Filmmaker Charlie Kessler is suing “Stranger Things” show creators Matt and Ross Duffer for allegedly stealing ideas for their hit Netflix show after he pitched a similar project to them. According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, Kessler met the brothers at a Tribeca Film Festival party in April 2014 and introduced the concept of a feature based on his supernatural short film “Montauk” that had premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival two years earlier. He later handed over the script, ideas, story and the short film to the siblings. Now, Kessler claims they took his ideas without his permission or knowledge. “Stranger Things,” which originally was titled “Montauk” when it was sold to Netflix, has become a huge hit and a third season in the works. The filmmaker is now seeking damages and lost profits. Both “Montauk” and “Stranger Things” followed The Montauk Project: Experiments in Time, a 1992 science fiction book about secret government experiments. ... [Read Full Story]
Cynthia Nixon took her political aspirations to “The Wendy Williams Show” when the former “Sex and the City” star gave her first sit-down interview to the talk show host in a chat that aired on Wednesday. Nixon recently announced her candidacy for governor of New York. She is set to challenge Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the state’s Democratic primary in September. Nixon spoke to Williams about her love for New York and said she has gotten endorsements from some major celebs, including her former “Sex and the City” co-stars. “People talk a lot to me about being a celebrity entering this race,” Nixon said. “But I have to say when Andrew Cuomo ran eight years ago he was a celebrity because he was the son of Mario Cuomo.” Nixon also hinted that she chose Williams to talk to by expressing the need for support among African-American women. “They are the cornerstone, the backbone of the Democratic Party,” Nixon said. “We need to let them lead.” Nixon also said, “we have such an appetite now, that’s why I’m running. There’s such an appetite for real progressive change in New York state.”... [Read Full Story]
A 39-year-old man accused of stalking Taylor Swift was arrested in October 2016, and now following a years-long legal battle he was sentenced to probation. Frank Andrew Hoover was accused of following the singer’s motorcade to the airport, sending Taylor’s father frightening emails that included threats to “end” her family, and violating a lifetime protective order against him. After pleading guilty to repeatedly violating the protective order, the stalker was sentenced on Monday to a 10-year probation, but there are many legal strings attached to make sure that he can no longer harass Swift. As part of the conditions of his probation, Hoover must stay one mile away from Swift and her family, and his location will reportedly be monitored by GPS for at least the first year of his probation. He will also reportedly have to complete psychological testing, attend substance abuse classes, surrender all firearms, and undergo random drug testing. If he does not comply, he will be immediately sent to jail.... [Read Full Story]
Channing Tatum and his wife, Jenna Dewan, are separating after nearly nine years of marriage. The couple released a joint statement late Monday saying, in part … “We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple. We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now.” The actors met in 2005 on Step Up, the dance film in which they played high schoolers from different sides of the tracks who fall for each other. The couple, who were married on July 11, 2009, share a 4-year-old daughter, Everly.... [Read Full Story]
Steven Bochco, the legendary TV creator responsible for hits including “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law” and “NYPD Blue,” died of cancer Sunday morning at the age of 74. He began his career working on shows like “Ironside” and “Columbo,” however “Hill Street Blues” was his first big hit, earning eight Emmy Awards in its pilot season and accumulating 98 nominations over a seven-season run.The show featured his signature style, ensemble casts and provocative plots. Bochco also created “L.A. Law” which premiered on NBC in 1986, “Doogie Howser, M.D.” (1989) and “Cop Rock” in 1990. “Steven fought cancer with strength, courage, grace and his unsurpassed sense of humor,” his family said in a statement. “He died peacefully in his sleep with is family close by.” Bochco was diagnosed with leukemia several years ago. In late 2014, he received a stem cell transplant from an anonymous 23-year-old. He is survived by three children, daughter Melissa and sons Jeffrey and Jesse.... [Read Full Story]
NBC’s broadcast of “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” topped its Easter Sunday competition, garnering 9.607 million total viewers for the night. The live TV musical earned a 1.7 rating among adults 18-49, which was also better than ABC’s “American Idol” and all other competition during the broadcast’s primetime hours. “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” aired from 8 p.m. to 10:23 p.m. Elsewhere, a two-hour “Idol” from 8-10 put up a 1.6 rating and 7.4 million viewers, per fast national numbers. Also of note, CBS’ “60 Minutes” nabbed 8.1 million viewers. Those were the closest any other show came to the NBC musical’s numbers. NBC edged ABC across primetime averages by one-tenth of a Nielsen point in the key 18-49 demographic. It beat CBS by a couple hundred thousand viewers.... [Read Full Story]
Taylor Swift has come to the defense of Hayley Kiyoko after some Swift fans thought Kiyoko was taking a shot at her with recent comments she made. During a March 30 interview, Kiyoko said,”I’ve had several music industry execs say, ‘You’re doing another music video about girls? I literally looked at them and was like, um, yeah… Taylor Swift sings about men in every single song and video, and no one complains that she’s unoriginal.” While some fans thought Kiyoko was throwing shade at Swift, Taylor quickly shot down any notions of bad blood between the two, commending Kiyoko for her comments. “We should applaud artists who are brave enough to tell their honest romantic narrative through their art, and the fact is that I’ve never encountered homophobia and she has,” Swift wrote. “It’s her right to call out anyone who has double standards about gay vs straight love interests.” You can check out Taylor Swift’s Tumblr post in the article below.... [Read Full Story]
Arnold Schwarzenegger is in good spirits as he recovers from heart surgery in a Los Angeles hospital. The 70-year-old actor and former California governor underwent a scheduled procedure to replace a valve on Thursday. His spokesman Daniel Ketchell says he played with one of his old action movie catchphrases when he regained consciousness and announced, “I’m back.” Ketchell said Saturday in an email Schwarzenegger “continues to be doing very well, in good spirits, and recovering.” The pulmonic valve originally was installed in 1997 for a congenital heart defect and had to be replaced.... [Read Full Story]
Selena Gomez will be taking the stage at WE Day once again, and Jennifer Aniston will be among those joining her. WE Day is an educational and inspirational event that celebrates the power of young people to make a positive difference in the world by taking action on local and global social issues. Aniston and Gomez were both just announced as part of the annual event, billed as the world’s largest youth empowerment event, which is set to take place on April 19th at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. John Stamos will host the event which will also be attended by Morgan Freeman, Sofia Carson, The Chainsmokers, Will Ferrell, and Nicole Richie. This year’s event will bring together over 16,000 students and educators from across the state for a powerful, life-changing experience featuring renowned speakers, innovative thought leaders and celebrity performers. WE Day is set to air a one-hour special will on August 17th on ABC at 8 PM.... [Read Full Story]
The revival of the 1990s classic TV comedy Roseanne debuted on its original home, ABC, on Tuesday, March 27, and it did outstanding in the ratings department. The two-episode premiere started with a whopping 17.7 million viewers during the first half hour, and then grew to 18.6 million in the second. Over the course of the hour, Roseanne had an average of 18.2 million viewers and a 5.1 rating in the 18-49 demo. Ratings such as this haven’t been seen during a Tuesday entertainment telecast for six years. News of the series reboot came in May 2017. At that time, the ABC network announced an eight-episode run that was slated to return in the middle of the TV season.... [Read Full Story]
Scooby-Doo fans are about to find out what Daphne and Velma were like before they joined the Mystery Gang. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release Daphne & Velma, a new live-action film, on digital, Blu-ray and DVD on May 22, 2018. The film, which stars Sarah Jeffery and Sarah Gilman and is produced by Ashley Tisdale and Jennifer Tisdale’s Blondie Girl Productions, focuses on Ridge Valley High, an innovative center of learning for some of the brightest minds in the nation. Together, the girls discover a number of questionable disappearances on campus as kids who were once full of life appear to become “zombified.” The mystery brings Daphne and Velma together to see if they can solve the case. You can check out the first trailer forDaphne and Velma in the linked article below.... [Read Full Story]
A Disney Channel alum is the newest member of the Trump administration. Caroline Sunshine, 22, best known for her role in the Disney Channel show Shake It Up opposite Zendaya about teenage dancers, played Tinka Hessenheffer. Now the former actress will be starring in her latest role as a member of the White House’s press team. It’s not Sunshine’s first time serving in the White House, as she was previously an intern. White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said in a statement “Caroline Sunshine was a White House intern. In college, she was involved with the American Enterprise Institute and an active member of her school’s Model United Nations team. Prior to her internship at the White House, Carolina interned for the Office of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the College Republican National Committee and the California Republican Party.” ... [Read Full Story]
Serena Williams will be featured in a documentary series coming up that will take you through the tennis legend’s journey to motherhood and beyond. Being Serena will premiere on HBO on May 2, and based on the preview Serena shared, the film will chronicle the changes she’s gone through as an athlete, wife, and human. The five-part documentary series will give fans a more intimate look into the icon’s life than ever before. In the trailer, we hear Serena say, “When I realized that I was pregnant, I was like, ‘Oh my god, how am I gonna play?'” Touching on whether or not she’ll put as much focus on her tennis career as she always has, she said, “I put so much pressure on myself. I want to make sure that I’m the best. I don’t know if there’s anything left for me in tennis, but I’m not done yet.” You can see HBO’s sneak peek of the series in the article below, which includes clips of Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their adorable baby,Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.... [Read Full Story]
According to a toxicology report obtained from his autopsy, legendary music artist Prince had what experts call an “exceedingly high” concentration of fentanyl in his body at the time of his death. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is said to be 50 times more powerful than heroin. Prince was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate; news that he had the drug in his system is not new, as that information came to light roughly six weeks after his death. Experts say the amount in his system was high, even for someone suffering from chronic pain. The report notes that he had 67.8 micrograms per liter in his system. Based on findings of the drug in his stomach and blood, it’s clear that he took the drug orally and had enough time for it to spread into his system a bit before he died. Reports from the time of Prince’s death indicated that police found multiple bottles of pills around his residence and that the origin of those pills was still undetermined.... [Read Full Story]
Gina Rodriguez, the start of the TV show Jane the Virgin, is set to produce and star in a live-action film adaptation of the beloved computer game and media franchise Carmen Sandiego – which centers around a globe-trotting thief. Netflix has acquired the rights to the project, which is being billed as a standalone adventure. Rodriguez will also voice Carmen in a new animated series for Netflix, and publisher and learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is set to release a new series of Carmen Sandiego books tied to the series’ planned 2019 premiere. No release date, writer or director has yet been announced for the live-action film. The animated series was announced last spring; it will see Carmen “back and ready for a new crop of international capers” in addition to exploring “who in the world is Carmen Sandiego, and why she became a super thief.”... [Read Full Story]
Gina Rodriguez, the star of the TV show Jane the Virgin, is set to produce and star in a live-action film adaptation of the beloved computer game and media franchise Carmen Sandiego – which centers around a globe-trotting thief. Netflix has acquired the rights to the project, which is being billed as a standalone adventure. Rodriguez will also voice Carmen in a new animated series for Netflix, and publisher and learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is set to release a new series of Carmen Sandiego books tied to the series’ planned 2019 premiere. No release date, writer or director has yet been announced for the live-action film. The animated series was announced last spring; it will see Carmen “back and ready for a new crop of international capers” in addition to exploring “who in the world is Carmen Sandiego, and why she became a super thief.”... [Read Full Story]
Michael Bublé and his wife, Argentine actress and model Luisana Lopilato, are expecting a third child together. Bublé made the announcement on Sunday while hosting the Juno Awards in Vancouver. Bublé, 42, told the audience during his opening monologue at the Canadian music awards: “five years ago, when I hosted the first time in Regina, you brought me luck and I was pregnant ― I mean, my wife was ― I mean, we were pregnant with our first child.” The pair has two sons, Elias, 2, and Noah, 4, who was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016. Both Bublé and Lopilato put their careers on hold to focus on their family. Last February, Bublé gave an update on Noah’s treatment, telling fans that the child had been “progressing well” and that his doctors were “optimistic” about his future. ... [Read Full Story]
Tiffany Haddish will be joining Chris Pratt’s Emmet Brickowski and Elizabeth Banks as Wyldstyle in 2019’sThe LEGO Movie Sequel. Haddish will be voicing an important new character in the Mike Mitchell directed sequel. The writer/director duo behind the original, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, has written the first draft of a sequel script that was recently re-written by BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg. They will remain on board as producers. Haddish will be hosting the 2018 MTV Awards next, before starring in “Night School” alongside Kevin Hart. The LEGO Movie Sequelwill be released on February 8th, 2019.... [Read Full Story]
Chicago Fire actress DuShon Monique Brown, who played a secretary in the NBC show “Chicago Fire,” has died at the age of 49. The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed Brown’s Friday death at Franciscan St. James Health Olympia Fields, however the cause was not disclosed. Brown was a veteran of Chicago theater. She worked as a crisis counselor at a Chicago high school and led its drama program before winning the role of Connie on “Chicago Fire”. Brown also had a recurring role as nurse Kattie Welch in “Prison Break” and one-time guest spots on “Empire” and “Shameless.” “Chicago Fire” executive producer Dick Wolf said the show’s family is “devastated to lose one of its own.”... [Read Full Story]
Taylor Swift has sold more than 2 million copies of “Reputation” — making it the first album to accomplish that feat since Adele’s “25” in 2015, according to Nielsen Music numbers via Billboard. All six of Swift’s previous albums, “1989,” “Red,” “Speak Now,” “Fearless,” and “Taylor Swift” also surpassed the 2 million mark. Swift recently debuted her latest music video for “Delicate.” She’ll hit the road for her “Reputation” tour beginning on May 8.... [Read Full Story]
Superstar Celine Dion has canceled a stretch of concerts in Las Vegas as she undergoes surgery for an ear condition. Dion, who turns 50 later this month, said she has been suffering from Patulous Eustachian tube, when a middle opening in the ear is abnormally open, affecting hearing. The singer said that her medication was no longer succeeding in treating the condition, requiring her to undergo a “minimally invasive surgical procedure.” She canceled shows set from March 27 to April 18 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dion, who last performed at the casino in January, will resume her performances on May 22. ... [Read Full Story]
On Tuesday, Disney announced that Marvel superhero-themed lands will be coming to Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disney in 2020. The lands are being developed in partnership with Marvel Studios and Marvel Themed Entertainment. At Disney California Adventure, the new Marvel land will open in 2020 surrounding the Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT, attraction, which opened in 2017 to replace the Hollywood Tower of Terror attraction. Disney describes the land as “a completely immersive Super Hero universe.” At Disneyland Paris, a Marvel-themed area will be added to Walt Disney Studios Park and will include an attraction where riders will team up with Iron Man and the Avengers. And Hong Kong Disneyland has already started its Marvel-themed expansion plans, which will include a new attraction where riders can team with Ant-Man and The Wasp. This will join the Iron Man Experience, which already opened in 2017.... [Read Full Story]
Fox has investigated claims that actor Fred Savage verbally harassed female crew members on the set of The Grinderback when the show was on the air in 2015-2016, and said “no evidence” was found. “Fox takes all allegations of improper conduct very seriously,” 20th Century Fox said. “We conducted a thorough investigation into these allegations and found no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Savage. We will vigorously defend against these unfounded claims.” On Wednesday (March 21), a former female crew member filed a lawsuit against Savageand Fox, saying the actor created “an extremely hostile work environment” with “aggressive behavior, intimidation, and constant use of profanities aimed toward female employees was left unchecked.”... [Read Full Story]
The first photo of Renée Zellweger portraying Judy Garland in the upcoming biopic, “Judy,” has been released, and the 48-year-old star certainly has transformed herself into the legendary icon. Zellweger is rocking a brunette pixie cut and a black, off-the-shoulder floral dress in the picture, and appears to be singing while holding a microphone. It was also confirmed that Zellweger will in fact be singing in the movie, rather than using Garland’s past recordings. “Judy” will take place during the winter of 1968, 30 years after Garland starred as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” The film will follow Garland as she prepares for her sold-out run at The Talk of the Town nightclub. Garland died in June 1969, just 12 days following her 47th birthday. No specific date has been announced for the biopic’s release, though it is expected to come out later this year.... [Read Full Story]
Big Little Lies stars Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern reunited on the show’s set Monday. The actresses shared a photo in costume as Madeleine Mackenzie and Renata Klein while filming Season 2 of the HBO series. The picture shows Witherspoon and Dern sitting outside Seaside Coffee Shop in Monterey, California. “Watch out Monterery, here we come! #BLL2,” Witherspoon captioned the snapshot on Instagram. Dern posted the same photo on her own Instagram account. “Madeleine and Renata are back. #BLL2,” she wrote. Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz will also return as Celeste Wright, Jane Chapman and Bonnie Carlson. The new season will also feature Meryl Streep as the mother of Celeste’s late husband Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgard). Big Little Lies Season 1 was based on the Liane Moriarty book of the same name. David E. Kelley will return as executive producer of the new season, with Andrea Arnold (American Honey) as director.... [Read Full Story]
Former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon has announced her run for the New York governor’s seat. The actress made the official announcement on Monday that she plans to run in the Democratic Primary against current Governor Andrew Cuomo. Nixon, who was born in New York, was rumored to run in the gubernatorial race for months. She posted her official announcement to Twitter on Monday, along with an ad and a link to donate to her campaign at her official campaign website: cynthiafornewyork.com. Nixon has three children (Samantha, 20, Charles Ezekiel, 14, and Max Ellington, 6), and married her wife Christine Marinoni in 2012; Nixon has been an outspoken defender of her fellow LGBTQ citizens. ... [Read Full Story]
Fifth Harmony announced on Monday, March 19 that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus in order to pursue solo endeavors. The surprising announcement came from group members Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane and Lauren Jauregui. The group was formed during second season of The X Factor in 2012, after judge Simon Cowell suggested they work together (fifth member Camila Cabello left the group in December 2016). “After six years going hard, non stop, we also realized that in order to stay authentic to ourselves and to you, we do need to take some time for now to go on hiatus from Fifth Harmony in order to pursue solo endeavors.” 5H continued on as a foursome following Cabello’s exit, however each band member started recently venturing into solo projects. After completing an Asian tour last week and a show at Universal Orlando the night before their announcement, 5H’s next scheduled show is May 11 in Hollywood, Florida, at the Seminole Hard Rock. ... [Read Full Story]
Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War star Chadwick Boseman will be hosting Saturday Night Live on April 7 on NBC. He’ll be joined by musical guest Cardi B. The announcement came during this week’s broadcast hosted by Bill Hader. This will mark the first appearance for both performers on the legendary sketch show. Cardi B posted about her upcoming gig on Instagram, writing, “APRIL 7th SATURDAY NIGHT LIFE!!! Who finna not go to the club to watch Bardi on tv?!” Boseman and Cardi B have had successful years; Black Panthercontinues to breakbox office records, and Cardi has seen continued success for her music. They both also have projects coming out in the coming month: Cardi B recently announced that heralbum will be out sometime in April, and Chadwick Boseman will return as the Black Panther in Marvel’s Infinity Warson April 27.... [Read Full Story]
Less than a week after the announcement that Grey’s Anatomy cast member Sarah Drew will be exiting the series at the end of the current 14th season, she has been hired as Cagney in CBS’ Cagney & Lacey reboot. Blindspot alum Michelle Hurd has been cast as Lacey. The new Cagney & Lacey will follow the two female police detectives and friends who keep the streets of Los Angeles safe. Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless played the title characters in the original Cagney & Lacey, which ran on CBS for seven seasons. The series won two best drama Emmys and six lead actress in a drama series trophies — four for Daly and two for Gless. There was strong reaction from Grey’s Anatomy fans last week when news broke the news that longtime cast members Drew and Jessica Capshaw would not return next season. Drew had been on Grey’s for nine seasons. Meanwhile, Michelle Hurd co-starred on Season 2 of NBC’s Blindspot and recently recurred on Lethal Weapon and Hawaii Five-0. ... [Read Full Story]
