The Daily Dish Archives

Most people probably realize this already, but under that gruff exterior, Gordon Ramsay has a heart of gold.

According to TMZ, Ramsay donated $50,000 to help Ben Watkins in his fight with cancer. The Masterchef Junior contestant died this week at age 14.

Apparently Ramsay made the contribution very quietly back in August. The show is also exploring ways to honor Ben on the air.

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Matthew McConaughey tells Sky One that he is interested in doing stand-up comedy. ”Why I’m interested in doing stand up, is my raw expression goes through four filters before it gets to the screen. I’m doing someone else’s script, I’m being directed by someone else, I’m being filmed by someone else, I’m being edited by someone else before it’s put in a capsule and put in front of you on screen. Where do you go where there is no filter? That’s stand-up. So the plan before Covid was, I was planning on taking to the road and telling stories in an hour of stand-up.”

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OK! magazine says Lori Loughlin is struggling behind bars. A source tells the magazine, “This is Lori’s worst nightmare in so many ways, and she’s scared and lonely beyond belief right now. Going into this sentence, she was putting on a brave face and saying she was focused and pleased to be getting it over and done with. But Lori’s not as tough as she pretends to be. Lori is finding out the hard way that she has to be humble, pay her dues and act like any other felon who’s serving her debt to society. She’s lonely, ashamed and incredibly sad that her life has come to this — but at the same time, she knows it could have been so much worse.”

The NY Post says Lori’s husband, Mossimo, began his five-month prison sentence yesterday in California

Will Smith and the original Aunt Viv have finally buried the hatchet.

Janet Hubert, who starred on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for three seasons until getting fired, sat down with Will during HBO Max’s 30th-anniversary reunion that aired Wednesday and can now be found on-demand on the streaming service.

At one point, Janet asked, “Why? Why so far? You guys went so far. I lost so much.” The actress, who was pregnant during the show’s third season, revealed that she was in an abusive marriage. She said, “I was no longer laughing, smiling, joking because there were things that were going on that nobody knew about. The cast had no idea what was going on.”

Will admitted that after having three children of his own he realizes he had treated her badly. He said, “I can see how I made the set very difficult for Janet.”

Later in the show, Janet got emotional when she said being labeled as “difficult” destroyed her career.

Will and Janet ended their talk with an hug.

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Collider magazine says Lady Gaga and Brad Pitt are in talks to star in a new movie called “Bullet Train.” The movie is about a group of assassins aboard a fast-moving train in Tokyo. No word on Gaga’s role

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Thursday’s episode of Jeopardy! opened with a special message from Alex Trebek recognizing World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

The host, who died of the disease earlier this month, urged viewers to be aware of the symptoms and get tested.

Alex taped shows until about 10 days before he passed away. Those episodes will run through Christmas Day.

Warner Brothers gift this Christmas to moviegoers is a blockbuster release into theaters and HBO Max.

Wonder Woman 1984 starring Gal Gadot will play at megaplexes starting December 25th, in states where theaters are actually open. At the same time, the movie will stream at HBO Max. Gadot urged Twitter followers to support the $200 million blockbuster at theaters, but where it is not safe or available, to choose HBO Max.

AMC Theaters made a deal with Warner Bros to allow both options for 30 days. Then, for the next months, Wonder Woman 1984 will be available only at megaplexes before returning to on-demand HBO Max. (Deadline)

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In touch Weekly Magazine says Naya Rivera’s four-year-old son, Josie, is suing Ventura County, California for wrongful death. The child’s father, Ryan, and Naya’s estate say the pontoon boat she was on before she drowned was grossly under equipped and lacked a safety ladder, adequate rope, an anchor and a radio

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Michael J.Fox tells the Los Angeles Times that he is retiring from acting again due to his declining health. “There is a time for everything, and my time of putting in a twelve-hour workday, and memorizing seven pages of dialogue, is best behind me…At least for now … I enter a second retirement. That could change, because everything changes. But if this is the end of my acting career, so be it.”

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In case you’ve been looking for the Peanuts holiday specials on TV,  Apple TV+ has reached an agreement to show ”A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (November 22nd)  and ”A Charlie Brown Christmas” (December 13th) on PBS. Apple now owns the rights to the Charlie Brown specials and only streamed “The Great Pumpkin” on their service. This angered people, who had become accustomed to watching the specials on free TV.

Congratulations to the Sexiest Man Alive who, according to People magazine, is Michael B. Jordan.

He casually accepted the annual honor, saying, (quote) “It’s a cool feeling. It’s a good club to be a part of.”

Jordan flexed in the boxing franchise, Creed. He also starred opposite Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther.

Seven years ago, People magazine tapped Michael B Jordan as “One to Watch” in that year’s Sexiest Man Alive issue. Jordan replaced John Legend, who followed Idris Elba. Before them came Blake Shelton and Dwayne Johnson. (People)

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George Clooney confirmed that he once gave $1 million to 14 friends.

He arranged delivery of “giant pallets of cash” to his closest buddies. Clooney told GQ magazine why he was so generous, (quote) “If I get hit by a bus, they’re all in the will. So why am I waiting to get hit by a bus?”

This happened seven years ago, before Clooney married Amal Alamuddin and had twins. He’d just made bank from the movie Gravity. Rather than take a big salary, he and Sandra Bullock negotiated a sweetheart deal to earn a fraction of the profits. The movie made more than $1 billion.

He chose 14 of his closest buddies. Clooney said, (quote) “They helped me over a period of 35 years. I’ve slept on their couches when I was broke and they loaned me money, too. Without them I don’t have any of this.” (GQ)

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Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee will helm a movie musical about the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. The little blue pill has become a $3 billion industry.

The song and dance film is based on a magazine article titled, All Rise: The Untold Story of the Guys Who Launched Viagra. The history behind the popular drug among over-the-hill men is a fascinating accident.

Pfizer went into Viagra test trials hoping it would resolve chest pains. It did not. But the male volunteer test subjects refused to return their unused supply of Viagra because of its side effect below the belt.

Marketing geniuses latched onto that positive element for impotent men. The movie musical will tell that story, as well as the challenges Pfizer faced in the ’90s to convince lawmakers, Wall Street, and the Catholic Church that Viagra was not immoral. (Deadline)

Benton Harbor native and comedian Sinbad is recovering from a stroke.

His family released a statement Monday reading, “While he is beginning his road to recovery, we are faithful and optimistic that he will bring laughter into our hearts soon. Our family thanks you in advance for your love and support and ask for continued prayers for his healing. We also ask that you please respect our privacy during this time.”

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The Rock and the producers of his new Netflix movie ”Red Notice” recently had to change a scene because he was too big for a white Porsche he was supposed to drive. The cast and crew laughed as he struggled to get inside the small sports car. The Rock described the uncomfortable scene as “like a big brown marshmallow getting shoved into a coin slot.”

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We Got This Covered says James Cameron may make a new Terminator movie that is set in the future. A source tells the website, “Despite the last one bombing, James Cameron still wants a new Terminator film and this one to be set during the war in the future like #4.”

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Life & Style Weekly Magazine says Meghan Markle aspires to be more famous than Kim Kardashian. A source tells the magazine,  “While Meghan was expected to do everything in the name of the monarchy after marrying Harry in 2018, she’s made big plans for herself. Rumors have been swirling for months that she and Harry are doing a reality show. Markle is also reportedly considering Botox and fillers to even look like a Kardashian.

Despite a scandalous year in the tabloids, Ellen DeGeneres won the trophy for best daytime talk show of 2020 at the E! People’s Choice Awards on Sunday. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her “amazing” staff. The honor comes after the comedian was accused of creating a toxic work environment at her show.

She added, “Thank you to all of my fans for supporting me, for sticking by me. I cannot tell you how grateful I am. This means more than I can say.”

The show aired live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and featured a performance from Justin Bieber.

Demi Lovato hosted the awards ceremony, which has fans vote for their favorites in such categories as film, television, music and pop culture.

In a year light on blockbusters and new releases, Bad Boys for Life was named Movie of 2020. Star Will Smith took home Male Movie Star while Tiffany Haddish was named Female Movie Star for Like a Boss.

Other winners included Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda (Drama Movie Star), Extraction star Chris Hemsworth (Action Movie Star) Riverdale star Cole Sprouse (Male TV Star), Grey’s Anatomy’s Ellen Pompeo (Female TV Star) and Khloé Kardashian (Reality Star).

Tyler Perry, who received the People’s Champion Award, gave an inspirational speech, telling people to “make sure everybody that you run into meets you at your worth.”

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Many fans believe LeVar Burton would make a great replacement for the late Alex Trebek.

A petition was started last week calling for the former Reading Rainbow host and Star Trek actor to take over the game show. As of Sunday night, almost 100,000 people had signed it.

The petition caught the attention of LeVar — who tweeted, “Even if nothing comes from it, I can’t tell how much how I appreciate all y’alls love and support.”

The petition makes its case by arguing that LeVar “has inspired and shaped the minds of several generations of trivia-loving nerds” through his various roles.

Grey’s Anatomy fans could not believe who made a surprise return for last night’s season premiere. They were not alone in being shocked.

The show’s director tweeted, (quote) “Most of the actors didn’t know. Some of the writers didn’t know. Most of the good folks at the studio and network didn’t know.”

Spoiler Alert: Patrick Dempsey appeared near the end of the two-hour episode. “McDreamy” came to Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) in a dream sequence on the beach.

This episode focused on the strains that COVID placed on hospitals and the stress for nurses and doctors, who lacked enough personal protection equipment. Near the end, Meredith Grey collapsed in the hospital parking lot from exhaustion. Then her dead lover, Derek Shepherd, returned to her in a dream. (Deadline)

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Al Roker promised The Today Show cast and crew that he will “see you all soon.”

He returned home on Thursday from successful prostate cancer surgery. Doctors completely removed the gland. Al Roker tweeted photos of his caregivers: wife Deborah Roberts and son 18-year-old son Nicholas.

The 66-year-old weather announcer expressed gratitude for the expert care he received at Sloan Kettering’s Josie Robertson Surgery Center in New York City. Roker added, (quote) “I appreciate all the thoughts and wishes from our viewers and the wonderful care packages from my co-workers. See you all soon.” (People)

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HBO Max scheduled the Friends reunion special for March of next year.

Matthew Perry delivered the update via Twitter. He said, (quote) “Friends reunion being rescheduled for the beginning of March. Looks like we have a busy year coming up. And that’s the way I like it.”

Twice before the special was postponed due to COVID concerns. Apparently, the cast and crew have faith that by spring they can safely tape a reunion in front of a studio audience.

Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc all agreed to reunite for an unscripted special. They will tape on the original stage of the ’90s sitcom. (E! News)

Denzel Washington is safe this morning. Los Angeles fire crews responded last night to a possible fire at his $35 million home. All the residents escaped safely.

Smoke bellowed from a second floor window of his four-story mansion. Fire inspectors searched inside the walls believing that embers may be smoldering and causing the smoke. LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey said, (quote) “The investigation is largely focused on one of several furnaces in the home that may have been recently serviced.”

It’s been “freezing” this week for Los Angeles residents. Temperatures have been stuck in the 60s during the day, but have dropped into the 50s and 40s overnight. That’s bone-chilling for Southern Californians who don’t normally experience temps that low. (Los Angeles Times)

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Kate Winslet says she’s “very proud” to beat one of Tom Cruise‘s filming records.

The actress held her breath underwater for seven minutes and 14 seconds while filming Avatar 2. Tom held the previous record. He held his breath for 6 to 6-and-a-half minutes in 2011 while filming Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.

Kate tells Entertainment Tonight, “It was brilliant and I was very proud of myself and I’ll probably never be able to do it again. That came at the end of four weeks worth of quite intense training and it was in the dive tank, it was in the training tank. But I loved it.”

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Lucasfilm has defended Baby Yoda following a scandal that erupted on the latest season of The Mandalorian.

Spoiler alert: In the latest episode, the character known as The Child, eats the eggs of an alien character as a running gag. But many fans weren’t laughing. One Twitter user said, “For the record, the frog lady was very adamant about the fact that her eggs were important to her, and that it was her last and only chance to have kids, so it’s actually closer to [messing] up someone’s [in vitro fertilization] which would be incredibly upsetting for a wannabe mom. It’s not funny.”

The controversy became such a big deal that Lucasfilm’s creative art manager Phil Szostak responded. He tweeted, “For the record, Chapter 10 of #TheMandalorian makes it clear that the Frog Lady’s eggs are unfertilized, like the chicken eggs many of us enjoy.”

Phil added, “But obviously, chickens aren’t sentient beings and the Child eating the eggs is intentionally disturbing, for comedic effect.”

Adam Sandler continues to deliver for Netflix.

His horror-comedy Hubie Halloween, which was released only last month, is Netflix’s most popular movie of 2020.

This comes only a few months after Sandler’s contract with the streaming service was extended to include four new films.

According to Netflix, subscribers have streamed more than two billion hours of his movies since 2015.

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Jason Momoa is one of the biggest stars in the world, but that hasn’t always been the case.

The 41-year-old, who has two children with wife Lisa Bonet, says he hit some hard times after he was killed off Game of Thrones in 2011. He tells InStyle magazine, “I mean, we were starving after Game of Thrones. I couldn’t get work. It’s very challenging when you have babies and you’re completely in debt.”

But things started looking up when he was cast as Aquaman in Justice League in 2016, which was followed by the 2018 standalone flick Aquaman.

Now he’s booked through 2024 with roles in Apple TV+’s See, Dune and an Aquaman sequel.

Jason says he couldn’t believe how far his career had come when he first watched the Dune trailer. “It was ‘Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem,’ and I’m just like, ‘Oh my god. I can’t believe my name was with those names.’ I feel like I’m still a kid, freaking out.”

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We Got This Covered says Disney my write out Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow character from the next ”Pirates of the Caribbean” film. A source tells the website, ”Pirates franchise will write off Depp by saying Sparrow died off screen, but as long as you don’t see a body he could maybe come back in the future.”

Small Screen says over 250,000 people have signed a change.org petition calling for Disney to bring Johnny back as Jack Sparrow.

Alex Trebek got a touching tribute before Monday night’s episode of Jeopardy! 

Executive producer Mike Richards remembered the late host and thanked him for everything he did for the show. Mike said Alex “will forever be an inspiration for his constant desire to learn, his kindness and for his love of his family.”

Alex, who had stage 4 pancreatic cancer, died at his home Sunday morning.

Mike said Alex taped new episodes of Jeopardy! two weeks ago, and those episodes will air through Christmas day.

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George Stephanopoulos is reportedly not wasting time campaigning for Alex Trebek’s job.

Only a day after the longtime Jeopardy! host died, comes word that reps for the ABC News chief anchor are lobbying for him to take over the game show, according to The Wrap.

But an ABC source denies the report to The New York Post, saying, “Of course he’s not lobbying… How disrespectful would that be to Alex’s family.”

In May, George told Howard Stern that he was interested in the gig, saying, “I think it would be a lot of fun. But I like what I’m doing, too.”

Alex died Sunday at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

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Johnny Depp was forced to resign from Fantastic Beasts 3 — but he’ll get to keep his full $10 million salary.

The actor had filmed only one scene before he was forced to leave the production by Warner Bros., according to The Hollywood Reporter. The publication says the decision “was prompted by a U.K. judge dismissing Depp’s defamation claims in a closely watched trial that pitted the actor against the publisher of The Sun after the British tabloid referred to Depp as a ‘wife-beater.'”

As The Hollywood Reporter points out, “The judge’s ruling makes it a lot easier for news outlets to use similar depictions when referring to Depp’s stormy two-year marriage to actress Amber Heard, creating a PR headache for the studio.”

Johnny Depp has resigned from the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

On Instagram, he wrote, “I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request.”

The move came a few days after Johnny lost his libel case against The Sun, which published an article in 2018 calling him a “wife beater.”

A Warner Bros. spokesperson said, “Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022.”

In his statement, Johnny added, “The surreal judgement of the court in the U.K. will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time.”

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All Lori Loughlin wants for Christmas is her freedom and she just found out that she’ll be home just in time for the holiday.

The Full House star, who began serving a two month prison sentence last week for her role in the college admissions scandal, was given a release date of December 27th. But since the 27th is a Sunday, the Bureau of Prisons will allow her to leave two days earlier on Christmas Day. It’s also possible that she will be released sooner, as was the case with Felicity Huffman who served only 11 days. (TMZ)

Spoiler alert for those of you Bachelorette watchers… the huge Claire Crawley bombshell has ended in an engagement.

She quit early because she had eyes only for former NFL player Dale Moss. He got down on one knee to propose to Clare.

She said, (quote) “You’ve shown me that you’d never run away and never leave me. I’ve never, ever had a man that would stay. You continue to show up for me. I promise you, I want to show up for you each and every single day. You make me so happy.”

Paparazzi photographed Clare shopping this week in her Sacramento, California hometown wearing that huge diamond engagement ring.

On last night’s Bachelorette, Clare swore on her dad’s grave that she did not have “one single contact” with Dale in advance of the show. She addressed finding Dale as the “love of her life” with the other men, who felt blindsided and cheated. (Entertainment Tonight)

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Michael J. Fox reveals that his acting career is in jeopardy.

The actor, who suffers from Parkinson’s, tells People magazine he’s been having trouble remembering his lines because his “short-term memory is shot.”

He admits, “I always had a real proficiency for lines and memorization. And I had some extreme situations where the last couple of jobs I did were actually really word-heavy parts. I struggled during both of them.”

With acting becoming more difficult, Fox is dedicating more of his time to writing. His fourth memoir, No Time Like the Future, publishes November 17th.

He’ll also reunite with the Family Ties cast. Fox (Alex P. Keaton), Meredith Baxter (Elyse Keaton), Michael Gross (Steven Keaton), Tina Yothers (Jennifer Keaton), Marc Price (Skippy) and Scott Valentine (Nick Moore) will appear on the live-stream series Stars in the House on Tuesday to talk about the classic sitcom.

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OK! magazine says Simon Cowell is walking again following his bike accident and subsequent back surgery. A source tells the magazine, “Simon was walking around looking energetic and perfectly happy/ Even though Simon was clearly taking it easy, he seemed to be in great spirits. He’s found the rehabilitation process difficult, especially since it’s meant a prolonged absence from his job. Thankfully, he’s over the worst of it now, and everyone’s delighted to see him back on his feet.’’

Britney Spears has had enough of her father.

After trying to make him a co-conservator, the pop singer now wants him completely out of her business affairs, TMZ reports.

Brit made the decision after her manager unexpectedly quit at the end of October — and Jamie hired a new one without telling her.

She’s filed court papers demanding that the Bessemer Service Trust become her sole conservator — and that Jamie Spears be removed entirely from the conservatorship, which she’s been under since her infamous mental breakdown in 2007.

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Lori Loughlin is five days into her two-month prison sentence for her role in the college admissions scandal and hasn’t been handling it well, according to sources close to her.

The 56-year-old actress reported to federal prison in Dublin, California last Friday and a source tells Us Weekly that she has been “a wreck” so far. The source added, “Lori tried her best to be brave and look at the end result but there was nothing that could dissipate her fears. It’s only two months but she’s dreading it. Her mind keeps telling her that something will go horribly wrong in prison or that her stay could be prolonged.”

Another source says, “Lori really went into prison strong, she had her faith and the support of her family, but the first few days and road ahead are daunting.” Loughlin is doing time at the same minimum security facility that Felicity Huffman served her sentence in. Loughlin’s husband, Mossimo Giannulli is expected to begin serving his five-month sentence on November 19th.

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Woman’s Day magazine says Jennifer Aniston is allegedly worried about what Matthew Perry will reveal in his upcoming memoir. A source tells the magazine, “She’s worried Matthew will reveal how flirty she was with him on set, even while she was married to Brad Pitt. Jen also managed to keep rumors of an affair with Matt Le Blanc out of the media, but a book might bring that all up. She knew how much Matthew wanted their on-screen romance to translate to off screen. Their close relationship is still a bone of contention with her fiancé, even though Courtney insists nothing ever happened. She fears that Matthew might say something did, even if it only sells copies. Jen and Courtney have begged her to be the go-between for them and Matthew. If it gets off the ground, this book could end in him being cut out of the fold.”

Celebrities made a point on social media to highlight the fact they voted. Many encouraged their millions of followers to go to the polls. These A-listers lost their voting virginity:

Selena Gomez confessed to skipping previous elections. Now 28 years old, she realized that “my vote counts.” Selena’s healthcare options could be limited if pre-existing conditions are not protected.

Kanye West at age 43 wrote his name in for president of the United States. He stated on social media, (quote) “Today I am voting for the first time in my life for the President of the United States, and it’s for someone I truly trust … me.”

Meghan Markle became the “first modern royal member to vote in the U.S. presidential election.”

Ryan Reynolds acquired dual Canadian-USA citizen two years ago. He said last month. (quote) “This is my first time voting in America. It was super scary at first, then exciting and now I’m a little tired. But proud.”

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Celebrity chef and Food Network star Guy Fieri is the star of a new video game that gives him the task of saving the world — the world of Flavortown, that is. You can check out Once Upon a Time in Flavortown on YouTube.

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Hollywoodlife.com says Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani plan to marry in 2021. A source tells the website, “The goal for Blake and Gwen would be to get married after COVID so they have a chance to celebrate with everyone they want there. Planning is already taking place and the dream would be later next year [2021], when hopefully everyone is out of this COVID mess, or it is at least more contained.”

Harrison Ford has paid tribute to his on-screen father, Sean Connery, who died Saturday at age 90.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Harrison said, “He was my father…not in life…but in Indy 3. You don’t know pleasure until someone pays you to take Sean Connery for a ride in the sidecar of a Russian motorcycle bouncing along a bumpy, twisty mountain trail and getting to watch him squirm. God we had fun — if he’s in heaven, I hope they have golf courses. Rest in peace dear friend.”

In a making-of featurette, director Steven Spielberg said casting Dr. Jones’s father in 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was simple. “There is only one option when it comes to playing Indy’s father and that is James Bond. The original James Bond, the great James Bond: Sean Connery.”

Of Connery’s death, Indiana Jones co-creator George Lucas said, “Sir Sean Connery, through his talent and drive, left an indelible mark in cinematic history. His audiences spanned generations, each with favorite roles he played. He will always hold a special place in my heart as Indy’s dad. With an air of intelligent authority and sly sense of comedic mischief, only someone like Sean Connery could render Indiana Jones immediately into boyish regret or relief through a stern fatherly chiding or rejoiceful hug. I’m thankful for having had the good fortune to have known and worked with him. My thoughts are with his family.”

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Britain’s High Court ruled yesterday morning against Johnny Depp in his libel suit against British newspaper The Sun.

The judge wrote that the tabloid published a “substantially true” article calling Depp a “wife beater.” Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard testified in court that Johnny beat her when they were married. She photographed her bruised face to prove it. Depp dubbed that stunt a “choreographed hoax.” His attorneys called Amber Heard a “compulsive liar.”

The three-week libel trial featured “sordid and salacious testimony” ranging from accusations of vengeful bedroom pooping, unfaithfulness, “deep misogyny,” gold-digging, drug and alcohol abuse plus screeds written on mirrors in blood. (The Guardian)

Sir Sean Connery‘s wife has revealed that the actor suffered from dementia before his death at age 90 on Saturday.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Micheline Roquebrune said, “It was no life for him. He was not able to express himself latterly.” She added that the affliction “took its toll on him”

Micheline said her husband “got his final wish to slip away without any fuss… I was with him all the time and he just slipped away. It was what he wanted.”

The couple had been married since 1975.

Regarding the news of his passing, the internet lit up with tributes, including from current James Bond Daniel Craig said in a statement: “It is with such sadness that I heard of the passing of one of the true greats of cinema. Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more. He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster. He will continue to influence actors and film-makers alike for years to come. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course.”

Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond in five movies, said, “Sir Sean Connery, you were my greatest James Bond as a boy, and as a man who became James Bond himself. You cast a long shadow of cinematic splendor that will live on forever. You led the way for us all who followed in your iconic foot steps. Each man in his turn looked to you with reverence and admiration as we forged ahead with our own interpretations of the role. You were mighty in every way, as an actor and as a man, and will remain so till the end of time. You were loved by the world, and will be missed. God bless, rest now, be at peace.”

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Prince William battled the coronavirus earlier this year but kept his diagnosis a secret to avoid alarming the public.

Britain’s Sun newspaper reports the 38-year-old royal “struggled to breathe” while he fought the virus back in April.

William reportedly tested positive only days after his father, Prince Charles, also tested positive in late March. It’s not known if any other royals got the virus. During a royal engagement, William reportedly said, “There were important things going on and I didn’t want to worry anyone.”

A source says the Duke of Cambridge “was hit pretty hard by the virus.”

An ABC executive admitted that they cast the wrong Bachelorette. Rather than Clare Crawley quitting after finding the love of her life, the producers shoved her out because she became boring.

Clare Crawley will be replaced by Tayshia Adams in next week’s episode, which is pre-empted by the election. It airs on Thursday, November 5th.

Last Tuesday’s episode featured a group date where Clare refused to hand out a rose. That was the aha moment for producers that Clare needed to be replaced. Rob Mills said on the Nick Viall Files podcast, (quote) “When she didn’t give out that rose and she just gave it to herself, that was really when we started making the call to replace her.”

Tayshia Adams answered the production team’s emergency call and quietly began to quarantine before Clare was forced to leave The Bachelorette. (New York Post)

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Scarlett Johansson and Saturday Night Live funnyman Colin Jost tied the knot this weekend in Upstate New York — and that’s no joke.

The two started dating in 2017 after they met during her hosting stint on an episode of SNL. They wed at an intimate ceremony near Scarlett’s home in Palisades, New York, attended only by family members and close friends — all of whom abided by strict COVID protocols.

The couple made the announcement through the Instagram account of Meals on Wheels America and urged fans to donate to the organization as a way of wishing them well.

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Netflix and Chill just got a little more expensive. Netflix raised their monthly subscription fees.

The new price goes into effect immediately for new subscribers. Current Netflix members will be alerted in November about the fee increase. The premium plan jumped to $18 per month and the standard plan to $14.

Since the pandemic, 26 million joined Netflix, but they reported fewer new subscribers than anticipated this summer. That could have prompted the streaming company to raise fees. Yet, when they increased fees last year, the saw a spike in cancellations. (Variety)

As soon as Big Brother named its All-Stars winner, CBS announced the reality series will return for season 23.

A CBS executive said Wednesday, (quote) “It feels fitting for this unprecedented season to conclude with an announcement of the show’s return next summer.”

Longtime host Julie Chen Moonves has the gig for another year. She renewed her contract that expired at the end of this All-Stars season. The two-hour live finale featured a showdown between Cody, Enzo and Nicole. (Deadline)

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Kim Kardashian got caught photoshopping Khloé Kardashian in a sisterhood picture.

On Wednesday, Kim posted more photos from her lavish 40th birthday bash on a private island. She reportedly spent $1 million to fly 40 friends on a 777 jet and lodge them in luxury suites.

One picture in particular caught the attention of those who edit photos often enough to notice. The three oldest sisters link arms as they pose in string bikinis. However, upon close inspection, Kim’s lower right arm is missing.

It appears to be a classic case of photoshop fail. (New York Post)

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Brad Pitt is single. He and German model Nicole Poturalski split after their brief fling.

She pulled the plug. Nicole is married. They consider it open marriage. The 27-year-old took a “hall pass” with Pitt for several weekends in the South of France. Then returned to her husband.

One of his buddies said, (quote) “It was never all that serious as it was cracked up to be.” (Entertainment Tonight) But it was one hell of a hall pass for her!

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Lori Loughlin will spend Thanksgiving in prison.

The disgraced Full House actress was sentenced to two months for her role in the Varsity Blues college admission scandal. She confessed to faking applications for her two daughters. The judge ordered Lori to start her sentence no later than November 19th. That’s within the next three weeks.

The court requires more than just prison time for Lori Loughlin. There’s a $150,000 fine to pay plus 150 hours of community service when released sometime in January. (People)

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are engaged! Finally! Gwen made the post Instagram official on Tuesday.

Blake also posted the sweet picture on his page, writing, “Hey @gwenstefani thanks for saving my 2020… And the rest of my life.. I love you. I heard a YES!”

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Jon Stewart is returning to TV – Apple TV-plus to be precise.

He signed a multi-year contract for a current events series. Jon Stewart will focus on a single subject for one hour. Topics will relate to current affairs in the United States.

For 16 years, Stewart hosted The Daily Show, which was the breeding ground for political comics Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Samantha Bee. (The Hollywood Reporter)

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Ellen DeGeneres did something different for Tuesday’s taping of her daytime talk show: She allowed humans into her studio.

Ten days ago, Los Angeles relaxed COVID restrictions for TV productions. For the first time, audience members are permitted, but they must wear masks and sit six feet apart. Ellen made 40 seats available for in-studio fans. They’ll be visible during Wednesday’s program along with her virtual audience.

Ellen’s Halloween episode on Friday will also have an in-studio audience dressed in costumes. Looking ahead, Ellen hopes Los Angeles maintains COVID policies so she may invite fans to 12 Days of Giveaways tapings. (Variety)

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The Aretha Franklin bio-pic’s premiere has been pushed back to August 2021.

Respect, with Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul, was scheduled to reach theaters January 15th — to coincide with the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. But with many multiplexes limited to 50 percent capacity or less, and others closed, MGM chose instead to wait out the pandemic.

Along with honoring the artist who blazed trails, broke barriers and was the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Respect is a star turn for Hudson, who won an Oscar for Dreamgirls and was personally selected for the role by Aretha Franklin. (Variety)

Viewers of The Wendy Williams Show last Friday were concerned for the host’s health. Wendy acted erratic during a Hot Topics segment. Her words were disjointed, sometimes not finishing sentences and mispronouncing names.

Backstage there were whispers about Wendy’s sobriety. Nearly two years ago, she entered a rehab around the time of her divorce. Yet a former employee said most of Wendy’s staff is afraid to confront her. (quote) “This is going to play out bad.”

On Monday, Wendy Williams addressed the rumors about her health. She said, (quote) “I try to do the best that I can for you. I appreciate you watching, but even after all of these years, it’s still work. I guess every day is not perfect, but I’m not a perfectionist. I’m not perfect.”

If another taping goes badly like Friday, producers reportedly have evergreen repeat episodes to air in its place. (E! News)

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Dwayne Johnson does not quit in the gym. Even when he’s bloodied himself.

On Monday, The Rock shared at Instagram how he busted open an eyebrow. Blood dripped down his face, then he wiped it away and stuck his finger in his mouth. (quote) “I can confirm my blood tastes like [my tequila brand] Teremana, calluses and BlaMoan [black and Samoan] hot sauce.”

Johnson blamed the accident on throwing around a 50-pound chain until muscle failure. He joked, (quote) “Sometimes you get lumped up and need stitches. Taste your own blood, keep working out and stitch up later — rules of the house.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

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This most unusual season of The Bachelorette has a new twist: Clare Crawley now hints that producers forced her out.

Up until now, the story has been that Clare quit because she and Dale Moss immediately fell in love and wanted to get married. She refused to continue the charade of fake dates with the other men.

Then over the weekend, Clare sprinkled a bread crumb trail of “likes” at Twitter. Each of the posts defended Clare and blamed producers for her exit. There’s even a theory that they invited the replacement Bachelorette, Tayshia Adams, to quarantine several days before ousting Clare. She wouldn’t have chosen to depart “considering how bad she wanted to be a Bachelorette.”

More details will be revealed Tuesday night when The Bachelorette airs on ABC. (Entertainment Tonight)

Arnold Schwarzenegger had a third operation to correct a heart defect. Cleveland Clinic surgeons replaced his aortic valve.

The 73-year-old actor Instagrammed a hospital photo with the message, (quote) “I feel fantastic and have already been walking the streets of Cleveland enjoying your amazing statues. Thank you to every doc and nurse on my team!”

Two years ago, Arnold underwent emergency surgery to replace another heart valve that helps blood flow to the lungs. His first heart surgery dates back to 1997. Doctors replaced Arnold’s aortic valve, which was replaced again over the weekend. (E! News)

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Felicity Huffman is a totally free woman.

According to her legal team, she’s completed all aspects of her sentence in that college-admissions scam. She’s finished with supervised release, and has long since done her 250 hours of community service. She served her two weeks in prison months ago.

Felicity pleaded guilty last year to paying someone $15,000 to take her daughter Sophia‘s PSAT to boost her chances of getting into a good school. (TMZ)

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Variety magazine says MGM has explored the possibility of selling the new James Bond movie, “No Time To Die”, to a streaming service for $600 million. The film has already lost between $30 million and $50 million due to the pandemic. Apple TV and Netflix are the two most likely streaming services to buy the film

OK! magazine claims Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are allegedly feeling pressure to get engaged on ”The Voice.” A source tells the magazine, “The entire cast of Blake, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Gwen are all feeling extreme pressure to bring in the ratings this season. With the pandemic, it has been difficult building the same excitement around the show, which is why the personal life of every single person sitting in a red chair will now be highlighted even more than ever before — with Blake and Gwen feeling pressured to deliver a ‘surprise’ engagement proposal on the show. The absence of a live audience is a huge loss for the show and the performers who thrive on the energy from the crowd, which is why the show needs as many tricks and gimmicks to bring the excitement to the show. Nothing would be more exciting than Blake or maybe Gwen dropping down to one knee and popping the question in front of all of America. These two met and fell in love on the show, so this would be a full circle moment. Plus, it would ensure that Nick Jonas wouldn’t be invited back next season to replace Gwen!”

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E! News says an Elton John inspired Barbie doll went on sale yesterday. The doll has bell bottom j eans, electric boots and pink sunglasses. Elton says, “Barbie is an icon in her own right, so having her pay tribute to my work and personal style is a real honor. I hope that she inspires fans everywhere to fearlessly pursue their own dreams and limitless potential.”

The new Barbie can be purchased at Walmart.

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Carole Baskin isn’t laughing at Joe Exotic‘s new underwear line — which features “Casket Baskin Briefs.”

The bloomers show a hand holding a red ice cream cone as blood rains down. Carole’s legal team has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Joe and the makers of the line, according to TMZ.

She’s threatening legal action if the merch isn’t pulled.

TMZ says the Casket Baskin boxer briefs, which go for $29, are Joe’s “top seller.”

Quibi, the mobile streaming service that launched earlier this year, is already shutting down.

Co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg called investors on Wednesday to break the news. Deadline says the “management team is exploring options including selling content — it has 100 shows — or the entire service should a buyer emerge.”

It should take several months to wind down the short-form streaming platform, which is available only on mobile devices.

Anna Kendrick and Kiefer Sutherland were among the big names who had shows.

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Sharon Osbourne mentioned her various suicide attempts earlier this month on The Talk, but she elaborates in a recent interview with The New York Post.

The talk-show host says, “People look at me like, ‘Oh, she’s so strong. She’s such a loudmouth, she’s this, she’s that.’ But that’s just one side of me. When you’re the matriarch of a family and run a business and work at your own career, things just pile up.”

Sharon attempted suicide three times, the most recent time in 2015. She explains, “I was at the point several times where I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

The star, who’s been married to rocker Ozzy Osbourne for 38 years, says she wants to help remove the stigma associated with mental-health issues. Sharon reveals that she keeps her mental health in check with medication and therapy.

It’s been a couple of years since anyone has seen Bill Cosby, but TMZ has obtained his updated mugshot and he’s not looking good.

The 83-year-old disgraced comedian, who was sentenced in 2018 to three-to-ten years in a Pennsylvania prison for sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, appears unshaven and an in need of a haircut as he cracks a small smile. It’s the first time anyone has seen him since his last mugshot which was taken two years ago.

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Ever wanted to smell like Anthony Hopkins? Here’s your chance.

The onetime Hannibal Lecter has launched his own fragrance collection. His perfume, Anthony Hopkins AH Eau de Parfum, is described as “a timeless elegant fragrance for men and women” that will “awaken your soul and unleash what’s hidden inside your heart.”

The Oscar-winner tells Vogue, “Aromas are a form of meditation, they simply change my psychology. Whether I’m playing music or painting in my studio, fragrance creates a mood of peace and invokes a strange sense of gratitude.”

The line also includes candles and diffusers.

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Jussie Smollett is back in show business, but this time he’s behind the camera.

The former Empire star, who was accused of faking a hate crime nearly two years ago, is directing a movie called B-Boy Blues in New York City.

Jussie directed two episodes of Empire and several music videos.

The star still claims his “attack” really happened and he still faces criminal charges and a civil lawsuit from the City of Chicago in the case.

Jeff Bridges has been diagnosed with lymphoma.

The Big Lebowski star broke the news on Twitter Monday writing: “As the Dude would say… New [stuff] has come to light.”

He added, “I have been diagnosed with lymphoma. Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good. I’m starting treatment and will keep you posted on my recovery.”

In a second tweet, the 70-year-old star thanked his friends and family and encouraged everyone to vote.

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What’s the scariest movie of all time? Science has the answer.

A new study ranked the most terrifying horror flicks by monitoring viewers’ average heart rates. And according to the BroadBandChoices “Science of Scare” project, the movie that got hearts pumping the most was 2012’s Sinister, starring Ethan Hawke.

Viewers experienced a 32% rise in their heart rate, on average – from 65 beats per minute to 86.

However, Insidious had the scariest moment with an average jump to 133 bpm, while Sinister‘s moment had hearts rising to 131 bpm.

The scariest movies, according to heart rate.

Bruce Willis has reprised his John McClane role, but he’s not starring in a new Die Hard movie. He’s starring in a new DieHard car battery commercial. The two-minute ad debuted Sunday night. (Variety)

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Adele will be live from New York next weekend.

On Sunday, the singer announced she’ll host Saturday Night Live on October 24th with singer-songwriter H.E.R. as the musical guest.

On Instagram, Adele writes, “I’m so excited about this!! And also absolutely terrified! My first ever hosting gig and for SNL of all things!!!! I’ve always wanted to do it as a stand alone moment, so that I could roll up my sleeves and fully throw myself into it, but the time has never been right. But if there was ever a time for any of us to jump head first into the deep end with our eyes closed and hope for the best it’s 2020 right?”

Adele appeared on SNL in 2008 and 2015 as the musical guest.

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Lily James apparently doesn’t want to answer questions about getting cozy with married co-star Dominic West. She’s reportedly canceled an appearance on the Today show set for Monday.

A source tells Page Six that Lily was supposed to promote her new Netflix drama Rebecca, alongside co-star Armie Hammer, on the morning talk show, but she pulled out over the weekend.

Lily was photographed kissing Dominic in Rome, where they reportedly shared a suite in the Hotel De La Ville.

Last week, he and his wife Catherine FitzGerald did damage control, kissing for the paparazzi and handing photographers a note that read, “Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together.”

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Former Home Improvement star Zachery Ty Bryan was arrested in Oregon on Saturday for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend.

Police were called to Bryan’s residence in Eugene Friday night after a neighbor reported a “physical dispute.”

The 39-year-old was taken into custody and charged with strangulation, assault in the fourth degree and interfering with making a report, according to OregonLive.com.

Bryan, who played the oldest son on the Tim Allen sitcom, allegedly “assaulted the victim, impeded her breathing, and [took] the victim’s phone from her when she tried to call 911,” police told E News.

John Legend wrote a lengthy love letter to Chrissy Teigen. Then tweeted it for all to read.

He complimented her resilience. Chrissy is recovering from a miscarriage, which she shared on social media.

John Legend told Chrissy (quote) “We’ve experienced the highest highs and lowest lows together. Watching you carry our children has been so moving and humbling. I’m in awe of the strength you’ve shown through the most challenging moments.”

The previous night, at the Billboard Music Awards, Legend dedicated his performance to Chrissy. He explained the message behind the song “Never Break.” He tweeted, (quote) “I have faith we will hold each other’s hands through every test. We promised each other this on our wedding day seven years ago. Our love will remain. We will never break.” (Entertainment Tonight)

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There wasn’t much to choose from for the 2020 Tony Awards, since Broadway shut down in March, but that didn’t stop them from announcing the nominees on Thursday.

Jagged Little Pill, based on Alanis Morissette’s 1995 album, earned a leading 15 nods. It will compete for best musical against Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.

In the acting categories familiar names include Jake Gyllenhaal (Sea Wall/A Life), Tom Hiddleston (Betrayal), Laura Linney (My Name Is Lucy Barton), Audra McDonald (Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune), Mary-Louise Parker (The Sound Inside) and David Alan Grier (A Soldier’s Play).

Only 18 plays and musicals were eligible. Last season, there were 34 shows.

The ceremony will be broadcast digitally later this year.

Meanwhile, Broadway will stay closed until at least May 30th.

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A Holocaust survivor is suing the creators of the Borat sequel, claiming she was tricked into being in the Sacha Baron Cohen movie.

The estate of Judith Dim Evans says the “well-known speaker” was contacted by producers “under false pretenses” and believed she was participating in a documentary about the Holocaust and Jewish culture.

Her estate says Judith, who died this past summer, traveled to Atlanta to be interviewed by Sacha but was never told the movie was a comedy. When she learned the truth, she was allegedly “horrified and upset.”

Judith, they claim, refused to be paid for her participation, and now they want her scenes cut from the film and other damages.

The Borat sequel premieres on Amazon Prime next week.

Lady Gaga could earn another Oscar. This time for Best Actress.

Gaga has been cast in the bio-pic of fashion designer Maurizio Gucci. She earned the juicy role as his murderous ex-wife. Patrizia Reggiani was convicted of arranging for Gucci’s assassination. He was murdered in the ’90s by a hitman on the steps of Gucci’s office building.

When production starts in the spring, Lady Gaga’s co-stars are three Best Actor Oscar winners, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Jared Leto. Plus Adam Driver will appear in the Maurizio Gucci bio-pic.

Patrizia Reggiani spent 18 years in an Italian prison. She was released in 2016. (Deadline)

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A Los Angeles judge granted Britney Spears a minor legal victory over her father.

Jamie Spears fought Britney, who wanted to hire more lawyers ahead of next year’s conservatorship hearing. Dad claimed it was a financial issue.

In reality, Britney is collecting a team of skilled attorneys to once and for all defeat her father. She wants him removed as her conservator. Britney also wants somebody other than Jamie Spears to handle her financial matters.

Britney bleeds money. She stopped performing and documents show that she pays more than a million dollars in legal and conservator fees. Her father is paid more than $10,000 monthly to keep control of Britney. The #FreeBritney movements claims it is to her detriment. (Variety)

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Dexter will return to Showtime as a limited-series. Michael C. Hall will reprise his role for the 10-episode run, which will debut in the fall of 2021. (Deadline)

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John Cena “secretly” wed his girlfriend Shay Shariat-zadeh.

According to TMZ, the couple tied the knot Monday in Tampa, Florida. They even got engaged on the “down-low.”

John and Shay began dating in early 2019, after his high-profile breakup with Nikki Bella in 2018.

The two wrestlers were engaged but they split because he didn’t want children. Only a few weeks back, Nikki gave birth to a baby boy with boyfriend Artem Chigvintsev.

This is John’s second wedding. He was married to Elizabeth Huberdeau from 2009 to 2012.