition to her scheduled tour dates, Hill will be playing at New York's historic Apollo Theater on May 1 exclusively for Citi cardmembers. The tickets will be $20 in honor of the album's 20th anniversary. All ticket proceeds will go directly to the MLH Foundation. (PageSix)

Travis Scott is firing back at the promoter who sued him for bailing on a Super Bowl weekend concert, while keeping the dough he'd been paid ... TMZ has learned. Travis filed a response to PJAM's lawsuit against him, but also filed his own countersuit against the company. According to the docs, Travis says the promoter never sent him a confirmed travel itinerary for the Minnesota show. He says right up to Feb. 3, the scheduled day of the show, he hadn't received the travel plans. In his suit, Travis says he learned PJAM lacked the cash to cover his transportation or the remaining money he was owed for the performance. He admits they did pay him $150k in advance. Travis is also pissed because he believes someone from PJAM spoke to TMZ about his gig ahead of time. He says that's a violation of the confidentiality agreement both sides signed for the show. Sources close to Travis had told us at the time he canceled due to weather and logistics, but PJAM thinks he flat-out "refused to show up to the event." PJAM was suing to get its money back, and damages. Travis is suing to get the additional payment he never got. Travis' attorney, Howard King, tells us PJAM's lawsuit is "An obvious effort to shake Travis down and avoid the consequences of their breaches. Instead of pursuing a misguided attempt to spin the narrative and salvage their tattered reputation, the responsible step would have been for PJAM to pay Travis the balance of his fee and move on to their next opportunity." He adds, "Travis apologizes to any fans who were duped by these "wannabe" promoters -- Alex Martini, Jefferson Agar and Patrick Johnston -- into showing up at the cancelled show even after the promoters failed to take the steps to get Travis there." (TMZ)

Rachel Platten Apologizes for Flubbing the National Anthem Twice. Rachel Platten needed her own fight song on Sunday when she faced an unexpected challenge: finishing the National Anthem. While performing the signature song at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on Sunday ahead of a soccer game between the Utah Royals and the Chicago Red Stars, Platten found herself fumbling over her words. As she kicked off the Star-Spangled Banner a capella, Platten quickly stumbled and said the wrong words for the first verse, prompting her to start over again. She ran into the same problem once more, but with some help and encouragement from fans in the stands, she powered through. Two days later, the star is "having a hard time" forgiving herself. "It was incredibly, incredibly embarrassing," she told People. "I was so nervous going into it. The anthem is such a big deal; it's probably the most important song for our country. I always get nervous because it means so much because it is so powerful. I always want to do it justice, do a good job and give people the exact version they expect and they want." The star was apologetic on social media, later tweeting, "Still feeling so embarrassed about this. I'm so sorry to everyone - once again." While she told the magazine her mind initially went "blank," she ultimately was able to overcome her nerves and remember the rest of the words despite wanting to run right out of the stadium. "I was proud that I was able to finish," she continued to People. "I actually can't believe I didn't forget more words and that I was able to complete the song." However, Platten's work was not done. Later on after her National Anthem performance, she was slated to serenade the crowd with a concert. "I was really terrified to go back out, but the crowd was so kind. It was just so much love that I didn't even know if I deserved at the moment," she told the magazine. "So my takeaway was, 'God, people could be really kind even when I'm not willing to give that to myself.'" Moving forward, the songstress is planning to use this experience to drive home the point that no one is perfect. Fortunately, the American Music Award nominee is willing to give it another go at a future game. "My husband was so sweet, saying, 'Rach you know people mess up all the time in their jobs. And no one really cares. Unfortunately, your job is in front of 18,000 people and they care,'" she told the magazine. "It's a little hard to forgive myself but I'm working on it." (Eonline)

Movies

Leo to present Martin Scorsese with Robert Osborne Award. Organizers of the TCM Classic Film Festival said Tuesday that Leonardo DiCaprio will present the fest's inaugural Robert Osborne Award to his frequent director Martin Scorsese. The hardware will be bestowed on opening night, April 26, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Scorsese has been chosen as the first recipient of the TCM Classic Film Festival's Robert Osborne Award in recognition of "his work as a film preservationist and impassioned classic movie fan." Turner Classic Movies said the award, named after the network's late primetime host, will be presented annually to someone keeping the heritage of classic films alive for generations to come. It will be presented to Scorsese on April 26, the opening night of 2018 edition of the festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. "I am truly honored to be the first recipient of the Robert Osborne Award," Scorsese said. "I started the Film Foundation 28 years ago in order to preserve and share cinema's history with audiences of the present and the future. Bob and TCM have always been trusted allies in this mission. I always loved watching Bob's introductions and interviews on TCM because you could immediately feel that this was someone who knew movie history, who wanted to share that knowledge and pass it on, and most importantly who truly loved movies. Bob was a true believer in the cinema, so to receive this award in his name means a great deal to me." In a statement, TCM noted that Scorsese has been a celebrated director and film preservationist for more than 50 years, making some of the most influential films in cinema history. A five-time nominee for Best Director at the Academy Awards, he won in 2007 for "The Departed" (2006). In 1990 Scorsese established the Film Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history by working in partnership with archives and studios, the foundation has restored more than 800 films, while the World Cinema Project has restored 31 films from 21 countries. The foundation's free educational curriculum, "The Story of Movies," teaches young people about the language and history of film. "Robert was the cornerstone of TCM and his contributions were fundamental in shaping the network into what it is today," said TCM General Manager Jennifer Dorian. "Through the creation of the Robert Osborne Award we acknowledge how much he meant to TCM and the impact he had on preserving the love of classic film." The TCM Classic Film Festival will open with the 50th anniversary screening and world premiere of the restoration of Mel Brooks' 1968 classic comedy, "The Producers," also on April 26. Brooks will participate in a Q&A. The rest of the schedule for the fest, which runs through April 29, will be announced shortly. (PageSix)

Chris Pratt Barely Escapes a Dinosaur's Jaws in New Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Trailer. The park may be gone, but the new trailer for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is finally here. The two-minute and 30-second clip shows Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard trying to save the raptor Blue while attempting to escape the jaws of a few prehistoric predators. "This movie very much lives up to the legacy of the Jurassic franchise," Pratt, who plays the raptor trainer Owen, told Entertainment Weekly. "It's something different, for sure. It's very intentionally a second act of the trilogy." Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is directed by J.A. Bayona and features a star-studded cast, including Ted Levine, Geraldine Chaplin, James Cromwell, Jeff Goldblum and B.D. Wong. This is the third and final trailer for the film. Universal Pictures debuted the first trailer in December and the second trailer on Super Bowl Sunday. Fans also saw a teaser of Pratt petting Blue in November. In fact, Pratt told Entertainment Weekly his character's relationship with Blue is what convinces him to go back and get the dinosaurs off the island. "Man's relationship with beast in this is something different than it's been in the previous movies because it's not just man running from beast," he told the media outlet. "There's, like, this caring, nurturing relationship that he has with Blue." However, fans will have to wait a few more months until they can actually see the movie in theaters. Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom hits theaters June 22. Even thought the sequel has yet to reach the box office, a third film is already in the works. In February, Universal Pictures revealed Jurassic World 3 will be released June 11, 2021. Colin Trevorrow, who directed the first Jurassic World and was a screenwriter for the sequel, will return to direct the third film. Emily Carmichael will co-write the film, and Steven Spielberg, who directed the original Jurassic Park, will serve as executive producer. It's no surprise Universal Pictures is expanding the franchise. As E! News previously reported, Jurassic World brought in $1.67 billion worldwide. (Eonline)

Charlize Theron gained 50 pounds by eating mac and cheese at 2 a.m. Charlize Theron on a whopping 50 pounds to play overwhelmed mother Marlo in her new film, "Tully." "I wanted to feel what this woman felt, and I think that was a way for me to get closer to her and get into that mindset," Theron told Entertainment Tonight. "You know, it was a huge surprise to me. I got hit in the face pretty hard with depression. Yeah, for the first time in my life I was eating so much processed foods and I drank way too much sugar. I was not that fun to be around on this film." As described, Theron, 42, would eat around the clock just to keep the weight on. "Like, all of a sudden you're just done eating that amount and then it becomes a job," she said after confessing to eating In-N-Out for breakfast. "I remember having to set my alarm in the middle of the night in order to just maintain [the weight]." She goes into gluttonous detail adding, "I would literally wake up at two in the morning and I'd have a cup of cold macaroni and cheese just next to me," the Oscar winner shared. "I would wake up and I would just eat it ... I would just, like, shove it in my throat. It's hard to maintain that weight." Theron's weight gain was so jarring for her two kids, Jackson, 6, and August 2, they thought she was pregnant. When the film was completed, then came the daunting task of shedding the weight. Theron said it took a year and a half. "I was worried. I was like, this is taking a really long time," she said. "Because on 'Monster,' I just didn't snack for five days and I was fine. You know your body at 27 is a little different than your body at 43, and my doctor made sure to make me very aware of that. Like, you are 42, calm down, you're not dying, all good." (PageSix)

Saudi Arabia Prepares for First Public Cinema Opening in 35 Years. 'Black Panther' is set to make history on Wednesday night in Riyadh, with 40 seconds of the film having been cut by local censors. For Saudi Arabia's film industry, April 18, 2018 should go down in history. At roughly 9 p.m. in Riyadh (11 a.m. PT), around 600 guests will sit down in a refitted ultra-modern conference hall in the King Abdullah Financial District to watch Black Panther usher in a new cultural era for the country. The Marvel superhero blockbuster -- already a major cultural landmark -- will add another historic string to its bow when it becomes the first film to get an official public screening in the kingdom at the first movie theater to open there for 35 years. Saudi Arabia lifted its decades-long cinema ban in December. Awwad Alawwad, Saudi's minister of culture and information who first announced the end to the ban, is set to attend the event, alongside Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Entertainment, which won the first license to operate movie theaters in the kingdom and runs the Riyadh cinema, one of 350 expected to open across the country by 2030. THR understands that diplomats and industry experts will also be in attendance, although no Black Panther stars or other Hollywood figures have made the trip. While Wednesday's opening has a strict schedule (socializing and networking followed by prayer, followed by ribbon cutting and inauguration), there is still one unknown that will only be unveiled on the night. Will there be segregated seating separating male and female guests? The Saudi government has recently relaxed enforcement of laws banning co-mingling between unrelated men and women. Another question is censorship: Will some scenes of Black Panther -- particularly scenes showing too much skin -- be cut? THR understands from Disney's regional distributor Italia Film that just 40 seconds of the film has been removed. While they wouldn't elaborate on which scenes these came from, the censoring is believed to be in line with cuts made to Black Panther across the region. Another industry insider suggests that, with the eyes of the world being on the event as a major step in Saudi Arabia's liberalization program, rules may have been relaxed. "They want to send a special message out there," they told THR. "But going forward ... I don't know what the deal is going to be." The opening of cinemas has been hugely welcomed in a country of 32 million, 70 percent of whom are under 30 years old. But there have been a few grumblings regarding the nature of Wednesday's event, with several complaining on Twitter that "regular people" couldn't attend. Others from the film industry have suggested that, while the new freedom for Saudis to watch films in public rather than on home entertainment or in gated communities is something to celebrate, the launch should have come with a highlight of locally made projects. "There are five ready feature and animation films (of Saudi origin)," says Mahmoud Sabbagh, director of Barakah Meets Barakah, which bowed in Berlin in 2016. "I wonder why the officials neglected them when orchestrating this gesture." But there's significant promise on the horizon in the weeks and months following Black Panther's historic screening. The newly formed Saudi Film Council is set to attend the Cannes Film Festival, where Saudi Arabia will have its first pavilion and showcase several local shorts. News of the organization's film fund is likely to be announced in due course, alongside other initiatives aimed at providing a supportive platform for the nascent local scene. Irrespective of whoever got an invitation to Wednesday's event, there should be plenty to celebrate going forward. (Hollywood Reporter)

Steven Spielberg to make DC Comics movie Blackhawk. Steven Spielberg is going to make a DC Comics movie. Hot of the success of Ready Player One, the Oscar-winning hitmaker is reuniting with Warner Bros. to produce and very possibly direct the action-adventure film Blackhawk. Based on the 1941 comic of the same name, Blackhawk centers on a team of World War II fighter pilots who are led by a mysterious man known as Blackhawk and face down fantastical threats. The screenplay is being written by Spielberg's frequent collaborator David Koepp (Jurassic Park, War f the Worlds). Spielberg previously made a comic book adaption of a very different sort with 2011's The Adventures of Tintin. Blackhawk combines a rather new element for Spielberg (a DC-inspired title) with one of his most frequent topics (World War II, which has been the subject or backdrop of five of his previously directed films). "It was wonderful working with the team at Warner Bros. to bring Ready Player One to the screen," Spielberg said in a statement. "They bring a blend of passion and professionalism to everything they do and have a tremendous history in this genre. I am excited to reunite with them on Blackhawk." Added Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group: "We are so proud to be the studio behind Steven Spielberg's latest hit and are thrilled to be working with him again on this new action adventure. We can't wait to see what new ground he will break in introducing Blackhawk to movie audiences worldwide." Warner Bros. notes that the project will mark the filmmaker's first feature centered around characters from DC Comics. Spielberg will produce the film with Kristie Macosko Krieger and Sue Kroll. Warner Bros. adds that Spielberg is signed on "with an eye toward" directing. Spielberg is still expected to first direct the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, and then his take on West Side Story. With the recent release of Ready Player One, Spielberg became the first director to ever generate $10 billion worldwide at the box office over course of his lifetime. (Entertainment Weekly)

A couple of the young stars of last summer's blockbuster "It" have big paydays coming their way for 'Chapter Two' of the horror franchise ... according to their contracts. The docs, obtained by TMZ, show that Jaeden Lieberher -- who plays young Bill -- banked $100,000 for the 2017 film ... plus a $35k box office bonus. Sophia Lillis -- who plays young Beverly -- hauled in $65,000 for her role. But get this ... for the upcoming sequel, both young actors will earn more than double their pay -- $250k with a probable $70k bonus for Jaeden, and $150k for Sophia ... according to the docs. This is huge, especially considering it's widely reported the second installment of "It" will feature future versions of the kids played by adult actors when it's released in 2019 ... so screen time for Jaeden and Sophia could be much less. More pay for less work is always a good thing, though, right? (TMZ)

TV

Shonda Rhimes May Still Be in Denial About Scandal Ending, But Don't Expect A Spinoff. Get ready to say goodbye to Olivia Pope for good. There only remains a few hours between us and the last episode of Scandal ever, and creator Shonda Rhimes is making it clear that when Thursday's episode of the long-running political thriller ends, it'll be the last you see of the Gladiators. "Scandal is done," she told reporters during a conference call ahead of the finale, point blank, when asked if she might be considering a spinoff of the series that made Kerry Washington a household name. "I felt we were coming to our end is because we've told the stories I wanted to tell. We've told the canon of Olivia Pope in the way that I wanted to tell it," she added. "So I don't feel like we have stories that we didn't get to tell that I wanted to tell." And as for whether any characters might pop up, or even earn a mention, on How to Get Away With Murder, which crossed over with Scandal earlier this year, Rhimes said that wasn't really up to her. "Whether or not it's mentioned is up to [creator] Pete [Nowalk]. That's his show and his storytelling. So I don't know if he's ever going to mention it. It's not a plan that either one of us have," she admitted. "We don't have any -- Neither one of us have that in our heads as part of a plan. So thus far, no." While Rhimes admitted that she'd only just finished editing Thursday's finale a few days prior and hadn't really had much time to begin considering the show's place in TV history just yet, she did mention that she's proud of the way with which Scandal delivered its story over the last eight seasons. "I think I'm most proud of the way we told story on Scandal which felt different as when we started doing it which was sort of a high speed breakneck pace," she said. "But mostly because we were telling the story as it felt like it needed to be told to convey what we felt like what was the level of sort of corruption and mania and insanity that our characters were swirling in. So I think I'm most proud of our style of storytelling." For the final hour, which will see Olivia (Washington) and the rest of the Gladiators deal with the fallout from B613 going public in effort to keep Cyrus (Jeff Perry) and Jake (Scott Foley) from stealing the Oval, Rhimes admitted that she didn't see the episode as everyone paying for their sins. "I think that one of the things that Olivia says in the penultimate episode is, this idea that, standing up and being somebody who puts everything out in the open is important," she said. "Whether or not everybody pays for what they've done, I don't necessarily know that that's what the finale is about, as much as it's about seeing what happens once that choice has been made." While did remained characteristically tight-lipped on the details, Rhimes spoke to the broader themes of the finale. "I think we're finishing the evolution of the character, of Olivia Pope. The story is being completed and you're going to find out what happens basically," she said. "We've sort of put them in a fairly impossible position and you get to find out what happens and how that gets solved and where our characters go from there." As for whether the last episode will wrap up neatly or leave us wondering, Rhimes admitted it might just be a little bit of both. "I mean, yes, the story is wrapped up and yes, the audience gets to imagine some of what happens next for the characters," she teased. For Rhimes, though filming has wrapped and production on Scandal is indeed over, she's still not fully said goodbye yet -- despite having several "final" moments to commemorate along the way this season. "I'm fully in denial still. I'm trying really hard to stay in denial, but we've had a lot of we've had a lot of our moments already together, " she said. "We've had more goodbye dinners than anybody I know. We had our last night on set together, we were all together until about four in the morning filming. We are going to all be together on the night that it airs. "We've become very close as a group of people. So I'm not necessarily sure that it's going to feel the same as saying goodbye to some other show or another story," she continued. "It's just -- it doesn't quite feel real that it's going to be over. And I think yes -- I think we're all in denial about that." Scandal's series finale airs Thursday, April 19 at 10 p.m. on ABC. (Eonline)

Ray J doesn't have a clue about how to change diapers, but the father-to-be is about to learn from two people who have firsthand experience ... Heidi and Spencer Pratt. Sources tell us Ray J and Princess Love will be producing and starring in their own 2-hour VH1 special that leads up to their daughter's birth. Ray's manager, David Weintraub -- who's also a daddy -- will produce and appear in the special as well. As for Heidi and Spencer ... they seemed like a perfect fit since they have infant experience with their 6-month-old son, Gunner. Even Ray's pal, Too Short, will pitch in with parenting pointers. They've already started shooting and based on the clip -- about what kinda booze dads should drink -- it's gonna be interesting. PL's not due until this summer, which is about when the special will air. The clock's officially ticking on Ray J to brush up on his diaper changing skills. (TMZ)

New Disney Channel Promo Will Make You Feel All the Nostalgia. You're watching...Disney Channel. Every kid, big or little, of the past 15 years knows that iconic magic wand wave that every Disney Channel star had to master at some point, and in a new promo exclusive to E! News, you can take a walk through Disney Channel wand-waving history. Not only does the compilation feature current stars like Andi Mack's Peyton Elizabeth Lee, or Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, and the cast of Descendants 2, but you can also spot former Disney Channel faves like Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, and even some very shaggy-headed Sprouse twins. Kim Possible even makes an appearance! Other wand-wavers include the Jonas Brothers, Jason Earles, Brenda Song, Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry, Zendaya, Kamil McFadden, Ross Lynch, American Ferrera, Bella Thorne, and more recent stars like ZOMBIES lead Milo Manheim, Raven's Home star Isaac Ryan Brown, Cozi Zuehlsdorff of the upcoming DCOM Freaky Friday, Madison Hu from Bizaardvarks, the cast of Stuck in the Middle, and even more than that. If there's anyone who can name them all, hit us up on Twitter at @eonlineTV and we can all enjoy this Disney Channel party together. Fun fact: Apr. 18, marked the 35th anniversary of Disney Channel, though they've only been waving these wands since 2003. (Eonline)

Stranger Things Season 3 Adds Cary Elwes, Jake Busey. Stranger Things is getting another dose of 1980s movie royalty. After season two featured Paul Reiser and Sean Astin, season three is stepping things up with none other than Princess Bride's Westley himself, Cary Elwes. According to Deadline, Elwes will play Mayor Kline in Stranger Things season three. The series has also tapped Jake Busey to play Bruce. Naturally, other details are being kept under wraps. Elwes' other credits include The X-Files, Life in Pieces, Kiss the Girls, Psych and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Busey, son of Gary Busey, has appeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ray Donovan and Freakish. Netflix previously announced Maya Hawke, daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, is joining the cast as Robin. Netflix described Robin as an alternative girl who is sharp, playful and bored with her day job and looking for more excitement in her life. The third season of the sci-fi hit will also feature Priah Ferguson, Lucas' little sister Erica, in a recurring role. Ferguson previously appeared in a guest star role, but this time she returns with an army of friends. Erica didn't face any Demogorgons last time, but in season three she will embark on a wild mission to save her town from dangerous and unexpected new threat. No premiere date for Stranger Things season three has been announced. Season three is also expected to include returning players Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Dacre Montgomery and Sadie Sink. (Eonline)

One of the stars of Netflix's new animated 'Spy Kids' show says it's fine that he's a white dude voicing a black character ... in part because he's lived in motels and raps a lot. We got Travis Turner Tuesday night at Craig's in WeHo and asked if he was worried about backlash from the African-American community over him playing a black character named PSI in "Spy Kids: Mission Critical," which officially debuts this Friday. HELL TO THE NO, DAWG ... is pretty much Travis' response here, as he explains how he grew up "urban" by living in motels -- plus he says he makes music with black artists, including Snoop, apparently ... and even sponsors black kids. So it's all good, according to him. Travis goes on to blame social media for so much division when it comes to race ... and then gives us a taste of his rapping and voice from the show. Brace yourselves. (TMZ)

Zach Slams Shaun for Lying to Megan About Tracking Down Julie Woolth on The Arrangement. Zach (Kyle Toy) is not going to let anyone stand in the way of Megan Morrison's (Christine Evangelista) takedown of the Institute for the Higher Mind. In a clip from Sunday's all new The Arrangement, Zach shows up in Shaun's (Carra Patterson) office and confronts her for lying to Megan about tracking down Julie Woolth, a woman Terence (Michael Vartan) made disappear. "Zach, hi. Can I help you with something?" a surprised Shaun asks. "You can help me find Julie Woolth," Zach snaps back. "Julie Woolth? I don't know who that is," she claims. But Zach knows Shaun is lying through her teeth. "The truth is you never looked, did you? You lied to Megan," Zach insists. Shaun dodges Zach's questions, but he's not about to leave without reminding her of all the damage IHM has caused. "I know where you are right now. You had to make a choice between them and someone close to you and you chose them. So he rewarded you. He made you an insider, he made you feel special. Only now, deep down you can feel that something's not right," Zach pushes. "I felt it too. I ignored it and he tore my family apart." Brand new episode of The Arrangement Sunday at 9 p.m., on E! (Eonline)

Queen Helena Shades Willow's Engagement Story and Fashion Sense on The Royals: "It's Cheap." Leave it to Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley) to shake things up. In a clip from Sunday's The Royals, the queen helps prepare a new engagement story for Willow (Genevieve Gaunt) to present to the public and it's definitely one fit for a royal. "A royal biographer has created your engagement story. It's good. Make sure you memorize it," the queen instructs. "With all due respect, I think the truth is romantic enough. An ordinary girl and a great man fall in love," Willow responds. Sorry Willow, that's not gonna cut it. "The next 48 hours are going to be your first defining moments as queen. We've got to capture the world's imagination. People want exciting, aspirational. A young child whisked away to Argentina, only to return to her royal roots," an excited Helena explains. But that's not the only thing the queen wants to change. She also has some ideas for Willow's attire for the major moment. "The fashion world doesn't know it yet, but you're about to set trends for the next two years," Helena says. "It's pretty. It's timeless. It tells the story perfectly. A fairy tale return to royalty." "It's beautiful. But what about something simple?" a hesitant Willow asks. "I could get my mother's pearls and hold a bouquet of peonies. Refined, but accessible." And here comes the shade. "Willow, the outfit you're wearing is accessible. Do you know why it's accessible? Because it's cheap," the queen quips. Ouch! Brand new episode of The Royals Sunday at 10 p.m., on E! (Eonline)

One Married At First Sight Season 6 Couple Decides to Divorce Ahead of Decision Day. One couple down. Well, Married At First Sight season six will not end with a three-for-three success rate, as one of the couples made the decision to divorce before Decision Day in Tuesday night's episode. Following their explosive fight at the end of last week's episode, Molly Duff and Jonathan Francetic both told the other couples and their loved ones that they were ready to split following seven weeks of marriage. "We really didn't have anything to say to each other except that we agree that we both pretty much think this marriage is over," Jon said of the fallout from their sitdown with expert Dr. Jessica Griffin, with Molly had moved out.) While Molly said this break up will "take a lot longer" for her to get over than any previous ones she's gone through, Jon was equally as upset that their relationship didn't work, saying, "I've put so much into this marriage that I'm devastated. " While having a wives' dinner with Jackie Schwartzberg and Shawniece Jackson, Molly broke the news of their decision, saying, "John and I are not staying together." And when they asked if she was sure, she responded, "It's 150 percent permanent, like not a single question." Molly didn't tell the two women what caused the couple's final fight during their vacation at Universal Orlando Resort (She was talking to a guy at a bar, Jonathan then recorded her calling him "disgusting"), but partially blamed his impatience with the physical part of their relationship. "He can't be patient, and if he's going to get frustrated then I can't work with that," she said. After telling his friend Blake earlier in the episode that the couple has "already determined" they are getting a divorce, Jon also dropped the D-bomb on his fellow husbands, Ryan Buckley and Jephte Pierre, really rattling the former's confidence in his own marriage while the latter awkwardly (and hilariously) said, "This is uncomfortable! This is so uncomfortable!" The preview for the finale still showed Jon and Molly showing up for Decision Day, so anything is possible. But something tells us these two won't be getting back together anytime soon, especially when Ryan flat-out told the two guys, "We both know we're walking into decision day saying no." Do you think Jackie and Ryan and/or Shawniece and Jephte will stay together? Married At First Sight's finale airs next Tuesday, April 24, at 9 p.m. on Lifetime. (Eonline)

TV Ratings: 'Roseanne' Finally Holds Steady, Comey Drives Colbert to Season High. With an audience of 13 million, ABC's returned comedy loses none of its showing in the key demo and sheds a mere 400k viewers from the previous Tuesday. In the fourth week of its triumphant return to the air, Roseanne finally seemed to hold steady on Tuesday night. The ABC comedy led the night by all key measures with an average 3.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 13.0 million viewers. That's dead even with the previous week's score in the key demo and off a mere 4 percent from the comparable audience stat a week ago. Roseanne's narrative had been one of modest but gradual decline for the second two weeks. Now, halfway through its brief spring run, it may have plateaued -- at least for a week. Time-shifting continues to play a big role in the show's story, especially now that we're nearly one month away from the premiere. Most current live-plus-three-day averages have Roseanne at a 6.8 rating among adults 18-49 and 23.4 million viewers. (Roseanne's March premiere has now amassed a total audience of 27.3 million and a 8.1 rating in the key demo.) It's still the No. 1 show on broadcast, season-to-date, though there are four more weeks to see if that holds. ABC attempted to use all of the Roseanne attention to goose struggling newcomer Alex, Inc., but it was not to be. In a special Tuesday airing, directly after Roseanne, the comedy hemorrhaged viewers -- pulling just a 1.2 rating in the key demo and dampening the rest of the ABC block with it. Black-ish dropped to a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49 and Splitting Up Together came in at a 1.0 rating. (For the People logged another unfortunate 0.6 rating.) The competition saw The Voice ranking second for the night with a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49 on NBC, partnered with a steady Rise (0.8 adults) and a new Chicago Med (1.2 adults). On CBS, NCIS earned a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49 before Bull pulled the same. NCIS: New Orleans was at a 0.8 rating in the key demo. CBS' big story, however, was James Comey on Stephen Colbert. The former FBI director's visit to the show brought a season high, pulling its third-highest overnight rating ever -- a 3.5 among households. That marked its biggest lead over The Tonight Show since its 2015 premiere. Also good news for the series: it topped in the key demo.