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Today in Entertainment: America Ferrera is pregnant with first child; New Justin Timberlake album coming Feb. 2

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Here’s what’s new and interesting in entertainment and the arts:

Diddy compares Fox’s ‘The Four’ to ‘Game of Thrones’ to help you understand its premise

Sead “Diddy” Combs knows the struggle. Yet another new singing competition show means there’s yet another new format and set of twists to figure out. Knowing how much brain power should be reserved for more pressing matters (hello, nuclear buttons!), Combs has found a way to distill the essence of Fox’s “American Idol” successor, “The Four: The Battle for Stardom.”

“It’s like ‘Game of Thrones,’” Combs told reporters Thursday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena. Combs, who was joined onstage by fellow show judges DJ Khaled, Meghan Trainor, music executive Charlie Walk and host Fergie, kept his metaphor going: “You get to challenge and if you want to chop somebody’s head off to get the seat. It has that vibe.

Got it?

For what it’s worth, he isn’t the first to try the “Game of Thrones” comparison. Rob Wade, Fox’s head of alternative programming, also drew that same connection last summer, though he suggested there was “better singing and less nudity.” Tomato, tomahto.

For those who like synopsis straight up: The show starts with finalists. Each week, the top four singers will sing against challengers, which could include viewers, to keep their spot on the show. The panel of experts select the original finalists from auditions, and, as things progress, help to shape the winner’s career.

But do fans of the music competition genre have any more room for another show of this ilk? The judges say yes.

“Because there’s always a dream,” Combs said. “This show is different. In the drop of a second, you could just lose your seat.”

Added DJ Khaled: “You can’t put a cap on success in talent. There’s new talent that’s coming out every day. This is music we’re talking about. Music’s forever. It’s forever.”

“The Four: Battle for Stardom” begins its six-week rollout Thursday at 8 p.m. on Fox.

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Coachella 2018 lineup features Beyoncé, Eminem, the Weeknd, Cardi B and more

The lineup for the 2018 Coachella Music and Arts Festival has been announced, and headlining the festival will be a trio of superstars: Canadian R&B singer the Weeknd, pop diva Beyoncé and Detroit rapper Eminem.

Now in its 19th year as a festival, the Goldenvoice–promoted event marks the symbolic opening of the annual festival season. This year‘s installment, which will take place over two weekends from April 13-22, marks the first time a rock act hasn’t headlined.

Also featured will be rapper Tyler, the Creator, experimental pop guitarist St. Vincent, the breakout R&B singer SZA, sibling trio Haim and the wildly popular New York rapper Cardi B.

Veterans taking the stage will include former Talking Heads singer David Byrne, British beat band Jamiroquai, prog-metal band A Perfect Circle and disco-funk producer Nile Rodgers and Chic.

The shift away from rock and booming EDM has most benefited rap, which will be represented through artists including “Rock Star” rapper Post Malone, respected Long Beach artist Vince Staples, the Atlanta trio Migos, ascendent collective Brockhampton and upstart Princess Nokia.

Still, there will be guitars, and they’ll be carried in by members of bands including the War on Drugs, Alt-J, Priests, Fidlar, Fleet Foxes, Cherry Glazerr and the Regrettes.

Remaining tickets go on sale Jan. 5 at noon PST on the Coachella site. General admission passes are $429, while VIP wristbands cost $999. Prices include all taxes and shipping fees.

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‘Superstore’ star America Ferrera is pregnant with her first child

America Ferrera is puckering up in anticipation of her first child’s arrival.

The pregnant “Superstore” star and her husband, Ryan Piers Williams, confirmed they’re expecting with a holiday post on Instagram over the weekend.

“We’re welcoming one more face to kiss in 2018! Wishing you #MásBesos in the New Year! #babybesos #HappyNewYear,” the 33-year-old “Ugly Betty” actress wrote, captioning a picture of herself holding up a baby’s bodysuit that solicited kisses in Spanish.

Williams posted the same festive New Year’s Eve photo, writing, “Making room for new and beautiful things to come in 2018! #happynewyear”

He and the Emmy-winning star have been together for 12 years and wed in 2011. They first met as students at USC when Williams cast Ferrera in a student film.

No word yet on the little one’s due date.

Ferrera’s pregnancy announcement came just before she and more than 300 other prominent women working in Hollywood launched the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, an anti-harassment initiative meant to combat sexual harassment in the industry.

“We wrote and issued this letter of solidarity to stand with women across every industry in saying: #TIMESUP. Time’s up on silence. Time’s up on waiting. Time’s up on tolerating discrimination, harassment and abuse,” Ferrera wrote.

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E! orders ‘Citizen Rose,’ documentary series about Rose McGowan

Rose McGwoan
(Richard Shotwell / Invision)

E! is enlisting in the #RoseArmy.

On Tuesday, the network ordered “Citizen Rose,” a documentary series that will follow actress and filmmaker Rose McGowan, who in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal has also become one of Hollywood’s most outspoken activists.

The five-part limited series is “a project that reflects a dramatically changing world,” according to E!, and will take viewers behind the scenes of McGowan’s “tumultuous and fascinating life” as she prepares to release her memoir, “Brave,” and rallies her supporters on social media.

The series, executive produced by McGowan and Bunim-Murray Productions, the company behind unscripted staples such as “The Real World” and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” will debut in the spring with a two-hour documentary followed by four additional episodes.

“I am thrilled to partner with E! to amplify my message of bravery, art, joy and survival,” McGowan said in a statement.

Previously best known for her role in the the TV series “Charmed,” McGowan has more recently become a vocal advocate for survivors of rape, assault and harassment and for systemic change within the entertainment industry. She was one of the first women in the industry to speak out against film producer Weinstein, whom she has accused of rape, and was among the “Silence Breakers” honored by Time magazine as 2017’s person of the year. Her outspoken nature has also provoked controversy: In October, her Twitter account was briefly suspended, prompting a fierce backlash online, and police in Virginia issued an arrest warrant for drug charges in what McGowan has characterized as an effort to keep her silent.

“Rose McGowan’s courage in addressing sexual abuse and harassment in Hollywood ignited a conversation and inspired other women to speak out against their abusers,” said Amy Introcaso-Davis, executive vice president of development and production at E!, in a press statement. “We look forward to taking viewers inside this talented, dynamic woman’s world as the first allegations unfold and she becomes a leading voice in a critical cultural change.”

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A Star Is Born: Kate Bosworth turns 35 today

(Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

I love my job, and I think everyone who is an actor has such a passion for what they do, but there are certain times when the business, the dynamics of it and the negative side, seems to overshadow the joys of it. But when you make relationships with people that are solid and substantial, it makes it feel more real.

— Kate Bosworth, 2006

FROM THE ARCHIVES: To greater heights

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New Justin Timberlake album coming Feb. 2 ahead of Super Bowl performance

Justin Timberlake is getting back to nature — with a little help from Pharrell Williams, among others.

Timberlake tweeted Monday that his new album, “Man of the Woods,” is coming on Feb. 2 and said, “It’s personal.”

“This album is really inspired by my son, my wife, my family, but more so than any other album I’ve ever written, where I’m from,” he says in an outdoorsy video clip with the announcement that shows him walking in fields of snow, through rows of cornstalks and waist-deep in a lake.

It also shows him working in a recording studio and gives viewers a glimpse of Williams alongside him.

It’s been nearly five years since Timberlake’s previous album, “The 20/20 Experience,” was released in early 2013.

“Man of the Woods” is scheduled to land just three days before Timberlake gets the global spotlight with his performance at Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, coming 14 years after his Super Bowl duet with Janet Jackson that included her notorious “wardrobe malfunction.”

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Jessica Alba, Cash Warren welcome a third child — their first baby boy

(Emma McIntyre / AFP/Getty Images)

There’s a new man in Jessica Alba’s life: It’s her brand new baby boy.

The “Sin City” actress and her husband, Cash Warren, welcomed their third child — their first son — on New Year’s Eve and shared a sweet photo of the snoozing newborn on Instagram that publicly inducted him into the family of five.

“Hayes Alba Warren 12/31/17 Best gift to ring in the New Year!!” the 36-year-old Honest Co. co-founder wrote. “Cash and I feel so blessed. Haven and Honor are already obsessed with their new baby bro.”

Alba and Warren, who have been married for nine years, are also parents to daughters Honor Marie Warren, 9, and Haven Garner Warren, 6.

In an homage to the “Dark Angel” alum’s heritage, the couple opted to use Alba’s maiden name as Hayes’ middle name.

As for Warren, he shared an Instagram image of himself gazing at his son and proudly gushed over the swaddled little guy.

“Hayes Alba Warren: You sure know how to ring in the new year!” Warren wrote. “You showed up a few days early but we couldn’t be any happier. Your Mamma is the strongest woman I know ... you’re so lucky to have her by your side. You have two amazing sisters who already adore you and I know you’ll be thankful to have them guide the way.”

The film producer vowed to love and cherish his son and provide him with “a sandbox full of dreams to explore.”

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As Gretchen Carlson gets Miss America job, Mallory Hagan says, ‘We did it’

Gretchen Carlson
(Charles Sykes / Associated Press)

And the winner is … Miss America.

The Miss America Organization has chosen Gretchen Carlson, the 1989 titleholder and former “Fox & Friends” cohost, as its new chair and added three other former title holders to its board of directors in the wake of an email scandal that saw the head of the contest and other executives resigning.

Significantly, the decision comes after Carlson and fellow former Miss Americas Mallory Hagan and Kate Shindle banded together behind a petition last week demanding that the entire Miss America Organization board step down.

“Everyone has been stunned by the events of the last several days, and this has not been easy for anyone who loves this program,” Carlson said Monday in a statement from the organization. “In the end, we all want a strong, relevant Miss America and we appreciate the existing board taking the steps necessary to quickly begin stabilizing the organization for the future.”

The group’s announcement was a big change from plans it had last week for members of the existing board to put together a search committee to fill positions vacated by former Chairman Sam Haskell and three other executives.

“We did it. So proud to #StandUP and #befierce with these amazing people: @brent338 @GretchenCarlson @kateshindle,” tweeted Hagan, whose appearance and sexual history were among the targets of the demeaning emails.

In addition to Carlson, Hagan was acknowledging Brent Adams, who presented the emails to Dick Clark Productions in August, resulting in the broadcast production company severing ties with the pageant, and Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998, who was just named to the board.

Those emails eventually went public on Dec. 21 via the Huffington Post.

Heather French Henry and Laura Kaeppeler Fleiss, pageant winners from 2000 and 2012, will also serve on the board. At the same time, most previous directors have resigned.

Carlson, 51, notably settled a sexual-harassment claim against former Fox News President Roger Ailes in 2016 for $20 million, leading 21st Century Fox to say in a statement, “We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve.”

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Heiress Paris Hilton engaged to ‘The Leftovers’ actor Chris Zylka

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Paris Hilton, the hotel heiress who became a reality star and DJ, is going from the simple life to the married life.

Hilton confirmed on Tuesday that actor beau Chris Zylka had popped the question and she said “yas.”

“I said Yas! So happy & excited to be engaged to the love of my life. My best friend & soulmate,” she tweeted, captioning a snowbound photo of “The Leftovers” actor down on one knee, proposing. “Perfect for me in every way. So dedicated, loyal, loving & kindhearted. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! You are my dream come true!”

Zylka, 32, proposed while the couple was vacationing in Aspen over New Year’s weekend, according to People, which first reported the engagement.

“I have never felt so happy, safe and loved. He is perfect for me in every way and showed me that fairytales really do exist!” tweeted Hilton, 36.

The socialite-DJ also told the mag that she was surprised by the proposal and immediately said yes.

“The ring was so gorgeous and sparkling. I was shaking as I put it on. It is the most beautiful ring that I have ever seen!” she said. She gave followers a peek at the massive pear-shaped sparkler by showcasing it in a photo of her kissing the “Amazing Spider-Man” actor.

Gushing over his fiancée, whose name he tattooed on his arm in July, Zylka told People, “Paris is the most beautiful and incredible woman both inside and out.

“I feel like the luckiest man in the world to be marrying my dream girl. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”

The two have been linked since February 2017, when they took their relationship public on social media.

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Carrie Underwood ‘not quite looking the same’ after facial injury that took 40-50 stitches, she says

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

The fallout from Carrie Underwood’s freak accident in November was far worse than she initially indicated and included an injury to her face that left her “not quite looking the same.”

The country crooner revealed Sunday in a note to her fan club that the tumble she took outside her Nashville home a few months ago not only broke her wrist but also resulted in a severe facial cut that required “40 to 50 stitches.”

The 34-year-old Grammy winner, who is the face of Olay and Almay, said that for some time she wasn’t ready to talk about it. That seems to be why she’s recently kept her mug off social media, save for a selfie showing her bundled up in a scarf last week.

“I have still been living it and there has been much uncertainty as to how things will end up,” she wrote in the letter, obtained by People. “It’s crazy how a freak random accident can change your life.”

The “Before He Cheats” singer spared her fans “the gruesome details,” but added, “when I came out of surgery the night of my fall, the doctor told [my husband] Mike that he had put between 40 and 50 stitches in.”

The “American Idol” alum had to back out of performances after the surgery and is still on the mend. She doesn’t know her prognosis, but said she’s grateful.

“I am grateful that it wasn’t much, much worse. And I am grateful for the people in my life that have been there every step of the way,” she said.

“I am determined to make 2018 amazing and I want to share things with you along the way,” Underwood continued. “And when I am ready to get in front of a camera, I want you all to understand why I might look a bit different.”

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‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ unseats ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as highest-grossing film of 2017

The Force remains strong with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” as the latest installment of the “Star Wars” saga is projected to become the highest-grossing film of 2017 on the final day of the year.

Disney’s space odyssey grossed $52.4 million Friday through Sunday, bringing its projected 2017 gross to $517.1 million, edging out fellow Disney property “Beauty and the Beast,” which grossed $504 million earlier in the year.

Although “The Last Jedi” is projected to win the weekend proper, Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” may prove to carry the holiday.

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A Star Is Born: Grandmaster Flash turns 60 today

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

I think hip-hop is the only music that integrates rock, pop, jazz, blues and R&B, but radio has become very sectioned. I just came back from doing a tour in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, and it’s amazing how you can hear all this on one radio station -- not just in a mix but regularly played.

— Grandmaster Flash, 2005

FROM THE ARCHIVES: DJ Flash brings his ‘Mash’ mix to radio

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‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ unseats ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as highest-grossing film of 2017

The Force remains strong with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” as the latest installment of the “Star Wars” saga is projected to become the highest-grossing film of 2017 on the final day of the year.

Disney’s space odyssey grossed $52.4 million Friday through Sunday, bringing its projected 2017 gross to $517.1 million, edging out fellow Disney property “Beauty and the Beast,” which grossed $504 million earlier in the year.

Although “The Last Jedi” is projected to win the weekend proper, Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” may prove to carry the holiday.

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A Star Is Born: Anthony Hopkins turns 80 today

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The whole tendency now is to improvise everything. ... And maybe 30, 40 years ago this naturalistic approach, where you looked beyond the text for the character, was considered a necessary antidote to some of the excesses of the past. But now it’s gone the other way. It’s become lazy and indulgent, and I think it’s got to go back to what was told to us when we first learned Shakespeare. That if you speak the verse, you don’t have to amble around looking for subtext. You know? Just say the lines.

— Anthony Hopkins, 1997

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Speaking Freely of ‘Amistad’

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A Star Is Born: Patti Smith turns 71 today

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

My goal was just stir things up. It was the same when I started doing poetry in 1971. I thought the format of reading poetry was getting really dead, and I still believed it could be a viable force, a great communication outlet. My motivation was to try to put the blood back into the form — to get it away from being so boring. It was the same thing later with rock ‘n’ roll.

— Patti Smith, 1995

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Patti Smith: Rock Dropout Tunes Back In

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Ava DuVernay envisions a bold future with Beyonce, Blue Ivy and more in Jay-Z’s star-studded ‘Family Feud’ video

Just as a tumultuous 2017 approaches its end, Jay-Z and filmmaker Ava DuVernay have teamed up to put a hopeful spin on the future in the music video for “Family Feud” — and to help they have a powerhouse lineup of cameos by Michael B. Jordan, Thandie Newton, “Moonlight” actor Trevante Rhodes, Jessica Chastain, Omari Hardwick and more — including Queen B herself, Beyoncé.

“Family Feud,” a track from Jay-Z’s introspective “4:44,” would generate plenty of buzz without the extra dash of star power thanks to the raw accusations of infidelity Beyoncé sang about on “Lemonade.” And indeed, in one “Family Feud” sequence, the rapper performs his verses walking hand in hand into church with daughter Blue Ivy before confessing his marital sins to Beyoncé herself.

But the refrain “Nobody wins when the family feuds” doesn’t apply only to the Carters. What precedes Jay-Z’s own meta-family moment gives “Family Feud” breathtakingly expansive new life, delivered in a time-hopping cinematic prelude with pointedness and purpose by “Selma” and “The 13th” director DuVernay (whose Disney sci-fi fantasy epic “A Wrinkle in Time” opens March 9).

DuVernay, who wrote the video with Jay-Z, offered additional insights into the making of the “Family Feud” film on Twitter. “In this future, due to harm currently being done, America demands that the position of POTUS be filled by two people,” she said, explaining why Hardwick’s president is joined by a Madam President played by Native American actress Irene Bedard.

Newton, Jordan and Rhodes play out Shakespearean familial dysfunction in the year 2444. Fifty years later, Hardwick plays a descendant who governs alongside Bedard; his family skeletons are called into question by a journalist figure played by Chastain. The family is Jay-Z’s; it is ours; it’s America; it’s the future.

Between eras we see flashes of war (featuring America Ferrera and “Wrinkle in Time” actress Storm Reid), peace (kept by Emayatzy Corinealdi and David Oyelowo, both of whom starred in DuVernay’s second feature, “Middle of Nowhere”), and one particularly striking scenario: eight “Founding Mothers” played by Mindy Kaling, Janet Mock, Brie Larson, Niecy Nash, Susan Kelechi Watson, Constance Wu, Rosario Dawson and Rashida Jones, assembled to fix the Constitution.

With an opening salvo from James Baldwin, lines of dialogue from the 8-minute film ring with history and intention: “America is a family, and the whole family should be free.” Just the sort of cinematic surprise to inspire the coming year’s resolutions.

Tidal has the video debut of “Family Feud.” (Warning: contains profanity.)

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Luann de Lesseps of ‘Real Housewives’ going to rehab after drunken arrest

“Real Housewives of New York” star Luann de Lesseps says she’s checking herself into rehab for treatment after a drunken arrest Christmas weekend in Palm Beach, Fla.

“After the events of last Saturday night in Palm Beach, I am truly embarrassed,” she wrote Friday in a statement on Instagram, apologizing for her behavior. “I have decided to seek professional guidance and will be voluntarily checking into an alcohol treatment center. I intend to turn this unfortunate incident into a positive life changing event.”

Police were called to the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach on Saturday night and told an intoxicated woman was trespassing in another person’s room and refused to leave, WPTV reported Sunday.

Before calling police, hotel security tried to get a man and woman out of a room that wasn’t theirs, WPTV said, citing an arrest report. They had entered while housekeeping was doing turn-down service, were in bed together when security showed up and refused to leave, the report said.

The man, who was gone before police arrived, was someone De Lesseps had “previously dated,” her friend Julie Olson told Page Six. The arrest document reportedly said Olson was in the room with De Lesseps when police arrived, but Olson said she had only made it to the hallway after the man came to her in the hotel bar and asked her to help De Lesseps understand she was in the wrong room.

After police arrived, the “RHONY” star allegedly locked herself in a bathroom, according to WPTV; when an officer tried to get her out, De Lesseps allegedly pushed him in the chest and hit him in the forehead with the door.

She allegedly resisted being handcuffed and later slipped out of her cuffs and tried to exit a police car, kicking the door to keep it from closing when she was put back in, WPTV reported.

De Lesseps was arrested on felony charges of battery on a police officer, resisting arrest with violence and crimes against a person, and a misdemeanor charge of disorderly intoxication, according to the Palm Beach Post.

An assistant state’s attorney said De Lesseps slammed a door, kicked at least one officer and said, “I’m going to … kill you all,” the Post reported. She was released from jail on her own recognizance around noon on Sunday and allowed to return home to New York.

Apparently her first trip to Palm Beach since her wedding late last year had “brought up long-buried emotions,” she told CNN in a statement Sunday. De Lesseps and second husband Tom D’Agostino were married in grand style on Dec. 31, 2016, and divorced by October, with drama along the way.

De Lesseps’ arrest, which wasn’t filmed, will definitely be a storyline on the upcoming “RHONY” season, an insider told People.

She’s due back in a Florida court on Jan. 25.

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Rose Marie remembered as ‘one of the original ... wisecracking women in comedy’

Star of stage and screen Rose Marie, best known for her work as comedy writer Sally Rogers on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” died Thursday at age 94.

Throughout her career, which spanned nine decades, beginning as a child performer in vaudeville, Marie garnered many high-profile fans, several of whom mourned her passing on Twitter.

“I was so sad to learn of the passing of Rosemarie,” wrote Marie’s “Dick Van Dyke” costar Carl Reiner. “There’s never been a more engaging & multi-talented performer.”

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U2, Guns N’ Roses were 2017’s top tours

Rock and roll may not appear to be so relevant on the pop charts these days, but it’s still a dominant force on live stages.

The concert-industry trade publication Pollstar released its list of the top-grossing tours of 2017, and rock-leaning acts took many of the top slots.

U2 claimed the peak spot with its leviathan Joshua Tree Tour, which sold 2.71 million tickets for a gross of $316 million. Right on the act’s heels was a reunited Guns N’ Roses, which grossed $292.5 million on 2.68 million tickets. (U2, on average, charged $40 more per ticket than Guns N’ Roses).

Coldplay and Bruno Mars (the highest-ranking solo act on the list) came in at third and fourth, respectively, with grosses of $238 million and $200.1 million.

Garth Brooks was the highest-charting country artist on the list, at No. 10, wrapping up the last of his three-year return tour. At No. 11, Celine Dion was the top-grossing female act this year. Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Ariana Grande all made the top 20.

One question remains: How to count Bruce Springsteen?

His two tours — one for his Broadway show, the other for his E Street band show — are very different formats. Pollstar said it is crunching numbers and will soon release a revised list that reflects Springsteen’s two rankings.

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A Star Is Born: Marianne Faithfull turns 71 today

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

I didn’t like that feeling of being a starlet. I felt used, not in a good way.

— Marianne Faithfull, 2008

FROM THE ARCHIVES: She’s just trying a halo on for size

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Former Miss Americas want all board members to resign from the pageant

Mallory Hagan, Miss America 2013.
Mallory Hagan, Miss America 2013.
(Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)

Former Miss Americas Mallory Hagan, Gretchen Carlson and Kate Shindle are standing together and demanding that the entire board of the Miss America Organization step down in the wake of insulting internal emails that were recently made public.

The board announced a plan Wednesday night to form a committee that would seek “a new leadership structure and respective names” after the resignations of three top executives on Saturday.

The committee will include two current board members and five people chosen from nominations made by select former Miss Americas and state-level pageant executives, the board said in a statement.

After that announcement, Hagan, Carlson and Shindle rallied publicly behind a petition calling for all current members of the board to resign.

“Implying that the complicit members of the current board will now choose the new leadership for the forward movement of the Miss America Organization is laughable,” Hagan told the Associated Press.

In a Facebook video, she criticized the board’s actions — or lack thereof — after the emails were leaked to the media.

“They thought they could weather the storm,” said Hagan, who was ridiculed in the emails. “I am the storm. You’re not weathering it.”

The emails were leaked to the Huffington Post, which published them last Thursday. According to Hagan, the board had previously reviewed the emails and opted against taking action.

And yes, that quote is as sassy as you thought it was, especially as a GIF.

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Jay-Z and Beyoncé tease ‘Family Feud’ visual track in new clip

(Evan Agostini / Invision)

Jay-Z and Beyoncé are taking us to church in a new teaser for Jay’s track “Family Feud.”

The Brooklyn-bred rapper shared the clip via Tidal’s Twitter account on Thursday, announcing the visual’s full drop on Friday.

In the clip, Jay-Z walks his 5-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, down a church aisle while a fiercely pontiff-like Bey supervises from the altar. The couple also appears to sit down in a confessional booth. Those visuals are spliced together with a hot and heavy love-making session that ends with a woman stabbing her lover in the back.

“Nobody wins when the family feuds,” he raps. “We all lose when the family feuds.”

The rap mogul — whose supposed infidelity was put on blast in his wife’s 2016 visual album, “Lemonade,” and whose 2014 elevator brawl with sister-in-law Solange Knowles brought the couple’s tumultuous union under scrutiny — recently confirmed that the couple has been working on new music together.

“We were using our art almost like a therapy session. And we started making music together,” the rapper told the New York Times last month. “And then the music she was making at that time was further along. So her album came out as opposed to the joint album that we were working on.”

Jay-Z and his introspective “4:44” album, which has boasted several visual tracks, lead the 2018 Grammy Award nominations with eight nods.

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Halle Berry, Carol Burnett and Ricky Martin among presenters at 2018 Golden Globes

Halle Berry.
(Evan Agostini / Associated Press)

The stars are coming out for the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards next month.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which recognizes achievements in film and television at the boozy awards show, announced the first batch of presenters on Thursday.

Among them are past winners and nominees. Naturally, several hail from this year’s crop of contenders.

FULL COVERAGE: The 2018 Golden Globe Awards

Doling out the awards will be Halle Berry, Carol Burnett, Kelly Clarkson, Darren Criss, Penélope Cruz, Gal Gadot, Greta Gerwig, Hugh Grant, Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Hemsworth, Christina Hendricks, Isabelle Huppert, Shirley MacLaine, Ricky Martin, Sarah Jessica Parker, Amy Poehler, Edgar Ramírez, Seth Rogen, J.K. Simmons, Sharon Stone, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alicia Vikander, Kerry Washington and Emma Watson.

The HFPA previously announced that former daytime TV queen Oprah Winfrey will be the recipient of the association’s honorary Cecil B. DeMille prize.

“Late Night’s” Seth Meyers will host the ceremony, which airs live on NBC on Jan. 7.

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Ryan Murphy’s ‘Pose,’ featuring largest LGBTQ cast ever, gets series order from FX

FX is adding a new Ryan Murphy show to its roster, announcing Wednesday a series order for “Pose,” a dance musical drama centered around ball culture in 1980s New York.

“Pose” will serve as a snapshot into the changing tides of the city, juxtaposing the rise of Trump-era luxury with the downtown social scene.

“Along with being a dance musical and an affirming look at American life in the 1980s, I’m so proud that ‘Pose’ and FX has made history right from the beginning by featuring the most trans series regular actors ever in an American television production,” Murphy said in a statement.

“Additionally, the first season ‘Pose’ will feature 50-plus LGBTQ characters – a record in American television history. I can’t wait for people to see this incredibly talented, passionate cast.”

Co-created with frequent collaborator Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals, Murphy will direct the first two episodes of the series’ first season.

In addition to prominently featuring transgender actors as series regulars, transgender writers Janet Mock and Our Lady J will both serve as producers on the series.

“In the 15 years we’ve worked with Ryan, he has demonstrated time and again that every person’s story is joyful, illuminating, and must… be told,” said John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions, in Wednesday’s statement.

A six-month nationwide casting search has led to a wide batch of new talent for the series, joining more established actors such as Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek and Charlayne Woodard.

“Pose” is scheduled to begin production in New York in February for a summer 2018 premiere on FX.

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A Star Is Born: Denzel Washington turns 63 today

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

My generation was kind of protected. You think, ‘OK, the sky’s the limit,’ but then you come to the realization that not everything is going to happen in my generation and you realize that it is an ongoing struggle. You’ve got to continue to fight the fight where you can fight it.

— Denzel Washington, 2000

FROM THE ARCHIVES: He Learned the Ropes

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Solange Knowles opens up about her battle with an autonomic disorder

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Solange Knowles revealed Wednesday that she’s been struggling with an autonomic disorder that prompted her to pull out of an upcoming New Year’s Eve performance.

“The past five months I have been quietly treating, and working through an Autonomic Disorder. It been a journey that hasn’t been easy on me…,” she wrote on Instagram.

The artist did not share what type of autonomic disorder she was diagnosed with, but the term refers to a breakdown of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions.

“Sometimes I feel cool, and other times not so cool at all. It’s a complicated diagnoses, and I’m still learning so much myself, but right now, my doctors are not clearing me for such an extended lengthy flight, and doing a rigorous show right after.”

Because her doctors concerns, she said, she had to cancel her performance at the Afropunk Festival on New Year’s Eve in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“I give you my ABSOLUTE WORD I will come back with AfroPunk and deliver this performance.....as it is so extremely important to me to connect with the people who have so closely inspired me in so many ways,” Solange said.

The festival, which celebrates the influence of African American culture through music, film, skate and art, this year added Johannesburg to its multiple-city, multiple-country roster.

In a message shared on its official Facebook page, the festival’s organizers that they were saddened that Solange would be unable to perform this weekend, but underlined that her health was of the utmost importance.

“Her music and spirit has been a place of great comfort and inspiration to us as a community,” the statement read.

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Dustin Hoffman accusers thank John Oliver in open letter

Seven women who have accused actor Dustin Hoffman of sexual misconduct published an open letter Wednesday thanking John Oliver for his attempt to question the actor about the matter during an early-December film panel.

Addressed to Oliver, the letter was first published on the Twitter feed of Anna Graham Hunter, who wrote a guest column for the Hollywood Reporter alleging that Hoffman sexually harassed her while she was working as a production assistant on “Death of a Salesman” in 1985. Hunter was 17 at the time.

“While the questions you asked may not have led to the constructive conversation you hoped for, the fact that you asked them at all is what matters most,” the letter read, adding that while many men listen to and believe women’s stories about sexual harassment, fewer men are willing to call out bad behavior.

Shortly before Christmas, Oliver appeared on Britain’s “The Russell Howard Hour,” where the host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” expressed disappointment that his attempt to question Hoffman did not lead to something more illuminating.

“I just wanted it to become something more constructive, and [it] was clear pretty early on that was not going to happen,” Oliver told Howard. “I tried. I tried and failed.”

In response to Hunter’s original accusations in November, Hoffman issued a statement asserting, “I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.”

The actor has not responded to the additional allegations that have surfaced in following weeks, though he did address the issue when confronted by Oliver.

“From a few things you’ve read you’ve made an incredible assumption about me,” Hoffman said to Oliver when questioned about Hunter’s allegations. “You’ve made the case better than anyone else can. I’m guilty. Because someone has alleged something, I’m guilty. You push a button. It’s all over the world. I’m a predator. I’m this and that and it’s not true.”

Read the full open letter here:

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Carrie Fisher died a year ago today. But Mark Hamill says she’ll always be with us

“No one’s ever really gone…”

That’s what Mark Hamill tweeted Wednesday on the first anniversary of Carrie Fisher’s death, echoing a line Luke Skywalker says to Leia Organa in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

An illustration of Fisher as Saint Carrie, holding her dog Gary with one hand and flipping the bird with the other, anchored a trio of pictures he included in the tweet, including pics of himself and Fisher at the beginning of their “Star Wars” careers together and at the end.

“#AlwaysWithUs #CarrieOnForever,” he added.

The “Wishful Drinking” author died on Dec. 27, 2016, followed by her mother, Debbie Reynolds, the next day. Fisher’s official cause of death was sleep apnea, with contributing factors, including drug use.

Missing Ms. Fisher? Then spend a few minutes with the video above, which memorialized her during the 2017 Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Fla. The fan event, held in April, went all in on the 40th anniversary of the first film.

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Sony might be mad about ‘Mad About You’ again

Another classic sitcom might be returning just a week after rumors surfaced that NBC is eyeing a return to “The Office.”

TVLine reported Tuesday that Sony is in talks to reboot the 1990s comedy stylings of former NBC “Must-See-TV” fare “Mad About You.”

The sitcom, which centered around the marriage of Paul Buchman (Paul Reiser) and Jamie Buchman (Helen Hunt), originally debuted in 1992 and wrapped in 1999.

TVLine reports that the revival would focus on the post-empty-nest life of the Buchmans, after daughter Mabel departs for college.

Reiser, who created the series with Danny Jacobsen, suggested as much when talking to People magazine earlier this year.

“To me, it’s interesting when I see my kids are growing and leaving the house. It’s like, ‘Oh.’ It’s like that moment when you get married. It’s like we’re in a new world that we don’t know the rules of,” Reiser said.

Though talks are reportedly in the works for the return of the series, it has yet to land at a network. According to TVLine, despite their recent success with “Will & Grace,” NBC is not currently involved in discussions surrounding “Mad About You.”

Representatives for Sony did not immediately respond to the Los Angeles Times’ request for comment Wednesday morning.

------------

FOR THE RECORD

Dec. 27, 10:17 a.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said NBC was pursuing a reboot of “Mad About You.”

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A Star Is Born: Masi Oka turns 43 today

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

What I want to do is spread manga and anime even further in the mainstream — but in the right way. There’s some adaptations from the past — I won’t name any names — where it kind of lost its way. When you’re making an adaptation, you have to make content for the fans, otherwise you’ll get something that won’t even be accepted by the mainstream.

— Masi Oka, 2015

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Masi Oka of ‘Heroes Reborn’ on the fate of Hiro

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John Oliver is sad his explosive chat with Dustin Hoffman wasn’t more constructive

John Oliver, left, and Dustin Hoffman.
(Charles Sykes / Associated Press, left; Evan Agostini / InVision / Associated Press, right)

John Oliver wanted his sexual-misconduct conversation with Dustin Hoffman to be something constructive. Alas, it wound up being something that simply made him “feel sad.”

“I knew the stories were out there. I knew that there were a few more coming,” the “Last Week Tonight” host said on Britain’s “The Russell Howard Hour” just before the holiday. “So it felt unavoidable that we had to have a discussion about it.”

Hoffman and Oliver clashed in early December at an anniversary screening of Hoffman’s film “Wag the Dog.” Hoffman was defensive during a panel discussion Oliver moderated, denying he had done anything wrong and saying he had been found guilty simply because he’d been accused.

Oliver said his questions “were not particularly remarkable,” but that Hoffman’s answers “were kind of not great.”

Oliver said that when he found out Hoffman might be there, he gave event organizers a chance to find someone else to conduct the panel. The former “Daily Show” correspondent said he felt he had to ask about stories from women who had accused “The Graduate” actor of bad behavior.

He said the folks in charge said they still wanted him, even knowing uncomfortable questions would be asked. And those questions and answers sparked the big story he predicted would come of them.

“But it didn’t really go anywhere constructive,” Oliver told Howard, “so the whole thing just made me feel sad. I just wanted it to become something more constructive, and [it] was clear pretty early on that was not going to happen. ... I tried.

“I tried and failed.”

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Brace yourself: Mariah Carey is heading back to the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special

(Theo Wargo / Getty Images)

Mariah Carey is returning to the scene of her musical crime last year, when her disastrous live performance on New Year’s Eve seemed to perfectly sum up 2016.

ABC and Dick Clark Productions announced Friday that the multiplatinum superstar will perform again on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest” for a second consecutive year.

Carey joins the list of previously announced performers, including Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland.

Perhaps you still shudder at the memory of Carey’s ignominious performance last year, which featured classic hits such as “Well, Happy New Year. We can’t hear, but...” and “All right, we didn’t have a [sound] check for this song.”

To quote Carey herself, “It just don’t get any better.”

Carey and Dick Clark Productions both admitted that technical difficulties derailed Carey’s performance, but neither party was eager to shoulder the blame.

But that was then, and this is now.

“We can all agree that last year didn’t go exactly as planned,” Carey and Dick Clark Productions said in a joint statement. “And we are thrilled to move forward together to provide America with an incredible night of music and celebration on ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2018.’ See you in Times Square!”

There’s every reason to think that this year’s performance will end differently for Carey. The singer is riding high on a very merry holiday season that saw her Christmas classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” crack the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time in the 23 years since its 1994 release.

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Kardashian Christmas cards were like an Advent calendar without little chocolates — or Kylie or Rob

After skipping their annual Christmas card last year in the wake of Kim Kardashian being robbed at gunpoint, the Kardashian-Jenner family came back Advent-calendar style for 2017: They dropped 25 cards one at a time on the way to the big day.

What started out as simply a picture of a pile of presents next to a Christmas tree ended with an image of nearly the whole family next to the same tree, with lots of little kids mixed in. Aww.

Each family member treated the one-per-day game differently on social media.

Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kanye West posted none on their Instagram pages, and Kris Jenner mixed the cards in with other posts, for example. But Kim Kardashian went all cards all the time, posting nothing but pictures from the photo shoot — shoots? — for 25 days in a row.

The Kardashian-Jenners explained a few years back that because of their busy schedules, not everyone can make it for a Christmas photo shoot on the same day. The solution? “We pretend that we’re always together,” Kim told Ellen DeGeneres in 2012. “The power of cameras and Photoshop.”

Missing for 2017 were Kylie Jenner, which sparked fans’ questions about her reported pregnancy, and Rob Kardashian, whose absence was pretty much par for the course. In recent years he’s not a fan of photos in general, but Khloe helped out Christmas Eve by tweeting a throwback card with him in it:

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A Star Is Born: Kit Harington turns 31 today

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

There’s a lot of us who are young British actors who this is our first experience of being in a show like this, and I think that bonds you in a certain way. I don’t want it to become a kind of monster where it stops being personal. At the moment, it feels like a very close-knit family that we’re part of.

— Kit Harington, 2013

FROM THE ARCHIVES: ‘Game of Thrones’ actor Kit Harington matures with Jon Snow

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A Star Is Born: Sissy Spacek turns 68 today

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

I think careers have to change. If they don’t, you have to. I have always admired the careers of Katharine Hepburn and Joanne Woodward, women who have had long careers. I have always wanted a long career, not just pounding it out. [My career] is not the end-all, be-all.

— Sissy Spacek, 1992

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Issues of the Heart `A Private Matter’ Pulls Sissy Spacek Into a Real Drama

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‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ a social media star more than 70 years after its theater run

Yes, it’s been more than 70 years since James Stewart starred in the 1946 Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” But Frank Capra’s holiday fable centered on everyman George Bailey hasn’t lost its relevance. On Christmas Eve, during the film’s primetime airing on NBC, it was trending on Twitter thanks to the live tweeting of viewers from all sides of the political spectrum, and those who don’t want to think about politics at all over the holidays. (And for those on the West Coast wanting to join the conversation, the movie airs on NBC at 8 p.m.)

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Tiffany Hadish, Gal Gadot, SZA and Lena Waithe are just some of 2017’s biggest breakout stars

SZA
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

In 2017, we needed entertainment more than ever — as both a way to make sense of the chaos going on in the world, and a salve and means of escape. Some of the highlights: Jordan Peele’s indie darling “Get Out,” which did blockbuster numbers at the box office ($175 million, to be exact) and ushered in a robust year for indie films (“Lady Bird”! “Three Billboards”! “The Big Sick”!). We saw “around the way girls” Tiffany Haddish and Cardi B defy the odds and conquer 2017 armed with big dreams and a killer sense of humor. And women in both titular and in supporting roles stole the show in the year’s biggest blockbusters (we’re looking at you, Gal Gadot and Kelly Marie Tran). Here are our picks for the biggest breakouts of the year.

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Top leadership of Miss America pageant resigns over email scandal

The top leadership of the Miss America Organization has resigned, sweeping out officials implicated in an email scandal that targeted past pageant winners for abuse based on their appearance, intellect and sex lives.

CEO Sam Haskell resigned from the Atlantic City, N.J.-based organization on Saturday, a day after he was suspended by the board. Also on Saturday, President Josh Randle and Chairman Lynn Weidner resigned.

The organization announced the resignations a day after dozens of former Miss Americas signed a petition calling on the group’s leadership to step down.

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‘Last Jedi’ continues holiday box-office haul; ‘Jumanji’ and ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ open strong

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” continued to commandeer the box office as expected on Christmas weekend, though attendance dropped off significantly from the space opera’s opening weekend, in part due to moviegoers’ focus on holiday preparations. Ticket sales are expected to pick up again on Christmas Day.

The Walt Disney Co.-backed adventure grossed $68.5 million Friday through Saturday and is expected to haul in $100.7 million through the holiday period, according to estimates from measurement firm ComScore. That would push director Rian Johnson’s installment to a whopping $365.1 million domestic gross through Sunday and an expected $397.3 million through Christmas Day. In all, “The Last Jedi” is pacing itself toward an impressive cumulative worldwide gross of $745 million through Sunday, ComScore said.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour »

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Matt Damon’s father Kent Damon dies at 74, four days before the actor was criticized for missing ‘Downsizing’ premiere

Kent Damon, left, and his son Matt attend the premiere of "The Town" at Fenway Park in Boston on Sept 14, 2010.
(Bryce Vickmark / Getty Images)

News came over the holiday weekend that Kent Damon, the father of Oscar winner Matt Damon, has died after a years-long battle with cancer. He was 74.

Kent Damon died on Dec. 14 after complications from multiple myeloma, a rare blood disease that affects the bone marrow, the actor’s rep Jennifer Allen confirmed to the Associated Press on Saturday.

Damon’s father was diagnosed with disease in 2010 and the condition worsened over the last few months. The actor, who has diligently worked to raise money and awareness for cancer research and treatment since the diagnosis, shared his father’s prognosis while promoting Alexander Payne’s eco-conscious satire “Downsizing” earlier this month.

“It’s been a slow unfolding; my dad’s sick, so that’s been a process we’re going through,” Damon, 47, told Extra, adding, “We’ll take any prayers you got, so throw ‘em up there.”

His father’s health was the reason Damon recently backed out of a few promotional work obligations, including his absence from the Los Angeles premiere of “Downsizing” last week.

Many believed that the film’s star was a no-show at the Dec. 18 premiere in Westwood due to the brouhaha that resulted from his incendiary ABC News remarks about sexual assault. (Damon came under fire for his “spectrum of behavior” explanation about conflating “shameful and gross” sexual misconduct with criminal sexual assault.)

However, a rep for Paramount Pictures said that Damon was out of town “dealing with an ongoing family matter,” according to reports.

In October, Damon abruptly skipped the 2017 Britannia Awards, which honored him with the Stanley Kubrick Award for Excellence in Film, due to a “family emergency.”

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A Star Is Born: Ricky Martin turns 46 today

(David Kawashima / For The Los Angeles Times)

Listen, buddy after 20 years in the business, I don’t have to prove anything to anybody —  I’m here to add, not to subtract. There are a lot of people that hate Ricky Martin. I am not going to think about that. I’m going to think about the people who really appreciate what I’ve done for music.

— Ricky Martin, 2003

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Livin’ the serious life

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Former Miss Americas call for resignations of pageant officials after email attacks revealed

Some former Miss Americas who were attacked in emails from the pageant’s CEO are calling on him and other organization leaders to resign.

Three former title holders who were targeted for abuse in emails to and from Miss America Organization Chief Executive Sam Haskell say the group’s leadership needs to be replaced.

The appearance and sexual habits of Mallory Hagan, Miss America 2013, were mocked in the emails, which were sent three to four years ago.

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Oprah Winfrey warns social media users about scam accounts posing as her

Oprah Winfrey
(Kirk Mckoy / Los Angeles Times )

“It’s a fraud! It’s a fraud! IT’S A FRAUD!” says Oprah Winfrey.

The TV mogul has warned her millions of followers that deceptive social media accounts are trying to bamboozle her fans.

Multiple fraudulent accounts appropriating Winfrey’s name, avatar and her Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) have popped up promising monetary Christmas rewards to followers and then asking for money.

“Don’t believe it. Don’t give up any of your bank accounts or personal information to anybody posing as me or anyone else for that matter,” the 63-year-old said via video on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

OWN’s verified social media accounts also warned followers about the scam and fraudulent accounts.

“Please be aware that social media accounts promising money using OWN and/or Oprah Winfrey’s name are false,” the network said Thursday in a statement on Instagram. “ We have notified the social media platforms who are working diligently to deactivate these accounts.”

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‘SNL’ alum Bill Hader divorcing after 11 years of marriage

Bill Hader and Maggie Carey in 2014.
(Adrian Sanchez-Gonzales / AFP/Getty Images)

“Saturday Night Live” alum Bill Hader and his wife, Maggie Carey, have called it quits after 11 years of marriage.

Hader filed his divorce petition on Thursday, according to documents obtained by the Blast.

Reps for actor-producer Hader, 39, and Carey, a screenwriter and director, did not immediately respond to The Times’ requests for comment.

The “Trainwreck” actor cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and is seeking joint physical and legal custody of the couple’s three children, Hannah, Harper and Hayley, the documents said. Hader also stated that spousal support should be paid to Carey, 41.

According to People, the pair have been separated since July.

Hader and Carey reportedly met in Los Angeles through mutual friends and moved to New York when Hader was cast on “SNL” in 2005. They married in 2006, and Hader continued his run on the NBC sketch series into 2013.

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A Star Is Born: Hector Elizondo turns 81 today

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

True artistic experience is when you walk out [of the theater] different. Something’s happened to your soul, to your mind, your information lines, anything. Entertainment, which is fine, doesn’t do that. The artistic experience should change you. I want to be part of that a little more, in the third act of my life.

— Hector Elizondo, 2001

FROM THE ARCHIVES: He’s an Authority on Authority Figures

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Britney Spears booked for ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ as Vegas residency ends

Britney Spears.
(Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

Britney Spears will usher in 2018 on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest,” the show announced Thursday.

Spears will perform “Toxic” and “Work B**ch” from Las Vegas, where she’s wrapping her four-year “Britney: Piece of Me” residency on Dec. 31.

While Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy anchor the ABC show from Times Square in New York, Lucy Hale will host in New Orleans and Ciara will hold down the fort in Hollywood.

Other performers include Khalid, Nick Jonas, Sugarland, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Zedd, Halsey, Fitz & the Tantrums, Bebe Rexha, Hailee Steinfeld, Imagine Dragons and Kane Brown.

Top of mind: Let’s hope Spears has a better time than Mariah Carey did last year. Advice to Ms. Spears? Do a sound check.

Please.

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Seth Meyers tears into Republican tax plan as ‘a brazen heist of the country’

House and Senate Republicans have passed their sweeping tax plan, and boy, did Seth Meyers have words about that. The “Late Night” host tore into Republicans, the president and the GOP tax bill itself on Wednesday night.

Republicans passed a sweeping overhaul of the tax code that will overwhelmingly benefit corporations and the wealthy, amounting to nothing less than a brazen heist of the country,” said Meyers.

He pointed out that “despite all evidence to the contrary,” Donald Trump refused to admit that the tax plan actually only really benefits the richest Americans.

“In fact, in the spirit of the holiday season, he keeps calling it ‘a Christmas gift to the middle class,’” Meyers quipped.

Except, the “Late Night” host noted, if one examines the terms of the tax plan and translates the monetary benefits into actual holiday gifts, only the rich are getting a car for Christmas. Everyone else is basically getting a can of gas.

“Republicans can’t point to any actual proof their plan will benefit lower- and middle-income people, so all they can do is repeat vague talking points about improving the economy,” Meyers added.

Meyers also laid into Trump for repeatedly claiming how “he personally would pay more in taxes than he did before” because of this plan but that he didn’t care.

“We definitely believe that you don’t care,” Meyers said. “You’re by far our most checked-out president. I mean, James Garfield worked harder than you after he was assassinated. You watch more TV than a sixth-grader at home with the flu.”

Watch the segment above.

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‘Mamma Mia!’ indeed. Is Meryl Streep killed off in the upcoming sequel?

Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgård star in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”

The internet was filled with the dulcet tones of ABBA Thursday morning after Universal Pictures released the first trailer for “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”

The highly anticipated look at the sequel to 2008’s “Mamma Mia!” opens with Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) surrounded by friends of her mother (Christine Baranski and Julie Taylor) who have arrived to help her with impending motherhood.

But where, precisely, is Sophie’s titular mother Donna, played by Meryl Streep?

She’s dead.

OK, Donna isn’t explicitly dead in the trailer. Streep is, after all, still listed in the film’s credits, but it remains heavily implied that death becomes her.

The character is almost exclusively mentioned in the past tense, and there is little, if any, new footage of Streep. The film appears to hinge entirely on Donna’s friends explaining to Sophie how her mother made it as a young pregnant woman on her own.

For those concerned that “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” may be lacking in star power with a distinct lack of Streep, fear not.

The trailer’s closing moments feature Sophie’s grandmother, played by none other than Cher, stopping by the island via helicopter.

“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” arrives in theaters July 20.

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Picture-perfect Prince Harry and Meghan Markle debut engagement portraits

( Alexi Lubomirski / Associated Press)

As if Prince Harry and fiancée Meghan Markle weren’t picturesque enough, the couple had to go and release their stunning engagement portraits to further show off how picture-perfect they are.

The British prince and “Suits” actress initially shared two official portraits on Thursday to mark their engagement, Kensington Palace said. Then, to show gratitude for all the positive feedback they received, the pair shared with their well-wishers an additional candid portrait via Twitter.

“The couple are so grateful for the warm and generous messages they have received during such a happy time in their lives. As a way to say thank you, they have decided to share this candid photograph from the day of their portrait sittings directly with all of you,” the palace said on Twitter.

The intimate images feature the smiling pair in formalwear on the grounds of Frogmore House in Windsor as the lovebirds affectionately regale each other with loving gazes and hand holding.

Fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski, who has photographed the likes of Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lupita Nyong’o, shot the images earlier this week and thanked the couple for allowing him to take their official engagement portraits.

“Not only was it an incredible honour, but also an immense privilege to be invited to share and be a witness to this young couple’s love for each other,” the photographer wrote on Instagram. “I cannot help but smile when I look at the photos that we took.”

Same here.

Harry and Markle’s royal wedding is set for May 19, 2018. The couple were engaged last month after nearly two years of dating. On Wednesday, the two were photographed leaving Buckingham Palace where Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother, was hosting her annual Christmas lunch.

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A Star Is Born: Jane Fonda turns 80 today

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Life experience teaches you finally the survival is in yourself. I’ve got a third of my life left, and it’s mine.

— Jane Fonda, 1989

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Jane Fonda Flexes Her Muscles

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Khloe Kardashian finally confirms she’s pregnant with Tristan Thompson’s baby

(Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images)

Khloe Kardashian is pregnant. That might sound like old news, but what we hadn’t heard was confirmation from the the mom-to-be herself that she and boyfriend Tristan Thompson have a baby on the way. That changed Wednesday.

“My greatest dream realized! We are having a baby! I had been waiting and wondering but God had a plan all along. He knew what He was doing,” Kardashian said, posting a black-and-white picture on Instagram showing Thompson’s hands and hers around her oiled-up baby bump — and she’s still got some serious hardware on that ring finger.

“I simply had to trust in Him and be patient,” she said. “I still at times can’t believe that our love created life!”

The 33-year-old lavished praise on the Cleveland Cavaliers player for loving her, treating her like a queen, making her feel beautiful and getting her pregnant. She also thanked “everyone” for love and “positive vibes.”

Rumors that Kardashian was expecting came out in September, a little more than a week after rumors emerged that half-sis Kylie Jenner was in the same situation. Jenner is reportedly expecting a baby girl with boyfriend Travis Scott.

“I know we’ve been keeping this quiet but we wanted to enjoy this between our family and close friends as long as we could privately,” Kardashian continued Wednesday. “To enjoy our first precious moments just us…. Thank you all for understanding. I am so thankful, excited, nervous, eager, overjoyed and scared all in one! But it’s the best bundle of feelings I’ve ever felt in my life!”

Pregnancy has been a long time coming for Kardashian, whose fertility issues went public courtesy of “Khloe & Lamar,” the reality show she had with ex-husband Lamar Odom. Meanwhile, oldest sister Kourtney Kardashian has three children with former partner Scott Disick, and middle sis Kim Kardashian has two with husband Kanye West, with a third on the way via surrogate.

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Eva Longoria is expecting her first baby

Actress Eva Longoria and husband José Bastón are expecting a baby.
Actress Eva Longoria and husband José Bastón are expecting a baby.
(Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images)

Eva Longoria is expecting a baby boy with husband José Antonio Bastón, The Times has confirmed.

The 42-year-old actress-producer-activist was completely surprised by the pregnancy, according to the Blast. She was preparing to shoot a new movie but postponed it, sources told the website.

She’s four months along, according to People.

Longoria and Televisa President Bastón got married in May 2016 in Mexico after more than three years together. Longoria’s been married twice before, first to actor Tyler Christopher and then to Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs. This will be her first child, however.

This past year, Longoria squashed rumors that she was pregnant, saying in a video on Instagram (via Us Weekly), “Morning, everybody, last day in paradise and I’m exhausted. We worked out this morning. So I saw some pictures of myself [looking] really fat on a boat. I have to tell you, all I did was eat cheese. So that’s the news of the day. I’m not pregnant, just eating a lot of cheese, a lot of wine, a lot of pancakes.”

In hindsight, it appears she’s been doing some nesting lately.

In November, Longoria bought a home in Beverly Crest and put the Hollywood Hills compound she’d bought from Tom Cruise up for sale. The new place has eight bedrooms and 10 baths in 11,000 square feet — plenty of room for a nursery. Or maybe a nursery for each season.

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XXXTentacion to be released from jail on house arrest

The saga of XXXTentacion — whose rise as one of the year’s biggest breakout rappers is overshadowed by a felony domestic violence case — continues. He was released from jail days after being taken into custody for violating his bond.

A judge ordered the MC to be released from custody and placed under house arrest on Wednesday, according to court records.

The South Florida native, born Jahseh Onfroy, had been sent back to jail on Friday after being hit with 15 felony counts of witness tampering and harassment in connection with the 2016 domestic violence case that has made his ascent in hip-hop controversial.

Charged with several felonies for allegedly beating and strangling a then-pregnant former girlfriend, Onfroy was accused of coercing his accuser after prosecutors questioned the validity of a document she signed asking for the case to be thrown out.

The new charges were all in relation to recorded calls he made while he was jailed last year in connection with the case.

Onfory’s next hearing is set for Jan. 24. If convicted on all charges, which include false imprisonment, the rapper faces up to 30 years in prison.

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Catt Sadler blames her E! departure on a ‘massive pay disparity’

Catt Sadler
(Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images)

Catt Sadler has left E! after failing to agree on a contract with the entertainment network. She blamed her departure on a “massive pay disparity” between her and male “E! News” anchor Jason Kennedy.

“[W]hen E reached out to renew and extend my deal,” she wrote Tuesday on her blog, “I learned that he wasn’t just making a little more than I was. In fact, he was making close to double my salary for the past several years.”

At contract-renewal time, she said, “My team and I asked for what I know I deserve and were denied repeatedly.”

Sadler hosted daytime show “Daily Pop” in addition to regular appearances on “E! News,” the channel’s flagship news program. Kennedy, whom Sadler didn’t call out by name but described as her “similarly situated male co-host,” anchors the latter show five nights a week in addition to other duties at E!

“E! compensates employees fairly and appropriately based on their roles, regardless of gender,” an E! spokesperson said Wednesday in a statement. “We appreciate Catt Sadler’s many contributions at E! News and wish her all the best following her decision to leave the network.”

Sadler wrote that she’d wanted to stay at her job but said her decision was made for her.

“I have two decades experience in broadcasting and started at the network the very same year as my close friend and colleague that I adore,” she said. “I so lovingly refer to him as my ‘tv husband’ and I mean it. But how can I operate with integrity and stay on at E if they’re not willing to pay me the same as him? Or at least come close?”

Via Twitter, Kennedy invited viewers Tuesday to watch Sadler’s “E! News” send-off. He also retweeted a message from a fan who thanked Sadler for her “years of hard work and dedication” and for being “a true inspiration … as a broadcaster.”

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Val Kilmer talks career after cancer battle: ‘I was too serious’

Val Kilmer in 2013
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

When “Top Gun” and “Batman Forever” heartthrob Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer a few years ago, he denied the reports on social media.

Now the 57-year-old has opened up about his two-year battle with the disease. He underwent chemotherapy and had a procedure on his trachea that left him with a raspy voice and shortness of breath, according to the Hollywood Reporter, which interviewed him alongside his two kids, Mercedes, 26, and Jack, 22.

But Kilmer said his health and faith (he’s a Christian Scientist) have put life in perspective for him.

“I was too serious,” he said in the interview published Wednesday. “I’d get upset when things like Oscars and recognition failed to come my way.”

Though he’s never been nominated for any major film or TV awards, he’s apparently come to terms with that.

“I would like to have more Oscars than anybody,” he said. “[Three-time Oscar winner] Meryl Streep must feel pretty good, you know? It must feel nice to know that everyone loves her. It’s about being loved.”

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Mark Ruffalo calls the late Cardinal Law ‘a horrible human being’

Mark Ruffalo.
(John Bazemore / Associated Press)

“Spotlight” star Mark Ruffalo is not mourning the death of Cardinal Bernard Law, formerly the archbishop of Boston.

“This was a terrible human being,” the actor tweeted early Wednesday. “One can only hope the countless sexual abuse of children he allowed and the subsequent profound suffering he hid will come to an end with his demise.”

Ruffalo was nominated for an Oscar for his “Spotlight” portrayal of a Boston Globe reporter on the investigative team that in 2002 exposed child molestation and its cover-up in the Boston Archdiocese. Law, who died early Wednesday in Rome, was a key figure in the scandal, which spread from its Boston epicenter to eventually rock the entire Catholic Church.

“Spotlight” won the 2016 Academy Award for best picture. The Globe won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for public service for its coverage.

When he stepped down at the end of that year, Law said, “It is my fervent prayer that this action may help the archdiocese of Boston to experience the healing, reconciliation and unity which are so desperately needed. To all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and mistakes, I both apologize and from them beg forgiveness.”

Law wound up with appointments at the Vatican and in Rome in the years leading up to his death.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A Star Is Born: Jonah Hill turns 34 today

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

What really bums me out is when people in movies are scared to look not cool and you can see someone protecting that vulnerability and willingness to emotionally fall on your face. I, for better or for worse, cannot do that kind of stuff.

— Jonah Hill, 2016

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Taking risks and not playing it safe are what draw Jonah Hill to those non-’bro’ roles

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Meyers, Fallon go wild over Disney World’s animatronic Trump statue

“Late Night” host Seth Meyers and “The Tonight Show’s” Jimmy Fallon gleefully skewered the president Tuesday with the help of the animatronic Trump statue recently unveiled at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The statue, which joined likenesses of past U.S. leaders at the park’s Hall of Presidents attraction, has been widely panned for its take on 45.

“Disney World, was that supposed to go in the Haunted Mansion?” Meyers quipped, sharing an image of the new figure. “Even Lincoln is looking at him like ‘this is the worst thing that ever happened to me.’”

Carrying on with his Trump-centric monologue, Meyers decided it would be best to keep using the unflattering picture of the animatronic statue instead of a real image of Trump.

“I think, as our Christmas gift to ourselves, we’re just going to use that as our Trump picture from now on,” he proclaimed.

Over on “The Tonight Show,” Fallon joked that Trump was “really making an impact” at Disney.

“Today, he deported Aladdin, and he gave Scrooge McDuck a tax break,” Fallon said, later noting that, “You can tell it’s Trump’s robot because Putin’s backstage controlling it.”

Fallon also aired a faux commercial advertising the attraction, which features a recording made by Trump himself.

According to Fallon’s ad, this is what it said: “It’s great to see all the great children here with their tiny little hands. We’re all born with tiny hands. We have small hands, after all... This is lame. I wanna ride the teacups.”

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‘The Voice’ names its 2017 winner ...

The confetti has fallen, and Blake Shelton has once again triumphed as a coach on the 13th season of NBC’s “The Voice,” this time with his stolen protégé Chloe Kohanski.

The 23-year-old Nashville resident was the last one standing, with second place going to Addison Agen, third to Brooke Simpson and fourth place Red Marlow.

Here’s video of the dramatic unveiling, and underneath that, the finale performance that featured Kohanski and Billy Idol.

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‘Diana,’ the musical, to premiere next season in La Jolla

“Diana,” the musical, is coming to La Jolla Playhouse.

The theater announced that a Princess Diana musical created by writer-lyricist Joe DiPietro and songwriter David Bryan (keyboardist for Bon Jovi) will have its world premiere as part of the company’s 2018-19 season. The director will be Christopher Ashley, the company’s artistic director and the 2017 Tony winner for “Come From Away.”

Ashley, DiPietro and Bryan previously teamed on the Broadway hit “Memphis,” which launched in La Jolla. “Diana” was workshopped in New York in the summer.

For now, tickets will be available only through a season subscription. Specific production dates and casting have yet to be announced.

The playhouse said the story will start in 1981, as the world awaits the royal wedding between Diana and Prince Charles. “Following her fairy-tale union, Princess Diana faces a distant husband, an unmovable monarchy and constant media scrutiny,” the company said.

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Sandra Bullock and gal pals go glam in first trailer for ‘Ocean’s 8’

Watch the “Ocean’s 8” trailer.

Move over, Danny Ocean. It’s sister Debbie’s time to shine.

The first trailer for 2018’s highly anticipated “Ocean’s 8” dropped Tuesday morning, giving audiences their first real glimpse into the latest installation of the effortlessly stylish, unspeakably cool heist-movie franchise.

And this time, the ladies take center stage.

Sandra Bullock is now the central character, playing an estranged sibling to Danny, portrayed most recently by George Clooney but originally made famous by Frank Sinatra in 1960.

The trailer opens during Debbie’s parole hearing, during which she speaks freely about how whatever led to her imprisonment was a mistake that she looked forward to rectifying.

Moments later, on the outside, we see that “rectify” means revenge and she needs a crew to pull it off.

Enter Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter, who come together to plan a heist to take place at the Met Gala.

It’s hard to encapsulate the joy of seeing Hollywood’s best and brightest come together to make fun, frothy cinema.

“Ocean’s 8” appears to be tapping into that fun-loving sweet spot crafted by Steven Soderbergh in his “Ocean’s” trilogy, which earned more than $1.1 billion worldwide.

“Ocean’s 8” is scheduled to arrive in theaters June 8, 2018.

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John Legend joins Alice Cooper for NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ live musical

John Legend.
(Amy Harris / Invision/Associated Press)

John Legend will play Jesus of Nazareth in “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” coming on Easter 2018 from NBC.

“Just woke up to Andrew LLoyd Webber tweeting about me. It’s a good day,” the “All of Me” singer said Tuesday on social media, forwarding a message from the man behind the original musical’s music.

“We are thrilled to have @johnlegend join us as Jesus for @JCSTheMusical Live! this Easter #TeamALW,” said Webber. He, Legend and lyricist Tim Rice are among the executive producers on NBC’s version.

“This score demands a singer with an amazing range and an actor with great depth, and there isn’t anyone better to bring this story to a new audience,” NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement. “His casting is also groundbreaking as the traditional image of Christ will be seen in a new way.”

Alice Cooper’s casting as King Herod was announced earlier in December. The show covers the final days of Jesus’ life.

Unlike Fox’s recent “A Christmas Story Live,” which was broadcast from the studio’s back lot and sound stages (and tanked in the ratings), NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” will air live from the Marcy Armory stage in Brooklyn on April 1.

Legend, who’s already won at the Oscars, Grammys and Tonys, might get a shot at an Emmy to complete his set of awards, thereby becoming an EGOT winner.

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Hillary Clinton makes a cameo on ‘The Daily Show’s’ ‘Song for Women 2017’

It has been quite the year. So with the end of 2017 finally in sight, Trevor Noah and his “Daily Show” crew decided to take a special look back at all the craziness on their “Yearly Show 2017” special Monday night.

“The year’s not over, but we’re all gonna die, so we figured, why not just do this?” Noah said. “This was a crazy year, 2017. Sexual harassment, Russians, Russians sexually harassing the election, something like that.”

But according to Noah, “if there’s one group of people who have defined this year, it’s been women.”

“So we asked [‘Daily Show’ correspondents] Desi Lydic and Dulcé Sloan for their thoughts, and they gave us a whole song,” he said.

Both Lydic and Sloan had much to say in their song about the “incredible,” “terrible” year for women.

The topical song included references to the Women’s March, Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s persistence, “Wonder Woman’s” box office dominance, Cardi B’s chart topper, the birth of Beyoncé’s twins, Harvey Weinstein and Hollywood’s sexual harassment problem and more.

“What a year for women/ It’s why we’re singing,” sang Lydic and Sloan. “Finally see us women/ What a year for women.”

Lydic and Sloan even got an assist from the first female presidential candidate nominated by a major party.

Yes, Hillary Clinton made a cameo.

You can hear the song in its adult language entirety here and watch Noah’s intro to the “Yearly Show 2017” special above.

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NBC reportedly looking into returning to Scranton and ‘The Office’

It’s beginning to look a lot like 2005 over at NBC.

TVLine reported Monday that the broadcast network is contemplating a continuation of “The Office” for the 2018-2019 television season.

The rumored return to Scranton, Pa., and Dunder-Mifflin Paper Co. comes on the heels of NBC’s successful relaunch of “Will & Grace,” which returned to airwaves in September, more than 10 years after its original series finale in 2006.

“The Office” hasn’t been absent from the pop-culture conversation for nearly as long, originally premiering in 2005 before concluding in 2013.

According to TVLine, the relaunched “Office” would feature a mix of old and new characters, but would not include longtime regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell).

In August, NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt told Deadline that he had repeatedly spoken to Greg Daniels, who developed the U.S. adaptation of the British series, about bringing the show back someday.

“There is certainly an open invitation, but we don’t have anything happening right now,” Greenblatt said. “If [Daniels] wants to do it, I would do it.”

Representatives for NBC did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Tuesday morning.

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A Star Is Born: Jake Gyllenhaal turns 37 today

(Damon Winter / Los Angeles Times)

There’s an intimacy that the audience goes into the dark for. They want to feel a sense of reflection, but also a sense of real entertainment.

— Jake Gyllenhaal, 2014

FROM THE ARCHIVES: SAG Awards 2015: Jake Gyllenhaal, and his dog, react to his nomination

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Meryl Streep is sorry Rose McGowan sees her as an ‘adversary’

(Brent N. Clarke / Invision)

Add Meryl Streep to the list of people confused by Rose McGowan’s weekend outburst against women planning to wear black dresses as a protest on the Golden Globe Awards red carpet in January.

“I am truly sorry she sees me as an adversary, because we are both, together with all the women in our business, standing in defiance of the same implacable foe,” Streep told the Huffington Post in a lengthy statement. That foe, she said, is the status quo.

McGowan called “The Post” actress out by name on Saturday, saying in a now-deleted tweet, “Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black @GoldenGlobes in a silent protest. YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly & affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy. Maybe you should all wear Marchesa.”

Marchesa, of course, is the clothing line designed by Georgina Chapman, the estranged wife of disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein. McGowan says Weinstein raped her.

Weinstein has categorically denied through his attorneys any crimes.

On Sunday, Tamblyn had criticized her friend McGowan, saying she didn’t support anyone who “shamed or taunted” other women who were trying to create change and that the Marchesa comment was “beneath you, Rose.”

McGowan responded in a tweet Monday afternoon, without mentioning Streep or Tamblyn specifically.

“The Marchesa line was beneath me and I’m sorry for that. Seeing that picture of Alyssa Milano with GC [Chapman] has ignited something in me that I can’t quite articulate,” McGowan wrote. “There is no map for this road I’m on, I will … [make mistakes]. Peace be with you, go with Goddess.”

Amber Tamblyn, left, and Rose McGowan clashed on social media over the weekend.
(Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images, left; Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images, right)

Streep told Huffington Post she was “hurt to be attacked by Rose McGowan” in headlines over the weekend.

“I want to let her know I did not know about Weinstein’s crimes, not in the 90s when he attacked her, or through subsequent decades when he proceeded to attack others … ,” Streep said. “I wasn’t deliberately silent. I didn’t know. I don’t tacitly approve of rape. I didn’t know. I don’t like young women being assaulted. I didn’t know this was happening.”

The Oscar winner explained that Weinstein distributed movies she had made with other people and said “not every actor, actress, and director who made films that HW distributed knew” about his alleged wrongdoings.

“Rose assumed and broadcast something untrue about me, and I wanted to let her know the truth,” Streep said, adding that she got her phone number to McGowan through mutual friends but didn’t hear back.

“I sat by that phone all day yesterday and this morning, hoping to express both my deep respect for her and others’ bravery in exposing the monsters among us, and my sympathy for the untold, ongoing pain she suffers. … And I hoped that she would give me a hearing. She did not, but I hope she reads this.”

It appears that she did.

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A grateful Rob Lowe feeds firefighters who helped save his house from blaze

Rob Lowe helped firefighters and then invited them to help themselves to a meal after they worked to save his home and others’ in the path of the wind-whipped Thomas Fire, which has been burning since Dec. 4 and most recently was threatening homes in Montecito.

“Dinner for new friends at our house,” the “Code Black” actor wrote Sunday on Instagram, captioning a photo of firefighters filling their plates with cheeseburgers, spaghetti and more in what looks to be Lowe’s kitchen.

“Thank you to all the crews from all over the country who stood tall and saved my town. #respect #gratitude,” he said in a second post.

Oprah Winfrey said Sunday that she had evacuated 10 days earlier because the air was too smoky to breathe. Her dogs, she said, were in Palo Alto.

Lowe posted a picture Saturday of himself in fire-retardant gear, manning a fire hose with an assist from a firefighter. “You do what you can, but when it’s time.. you GO.”

Unfortunately, other people in Santa Barbara County — an area with plenty of celebrity residents — were not as lucky as Lowe and saw their multimillion-dollar homes reduced to piles of ash and debris after a firefight Saturday night. Fueled by stronger-than-expected winds, some up to 65 mph, the re-energized fire had threatened hundreds of homes as it headed toward the ocean.

Billy Baldwin tweeted Sunday that the fire was only three blocks from his house, and James Woods posted a friend-of-a-friend account attributing Santa Barbara’s survival to the winds’ calming down Saturday night.

Last week it was Ellen DeGeneres who was grateful to firefighters for their work to save her home.

“Last night. I am so incredibly grateful to these and all the firefighters,” she said Thursday on Instagram, captioning a photo of a crew from the Redlands Fire Department. “Thank you.”

On Sunday, firefighters took advantage of those lighter winds to push back on the western edge of the fire. As of Monday morning, about 270,500 acres had burned.

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Diddy wants to buy the Carolina Panthers — and give Colin Kaepernick another NFL shot

Diddy wants to buy the Carolina Panthers — and go down in the history books in the process.

“There are no majority African American NFL owners. Let’s make history,” he tweeted Sunday night after current Panthers owner Jerry Richardson made it known he’d be putting the franchise on the market.

“I will be the best NFL owner that you can imagine,” the music and fashion mogul, a.k.a. Sean Combs, explained in a video on Instagram. “I will immediately address the Colin Kaepernick situation and put him in the running for next year’s starting quarterback.”

By Monday morning, Kaepernick had heard the news and was up for more than just a QB gig. “I want in on the ownership group! Let’s make it happen!,” he tweeted.

Diddy also promised “the best halftime show, the best selection of music” and a Super Bowl victory.

History has to wait a bit longer, however.

“I will put the team up for sale at the conclusion of this NFL season. We will not begin the sale process, nor will we entertain any inquiries, until the very last game is played,” Richardson said Sunday in a letter on the team’s website.

The 81-year-old’s decision to sell comes while he is under investigation for alleged workplace misconduct.

“This is God’s work. It’s time!!,” Diddy said Sunday, posting a 2003 picture of himself wearing a Panthers jersey. “ATTN all @NFL owners, it’s time for diversity!! It’s time for Black ownership!! The time is now. Let’s make it happen!!”

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry tweeted Sunday that he wants in, which is a good sign, because Diddy likely can’t buy the team solo. Earlier this year, Forbes guesstimated Diddy was the richest man in hip-hop, with a net worth around $820 million. But in 2016, the outlet estimated the value of the Carolina Panthers at $2.3 billion.

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PBS slams Tavis Smiley after he says it made ‘a huge mistake’ dumping his show

Tavis Smiley in 2015.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Tavis Smiley called out PBS on Monday for making what he calls “a huge mistake” when it stopped distributing his show over allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

“I’m going to do anything to protect my reputation,” Smiley said on “Good Morning America.”

PBS didn’t take the host’s morning-show offensive sitting down.

“Tavis Smiley needs to get his story straight,” a PBS spokesperson said in a statement. The rep also confirmed the decision to keep Smiley’s show on indefinite suspension.

On “GMA” — where Smiley maintained his innocence while also admitting to “consensual” relationships with colleagues and an “intense” atmosphere during production — he faulted PBS for not sharing the identities of his accusers during an investigation conducted by an outside law firm.

“Witnesses who have bravely come forward to speak with the independent investigators retained by PBS report a fear of retribution for speaking out. PBS stands by its decision to respect the anonymity of those who are afraid to come forward publicly. Additional allegations are continuing to come to light since last week’s announcement,” the network spokesperson said.

In response to Smiley’s explanation that his company did not prohibit relationships between employees because “I don’t know where your heart’s going to lead you,” PBS’s rep said the network was “certain that it should not lead to multiple sexual relationships between the owner of a company and subordinates over many years particularly where employment decisions may be linked to sex.”

Last week on Facebook, Smiley said, “I have the utmost respect for women and celebrate the courage of those who have come forth to tell their truth. To be clear, I have never groped, coerced, or exposed myself inappropriately to any workplace colleague in my entire broadcast career, covering six networks over 30 years.”

PBS on Monday noted conflicts between that post and his comments on “GMA.”

On the show, “Mr. Smiley acknowledged he has had multiple sexual encounters with his employees, then struggled to recall the number of current employees with whom he has had sex,” the PBS spokesperson said. “This contradicts his Facebook post from last week, where he cited only one previous relationship with an employee.”

Smiley said on “GMA” that he found out he was being investigated only after he got calls from former staffers who were getting “strange phone calls asking strange questions.” That’s when he lawyered up.

“They were prepared to close this investigation without talking to me ...,” Smiley said, “ and when they did, they talked to me for three hours and they never told me who the accusers were, what the allegations were.” Quizzed as to whether it was important that he know the identity of his accusers, he said, yes, so he better answers any questions.

“PBS made a huge mistake here,” Smiley said. “They need to fix this. They need to correct it.”

The broadcaster announced on Wednesday that it was suspending distribution of Smiley’s show, which is owned not by PBS but by Smiley’s company. A day later, the host vowed to fight back.

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Prince William and Duchess Catherine get in the spirit with family holiday card

Princess Charlotte photographed in Berlin on July 19, 2017.
(Chris Jackson / Getty Images)

2018 is shaping up to be a big year for Britain’s Princess Charlotte.

The wee royal will not only gain a new sibling in April and a new aunt in May, she’ll also begin her academic career by attending nursery school this January.

The 2-year-old princess, fourth in line to the British throne, will attend Willcocks Nursery School in London in the new year, Kensington Palace announced on Monday.

“We are delighted that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen the Willcocks Nursery School for Princess Charlotte. We look forward to welcoming Charlotte to our nursery in January,” the school said.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, also enrolled their firstborn, Prince George, 4, in Westacre Montessori School when he was 2, just months after Charlotte was born. So, it’s no surprise that Charlotte is doing the same a few months before the couple’s third child arrives.

Also on Monday, the couple shared the family portrait featured on their 2017 Christmas card to mark the holiday season.

In it, William and Catherine stand behind their two smiling children, all clad in shades of blue. It should be noted that the formal portrait is a departure from the modern couple’s traditionally candid and casual fare. Maybe it’s just that this year they were able to wrangle their two toddlers to cooperate during the photo session?

The photograph was taken at Kensington Palace by Getty Images royal photographer Chris Jackson earlier this year, which explains why the pregnant duchess isn’t showing her baby bump yet.

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Showtime sets date for Stephen Colbert’s animated Trump series, ‘Our Cartoon President’

Stephen Colbert has ridden anti-Trump sentiment to the top of the late-night pack. And in just a few weeks, he’ll expand his empire of presidential mockery to Showtime.

On Monday, the premium cable network announced that “Our Cartoon President,” an animated parody series inspired by a popular running bit on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” will debut on Feb. 11.

Executive produced by Colbert and “Late Show” showrunner Chris Licht, “Our Cartoon President” will “follow the tru-ish misadventures of the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, and his merry band of advisors and family members” and offer an “all-access look at a typical day in the life of the President of the United States,” according to Showtime.

R.J. Fried, a veteran of late-night political comedy (“The Late Show With David Letterman,” “Triumph’s Election Special 2016”) will serve as showrunner on the 10-episode, half-hour series. Tim Luecke, the artist behind the Cartoon Trump and Cartoon Hillary segments on “The Late Show,” will serve as lead animator.

“Our Cartoon President” will debut on Showtime just before the Season 7 premiere of the political thriller “Homeland,” but for those who can’t wait to see what Colbert and company have been up to, the premiere episode will also be available to preview on demand beginning Jan. 28.

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Amber Tamblyn spars with Rose McGowan over Golden Globes fashion protest

Amber Tamblyn and Rose McGowan
(Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images, left; Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images, right)

Actress Amber Tamblyn has called out her friend Rose McGowan for criticizing the women reportedly planning a fashion-fueled protest at the Golden Globes.

McGowan, who is chief among those accusing producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct and assault, called out the women who worked with the disgraced producer, including Meryl Streep, for saying they would wear black at the upcoming award show to protest gender inequality and sexual assault.

In Saturday tweets that have since been removed, the “Charmed” alum wrote: “Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black @GoldenGlobes in a silent protest. YOUR SILENCE is THE problem.

“You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly & affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy. Maybe you should all wear Marchesa,” she said, according to People, referring to the designer label run by Weinstein’s estranged wife, Georgina Chapman.

Tamblyn has been an advocate for the women speaking out against sexual assault, but took issue with McGowan’s credo, saying on Sunday that McGowan was shaming those who planned to be proactive.

“Rose McGowan is a friend and while I support her kind of movement, I do not support any woman (or man) shaming or taunting the movements of other women who are trying to create change. Telling us to all wear Marchesa? This is beneath you, Rose,” the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” star wrote in a lengthy thread.

“You don’t have to support and stand with us, but we stand and support you. You may take below the belt shots at us but we will not take them at you in return.”

“Our movement is big. And a black dress is just the beginning of the darkness that will be drained from every industry across the country by the time we’re done. That’s a promise,” Tamblyn continued.

Alas, Tamblyn’s commentary drew the ire of several followers, including Weinstein accuser Asia Argento and McGowan’s “Charmed” costar Holly Marie Combs, both of whom said Tamblyn should have spoken to McGowan directly rather than calling her out in a public forum. (Tamblyn said she spoke to McGowan “for over an hour.”)

“You just did to @rosemcgowan what you claim you don’t support her doing to others,” Combs tweeted. “Every activist for every cause the world over has different methods but share a common and more important message that should remain the same. And undiluted above all else.”

In response, Tamblyn contended that McGowan’s statement “was public and hurtful to some women so a public response was earned.”

“I spoke to her at length today, she knows how I feel. I love Rose fiercely, that will never change. To be critical of an action is not to condemn the person behind it. There’s your common message,” Tamblyn wrote.

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A Star Is Born: Brad Pitt turns 54 today

(Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Truthfully, I’m just more experienced. I can get to places — and I’m talking in actor-speak now — but I can get to where I need to get faster now. I can understand when it’s off, and I know it quicker; I know the signals and I’m better at redirecting it. But my approach is still the same. I’ve always liked to mix it up a bit.

— Brad Pitt, 2012

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Brad Pitt’s double play

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A Star Is Born: Sarah Paulson turns 43 today

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

 I don’t know who you think I am, but I audition for every part I get, almost across the board. If it’s a part in a Steve McQueen movie with Michael Fassbender in it and Brad Pitt’s producing it — odds are I’m not the only girl in town who wants that part, which means I’m going to have to fight like a lady haggling over a shoe at a Barneys sale. I’m going to have to be ready to put some elbows in some eyes.

— Sarah Paulson, 2013

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Sarah Paulson channels many nasty emotions for ’12 Years a Slave’

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Anita Hill to lead commission to combat sexual harassment in Hollywood

Anita Hill speaks about Hollywood sexual harassment at UTA on Dec. 8, 2017.
(Willy Sanjuan / Associated Press)

A newly formed commission comprised of top Hollywood executives has chosen Anita Hill to chair its efforts to combat sexual harassment across the entertainment industry, it was announced Friday.

A powerhouse committee including studio, talent agency and guild leaders from across the film, television, digital and music industries attended the meeting convened by Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, Nike Foundation Co-Chair Maria Eitel, attorney Nina Shaw and venture capitalist and activist Freada Kapor Klein.

Among those involved in the new effort to create “safer, fairer, more equitable and accountable workplaces” in Hollywood are Paramount CEO Jim Gianopulos, Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara, Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, Atlantic Records Chair and COO Julie Greenwald, William Morris Endeavor Co-CEO Ari Emanuel, Creative Artists Agency Co-Chairman Bryan Lourd, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Dawn Hudson and SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.

The Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace aims to create a “comprehensive strategy” to address the epidemic of sexual harassment and misconduct that has rocked Hollywood and the country in recent months, exposing alleged abuses by figures such as Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Russell Simmons. Next steps will follow in the new year, according to the group.

“The Commission will not seek just one solution, but a comprehensive strategy to address the complex and inter-related causes of the problems of parity and power,” Kennedy said in a statement. “The fact that so many industry leaders — across film, television, music, digital, unions, agencies, ATA, AMPAS, television academy and guilds — came together, in one room, to explore solutions speaks to a new era.”

Hill is a professor of social policy, law and women’s studies at Brandeis University and a National Women’s Law Center board member who previously chaired the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Assn. She became an emblem for women’s rights when she brought sexual harassment allegations against then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

Exactly how the new commission will present best practices to curb sexual harassment remains to be seen.

“We will be focusing on issues ranging from power disparity, equity and fairness, safety, sexual harassment guidelines, education and training, reporting and enforcement, ongoing research, and data collection,” Hill said. “It is time to end the culture of silence. I’ve been at this work for 26 years. This moment presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to make real change.”

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A Star Is Born: Benjamin Bratt turns 54 today

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

As a person of color, with every role I play, I carry a certain amount of responsibility to my community. There’s no denying the fact that, whether you want to be or not, you’re forced into being a role model because there are so few to look to. Today, there’s a real sense of pride that runs through the community when one of our own makes it.

— Benjamin Bratt, 1995

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Benjamin Bratt brings more to ‘Law & Order’ than an actor’s resume

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Pandora – the World of Avatar could be a glimpse into how Disney and Fox will work together

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Months before Disney moved to purchase much of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox media company, it made a foray into bringing a Fox product to life.

In May, Disney opened Pandora — the World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom at the Orlando, Fla., resort of Walt Disney World.

The theme park is built in the universe of “Avatar,” James Cameron’s blockbuster film (and soon-to-be film series), and aims to immerse visitors in the fictional world of Pandora, with its overriding themes of conservation and exploration.

“Avatar,” the top-grossing film of all time, was distributed by 20th Century Fox in 2009, and while speculation grows about how Disney might incorporate Fox brands into its theme parks, Pandora could be the key.

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XXXTentacion jailed again on charges of harassing a witness

The rapper XXXTentacion is back in jail in Florida on charges of harassing a witness, according to new reports.

The seven new charges stem from a 2016 domestic violence case in which the rapper, born Jahseh Onfroy, was charged with battery of a pregnant woman and false imprisonment, among other offenses.

The new charges include four first-degree felonies and three second-degree felonies. If convicted, he could face multiple years in prison.

In March, Onfroy was released from jail after pleading no contest to charges of armed home invasion robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm. He was out on bond when the new charges emerged.

Onfroy was slated to perform at this weekend’s Rolling Loud festival in San Bernardino. His album “17” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts and yielded two Top 40 singles. His next court appearance is set for Jan. 24.

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Peter Jackson says Weinsteins blacklisted Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino; Harvey Weinstein disagrees

Filmmaker Peter Jackson.
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

After director Peter Jackson publicized his suspicion that actresses Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino were blacklisted by Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced producer has denied the “Lord of the Rings” filmmaker’s accusations.

According to Jackson, the actresses had been chosen to star in his “Lord of the Rings” franchise when it was still under the umbrella of Weinstein’s Miramax studio, but contended that Weinstein intervened in the late 1990s.

“I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs,” Jackson told New Zealand’s Stuff on Thursday.

“At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us — but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing,” he said. “I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women — and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list.”

“I remember this well,” Judd tweeted Thursday night in response to Jackson’s interview.

“Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying,” Sorvino tweeted on Friday. “There it is, confirmation that Harvey Weinstein derailed my career, something I suspected but was unsure. Thank you Peter Jackson for being honest. I’m just heartsick.”

In a statement issued by his spokesperson on Friday, Weinstein rebutted Jackson’s account, explaining how Miramax lost the project to New Line Cinema, and refuted the notion that Judd and Sorvino were blacklisted.

“Mr. Weinstein has nothing but the utmost respect for Peter Jackson. However, as Mr. Jackson will probably remember, because [Miramax parent company] Disney would not finance the ‘Lord of the Rings,’ Miramax lost the project and all casting was done by New Line,” the statement said.

“While Bob and Harvey Weinstein were executive producers of the film they had no input into the casting whatsoever,” it continued.

“Until Ashley Judd wrote a piece for Variety two years ago, no one at the Company knew that she had a complaint and she was cast in two other films by Mr. Weinstein [‘Frida’ and ‘Crossing Over’] and Mira Sorvino was always considered for other films as well,” the statement said. “There was no indication that Mira Sorvino had any issues until Mr. Weinstein read about the complaints in the news.”

“Just seeing this after I awoke, I burst out crying,” Mira Sorvino tweeted Friday in response to Peter Jackson's comments.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision)

The statement also said that as recently as this year, Sorvino called Weinstein to ask if her husband, Christopher Backus, could be part of the “SEAL” television series he was producing. Weinstein said he cast him but allowed Backus “to amicably break his contact” to pursue a different opportunity.

Judd was among the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of harassment this year, detailing encounters with the mogul and rebuffing his alleged advances in the New York Times story that broke the scandal wide open in October. Sorvino was also among the scores of accusers who detailed Weinstein’s alleged misconduct in the avalanche of accounts that followed.

Three-time Oscar winner Jackson, who described Weinstein and his brother, Bob Weinstein, as “behaving like second-rate Mafia bullies,” also said he feuded with the studio about the number of films in the franchise and has chosen not to work with the brothers since.

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Going to the chapel: Prince Harry will marry Meghan Markle in May

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Nottingham, England, earlier this month.
(Chris Jackson / Getty Images)

Mark your calendars and start shopping for those fascinators: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have set their wedding date.

The British prince, currently fifth in line to the British throne, will wed the American “Suits” actress on May 19, 2018, Kensington Palace announced Friday.

As previously revealed, the nuptials will take place west of London at Windsor Castle in the 15th-century St. George’s Chapel. The castle is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s main residences, which she had to grant her grandson permission to use. The royal family will also pay for the festivities.

Harry, 33, and Markle, 36, announced their engagement late last month after about a year and a half together. Since then, they’ve sat down for an extended interview about their relationship and began jointly carrying out some of Harry’s official royal duties. Alas, Harry attended “The Last Jedi” premiere in London earlier this week with his brother, Prince William, as his plus-one.

Spring 2018 will also mark another special occasion for the royal family: William and his wife, Catherine, are expecting a baby in April. That child will move in front of Harry’s place in the line of succession.

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Morgan Spurlock steps down from production company after sexual misconduct confession

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

On Wednesday, “Super Size Me” director Morgan Spurlock published an essay admitting his long history of sexual misconduct.

The next day, Spurlock stepped down from Warrior Poets, the New York-based production company he founded in 2004 with partners Jeremy Chilnick and Matthew Galkin.

In response to Spurlock’s departure, Chilnick and Galkin released a statement Thursday afternoon with few specifics.

“On behalf of Warrior Poets, we as partners have always supported our company and its endeavors. As of today, Morgan Spurlock will be stepping down effective immediately.

“We will continue to lead the company as equal partners, producing, distributing & creating from our independent production company,” the statement read.

In his missive shared on social media Wednesday afternoon, Spurlock detailed his own sexual misconduct throughout the years, including a rape accusation in college, a settled sexual harassment allegation and a lifelong history of infidelity.

“I’ve come to understand after months of these revelations, that I am not some innocent bystander, I am also a part of the problem,” Spurlock wrote.

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Seth Meyers dissects Omarosa’s sudden departure from Trump’s White House

Another day, another departure from the Trump administration to be analyzed.

Omarosa Manigault Newman, director of communications for the Office of the Public Liaison, departed her position Wednesday under seemingly mysterious circumstances.

Seth Meyers broke down Omarosa’s resignation on Thursday night’s episode of “Late Night,” with a little help from the news anchors who covered the story.

“Before she was fired, all anyone had ever heard about Omarosa’s time in the White House was that she held a photo shoot with her bridesmaids there in April before getting married,” Meyers said. “Oh my God, Trump’s staff treat the White House like tourists treat the M&M store.”

When making the morning-show rounds on Thursday, Omarosa denied claims that she made a fuss when informed her employment would be terminated in January.

CNN contributor April Ryan reported Thursday that Omarosa had been escorted from the White House after protesting her dismissal. Not true, Omarosa told “Good Morning America.” In fact, she shared, she and Chief of Staff John Kelly discussed the matter in the Situation Room.

“Wow, the Situation Room,” Meyers said. “Though I have a feeling that any room Omarosa goes into becomes a situation room.

“Seriously,” Meyers added, “You know it’s bad when they have to fire you in the same place they killed Osama bin Laden.”

As cutting as Meyers’ observations were, no one had an icier response for Omarosa’s drama than “GMA” anchor Robin Roberts.

“She said she has a story to tell. I’m sure she’ll be selling that story,” Roberts predicted after Omarosa’s segment, before muttering, “Bye, Felicia.”

“I wish all news anchors signed off that way,” Meyers marveled. “That’s how Edward R. Murrow should have signed off during the McCarthy era: “Good night, good luck and bye, Felicia.”

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A Star Is Born: Don Johnson turns 68 today

(Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)

Yeah, I can scream. I am difficult; you know why? Because I ask the question, ‘Why?’ That connotates difficult. Studios and directors don’t want to be asked why. They just want you to do. Well, you know what, boys? I got a little problem with that.

— Don Johnson, 1999

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Don Quixotic

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Here’s when ABC will unveil its ‘Roseanne’ revival

The dates for the Connor family reunion have been set for 2018.

ABC’s nine-episode revival of “Roseanne” will get a special hourlong premiere on March 27. It will settle into its Tuesday time slot (8-8:30 p.m.), where it will serve as the lead-in for “The Middle,” starting April 3.

Roseanne Barr and the show’s entire cast — including John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson and Michael Fishman — will reprise their roles for the update of the groundbreaking family sitcom, which ran for nine seasons. The new batch of episodes also will feature new characters as well as returning guest-star favorites.

The revival will “explore life, death and everything in between,” according to the news release announcing its premiere date.

The original “Roseanne” ran on ABC from 1988 to 1997 and was lauded for its depiction of a relatable working-class family in Illinois.

Production on the new episodes is expected to wrap Friday in Studio City.

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Reports: Actresses to wear black on Globes red carpet to protest gender inequality, harassment

Blake Lively arrives at the 74th Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 8.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The Golden Globes’ red carpet might reflect a somber year of career-ending sexual harassment allegations. That is, if most actresses resolve to don black formal wear in protest of gender inequality, as several Thursday reports have indicated.

According to Us Weekly and the Hollywood Reporter, women, including nominees and presenters, are planning to wear the dark shade to the Jan. 7 ceremony. The move is meant to acknowledge the wave of misconduct allegations that made landfall when the Harvey Weinstein misconduct scandal broke in October.

This, just a day after the Screen Actors Guild announced that the presenters at its respective SAG Awards will all be women.

The prominent show of solidarity was originally planned among a small group of actresses, but as word spread through the industry, at least 30 actresses have said they plan to participate, Us reported. The growing list is said to include A-listers.

“This movement is spreading rampantly and pretty much all the nominated women and others attending are participating,” an insider told the mag. “All the stylists who already did fittings are now changing out their clients’ original picks for Globes.”

It’s obviously not the first time fashion has been harnessed to make a statement during the high-profile awards shows. Traditionally, nominees, presenters and their guests have been affixing colorful ribbons to their formal wear to bring attention to a cause.

In the days after 9/11 and the launch of U.S. airstrikes against Afghanistan, the Television Academy requested that attendees of the twice-postponed 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards wear dressy business attire out of respect for the national tragedy.

No festive red-carpet promenade took place ahead of the subdued show either. (A similar request was made by the film academy, which banned formal dress at the 1942 Oscars, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.)

In 2014, the #AskHerMore campaign made a marked effort for actresses to be asked about matters beyond their appearance during red-carpet interviews.

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NYPD opens investigation into Russell Simmons as more sexual assault allegations surface

Russell Simmons, who has now been accused of sexual misconduct by at least 11 women, is being investigated by the New York Police Department.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Following at least 11 accusations of sexual misconduct against Russell Simmons — seven of which allegedly happened in New York City — the New York Police Department’s special victims unit has opened an investigation of the embattled music mogul.

A person at the NYPD who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that detectives are in the initial stages of reaching out to women who have alleged that Simmons assaulted them in New York.

Sherri Hines, who went by the name Sheri Sher when she was in the all-female hip-hop group Mercedes Ladies, told The Times on Thursday that she was contacted by the NYPD earlier in the day. She says Simmons raped her in his New York office around 1983.

Simmons’ attorney, Brad Rose, said late Thursday that his client “fully supports and will cooperate with the police inquiry and is confident of a swift resolution.”

Simmons has previously denied the claims of all the women accusing him of misconduct. On Instagram on Thursday he vowed to fight back against the allegations.

“Today, I begin to properly defend myself. I will prove without any doubt that I am innocent of all rape charges,” he wrote, adding a #NotMe hashtag to his post.

On Nov. 19, The Times published an account from Keri Claussen Khalighi in which the former model said that in 1991, Simmons coerced her to perform oral sex and penetrated her anally against her will in his New York City apartment. A few days later, on Nov. 30, screenwriter Jenny Lumet wrote in the Hollywood Reporter that Simmons had also sexually violated her in 1991 at his New York home.

Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, denied both claims. On Dec. 13, The Times published another investigation in which five women accused Simmons of sexual misconduct; two of those alleged incidents, including an alleged rape, occurred in New York.

That same day, the New York Times reported the accounts of four additional women who said Simmons had behaved inappropriately with them; three of the claims alleged rape that took place in New York.

In response to this week’s new allegations, Simmons said he has “never had a sexual encounter that was not consensual or lawful. Ever.”

“We were made aware of the alleged crime through the media, and we anticipate there will be more who come forward,” the NYPD source said. “We’re in the process of setting up interviews and if any victims want to come forward, they should contact us.”

Over the last two months, police departments in New York, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills have launched investigations into high-profile show business figures accused of sexual misconduct, most notably disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.

New York police are also investigating Weinstein, who has been accused of misbehavior ranging from harassment to rape by more than 50 women. The movie executive is also being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, including the claim of an Italian model-actress that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in an L.A. hotel room in 2013.

The Beverly Hills Police Department, meanwhile, is investigating filmmaker James Toback, who has been accused by more than 300 women of sexual misconduct. The investigation is one of 12 that have been launched by the Beverly Hills police focusing on sexual assault in Hollywood.

Hines, one of Simmons’ accusers, said an NYPD detective called her on Thursday, saying he was “representing the women that Mr. Simmons may have violated.” The two set up an interview for next week, Hines said.

“I’m appalled that Russell is sitting there calling these women liars and calling me a liar,” Hines said. “I’m not trying to bash him, but you did what you did, and what you did in the dark comes to light.”

Dec. 14, 4:29 p.m.: This post has been updated to reflect Simmons’ response.

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Russell Simmons hits back against rape allegations

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Music mogul Russell Simmons took to Instagram on Thursday morning to fight back against the multiple sexual misconduct accusations levied against him in recent weeks.

“Today, I begin to properly defend myself. I will prove without any doubt that I am innocent of all rape charges,” Simmons posted, alongside a stark black-and-white image with the hashtag #NOTME.

Simmons’ response comes a day after stories in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times revealed several new accusations of rape by women against the co-founder of record label Def Jam Recordings. Simmons has denied all allegations.

The accusations against Simmons first came to light in the L.A. Times’ Nov. 19 report detailing model Keri Claussen Khalighi’s allegations against Simmons and director Brett Ratner.

In Simmons’ Instagram post, he said that he would focus Thursday on his first accuser, Khalighi, whose claim “created this insane pile on of my #MeToo.”

On Friday, he promised, he would address the accusations of Jenny Lumet.

Simmons did not explain what “focusing” on his accusers meant, but advised followers to “Stay tuned! We’ll share information today...”

“My intention is not to diminish the #MeToo movement in anyway, but instead hold my accusers accountable,” Simmons said.

“Again, this is not a movement against or even in conjunction with #Metoo. It’s just a statement about my innocence.”

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Oprah Winfrey to receive Cecil B. DeMille prize at 2018 Golden Globes

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Former daytime TV queen Oprah Winfrey will receive the 2018 Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards next month, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. announced Wednesday.

“What an honor,” the OWN exec tweeted in response to the news. (Alas, her response was not “You get a Golden Globe! And you get a Globe! And I get a Globe!”)

The HFPA board of directors selected the influential industry mogul for her “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.”

“For generations, Oprah has celebrated strong female characters on and off screen, and has been a role model for women and young girls for decades,” said Meher Tatna, president of the HFPA, in a statement.

“Holding titles such as chairman, CEO, and founder, Oprah is one of the most influential women of our time, and this honor is well deserved especially in this 75th anniversary year of the Golden Globe Awards.”

MORE: The complete list of 2019 Golden Globe Award nominees

Though she has never won a Golden Globe, Winfrey, 63, was previously nominated for the supporting actress prize for “The Color Purple” (1985), earned critical acclaim in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” (2013) and produced and acted in the Golden Globe-winning “Selma” (2014). She’ll next appear as Mrs. Which in Disney and director Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of “A Wrinkle in Time.”

The 75th Golden Globe Awards, hosted by Seth Meyers, will take place on Jan. 7, airing live on NBC.

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Tavis Smiley vows to fight back against sexual misconduct allegations

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Tavis Smiley is fighting back against sexual misconduct accusations that resulted in PBS suspending distribution of his late-night talk show.

In a Facebook video posted Wednesday evening, the “Tavis Smiley” host said that he was shocked by the announcement from PBS, stating that Variety knew before he did.

“I have the utmost respect for women and celebrate the courage of those who have come forth to tell their truth,” Smiley said. “To be clear, I have never groped, coerced, or exposed myself inappropriately to any workplace colleague in my entire broadcast career, covering six networks over 30 years.”

“Never,” Smiley added. “Ever. Never.”

PBS enlisted an outside law firm to investigate “troubling accusations” against Smiley, according to a statement released Wednesday.

“This investigation included interviews with witnesses as well as with Mr. Smiley,” the statement said. “The inquiry uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS, and the totality of this information led to [Wednesday’s] decision.”

Smiley contended that PBS investigators interviewed him only after he learned of the inquiry secondhand.

“If having a consensual relationship with a colleague years ago is the stuff that leads to this kind of public humiliation and personal destruction, heaven help us,” Smiley said.

He then claimed that PBS investigators refused to provide him with the name of his accusers, to speak to his current staff or even look at any of Smiley’s personal documentation.

Almost immediately after his meeting with investigators, Smiley said, the story broke in Variety.

Smiley contends that the PBS investigation was sloppy and has tarnished a reputation he has worked a lifetime to establish.

“This has gone too far,” Smiley said. “And, I, for one, intend to fight back.”

“Following receipt of a complaint, PBS hired an independent law firm to conduct an investigation and we stand by its integrity,” a PBS spokesperson said in a statement provided to The Times’ Thursday morning.

“The totality of the investigation, which included Mr. Smiley, revealed a pattern of multiple relationships with subordinates over many years, and other conduct inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS.”

UPDATES:

11:30 a.m.: This article was updated with a statement from PBS.

This article was originally published at 9:03 a.m.

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Alia Shawkat and John Cho to host Spirit Awards nominees brunch

Alia Shawkat and John Cho will host the upcoming Spirit Awards nominees brunch on Jan. 6 and announce the winners of five cash grants. (What independent filmmaker couldn’t use actual money instead of just a trophy?)

“John Cho and Alia Shawkat are both such fantastically talented actors, in independent film and beyond, so we couldn’t be happier to have them hosting our Spirit Awards brunch,” Josh Welsh, president of Film Independent, which puts on the Spirit Awards, said in a statement.

Also in a statement, Shawkat captured the freewheeling spirit of the event: “I’m very excited to host the Spirit Awards brunch, as I love brunch and independent cinema.”

This will mark the first year for the Bonnie Award, named for Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline. The $50,000 unrestricted grant goes to a mid-career female director. This year’s nominees are So Yong Kim, Lynn Shelton and Chloé Zhao.

This also will be the first year for the Seattle Story Award, which includes a $25,000 cash grant to create a short film inspired by the city of Seattle, which will premiere during the broadcast of the Spirit Awards.

There will be three other unrestricted $25,000 cash grants announced.

The Truer Than Fiction award is presented to an emerging director of nonfiction features. The nominees are Shevaun Mizrahi (“Distant Constellation”), Jonathan Olshefski (“Quest”) and Jeff Unay (“The Cage Fighter”).

The Someone to Watch award recognizes a filmmaker of singular vision who has not received appropriate recognition. This year’s nominees are Amman Abbasi (“Dayveon”), Justin Chon (“Gook”) and Kevin Phillips (“Super Dark Times”).

The Producers Award honors emerging producers who demonstrate creativity, tenacity and vision. The nominees are Ben LeClair, Summer Shelton and the team of Giulia Caruso and Ki Jin Kim.

The Spirit Awards ceremony is March 3.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman’s partner opens up about his addiction and the relapse that led to his death

Illuminating the late Philip Seymour Hoffman’s longtime struggle with addiction, Mimi O’Donnell, his partner and mother of his three children, opened up about their relationship in a heartbreaking new essay for Vogue.

O’Donnell also wrote about the triggers that led to Hoffman’s relapse after two decades of sobriety and his death at age 46.

The Oscar-winning “Capote” star died of an overdose in 2014 involving a powerful cocktail of drugs. Hoffman’s body was found in the bathroom of his New York apartment with a syringe still in his forearm — heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine were found in his system, causing “acute drug intoxication,” the coroner’s report said.

“I had been expecting him to die since the day he started using again, but when it finally happened, it hit me with brutal force. I wasn’t prepared. There was no sense of peace or relief, just ferocious pain and overwhelming loss. The most difficult — the impossible — thing was thinking, How do I tell my kids that their dad just died? What are the words?” she wrote in her essay, published Wednesday.

The costume designer-turned-director and producer said Hoffman had been frank about his addiction and stints in rehab when they started dating in 2001.

“Being sober and a recovering addict was, along with acting and directing, very much the focus of his life,” O’Donnell wrote. “But he was aware that just because he was clean didn’t mean the addiction had gone away.”

I had been expecting him to die since the day he started using again, but when it finally happened it hit me with brutal force. I wasn’t prepared. There was no sense of peace or relief, just ferocious pain and overwhelming loss.

— Mimi O’Donnell on Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death

As his career picked up after 2005’s “Capote” and their schedules brimmed fuller, the family implemented an informal rule to never spend more than two weeks apart. Hoffman insisted on it and flew O’Donnell and their children — Cooper, Tallulah and Willa — to his filming locations, no matter the conditions. “We’re all doing it together,” he would say.

“I wonder whether Phil somehow knew that he was going to die young. He never said those words, but he lived his life as if time was precious. Maybe he just knew what was important to him and where he wanted to invest his love,” O’Donnell wrote.

O’Donnell hesitated to ascribe “The Master” star’s 2012 relapse to just one thing. There were several triggers, she said, some “common to men in their 40s” and others were more specific, including his discomfort with celebrity, the death of his longtime therapist and a falling out with his AA friends.

“Phil had a love/hate relationship with acting,” she said. “The thing he hated most was the loss of anonymity. He was making film after film — we had a big family and had bought a bigger apartment — and AA started to get short shrift. He’d been sober for so long that nobody seemed to notice. But something was brewing.”

Philip Seymour Hoffman: 8 unforgettable roles

Hoffman began wanting to drink again, and did, despite O’Donnell’s telling him it was a terrible idea. It was a red flag that eventually led him back to drug use. After he closed “Death of a Salesman” on Broadway in the summer of 2012, he started using prescription drugs again, then heroin.

“As soon as Phil started using heroin again, I sensed it, terrified. I told him, ‘You’re going to die. That’s what happens with heroin,’ ” she said.

Hoffman checked himself in and out of rehab repeatedly, and though he maintained sobriety occasionally, “it was a struggle, heartbreaking to watch,” O’Donnell said.

“It happened so quickly,” she wrote. “Phil came home from Atlanta [where he was shooting ‘Hunger Games’], and I called a few people and said that we needed to keep an eye on him. Then he started using again, and three days later he was dead.”

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Mel Brooks’ ‘The Producers’ to open the TCM Classic Film Festival

Mel Brooks will be part of the TCM Classic Film Festival next year.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The ninth TCM Classic Film Festival will open next year with a 50th anniversary screening of “The Producers.” The April 26 screening will mark the world premiere of a new restoration of the film, and Mel Brooks — director, writer, producer and actor — is expected to attend.

The film won an Oscar for Brooks for original screenplay and a nomination for supporting actor for Gene Wilder. It was later adapted into a stage musical that was then re-adapted back to the screen for a 2005 film.

In a statement, Ben Mankiewicz, “TCM Prime Time” host and official host of the TCM Classic Film Festival, said, “From ‘Blazing Saddles’ and ‘Young Frankenstein’ to ‘Spaceballs,’ Brooks’ uniquely keen eye can both spoof and celebrate classic Hollywood.”

Next year’s festival will also honor writer and director Robert Benton, who is scheduled to attend and introduce screenings of 1979’s “Kramer vs. Kramer,” for which Benton won Oscars for directing and adapted screenplay, and 1984’s “Places in the Heart,” which scored Benton an Oscar for original screenplay.

Also scheduled for next year’s festival are “His Girl Friday,” “The Sea Wolf,” “Woman of the Year,” “To Have and Have Not,” the 1948 version of “Hamlet,” “The Set-Up,” “Throne of Blood,” “Bullitt,” the 1974 version of “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” and the 1979 version of “The Black Stallion.”

The TCM Classic Film Festival will take place in Hollywood April 26-29.

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Stephen Colbert celebrates Roy Moore’s loss with a special cowboy ballad

Stephen Colbert had so many feelings about Roy Moore’s loss that he had to sing about it.

The “Late Show” host kicked off Wednesday night’s episode addressing the biggest night for Democrats since Nov. 7: Doug Jones winning Alabama’s Senate race.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m a little shaky tonight,” said Colbert at the top of his show. “Because my heart has been hurting all day due to a condition my doctor calls ‘hope.’”

He hasn’t had much use for that word with the never-ending deluge of bad news this year, Colbert explained.

“But through the rubble of 2017 there was a glimmer of light,” he continued. “Because last night Roy Moore lost to Doug Jones in Alabama.”

Colbert noted that Jones is the first Democrat to win an Alabama Senate seat in 25 years. Meaning “the last time Alabama elected a Democratic senator the biggest movie was ‘Aladdin.’”

Of course, Colbert acknowledged that Moore’s defeat was not necessarily the state electorate’s rebuke of an alleged child molester — only 30% of white voters actually punched their ballot for Jones. Black voters, who overwhelmingly voted for Jones, deserve all the credit for Jones’ narrow victory, he said.

Colbert even debuted a new song to celebrate the occasion, a cowboy ballad called “The Legend of Roy Moore.”

“Gather ’round folks you’ll hear a song, a song of a candidate man,” sang Colbert. “A man who rode across the land, touching teens with his hand.”

Listen to the song above.

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Morgan Spurlock pens sexual harassment confession: ‘I am part of the problem’

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

“Super Size Me” director Morgan Spurlock published an essay Wednesday night that opened up in great detail about his own sexual misconduct.

The confession comes after months of women — and men — stepped forward with allegations of sexual harassment against high-profile men, both inside and outside the workplace.

“As I sit around watching hero after hero, man after man, fall at the realization of their past indiscretions, I don’t sit by and wonder ‘who will be next?’ I wonder, ‘when will they come for me?’” Spurlock wrote in the essay linked to his verified Twitter account.

“I can’t blindly act as though I didn’t somehow play a part in this,” he continued, “And if I’m going [to] truly represent myself as someone who has built a career on finding the truth, then it’s time for me to be truthful as well.”

Spurlock discussed an incident in college which he thought was a drunken one-night stand gone wrong, but the woman felt was rape.

“She said she didn’t want to have sex, so we laid together, and talked, and kissed, and laughed,” Spurlock wrote, “And then we started having sex.”

The director confessed that he had settled a sexual harassment allegation at his office, after a female assistant whom Spurlock had routinely referred to as “hot pants” or “sex pants” quit and demanded a settlement.

“Being who I was, it was the last thing I wanted, so of course, I paid,” Spurlock wrote. “I paid for peace of mind. I paid for her silence and cooperation. Most of all, I paid so I could remain who I was.”

Spurlock also admitted to a lifetime of infidelity, having cheated on every wife or girlfriend he’s ever had.

“I hurt them. And I hate it. But it didn’t make me stop. The worst part is, I’m someone who consistently hurts those closest to me,” he wrote.

Spurlock concluded his essay by pondering what made him this way, be it ego or sexual abuse suffered as a child or alcoholism or depression or his parents’ divorce.

Regardless, Spurlock said he was determined to rectify his behavior.

“The only individual I have control over is me. So starting today, I’m going to be more honest with you and myself,” he wrote. “I’m going to lay it all out in the open. Maybe that will be a start. Who knows. But I do know I’ve talked enough in my life ... I’m finally ready to listen.”

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A Star Is Born: Tori Kelly turns 25 today

(Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

I’m happy [fame] didn’t happen for me as a kid because I really got to figure out who I am. But it’s an ongoing thing, though. Even if you start to do well, there’s still that argument of doubt.

— Tori Kelly, 2015

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Pop music’s Tori Kelly feels like a showbiz veteran at 22

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Here are the 2018 SAG Awards nominees’ reactions to their nods

The on-camera talent recognized during the 24th Screen Actors Guild Award nominations on Wednesday shared their excitement and gratitude for the special honor bestowed upon them by the acting community.

The SAG Awards serve up laurels for actors and ensemble casts working in television and film as voted by their peers. The awards show, hosted by “The Good Place” star Kristen Bell, will take place on Jan. 21.

LIST: The 2018 SAG Award nominees

In statements to the Los Angeles Times, several nominees repeatedly thanked their drama families, particularly the casts and crews of their respective projects. Here’s what some of them had to say about the recognition:

Alison Brie.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Alison Brie, “GLOW”

“It is such a great honor to be recognized by my fellow actors with this nomination. I am so proud to be part of a show that celebrates the craft of acting, with all its pitfalls and glories, and to be able to work with such a diverse group of insanely talented women. ‘GLOW’ has meant the world to me and I’m deeply thankful for this recognition for me and the cast. Thank you SAG-AFTRA!!”

Millie Bobby Brown.
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Millie Bobby Brown, “Stranger Things”

“Screen Actors Guild! Thank you SO much for recognizing me and our cast for the second year in a row! This means the world coming from you, our peers. I am so lucky and honored to have the privilege of playing Eleven — a strong, powerful, badass, strange, wonderful character! Can’t wait to celebrate with my ‘Stranger Things’ family!”

Timothée Chalamet.
Timothée Chalamet.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me By Your Name”

“What an incredible morning! This nomination is very close to my heart because it’s from the actor. When we made ‘Call Me By Your Name,’ we had no idea what it would turn into. The experience in making the film with Armie [Hammer] was so special, and yet, we just didn’t know. Simply put, I’ve been blown away by the response this film has received. And, to be included in ensemble along with my ‘Lady Bird’ family (congrats, Saoirse [Ronan]!) makes this recognition that much more special.”

David Harbour.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

David Harbour, “Stranger Things”

”If it isn’t wildly apparent by now, I’ll say it directly — I love actors! To be recognized by my peers in such distinguished company gives me a special joy. And Millie [Bobby Brown] and the show! Beyond.

“When I act, when I create, I feel alive, full to bursting, and I feel of service to the mysterious goodness that firmly exists in this world. I have been rewarded with a life that indulges in the primacy of self, but at its core and at its purest and its best, it is a life of service. A service to audiences. To prod and poke when necessary, to comfort and entertain when times seem dark, to ever expand the human experience, to offer a reason to live, to celebrate to the gods the great gift and scourge that is consciousness. Sometimes it means expressing iron intellect and rigorous truth that bonds us all in the achingly profound wisdom of no escape. Sometimes it means revealing the intimate moments of endurance, of unexpected kindness, unasked for love. And sometimes it simply means making a fierce and joyful noise, to spin, to twirl, to throw your hands up with the relentless dips and climb aboard this roller coaster of life. Ya know, to dance. *insert Hopper dancing gif*

“Thank you for recognizing me, as it might mean it’ll be easier to get more jobs doing it.”

Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”

“I am beyond thrilled to have received the honor of this nomination. And to receive it from fellow colleagues is huge to me. Guillermo [del Toro], this film and the entire cast and crew hold a very special place in my heart and always will. Each and every one of them made me better. I am truly delighted more than I can really express in words but my heart is fit to burst with pride for us all. Thank you dearest SAG members. Thank you for your embrace.”

Sean Hayes.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sean Hayes, “Will & Grace”

“I am so honored to be recognized in this category with these extraordinary actors. I love acting because I love actors. I also like to bake sometimes.”

Richard Jenkins.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water“

“I am thrilled and humbled to be nominated by my peers for a SAG Award. This union is very close to my heart. Well, the SAG card is in my wallet, so it’s a little further south.”

Zoe Kazan.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Zoe Kazan, “The Big Sick”

“Thank you to SAG for honoring ‘The Big Sick’ ensemble with a nomination. It means so much to us, especially from our acting peers. I am deeply proud to be a part of this film and to have brought Kumail [Nanjiani] and Emily [V. Gordon]’s story into the world, especially at this time. We are particularly moved to have been recognized as an ensemble, as this was such an extraordinary collaborative experience I’m excited to be reunited once more with my movie family, and to share this with Kumail, Holly [Hunter], Ray [Romano], Zenobia [Shroff], Anupam [Kher], and Adeel [Akhtar]— and everyone else who helped bring ‘The Big Sick’ to life.”

Nicole Kidman.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”

“What an amazing morning! Thank you to SAG-AFTRA for recognizing ‘Big Little Lies’ in such a significant way. I’ve been acting since I was 14 and have dedicated an enormous amount of my life to my craft so to be acknowledged by my acting family is the most incredible honor.”

Jason Bateman and Laura Linney.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Linney, “Ozark”

“I am so proud to be included in a list of such wonderful actresses who have raised the bar so high. What an amazing year for women in television. And I am especially proud to be representing ‘Ozark’ with my TV spouse, the ever deserving Jason Bateman! Thank you SAG-AFTRA!”

Marc Maron.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Marc Maron, “GLOW”

“I am stunned and excited to be recognized by other actors in this way. I really never thought this was possible in my life. It helps to be surrounded by amazing actors and to have such a defined and well written character as Sam Sylvia and to be on a show as unique as ‘GLOW.’ I am just a small part. So, thanks SAG for recognizing me and the mind-blowing ensemble that is ‘GLOW.’”

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, “The Big Sick”

“We are so lucky to have been graced with the enormous talents of every single member of our cast. They each put a piece of themselves into our story and we are thrilled at being recognized. Thank you. And a special shout out to Holly Hunter’s individual nomination!

“Now we have to go tell our real parents that they aren’t actually nominated.”

Bob Odenkirk.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”

“I am thrilled to get this nomination from my fellow actors! At ‘Better Call Saul’ I am surrounded by an ensemble of excellence — Michael McKean, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, everybody raises my game. Thank you to SAG-AFTRA.”

Gary Oldman.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Gary Oldman, “The Darkest Hour”

“No actor could ever deny the special satisfaction that comes from being recognized by your fellow artists … we all share the same challenges, insecurities, and uncertainties, chief among them, the question ‘am I any good?’… this nomination, and in the wonderful company of the other nominees, is so very satisfying.”

Margot Robbie.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”

“I’m so incredibly moved and excited to be nominated by my fellow actors. I feel very fortunate to be able to have had the opportunity to bring Tonya’s story to the big screen. Thank you to Steven [Rogers] for his brilliant and unique script, to Allison [Janney] and Sebastian [Stan] for being such incredible screen partners and to Craig [Gillespie] for his amazing direction and perfectly capturing the tone and essence of the film. I’m so honored to be recognized among the truly powerful and wonderful women in the category. I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone.”

Sam Rockwell.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

“It is such an honor to be nominated by your fellow actors, I have been a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild for as long as I can remember. To share it with this wonderful ensemble whom I have had the pleasure to work with over the years and others I got to collaborate with for the first time is truly special. I want to thank Martin McDonagh, our director and writer, for crafting these characters, as well as Woody [Harrelson], Fran [McDormand] and the rest of the cast who brought the town of Ebbing to life on screen. I am thrilled.”

Ray Romano.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Ray Romano, “The Big Sick”

“This is awesome but I won’t believe it till the recount.”

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The five biggest surprises from the SAG TV nominations as ‘Modern Family’ streak ends

Wednesday’s announcement of the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations suggested fewer shocks and more sea changes, with a new television powerhouse arising and comedy getting a makeover. Here are five of the most surprising tidbits from the nominations:

1. There was a significant changing of the guard in television comedy, with “Modern Family” and “The Big Bang Theory” both getting completely shut out of Wednesday’s nominations. It’s the first time “The Big Bang Theory” has missed an ensemble nomination since 2011 and the first time “Modern Family” has ever been snubbed in the category since the show’s debut in 2009.

2. Netflix dominated with 19 overall nods for television — with an additional two for film — far outpacing HBO, in second place with 12. The most noteworthy aspect of Netflix’s newfound ascendancy is how widespread it is. The streaming giant scored four nominations in both female acting categories, with the eight nominations going to actresses from seven different shows. Netflix’s power even went so far as to boost some of its more under-the-radar series, including nods for women’s wrestling comedy “GLOW,” backwoods thriller “Ozark” and Jeff Daniels in “Godless.”

3. “Big Little Lies” got a big bunch of love from SAG, but couldn’t score nods for all of its female leads. Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon were all recognized; the other two spots in the female actor in a television movie or miniseries went to Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange from FX’s “Feud: Bette and Joan.” That means that “Big Little Lies” costars Shailene Woodley and Zoë Kravitz got left out in the cold.

4. SAG also appeared to have little patience for performers who found themselves mired in sexual misconduct scandals, with former winners Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”) and Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”) missing out on nominations this year. Both men were nominated for their respective shows in 2016 and both have faced high-profile accusations of sexual harassment in recent months.

5. “Will & Grace” made waves when it returned in 2017, more than 10 years after it went off the air. In its original iteration, the series scored more than 20 SAG nominations and seven wins, but Wednesday only managed to nab a nod for Sean Hayes for male actor in a comedy series.

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Hollywood celebrates after Doug Jones beats Roy Moore in Alabama

Cher and Kumail Nanjiani were among the celebs celebrating Doug Jones' election victory in Alabama.
(Fiona Hansen / Associated Press, left; Chris Pizzello / Associated Press, right)

“Does this mean I DON’T have to bury 2017 in the back yard?? Thank you, Alabama!!!!”

That Twitter quip came from Chris Evans, the “Avengers” actor who was among the many blue-state celebrities celebrating Democrat Doug Jones’ victory Tuesday night over Republican Roy Moore in traditionally red state Alabama. The senatorial contest attracted national attention after Moore was accused of sexual misconduct involving teenage girls while in his 30s.

Cher, always outspoken, didn’t get to use the “mean” material she had ready in case Jones lost. And she was too stunned to celebrate as she had planned. Instead, she tweeted, “I WAS GOING TO JUMP ON MY BED,DANCE AROUND,BUT I CANT MOVE… OH GOD HE WON.”

Kumail Nanjini of “The Big Sick” appeared to lose his grip on the ground, while Barbra Streisand played it straight and turned her gaze toward the future.

A tearful Alyssa Milano — “I’m so happy right now,” she said — praised the “many volunteers” who contributed to the Jones victory. She’d been one of them, driving people to the polls in Alabama on Tuesday. Her faith in politics and humanity had been restored, she said.

“The people of Alabama made this happen. They said we do not want this man representing this state. This bad man, Roy Moore, representing this state,” said Milano. “The women of color, they got out there, and they voted, and they made this happen.”

Moore, incidentally, had not conceded the race as of Wednesday morning. Though 1.5% of the vote separated the candidates, military and provisional ballots had yet to be counted and write-in ballots had to be verified. If less than a half percent were to separate Jones and Moore in the final tally, a mandatory recount would be triggered.

There could also be a recount if the Moore campaign wanted to pay for it, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told CNN. The Republican notes, however, that it was “highly unlikely” Jones wouldn’t stay the winner in the end. Merrill will certify the final vote count between Dec. 26 and Jan. 3.

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‘Fuller House’ star John Stamos is expecting his first child

(Rachel Murray / Getty Images)

Everyone’s favorite uncle is finally going to be a dad: John Stamos is having a baby.

The “Fuller House” star, who plays beloved rocker Uncle Jesse on the rebooted sitcom, and his fiancée, Caitlin McHugh, are expecting their first child, the actor confirmed to People.

“We have the same morals and the same values, that all clicked nicely. So we said, ‘Oh, well, maybe we should have a family,’” Stamos told the mag.

Then, McHugh, 31, suggested that they should have a kid before getting married, teasing her man by saying “because you’re old.” (Stamos is 54.) When she broke the pregnancy news to him, the look on his face was that “of a man who has wanted a family of his own but wasn’t sure it was going to happen for him,” the actress-model said.

“I think I will be a fun dad. I’ve been practicing for a long time,” Stamos quipped. “I’ve done every schtick thing that you can do with a baby on TV. Saying every song, bits and jokes and diaper gags. I’ll probably just do all that.”

The stage and television actor popped the question at Disneyland in October after nearly two years of dating. McHugh was already pregnant at the time.

“I said, I better have a ring on her finger because it’s the right thing to do, and I wanted to marry her anyway,” Stamos said. “So I called her parents to ask, and it was like, ‘You better!’”

The couple doesn’t know the baby’s gender, opting to be surprised when McHugh gives birth. But Stamos said he’s certain the newborn “is gonna look like Don Rickles.”

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Harry Styles emergency hosts ‘Late Late Show’ when James Corden’s wife gives birth

He’s not just dreamy — he’s a stand-up guy, too!

Harry Styles earned heartthrob bonus points Tuesday night when he stepped in at the last minute to host “The Late Late Show” for James Corden.

Corden tweeted Tuesday night that he and his wife had welcomed “a beautiful baby daughter” into the world and that both she and his wife were doing great. He also thanked Styles for stepping in to host the show on a mere 2 1/2-hours’ notice.

Insert dreamy sigh here.

“No, your eyes do not deceive you. I am not James Corden. I am Harry Styles,” the singer said to open the show.

Styles announced the birth of Corden’s daughter to the audience, before telling them that he’d just been by the hospital and the baby looked a lot like Corden.

“Mainly, because James looks like a giant baby,” the crooner deadpanned.

“I want you to know that I, of course, realize this is James’ show. It’s his show and this is a one-time only, one-time thing, one time — unless CBS likes what they see,” he said, cheekily pointing to the camera.

If you’ve ever wanted to see a former British-boy-band dreamboat deliver U.S. political humor with surprising aplomb, the clip above is for you.

Styles tackles Roy Moore and Donald Trump before seamlessly transitioning to the serious stuff: Dogs in Sunglasses: Holiday Edition.

If this whole being a music superstar thing doesn’t work out for him, Styles definitely has a future in late-night hosting.

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The five biggest snubs and surprises from the SAG film nominations include a shutout for ‘The Post’

The Screen Actors Guild nominations generally don’t deliver giant head-scratchers on the level of the Golden Globes nods, but this morning’s announcement still had its share of surprises. Here are the top five:

—After earning six Golden Globe nominations on Monday, Steven Spielberg’s timely Pentagon Papers drama “The Post” was completely shut out by SAG. Neither perennial awards favorites Meryl Streep, who plays Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, nor Tom Hanks, who plays editor Ben Bradlee, made the cut, and the film was a no-show in the ensemble category.

—Guillermo del Toro’s fantastical romance “The Shape of Water,” which led the field with seven Golden Globes nods, pulled in two SAG nominations, for lead actress Sally Hawkins and supporting actor Richard Jenkins. But Octavia Spencer, who earned a Globes nomination for her performance in the film, was left out by SAG and the film, which also boasts strong performances by Michael Shannon and Michael Stuhlbarg, failed to score a nod in the ensemble category.

—After being completely blanked in the Golden Globes nominations, the sleeper hit romantic comedy “The Big Sick” made a much healthier showing in the SAG nominations, earning a rather surprising spot in the ensemble category as well as a supporting actress nod for Holly Hunter.

—The romantic drama “Call Me By Your Name,” which is considered among this year’s early Oscar front-runners, earned lead actor Timothée Chalamet a SAG nomination. But his co-star Armie Hammer, who earned a Globes nod on Monday, didn’t make the cut and the film missed out on a slot in the ensemble category.

—Daniel Day-Lewis, who earned a Golden Globes nod for his turn in Paul Thomas Anderson’s period drama “Phantom Thread,” got left out of the SAG party Wednesday morning. Day-Lewis has won three previous SAG Awards — as well as three Oscars — and is widely considered among the best living actors. But the film was a late arrival for SAG voters, which may have hampered its chances.

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A Star Is Born: Jamie Foxx turns 50 today

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

I’ve had a style for a long time, but it’s always been stuck into a TV show here or flashed in an interview there. It may be new to you, but not to me.

— Jamie Foxx, 2005

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Many faces of Foxx

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‘Goonies,’ ‘Die Hard’ among 25 films added to National Film Registry

The Library of Congress has added 25 new movies to its National Film Registry — an eclectic mix that spans 1905 to 2000 and includes “Dumbo” and “The Goonies.”

The 2017 selections, announced Wednesday, bring the number of films in the registry to 725. Each year, 25 new films that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant — and at least 10 years old — are added to the collection. This year, 5,200 titles were nominated by the public, but the selections were ultimately made by Library specialists and the National Film Preservation Board.

In keeping with Hollywood’s current obsession with superheroes, 1978’s “Superman” — which, like “The Goonies” was directed by Richard Donner — made the cut this year.

Among the more recently-produced films in the group are “Titanic,” James’ Cameron’s 1997 Oscar-winner about the doomed ship; Christopher Nolan’s “Memento,” the 2000 mind-bending film about memory; the much-imitated 1988 action breakout “Die Hard”; and “Field of Dreams,” the inspirational 1989 baseball tale starring Kevin Costner.

Likely less familiar to modern day film fans? “Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street” — a silent picture made in 1905 that documents the train system less than seven months after it launched.

The films included also highlight a range of ethnic diversity, including 1979’s “Boulevard Nights,” about gang life in Los Angeles, and Charles Burnett’s “To Sleep with Anger,” a 1990 picture starring Danny Glover as a drifter who finds purpose when he’s forced to lead a multigenerational black household.

The entire list follows below:

“Ace in the Hole” (aka “Big Carnival”) (1951)

“Boulevard Nights” (1979)

“Die Hard” (1988)

“Dumbo” (1941)

“Field of Dreams” (1989)

“4 Little Girls” (1997)

“Fuentes Family Home Movies Collection” (1920s-1930s)

“Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947)

“The Goonies” (1985)

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967)

“He Who Gets Slapped” (1924)

“Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street” (1905)

“La Bamba” (1987)

“Lives of Performers” (1972)

“Memento” (2000)

“Only Angels Have Wings” (1939)

“The Sinking of the Lusitania” (1918)

“Spartacus” (1960)

“Superman” (1978)

“Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser” (1988)

“Time and Dreams” (1976)

“Titanic” (1997)

“To Sleep with Anger” (1990)

“Wanda” (1971)

“With the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain” (1937-1938)

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Keaton Jones’ viral fame has been both ‘great’ and ‘awful,’ his mom says

The Keaton Jones story started out so simple over the weekend: Kid makes a video about being bullied. Video goes viral. Kid gets support far and wide, including all sorts of cool invitations from famous people in sports and entertainment.

Then it got complicated: There was talk of racism. Accusations of opportunistic and fraudulent fund-raising. Even cruel social media commentary that portrayed Keaton as the character Sloth from “The Goonies,” bringing the bullying full circle.

“I knew that it could be great, and I knew that it could be awful,” Keaton’s mom, Kimberly, said on “CBS This Morning” on Tuesday. “And it has been.”

On that show and on “Good Morning America,” Keaton talked about his experiences since the video went viral Friday, while Kimberly offered context to images of the family with the Confederate flag that were found on her Facebook page.

Kimberly described the flag photos on CBS as “the only two photos on my entire planet that I am anywhere near a Confederate flag.” Her Aug. 25 post was “meant to be ironic and funny and extreme. ... ,” she said on “GMA.” “I am genuinely, truly sorry. If I could take it back, I would.”

Said Kimberly, “I spent most of my life being bullied and judged because I wasn’t racist,” she told CBS.

Keaton, meanwhile, told CBS that the video was his idea, one that made him feel like he had “accomplished something real. Something that could actually change the world.”

He’d been targeted by five other middle-schoolers, he said.

“I’d had enough of it,” Keaton told CBS. “They had said that someone was going to beat me up in lunch so I texted my mom and I said, ‘What do I do here?’” She picked him up from school early, and they made the video in the parked car.

Also on Tuesday, a New Jersey man who said he didn’t know the Jones family but started a GoFundMe campaign on Keaton’s behalf was offering refunds to donors. To those who didn’t want their money back, he said $25,000 would likely go to a scholarship fund for Keaton while the balance might go to the Rachel’s Challenge charity.

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Jada Pinkett Smith slams Golden Globes snub of ‘Girls Trip,’ Tiffany Haddish

Jada Pinkett Smith is not taking the omission of her film and its breakout star (Tiffany Haddish) from Monday’s Golden Globe nominations lightly. The “Girls Trip” star took to Twitter on Tuesday to voice her discontent, alleging that the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. did not even watch the film.

“I’m not upset about @TiffanyHaddish or @GirlsTripMovie not getting a [nomination]... I’m discouraged about the fact that the Hollywood Foreign Press/@goldenglobes wouldn’t even WATCH the movie,” she wrote.

“Girls Trip” stars Pinkett Smith, Haddish, Queen Latifah and Regina Hall as a group of friends reconnecting, after years apart, on a trip to New Orleans’ annual Essence Music Festival. The film, which pulled $115 million at the box office, received positive reviews while Haddish’s performance was likened to that of Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids.” (Although McCarthy did not receive a Golden Globe nomination for that performance, it did land her an Oscar nomination.)

According to a source with the HFPA, an official screening was held July 18.

Universal, the studio releasing the picture, confirmed that there was a screening for the HFPA. It also said that invitations were sent to the group for the film’s premiere and that members received screeners. But a news conference for the group was forgone as HFPA members did not travel to New Orleans, where the film was junketing — which Pinkett Smith also alluded to in her tweets.

She said she was voicing her concerns not to shame the Globes voters but to prompt a “discussion [about] an antiquated system.” She also said that she would not “invalidate all the many journalist[s] and people from all walks of life who have supported this movie by defining the [omission] as simply ... racism.”

“Hollywood has systems in place that must learn to expand its concepts of race, gender equality and inclusion in regard[s] to its perceptions of art across the board,” she said, noting that “The Big Sick” was also wrongly snubbed, and commenting on the controversy around Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” being dubbed a comedy for nomination purposes. “[It] illuminates the depths of the sunken place ... for real,” she said.

Hopes to see Haddish’s name throughout award season are not unfounded, despite her being left off many critics’ prediction lists. The comedian did net honors for her performance from the New York Film Critics Circle and the African American Film Critics Assn., among others.

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NBC bumps 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards back to Monday

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

NBC is shifting the 2018 Emmys from Sunday to Monday again as the network takes its turn hosting TV’s annual evening of accolades.

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, the Television Academy and NBC announced Tuesday.

As usual, the ceremony will take place at the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.

NBC, which alternates hosting duties with broadcasters CBS, ABC and Fox every four years, has previously moved the late-summer ceremony up to August to accommodate its football-programming schedule.

In 2014, the network also broke with decades-long tradition by moving the show from Sunday to Monday so as not to displace its Sunday Night Football franchise. That hadn’t happened since 1976. The awards show, instead, will go head to head with ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

The 2018 ceremony’s host and producers will be announced at a later date.

The peacock network will presumably look to its late-night roster to host the festivities. When it aired the show in previous years, “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, “Late Night” star Seth Meyers and NBC alum Conan O’Brien served as the masters of ceremonies. Meyers also will host NBC’s perennial awards show, the Golden Globe Awards, in January.

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New animated ‘She-Ra’ and ‘Trolls’ series headed to Netflix

Ready to meet the new incarnation of the Princess of Power? “She-Ra,” “Trolls: The Beat Goes On” and more original animated series are headed to Netflix in 2018.

Netflix and DreamWorks Animation Television announced Tuesday a slate of new shows that will premiere on the streaming series as early as January, including a new take on “She-Ra” from the Eisner Award-winning Noelle Stevenson.

The original “She-Ra: Princess of Power” debuted in 1985 as a counterpoint to the popular “He-Man” cartoon (and series of toys) about her long-lost twin brother.

The show followed the adventures of Princess Adora, who transforms into the super-powered warrior She-Ra using the Sword of Protection, as she helps the citizens of Etheria fight back against the villains who kidnapped and raised her. (It’s a long story.)

The new “She-Ra” will be a modern take on the character for a new generation of young fans, according to the official description. The press release also noted that the epic fantasy will celebrate female friendship and empowerment. Sounds like a perfect fit for comic-book fans familiar with Stevenson’s work on “Lumberjanes” and “Nimona.”

Other new shows hitting Neflix next year include “Trolls: The Beat Goes On,” which picks up where the film left off. In the show, Poppy and Branch will be voiced by Amanda Leighton (“This Is Us,” “The Fosters”) and Skylar Astin (“Pitch Perfect” 1 and 2), respectively.

“Robot Chicken” alum Matthew Beans serves as executive producer with original songs written and produced by “Pitch Perfect 3’s” Alana Da Fonseca. The show will premiere Jan. 19.

The other animated shows scheduled to hit Neflix some time in 2018 include “The Boss Baby: Back in Business,” “Harvey Street Kids,” “The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants,” as well as Guillermo del Toro’s “Trollhunters (Part 3)” and “3 Below.”

Watch the trailer for “Trolls: The Beat Goes On” above.

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J.K. Rowling named British Companion of Honor, calls it a ‘privilege’ for a female writer

“Harry Potter” scribe J.K. Rowling has added another title to her globally recognized name: Companion of Honor.

The 52-year-old bestselling author and Lumos charity founder was awarded the British prize by Prince William for her services to literature and philanthropy, during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

Add that to the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) title Prince Charles gave her in 2001, as well as her French Legion of Honor prize and her Hans Christian Andersen Award.

“To be included in the distinguished and diversely talented company of the other Companions of Honour, especially as a female writer, is a particular privilege,” Rowling said via the Royal Family’s Twitter account.

The prize is limited to 65 people “of distinction,” according to the Associated Press, and has also been bestowed upon scientist Stephen Hawking, artist David Hockney, music icon Paul McCartney and Oscar winner Maggie Smith.

Rowling’s beloved series about a boy wizard and the whimsical world he’s immersed in has sold more than 450 million copies and has been translated into 80 languages. The tomes have been been adapted into eight blockbuster films, and one of her companion books has been spun off into the five-film “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, giving Rowling a chance to flex her screenwriting muscles.

Just as her debut novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (as it was titled in England), celebrated its 20th anniversary over the summer, the outspoken billionaire was also named Europe’s highest-paid celebrity and the world’s highest-paid author by Forbes.

In other wizarding news, game developers Portkey Games and Jam City announced the 2018 launch of a new official mobile game called “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.” The narrative-driven app will allow players to create their own character and experience life at the school of witchcraft and wizardry.

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‘Get Out,’ Tiffany Haddish, ‘Queen Sugar’ among African American Film Critics award winners

The African American Film Critics Assn. has dubbed Jordan Peele’s social thriller “Get Out” the best movie of the year. The film also won honors for directing, acting (for lead Daniel Kaluuya) and screenplay.

Other films receiving awards or landing on the group’s top 10 films list of the year were “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” for lead actress Frances McDormand, “Last Flag Flying” for supporting actor Laurence Fishburne and “Girls Trip” for supporting actress Tiffany Haddish and best comedy honors.

“The films released in 2017 captured a plethora of lifestyles, experiences and emotions that allowed our members to engage with a different range of storylines from previous years,” AAFCA co-founder and President Gil Robertson said in a statement. “The success of ‘Girls Trip,’ the first R-rated film starring an all black female cast to surpass $100 million, and ‘Get Out,’ Jordan Peele’s directorial debut which surpassed $250 million worldwide, prove just how viable black films are across the board.”

On the television side of things, Ava DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar” nabbed top TV drama honors, while “black-ish” took best TV comedy.

Other shows recognized on the organization’s top 10 TV shows list included “Insecure,” “Master of None” and the now-canceled “Underground.”

“AAFCA’s Top 10 lists in Film and TV represent the organization’s commitment to an expanded analysis of both mediums,” said AAFCA co-founder Shawn Edwards. “While content targeting black audiences dominates both charts, AAFCA is pleased to acknowledge and recognize content that represents the global community. This wave of new content thrives in an environment where multiple voices are welcomed and championed. Inclusion is a win for everybody.”

Check out the full list of AAFCA winners below:

Best picture: “Get Out”

Best director: Jordan Peele, “Get Out”

Best actor: Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”

Best actress: Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Best supporting actor: Laurence Fishburne, “Last Flag Flying”

Best supporting actress: Tiffany Haddish, “Girls Trip”

Best comedy: “Girls Trip”

Best ensemble: “Detroit”

Best independent film: “Crown Heights”

Best animated film: “Coco”

Best documentary: “Step”

Best foreign film: “The Wound”

Best screenplay: “Get Out”

Best song: “It Ain’t Fair” from “Detroit,” The Roots ft. Bilal

Best new media: “Mudbound”

Best TV series (comedy): “black-ish”

Best TV series (drama): “Queen Sugar”

Breakout star: Lakeith Stanfield, “Crown Heights,” “Get Out”


AAFCA top 10 films of 2017

  1. “Get Out”
  2. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
  3. “Coco”
  4. “Girls Trip”
  5. “Detroit”
  6. “Call Me by Your Name”
  7. “The Shape of Water”
  8. “Gook”
  9. “Crown Heights”
  10. “Marshall

AAFCA top 10 TV shows of 2017

  1. “Queen Sugar”
  2. “Underground”
  3. “Insecure”
  4. “Master of None”
  5. “black-ish”
  6. “The Handmaid’s Tale”
  7. “Dear White People”
  8. “She’s Gotta Have It”
  9. “The Defiant Ones”
  10. TIE: “Guerilla” and “Snowfall”
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James Corden revisits Christmas Carpool Karaoke with star-studded cast

Looks like James Corden’s Christmas Carpool Karaoke might become a “Late Late Show” tradition.

Alas, seeing Harry Styles plant a kiss on Corden this time around doesn’t come close to last year’s charming revelation that the show had been surreptitiously taping bits of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” all year long, just waiting for Mariah Carey to introduce the catchy cameo-fest for the holidays.

Reggie Watts might be a swell “Late Late” bandleader, but he’s no Mariah Carey. Nor is “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” as infectious as “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Making its debut Monday night, this year’s Carpool Christmas cast includes Sam Smith, Fifth Harmony, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Usher and Ed Sheeran, all singing live from California, where, according to Perry, “it doesn’t ever feels like Christmas.”

For your entertainment, this year’s segment is above, and last year’s is below. Compare and contrast!

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Jimmy Kimmel teams up with infant son Billy for emotional healthcare plea

Jimmy Kimmel has had enough of Congress putting tax cuts for the rich ahead of the lives of children.

On Monday night’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” late-night TV’s champion for affordable healthcare made his case once again: The Children’s Health Insurance Program needs to be funded already.

Joined by his infant son, Billy, who had heart surgery just last week, a tearful Kimmel broke down exactly why CHIP is important.

“It covers around 9 million American kids whose parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but don’t have access to affordable coverage through their jobs, which means it almost certainly covers children you know,” explained Kimmel. “About one in eight children are covered only by CHIP.”

Since making sure children have access to healthcare has never been a controversial or partisan issue, both Democrats and Republicans had supported CHIP. Until now.

“Now CHIP has become a bargaining chip,” said Kimmel. “It’s on the back burner while they work out their new tax plans. Which means parents of children with cancer and diabetes and heart problems are about to get letters saying their coverage could be cut off next month. Merry Christmas, right?”

“This is literally a life-and-death program for American kids,” Kimmel continued. “It’s always had bipartisan support, but this year they let the money for it expire while they work on getting tax cuts for their millionaire and billionaire donors.”

Kimmel doesn’t understand how “a tax cut that mostly goes to rich people” could be prioritized over the lives of children.

So the Kimmels — both Jimmy and Billy — asked viewers to once again make “two phone calls you shouldn’t have to make” to House and Senate members to finally restore CHIP funding.

“Don’t let them keep pushing it off,” he said. “They need to fund CHIP now.”

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Dwayne Johnson is expecting another baby rock — and it’s a girl

Dwayne Johnson and Lauren Hashian at the Los Angeles premiere of "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" on Monday.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision/Associated Press)

When Dwayne Johnson isn’t busy making movies, he’s apparently busy procreating: The action star is expecting his third child this spring — and it’s a girl.

The “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” headliner shared the news on Instagram on Monday with an assist from his youngest daughter, Jasmine Lia, who posed for a photo with a sign making the reveal.

“Our Jasmine Lia would like to make a big announcement - IT’S A GIRL!” the 45-year-old former wrestler captioned the photo, saying he and his girlfriend, Lauren Hashian, are “boundlessly grateful for this blessing as this spring we’ll welcome our second baby. Plus, Jazzy is excited to boss around and protect her lil’ sis.”

While it’s the second child for Johnson and Hashian, who welcomed their bright-eyed stunner in December 2015, the new baby will be the third child for Johnson, who shares 16-year-old daughter Simone with ex-wife Dany Garcia. (Simone was recently named Golden Globe Ambassador.)

“And once again, big daddy is completely surrounded by beautiful estrogen and loving, powerful female mana. All girls. One dude. And a boy dog.
I wouldn’t have it any other way. #ItsAGirl #GratefulMan #TequilaTime,” Johnson added.

Hashian also debuted her growing baby bump when she joined Johnson at the premiere of “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” in Los Angeles on Monday.

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A Star Is Born: Regina Hall turns 47 today

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

I don’t think you necessarily see yourself as funny. When I came to Los Angeles, I thought, ‘Oh, I am going to end up doing sitcoms.’ I didn’t do well at those auditions. I wasn’t that good at punch lines. But I do love to create a character.

— Regina Hall, 2015

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Regina Hall’s well-ordered life as an actor, not a nun

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Keaton Jones feels the love from Chris Evans, Gal Gadot and Justin Bieber after bullying video goes viral

Keaton Jones, the Tennessee boy whose tearful reaction to bullying was captured on video by his mom, is getting waves of celebrity support after the clips went viral under the hashtag #StandWithKeaton.

After shooting into the public eye, however, the family is also dealing with social-media backlash. More on that later.

“Just out of curiosity, why do they bully? What’s the point of it?” the Knoxville middle-school student asks his mother, who reportedly was picking him up from school early because he was too afraid to go to lunch. “Why do you find joy in taking innocent people and finding a way to be mean to them? It’s not OK.”

Lakyn Keaton, his sister, helped spread the video Friday, tweeting, “Y’all take a minute to watch this video and let it teach you something.”

Though she included a link to a Facebook video posted by her mom, Kimberly Keaton, it appears it has been taken down or at least made private to some degree, possibly in response to criticism of an eyebrow-raising post she put up in August that included the family with Confederate flag.

More than a minute of the video can, however, be seen all over the place on social media and elsewhere online.

“They make fun of my nose. They call me ugly. They say I have no friends,” says Keaton, who, according to WTVF in Tennessee, was born with a tumor. Bullies “poured milk on me and put ham down my clothes, threw bread at me,” he said, describing their lunchtime behavior.

Still, he says through tears, “I don’t like that they do it to me and I for sure don’t like that they do it to other people.” That awareness earned him props from Justin Bieber.

“The fact that he still has the sympathy and compassion for other people when he’s going through it himself is a testament to who he is,” Bieber said in an Instagram video. “This kid is all-time, he’s a legend, go check him out.” In another short video, the “Sorry” singer said, “We’re all rooting for you … love ya, buddy.”

Snoop Dogg wrote, “Say lil Man U gotta friend in me for life hit me on dm so we can chop it up love is the only way to beat hate.”

“People who are different don’t need to be criticized about it. It’s not their fault,” Keaton said, earning a reply from “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot, who wrote, “Different is special. You’re beautiful Keaton. Inside and out.”

Pro athletes from Tennessee teams chimed in, including Chandler Parsons of the Memphis Grizzlies and Delanie Walker of the Tennessee Titans, the latter of whom read Keaton a poem by Buddha in a video inviting the boy and his family to a Dec. 31 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

J.R. Smith of the Cleveland Cavaliers called Keaton’s experience a “damn shame” and invited him to a Cavs game when they play in Memphis, which drew a response from LeBron James.

“Damn right! Bullies are straight up wack, corny, cowards, chumps, etc, etc!,” James wrote. “Keaton keep your head up buddy and push forward! You’re the best.”

Later, Smith was challenged to take back his comments after photos of the Jones family posing with the Confederate flag were found on Kimberly Jones’ Facebook, with a comment from Keaton’s mother speaking out against athletes who were kneeling for the national anthem. Smith replied, “Idc [I don’t care] about that it’s not ok for people to do that idc what your beliefs are.”

At one point Monday, Lakyn Jones found herself defending her brother against Patricia Arquette, who had been told that Keaton had bullied people over race. In addition to saying her family was not racist, Lakyn said they were not profiting from the newfound attention; they’re not soliciting donations and don’t have a GoFundMe campaign set up.

A GoFundMe campaign that was started by a New Jersey man was suspended Monday afternoon after collecting more than $57,000 in pledges. Joseph Lam told the Wrap he was “more concerned for the kid” than the mother and wanted to help with a fund that would go toward private school or college.

John Mayer had an astute assessment of the backlash on Monday. The singer-songwriter called it “a window into how we assess/index/respond to situations and ultimately what we walk away from them thinking.”

He closed a long Twitter thread by writing, “Pay attention to what you’re thinking about and how you’re thinking about it here. The fingerprint we leave on this situation will be the cleanest one we’ve left all year. How we play this out is who we are.”

All that said, let’s get back to the people who took Keaton’s side early. He was invited to a couple of movie premieres, courtesy of Hailee Steinfeld, who asked him to be her date Tuesday for “Pitch Perfect 3,” and Chris Evans, who asked him and his mom to attend the “Avengers: Infinity War” debut in May.

The comments from high-profile folks came in droves. A few examples:

“Keaton owns my heart,” said comic and “Two Broke Girls” co-creator Whitney Cummings.

Millie Bobby Brown retweeted a post from “Suits” actor Patrick J. Adams, who said he was “bullied constantly” while growing up. The 13-year-old “Stranger Things” actress added, “Keaton, this is so accurate. Why do people do this? I think your sooo cool Keaton! I wanna be your friend ( but srsly) ur freakin awesome.”

“‘Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke.’ Stay strong Keaton, you’re a very brave young man and a lot of great folks have your back. @Lakyn_Jones if there is anything we can do for Keaton, please let us know. #StandWithKeaton #StopBullying,” the band Nickelback tweeted.

“Anytime we’re in Knox, Keaton and yall are always welcome at the show. What an amazing and strong young man!” country singer Scotty McCreery said.

“We here on ‘The Flash’ are on your side — and against bullies everywhere,” said “Flash” actor Tom Cavanaugh.

“This whole #StandWithKeaton movement is so beyond heartwarming! Can’t wait to see him and his mom with all the super heros,” actress Juliette Lewis tweeted.

“Keaton, the bullies won’t win. You are strong, you are loved and you have a lot of support and friends who are standing with you and your family,” Jon Bon Jovi said. “I’m with you. #StandWithKeaton.”

It didn’t stop with athletes and entertainers.

Bullying at Horace Maynard Middle School, which Keaton attends, is “not as rampant as the video would have you believe,” principal Greg Clay told USA Today on Monday. “I can’t tell you what was done, but I can tell you action was taken with the children.” The school already had an anti-bullying program scheduled for January, Clay said.

“No child should ever fear going to school or participating in events because of a bully. This behavior is simply unacceptable. Kentucky stands with Keaton and all those who have been bullied.” That came from Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin.

Perhaps Keaton, through tears, said it best. “If you are made fun of, just don’t let it bother you. They suck, I guess. Hard. But,” he says, pausing briefly, “it’ll probably get better one day.”

UPDATES

3:55 p.m.: This article was updated with information about a GoFundMe account started by a man who doesn’t know the family.

2:56 p.m.: This article was updated with tweets from John Mayer.

2:28 p.m.: This article was updated with details about backlash against a Facebook post by Kimberly Jones and comments from J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Lakyn Jones and Greg Clay.

This article was originally published at 12:29 p.m.

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Veteran newsman Steve Edwards leaves ‘Good Day L.A.’

Steve Edwards, the anchor of Fox 11’s “Good Day L.A.” and a fixture in local television and radio for more than three decades, is leaving the morning news show.

A Fox spokesperson said that Edwards “is no longer employed” at the station but did not provide further details.

Edwards has also hosted such shows as KABC-TV’s “AM Los Angeles,” KCBS-TV’s “Two on the Town” and “The Steve Edwards Show.”

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Has ‘The Walking Dead’ killed off yet another beloved character?

Fair warning: Spoilers ahead.

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has been known for upsetting its fans by killing off beloved characters. Even though the zombie apocalypse is a dangerous place, the loss of several survivors that viewers have grown to love can still be a traumatic experience.

But the uproar over the apparent death of one of the drama’s central characters in Sunday’s installment might reach new heights. (Those who have not seen the episode should stop reading now.)

Carl Grimes — the teenage son of sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who has endured several close calls but was generally perceived to be one of the series’ “untouchables” — is seemingly about to expire, courtesy of a vicious zombie bite. Chandler Riggs, who has played Carl since the pilot, is apparently leaving the show.

William Riggs, the actor’s father, said in a post on his Facebook page, which has been deleted: “ … We do absolutely know how lucky we have been to be a part of it all and appreciate all the love from fans all these years!”

Chandler Riggs told the Hollywood Reporter that he had just bought a house in Senoia, Ga., near the headquarters for the series. “It was devastating for me and my family because the show has been such a huge part of my life for so long. For a few days, we didn’t know what to do,” he said.

But he added that he was already working on other projects, including an independent film called “Inherit the Viper,” and now would be open to “other stuff that I haven’t been able to do in the last eight years.”

Producers for “The Walking Dead” could not be reached for comment.

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A Star Is Born: Rita Moreno turns 86 today

(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

I think somehow that just being me, my American me, on those [talk] shows, convinced a lot of people who were in a position to employ me that I was just as American as anybody else if I wanted to be, or I could be just as Hispanic if I wanted to be. It depends on the hairdo and the attitude.

— Rita Moreno, 1988

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Rita Moreno’s Role These Days Is to Play as Many as She Can

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Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme apologizes for kicking photographer in the face at KROQ concert

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme was caught on video Saturday night deliberately kicking a female photographer in the face at KROQ’s annual holiday concert in Inglewood.

“It was obviously very intentional,” the photographer, Chelsea Lauren, told Variety. Lauren said the attack was unprovoked and that Homme was smiling before he struck her.

Homme released a statement Sunday afternoon to press and on the band’s social-media accounts:

“I did not mean for that to happen and I am very sorry,” the statement partly read. “I would never intentionally cause harm to anyone working at or attending one of our shows and I hope Chelsea will accept my sincere apology.”

The incident took place during the band’s performance at the L.A. radio station’s 28th Almost Acoustic Christmas event. In a video captured opposite the stage from Lauren, Homme, 44, can be seen walking past Lauren and kicking at her camera with enough force to strike her face.

“Josh was coming over and I was pretty excited,” Lauren told Variety. “I’ve never actually photographed Queens of the Stone Age before. I was really looking forward to it.

“The next thing I know his foot connects with my camera and my camera connects with my face, really hard,” she added. “He looked straight at me, swung his leg back pretty hard and full-blown kicked me in the face. He continued performing. I was startled, I kind of stopped looking at him. I just got down and was holding my face because it hurt so badly.”

Lauren observed that after he kicked her, Homme took out what appeared to be a knife and deliberately cut his own forehead, a stunt wrestlers refer to as “blading.” Homme dripped blood down his face for the rest of the performance.

According to Variety, at one point Homme called the audience “retards” before inexplicably insulting fellow band Muse. He also encouraged the crowd to boo him and told everyone to take off their pants. “I want to give you all a night you’ll never remember,” he said.

After leaving briefly to go to the press room, Lauren returned to the pit to shoot Thirty Seconds to Mars and Muse before heading to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment. She plans to file a police report Sunday.

“I feel like if I don’t do anything, he gets to kick people in the face and not get in trouble because he’s a musician,” she said. “That’s not right.”

UPDATE

2:05 p.m.: This story was updated with a statement from Homme. Story was originally published at 1:53 p.m.

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The force of Carrie Fisher is strong at ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ premiere

Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley step out at the "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" premiere at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on Saturday.
(Charley Gallay / Getty Images)

The spirit of the late Carrie Fisher could be felt throughout the galaxy far, far away at the Los Angeles premiere of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” Saturday night.

“I want to dedicate tonight to Carrie, who is up there right now flipping me the bird,” writer-director Rian Johnson said onstage alongside stars of the film including Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o, Mark Hamill and Adam Driver, composer John Williams and Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy.

He urged the packed house at the Shrine Auditorium to “have a blast tonight for Carrie.”

Director Rian Johnson at the premiere.
( Jordan Strauss / Invision)

Fisher, who died nearly a year ago after completing her scenes on “Episode VIII,” reprises her role as General Leia Organa in the follow-up to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The latest installment finds the last remaining fighters of the Resistance facing off against Supreme Leader Snoke and his First Order.

Returning heroes Rey (Ridley), Finn (Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) are joined by new franchise faces including Rose Tico (breakout newcomer Kelly Marie Tran), a Resistance maintenance worker who jumps into the fray as Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domnhall Gleeson) advance on the dwindling rebel forces.

From left: Andy Serkis, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, Kelly Marie Tran, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Gwendoline Christie.
(Jesse Grant / Getty Images)

Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker is back, too, in an emotional installment that continues the canonical legacy of the original trilogy with Fisher a frequent screen presence through the proceedings. Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, also reprises her “Force Awakens” role as a Resistance fighter under Leia’s command.

As a massive First Order AT-M6 towered over the glitzy red carpet outside the Shrine Auditorium, filmmakers Ava DuVernay (Disney’s upcoming “A Wrinkle in Time”) and Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther”) flipped for Johnson’s foray into the “Star Wars” universe.

“I laughed. I cheered,” DuVernay wrote on Twitter. “A total joy-ride through the galaxy.” She wasn’t alone in her high praise.

Guests reveled their way through a massive after party designed like a Canto Bight casino, and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke shared a special moment with BB-8.

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‘Star Wars’ held its premiere last night, and the press is already impressed

Saturday night’s highly anticipated world premiere of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” was the talk of the Twitterverse last night with those privileged enough to see it taking to social media to share their thoughts.

Los Angeles Times reporter Jen Yamato called it “beautifully human, populist, funny and surprising.” Actress Tessa Thompson and director Ava DuVernay agreed.

DuVernay also tweeted her appreciation of the film’s director, Rian Johnson. “The last 40 minutes had me on the edge of my seat in every moment,” she wrote.

Film journalists were on board too, with Vulture’s Kyle Buchanan taking the cake for the most succinct summation.

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A Star Is Born: Kenneth Branagh turns 57 today

(Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)

People seem to assume that anyone who’d do a four-hour film of ‘Hamlet’ must be a heavyweight intellectual, incapable of enjoying life. In fact, the thing I showed the greatest facility for in drama school was comedy, and when I left school I felt that unless I made an effort, I’d spend the rest of my life in sitcoms.

— Kenneth Branagh, 1998

FROM THE ARCHIVES: With Branagh, From Belfast to Savannah

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‘Saturday Night Live’ puts Al Franken on Santa’s naughty list

“Saturday Night Live” wasted little time in answering whether the show would address the controversy surrounding one of its own, former cast member and writer Al Franken, who resigned from the U.S. Senate last week after allegations of inappropriate behavior.

In the show’s cold open, Kenan Thompson played a department store Santa dealing with some politically attuned kids for a sketch that echoed aspects of Franken’s resignation speech.

After asking for a few gifts, the first child had a simple question for Santa: “What did Al Franken do?” After some stammering, Santa tried pushing the question off to an elf (Kate McKinnon), who didn’t appreciate being called Sugar Plum. “In this climate, can you just call me Amy?”

Santa replied that Franken was on the naughty list, which led to a question about whether Moore was also on that list. “It’s not really a list,” McKinnon replied. “It’s more of a registry.”

And what about President Trump? After explaining that Trump might have said or done a few naughty things, McKinnon’s elf interjected with a sly grin. “Nineteen accusers. Google it.”

Struggling to keep things light and festive, Santa told the little girl he thought everyone could learn a lot from the news. “I learned that if you admit you do something wrong, you get in trouble,” the little girl replied. “But if you deny it, they let you keep your job.”

Franken also came up in the “Weekend Update” segment with Cecily Strong’s slurring Cathy Anne. “Why are you gonna resign if you ain’t gonna apologize?” she asked, alluding to criticism about Franken’s speech. “And if you ain’t got nothing to apologize for, then why the hell are you resigning?”

“Update” co-anchor Michael Che countered that the Democrats were trying to show a zero-tolerance stance against sexual harassment. Cathy Anne was unimpressed.

“Who they trying to show?” she asked. “...Right, as if everyone in Alabama’s just waiting on the edge of their seats, wondering what Kristen Jellybeans was going to do about Al Franco.”

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Step aside Peter Parker, Miles Morales steps out as Spidey in the first teaser trailer for ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’

A shadowy figure visits the grave of Peter Parker — and that shadowy figure is … Spider-Man? That’s the story of Spider-Man according to the first trailer for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” the upcoming animated feature from Sony Pictures.

Inspired by the 2011 comic book “Ultimate Fallout: Spider-Man No More,” Parker has died and another man, Miles Morales, has assumed the Spidey mask. The short trailer gives viewers a peek behind that mask.

The Morales character has been lauded by some critics for bringing a person of color into the role of an established superhero — all done with the approval of creator Stan Lee. (He told the New York Daily News in 2012: “Doing our bit to try to make our nation, and the world, color blind is definitely the right thing.”)

The animated film is the brainchild of writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (the duo behind “The Lego Movie”). Giving voice to Spider-Man/Miles Morales is Shameik Moore, a star of “The Get Down.”

The trailer for the film was released Saturday at Comic-Con Experience CCXP17 in São Paulo, Brazil.

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is projected to hit theaters in December 2018.

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John Boyega snags a last-minute ride to world premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ — which will stream online

The world premiere of the year’s most anticipated movie, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” is just moments away. For a moment, it seemed that the Force was going to keep one of the movie’s big stars from attending.

John Boyega, who plays a renegade stormtrooper named Finn in “The Last Jedi,” was held up by snow in Atlanta and, for a few hours, it appeared as if he wasn’t going to make it to the film’s world premiere at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.

Boyega, however, eventually found a way out of Atlanta, where a storm has left thousands without power. The actor’s publicist, Lindsay Galin, told the Associated Press that the actor was on schedule to make the 5 p.m. premiere. And Boyega later confirmed his arrival in L.A. — without luggage — via Tweet.

If Boyega hadn’t made it, he could have always watched the premiere — which will feature appearances by co-stars Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley and Lupita Nyong’o — via live stream.

The proceedings will be broadcast to the world starting at 5 p.m. Pacific Time at starwars.com. Viewers can also see the stream on Facebook.

“The Last Jedi” lands in theaters on Dec. 15.

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A Star Is Born: Kirk Douglas turns 101 today

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles times)

So much of my life has been make-believe that the characters looked more real than the people around me. For years I’d do three, sometimes four pictures a year. … And what you’re acting can be realer than things in your own life.

— Kirk Douglas, 1988

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Kirk Douglas’ autobiography Introduces the ‘Ragman’s Son’

Actor Kirk Douglas and Anne Douglas discuss their book “Kirk and Anne: Letters of Love, Laughter, and a Lifetime in Hollywood.”

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Bryan Singer’s name temporarily removed from USC building

Bryan Singer has directed four films in the "X-Men" franchise.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The University of Southern California announced Friday that it was temporarily removing Bryan Singer’s name from one of its campus buildings. The move comes after the “X-Men” director was accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy at a party more than a decade ago.

“Bryan Singer has requested that the USC School of Cinematic Arts suspend the use of his name on the Division of Cinema and Media Studies until the allegations against him are resolved,” the school said in a statement. “The school means a great deal to Bryan, and while he intends to defend himself vigorously against these claims, he does not want the pending litigation to have any negative impact on his alma mater.”

Last month, students launched a petition on Change.org to remove Singer’s name from the Division of Cinema and Media Studies. It has amassed nearly 4,500 signatures to date.

The announcement also comes days after 20th Century Fox fired Singer as the director of the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

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It’s actually happening: ‘Big Little Lies’ will be getting a second season

It’s the real housewives reunion we’ve all been waiting for: HBO has officially announced “Big Little Lies” will return for a second season.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman will return as stars and executive producers of the sophomore installment of the not-so limited series. The seven-episode season will be written by David E. Kelley, based on a story created by Liane Moriarty, the author of the novel “Big Little Lies” which inspired the series.

“I’m thrilled to be bringing back this talented team of artists,” Witherspoon said in a statement. “It gives us the opportunity to delve deeper into the lives of these intriguing and intricate Monterey families and bring more of their stories back to the audience who embraced and championed them.”

Andrea Arnold (“Transparent,” “I Love Dick”) has been tapped to direct all the episodes. Jean-Marc Vallée, who directed the first season, will hold on to his role as executive producer.

The first season, which revolved a group of women living in a wealthy Northern California community who are at the center of a murder mystery, starred Witherspoon, Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern and Shailene Woodley.

Much of the original cast is expected to return, although contract negotiations are continuing, said HBO officials .

The first season of “Big Little Lies” debuted in February and scored eight Emmys, including limited series and lead actress (Kidman). Awards buzz continues to surround the series with nominations for the Golden Globes set to be announced on Monday.

A premiere date has not yet been announced.

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Late-night TV bids Al Franken a not-so-fond farewell

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken resigned Thursday, the latest development in the sexual harassment saga that continues to envelop Washington, D.C., Hollywood and beyond.

Franken’s fall from grace did not go without notice by many late-night talk shows, where reactions ranged from disgusted to dismissive.

On “The Daily Show,” Trevor Noah was somber as he played a clip from Franken’s resignation speech before launching into some hard truths about the current politicization of sexual misconduct.

“The Democrats are draining their swamp,” Noah said. “Republicans are installing a jungle gym in Roy Moore’s new office. Because if Al Franken was a Republican, for better or worse, he would still have his job. He was just in the wrong party, that’s all. Like a dude who shows up at a wedding wearing a toga: wrong party. Or the guy who brings Cranium to an orgy: wrong party.”

On “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon seemed similarly dismayed.

“The big story today, Al Franken announced he is resigning from the Senate due to sexual harassment allegations,” Fallon said in his opening monologue. “Other senators said he seemed heartfelt, contrite and dignified, and there’s no place for someone like that in the United States Senate.”

Then Fallon took his criticism a step further.

“Actually, Franken said he can’t focus on his job while under investigation. Then another guy said, ‘That’s why I blow off the job and focus on my investigation,’ ” Fallon said, slipping into his Donald Trump impression.

Only Seth Meyers on “Late Night” kept his thoughts focused solely on Franken.

Meyers recalled Franken’s reaction after the initial wave of sexual harassment accusations surfaced, responding to an inquiry asking if more women would come forward: “I certainly hope not.”

“Not an answer that inspires a lot of confidence,” Meyers said.

The host also addressed a new allegation against Franken, wherein a former Democratic congressional staffer alleged Franken put his hand on her waist, grabbed a handful of flesh during a photo and squeezed twice.

“Not only can you not do that to a woman you barely know, you can’t do that to your wife,” said a dumbfounded Meyers.

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New ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ trailer features dinos and explosions galore

What’s bigger and scarier than charging dinosaurs? A volcanic eruption filled with charging dinosaurs.

This we are reminded of — in case we ever forget — in the first full-length trailer for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” which features Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady running from just about everything except that raptor he raised from a baby and his will-they-or-won’t-they banter with Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing.

She’s apparently now dating someone way more boring than Owen, but she’s still willing to go for drinks with the raptor keeper. And our heroes are here to help rescue the dinos from an island that’s about to explode. “What could go wrong?” Owen deadpans.

Indeed. That’s why Jeff Goldblum is here, playing chaos theoretician Ian Malcolm once again.

As many have noted, this time Claire has ditched the high heels for more sensible shoes, as one always does when given proper notice that the day is going to include dinosaur high jinks with a chance of volcanic activity.

“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” hits theaters June 22.

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A Star Is Born: Kim Basinger turns 64 today

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

I feel as though I have been through a crash course in life. It’s been an incredible ride. I’ve had the highs of meeting my soul mate, but the lows of having my life ripped apart for something I didn’t do. I wouldn’t change the knowledge I’ve gained for anything. Just don’t ever ask me to repeat it.

— Kim Basinger, 1994

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Is she the villain — or a victim?

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Alec Baldwin sees the good and the bad of late-night TV turning toward political punditry

Alec Baldwin is doubling down on his Wednesday comments criticizing talk show hosts for turning their platforms from promotional pit stops into punditry.

The “Saturday Night Live” presidential impersonator appeared on “Megyn Kelly Today” on Thursday to discuss his stance and how attitudes toward inappropriate behavior have changed over the years.

“You certainly want to see everyone who is guilty of something, who have done bad things, wrong things that hurt people, you want to see those people get punished,” Baldwin said. “I don’t want to see innocent people get hurt either.”

Baldwin’s comments were spurred by a Monday night tête-à-tête between Dustin Hoffman and “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver.

During a chat affiliated with the Tribeca Film Institute’s 20th anniversary screening of the movie “Wag the Dog,” tensions rose quickly when Oliver inquired after recent accusations of sexual misconduct by Hoffman.

Kelly likened Oliver’s questioning of Hoffman to a cross-examination, a sentiment that Baldwin agreed with.

“And a lot of people, by the way, they endorse that,” Baldwin admitted, seeming to momentarily slip into the president’s peculiar linguistic style.

“They think that those hosts of those shows are perfectly, not only within their rights, but it’s very attractive or very necessary for them to be pressing this cause,” Baldwin said.

“This is no excuse,” Baldwin said of the accusations against Hoffman before launching into a meandering excuse about how things were different in the olden days.

Baldwin explained that, 40 years ago, there was more sexually charged behavior that wouldn’t fly now — but wasn’t a big deal back then.

“Women were more in a submissive, subjugated posture,” Kelly added.

“They put up with it more,” Baldwin said. “And now they don’t put up with it.”

As for commenting on the more than 300 women who reached out to the Los Angeles Times to accuse his friend James Toback of sexual harassment, Baldwin said, “I haven’t seen much of him lately after this happened.”

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‘Get Out,’ ‘Wonder Woman’ among AFI Awards’ top movies of 2017; ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘The Good Place’ among TV picks

“The Big Sick,” “Call Me By Your Name” and “Get Out” continued to earn notice heading into Oscar season as the American Film Institute announced its selections for its AFI Awards.

Selecting 10 films and 10 TV shows that are deemed “culturally and artistically significant,” AFI also recognized the summer blockbuster “Wonder Woman” and Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy romance “The Shape of Water,” which opens in Los Angeles on Friday.

In addition to recognizing blockbuster-level TV series “Game of Thrones” and “Stranger Things 2,” the AFI’s television field also recognized some of this year’s recent Emmy winners in “Big Little Lies” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

The AFI’s 2017 entries also recognized Ken Burns’ 10-part documentary series “The Vietnam War,” which aired on PBS this fall, with the AFI Special Award.

The full list of selections for the AFI Awards follows below:

AFI Movies of the year

“The Big Sick”

“Call Me By Your Name”

“Dunkirk”

“The Florida Project”

“Get Out”

“Lady Bird”

“The Post”

“The Shape of Water”

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

“Wonder Woman”

AFI TV Programs of the Year

“Big Little Lies”

“The Crown”

“Feud: Bette and Joan”

“Game of Thrones”

“The Good Place”

“The Handmaid’s Tale”

“Insecure”

“Master of None”

“Stranger Things 2”

“This Is Us”

AFI Special Award

“The Vietnam War”

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Samantha Bee suggests that maybe creepy media men weren’t objective in their Hillary Clinton coverage

Samantha Bee’s feelings toward Hillary Clinton are complicated. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to give the many disgraced media men a pass on how they treated the former presidential candidate in their election coverage.

On Wednesday night’s episode of “Full Frontal,” Bee addressed reports about the “the network of powerful people that turned a blind eye to Harvey Weinstein’s demonic behavior,” which included “powerful people who should really, really, really, really know better. Really.”

It turns out Lena Dunham had warned the Clinton campaign about Weinstein’s behavior and suggested that it was not the best idea to have him host fundraising events, according to the New York Times.

“My admiration for you is so complicated,” Bee said of Clinton. “Maybe she really did have a stroke in the specific part of her brain that identifies [terrible] men.”

Of course, Weinstein was not the only man Clinton interacted with during her presidential run who has since been publicly accused of sexual misconduct. Many top media men who covered the presidential election have also been publicly accused of sexual harassment.

“It’s time to ask ourselves: ‘Can men who hate women be objective journalists?’” said Bee. “That was a trick question. Everyone knows that men who hate women can be anything they put their minds to.”

Bee then went on to skewer Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer and Mark Halperin and their Clinton coverage, pointing out how they all, coincidentally, have since been axed from their network jobs following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Bee did concede that there was no way to know exactly how much the misogynistic undertones in the coverage of Clinton affected the election but did point out that the “industry gave us four times more coverage of Hillary’s email scandal than they did of [Donald] Trump’s gross behavior to women.”

“Look, I’m not saying men shouldn’t talk in public anymore. I’m just saying maybe women shouldn’t listen,” said Bee. “It shouldn’t be too hard. We have decades of practice not being listened to.”

Watch the clip, which contains some adult language, here.

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More unreleased Jimi Hendrix studio recordings coming via ‘Both Sides of the Sky’

Another “new” Jimi Hendrix album is on its way, this one pulling together more previously unreleased studio recordings by the celebrated guitarist, singer and songwriter.

“Both Sides of the Sky,” due March 9, features 10 such recordings, along with three more studio sessions Hendrix made from 1968 to 1970, with a variety of musicians supporting him including those from the original Jimi Hendrix Experience as well as the group he formed later, the Band of Gypsies.

Among the tracks: Hendrix’s interpretation of Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy”; a version of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock,” also featuring Stephen Stills and recorded before the hit Crosby, Stills & Nash version was released; a Stills original titled “$20 Blues”; and Hendrix originals “Lover Man” and “Hear My Train A-Comin’.”

“Both Sides of the Sky” follows releases in recent years of studio material Hendrix never released in his lifetime. It is produced by his sister, Janie Hendrix, and longtime Hendrix catalog producers John McDermott and Eddie Kramer, who engineered Hendrix’s original recordings.

“Jimi’s true home was the studio,” Kramer said in a statement. “That’s where the music and the magic happened. He loved everything about recording and it’s been my distinct pleasure and an honor to play a part in that process both then and now.”

“Valleys of Neptune,” which was released in 2010, reached No. 4 on Billboard, and “People, Hell and Angels” peaked at No. 2 on the same chart three years later, spawning the single “Somewhere,” the only Hendrix single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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David Cassidy cut daughter Katie Cassidy out of his will

David Cassidy ended his life proud of daughter Katie Cassidy. He also ended it with a will that specifically cut her out.

“My father’s last words were ‘So much wasted time,’” she tweeted after he died last month. “This will be a daily reminder for me to share my gratitude with those I love as to never waste another minute.”

David told People in February that he “never” had a relationship with his daughter. “I wasn’t her father. I was her biological father but I didn’t raise her. She has a completely different life.”

In the will, which was filed in 2004 and obtained this week by the Blast, the “Partridge Family” star wrote: “It is my specific intent not to provide any benefits hereunder to Katherine Evelyn Cassidy and/or any descendant of Katherine Evelyn Cassidy.”

Did it just get cold in here? Perhaps a bit chilly: The Blast said the onetime teen idol’s estate was worth around $150,000. And he did affirm he had two kids.

All things considered, David told People he was “proud” of his daughter and couldn’t believe she was in her 30s.

The “Arrow” actress was raised by ex-model Sherry Williams and Williams’ husband. David and Sherry never married, and five years after Katie was born, he had son Beau with third wife Sue Shifrin. The money was tagged for Beau and any “music memorabilia” was left to David’s three half-brothers, the Blast said.

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‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ finds director to replace Bryan Singer

The Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” was shaken this week after the firing of director Bryan Singer, but the show must go on.

20th Century Fox announced Wednesday that Dexter Fletcher will be filling the film’s director vacancy with production resuming next week in London.

Singer was fired Monday after production on the film was suspended due to his absence.

The studio described Singer going AWOL as an “unexpected unavailability,” while the director contended that he was dealing with “a personal health matter.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Singer’s firing came after growing tensions between the director and star Rami Malek over Singer’s frequent absences.

Fletcher’s directing credits include “Eddie the Eagle,” distributed by Fox, and “Sunshine on Leith.” He also has an extensive acting career, including appearances in “Band of Brothers,” “Stardust” and “Kick-Ass.”

The film, about British rock band Queen and its frontman, is expected to be released as scheduled on Dec. 25, 2018.

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A Star Is Born: Tom Waits turns 68 today

(Ellen Jaskol / Los Angeles Times)

Sometimes, songs come out of other songs. The eggs are always inside other songs waiting to be broken open or fertilized, or released in just the right weather conditions. Who knows why? It’s a mystery, and I’m filled with wonder about it. And it’s probably why I keep doing it. If it happened every time, I’d stop doing it.

— Tom Waits, 2011

FROM THE ARCHIVES: The lowdown with Tom Waits

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‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Will & Grace’ and ‘The Good Doctor’ headed to PaleyFest 2018

Three of television’s most talked-about shows are headed to PaleyFest LA in 2018.

The Times’ can exclusively confirm that Netflix’s cultural phenomenon “Stranger Things,” NBC’s revitalized revival of “Will & Grace” and ABC’s ratings juggernaut “The Good Doctor” will all be featured at next year’s PaleyFest LA held March 16-25.

“For thirty-five years PaleyFest LA has set the standard for what a television festival should be,” Paley Center president and CEO Maureen J. Reidy said in a statement Thursday. “We’re so proud to announce the first three selections for this special anniversary, each of which represent the best of what television has to offer, and epitomize the stellar programming featured at PaleyFest LA year after year.”

Started in 1984 as a festival to celebrate the efforts of classic television stars including Lucille Ball and Rod Sterling, PaleyFest LA has grown to encompass panels exploring both modern television and the medium’s history.

PaleyFest LA benefits the Paley Center’s ongoing efforts to preserve and archive television artifacts and examine the impact of media on culture and society.

Paley Center supporting, fellow and patron members and Citi card holders can purchase presale tickets beginning at noon Jan. 9. Tickets go on sale to Paley Center individual members at 9 a.m. Jan. 11 and to the general public at 9 a.m. Jan. 12.

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‘Despacito’ tops YouTube list of 2017’s most-viewed music videos

Luis Fonsi, left, and Daddy Yankee delivered YouTube's most-watched video ever, "Despacito."
(Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)

To the surprise of almost no one, the video for “Despacito” tops YouTube’s year-end rankings of the most popular music videos of 2017. The collaboration between Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee has logged nearly 4.5 billion views, the only video to surpass the 4-billion views threshold.

It took “Despacito” just 204 days to become the most-watched video in YouTube history, the first to surpass 3 billion views and the only video to score more than 4 billion views, YouTube reports. It ranked as the most-viewed music video in more than 50 countries.

Following “Despacito,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” landed at No. 2 with more than 2.5 billion views and spawned a choreography video by Kyle Hanagami that finished No. 2 on YouTube’s companion list of the top trending videos of the year. It has registered more than 119 million views.

In third place, J. Balvin and Willy William’s “Mi Gente” has registered nearly 1.4 billion views, since it went up in June, crossing the 1-billion mark after just 103 days.

Colombian reggaetón singer Maluma’s “Felices los 4” placed No. 4, with just under 1.2 billion views to date, just ahead of Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like,” which rounds out YouTube’s Top 5. It has been viewed almost 1.1 billion times.

YouTube noted that its Top 10 ranked music videos included works from Puerto Rico, Colombia, France, Spain and Cuba in addition to the U.S. and the UK, with six of those featuring Latino artists.

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Audio of 1993 Corey Feldman interview found by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Corey Feldman is seen in September.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images)

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has reportedly found more records from its 1993 investigation of Michael Jackson — records that include an audio recording of an interview with Corey Feldman.

Feldman has long maintained that he named his alleged abusers in the course of that investigation, but the sheriff’s office said previously that it had no record of him doing so.

“In a container which included the original reports from the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office located some detective working copies of audio recordings made during the investigation. A copy of Mr. Feldman’s interview was located,” a sheriff’s spokesperson told Fox News via email Wednesday.

The recording, which couldn’t be released publicly because the case involves the alleged sexual abuse of a child, was on its way to the Los Angeles Police Department, the spokesperson said.

On the “Today” show in late October, Feldman told Matt Lauer he already had given names to law enforcement when they quizzed him about his friend Jackson. (Feldman said his relationship with the singer was always above board.)

“When you’re an 18-, 19-, 20-year-old kid, you try telling the police, which is a very big thing to do,” Feldman said, “and especially when it wasn’t even my situation. I was just answering for a friend, so the fact that I found the courage to even throw it in there and hopefully get some support, and then they were like, sorry, and they just shut it down.”

After that interview, various outlets reported that Santa Barbara investigators said they had no record of Feldman’s allegations. Early in November on “The Dr. Oz Show,” Feldman accused Cloyd Jon Grissom of molesting him when he was a teen.

In a “Dr. Oz” episode, Feldman contacted the LAPD, which opened an investigation into his report. The probe was dropped soon after because the statute of limitations had expired.

With his IndieGoGo fundraising campaign about a quarter of the way to its $1-million goal and only 19 days left in the effort, Feldman tweeted that he and his wife would be doing a Twitter Live event at 9 p.m. Wednesday to answer people’s questions. The former child actor originally sought $10 million to make a movie about child abuse in Hollywood.

It’s a flexible goal, which means Feldman will receive all the money that’s been pledged, even if he doesn’t hit the mark.

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Time for women: The numbers behind the history of Person of the Year

Five women – and an obscured sixth – grace the cover of Time’s Person of the Year issue, honoring the “the Silence Breakers,” the men and women exposing sexual harassment in the workplace.

The accompanying article was conceived, reported and written by women, according to a tweet from Charlotte Alter, the national correspondent for the magazine.

“It was fact-checked by women. The video was shot and edited by women. The layout and photo spread were designed by women,” Alter tweeted. “It’s one of the reasons I’m proud to work at Time.”

But as incisive a decision it was to acknowledge the #MeToo campaign as the most influential narrative of the year, where have the contributions of women landed on the Time list historically?

Here are some numbers.

Number of American women to nab solo Person of the Year honors: 1

Wallis Simpson, the socialite who spurred a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom, is the only American woman to have earned the title of Person of the Year on her own. The year was 1936 and her claim to fame was spurring King Edward VIII to abdicate the throne in the interest of true love.

Number of women to independently earn Person of the Year: 4

After Simpson, only three other women have been individually recognized with the title. A newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II earned the title in 1952. Corazon Aquino, first female president of the Philippines, was honored in 1986. German Chancellor Angela Merkel received the accolade in 2015.

Number of times a watchdog group consisting predominantly of women has been Person of the Year: 2

In addition to “the Silence Breakers” this year, Time honored “the Whistleblowers” in 2002, represented by three women, Cynthia Cooper, Sherron Watkins and Coleen Rowley, who called out workplace misconduct at WorldCom, Enron and the FBI, respectively.

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John Travolta’s ‘Gotti’ biopic bumped from schedule just days before its planned release

On Tuesday afternoon, reports emerged that a biopic of mobster John Gotti starring John Travolta was being dropped by its distributor, Lionsgate, just 10 days before its planned release.

As the news quickly spread, many concluded that the mafia drama was being unceremoniously whacked.

But, in an interview with Deadline published Wednesday morning, Travolta pushed back, saying the speculation surrounding the fate of “Gotti” was “bordering on fake news.”

In fact, according to Travolta, who plays the notorious one-time head of the Gambino crime family, the film’s backers, with a new infusion of financing from producer Edward Walson, bought the film back from Lionsgate so that they can secure a wider release than the studio had planned.

“Lionsgate was planning on a minimal release and I did an investigation into people who might have the interest and financial wherewithal to better release it,” Travolta said.

“It wasn’t dropped .... We signed this deal about three weeks ago, to purchase back the film from Lionsgate. Our mistake was we should have said something right then, and discussed our plan for the film. We didn’t anticipate this speculation that is so grossly wrong.”

Travolta and Walson say that they are nearing a deal with a new distributor for the film, which is directed by Kevin Connolly, and hope to premiere it at next year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Gotti, known as the “Teflon Don,” died in federal custody in 2002 while serving a life sentence for murder, racketeering and other crimes.

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Jordan Peele to executive produce ‘Twilight Zone’ reboot for CBS All Access

Jordan Peele
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Jordan Peele may not be stuck in the sunken place, but he’s staying in the horror business.

The writer-director of “Get Out” will executive produce a revival of the classic series “The Twilight Zone” for CBS All Access, CBS’s subscription video-on-demand service, it was announced Wednesday.

“Too many times this year it’s felt we were living in a twilight zone, and I can’t think of a better moment to reintroduce it to modern audiences,” Peele said in a press statement.

CBS All Access has recruited a team well versed in genre fare. In addition to Peele, executive producers on “The Twilight Zone” include screenwriter Simon Kinberg, known for his work on the “X-Men” franchise, and Marco Ramirez, co-creator of Netflix’s “The Defenders.”

The original “Twilight Zone” aired on CBS between 1959 and 1964 and was known for using seemingly fantastical tales to comment on the issues of the day, such as McCarthyism and the threat of nuclear war. It was later revived at CBS and UPN.

Peele, who rose to fame on the Comedy Central sketch series “Key & Peele,” has proved adept at socially relevant horror. The writer-director is garnering Oscar buzz for “Get Out,” a darkly satirical horror film about race relations, which became a cultural sensation this year.

Noting how the original “Twilight Zone” “bridged science fiction, horror and fantasy together to explore human nature and provide social commentary in a way that audiences had never seen before,” Julie McNamara, executive vice president for original content at CBS All Access, described the reboot as “an incredible opportunity to bring today’s audiences a modern reimagining of this iconic series.”

“The Twilight Zone” marks the latest original series to land at CBS All Access, following another genre revival, “Star Trek: Discovery,” and “The Good Fight,” a spinoff of the legal drama “The Good Wife.”

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Kate McKinnon has a Gal Gadot impression that must be seen to be believed

Gal Gadot hosted “Saturday Night Live” in October, and, according to Kate McKinnon, the “Wonder Woman” star made quite an impression.

Gadot made such an impression that McKinnon has developed a sterling Gadot impression of her own.

McKinnon stopped by “The Tonight Show” Tuesday and told Jimmy Fallon all about Gadot’s time at “SNL,” including how McKinnon and castmate Aidy Bryant felt in the presence of the Israeli beauty.

“Oh, OK, now we know that we are Midwestern toads compared to this Mediterranean goddess,” McKinnon deadpanned.

“Everything she says is like a prophecy,” McKinnon said of Gadot and her mesmerizing accent.

“I asked her, ‘Do you have hobbies, Gal?’ and she was like, ‘I love to go to the beach. I love to paddle board. I love to watch my children run on the sand. I love to go to the Maldives. Do you have a hobby, Kate?’”

Check out the video to witness her spot-on imitation and to find out if McKinnon does, in fact, have a hobby.

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Time’s Person of the Year is more than that. It’s a movement

Time’s Person of the Year is more than a person: It’s a movement.

Under the umbrella “the Silence Breakers,” the magazine has honored the legions of women coming forward about sexual harassment in the workplace as its most influential entity of 2017.

“The hashtag #MeToo (swiftly adapted into #BalanceTonPorc, #YoTambien, #Ana_kaman and many others), which to date has provided an umbrella of solidarity for millions of people to come forward with their stories, is part of the picture, but not all of it,” the magazine said.

Sparked by actress Ashley Judd and others speaking out in a New York Times exposé of producer Harvey Weinstein’s alleged history of sexual misconduct, men and women in Hollywood started speaking up, dragging the likes of Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer, Louis C.K. and more into the light over alleged harassment of various levels of severity.

“Were we supposed to call some fantasy attorney general of moviedom?” Judd told Time. She said she started talking about her Weinstein encounter right after it happened but found there was nothing to be done about what a screenwriter friend told her was an open secret in Hollywood.

“Emboldened by Judd, Rose McGowan and a host of other prominent accusers, women everywhere have begun to speak out about the inappropriate, abusive and in some cases illegal behavior they’ve faced,” Time wrote.

McGowan told the magazine, “I woke up and there were 32,000 replies in 24 hours. And I thought, ‘My God, what just happened?’ I think it’s opening the floodgates.”

The #MeToo hashtag, popularized recently by actress Alyssa Milano, was coined as a phrase more than a decade ago by organizer and youth worker Tarana Burke. It was and is a way for people who experienced sexual harassment or assault to come out with their stories.

“For me, it’s about helping people find an entry point to healing,” Burke told the Los Angeles Times in mid-October. “They cannot just let it be a hashtag.”

Judd, McGowan and Burke are among the faces on Time’s cover, as is pop star Taylor Swift. Though not immediately linked with the avalanche triggered off by the Weinstein scandal, Swift took a stand against sexual misconduct when she faced off with a former radio personality she accused of groping her bare butt during a photo op. Though he brought the first case against her, claiming she was ruining his career, the jury agreed with the claims in Swift’s countersuit and awarded her a symbolic $1 judgment.

Time also had an online poll for readers, which saw Mohammed bin Salman — the new crown prince of Saudi Arabia who is taking on corruption and finally gave Saudi women the right to drive — finishing a strong first. The #MeToo movement came in second.

Tying for third, according to poll takers, were former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and another group of people, the undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, a.k.a. the “Dreamers.”

Also on the Time shortlist of finalists (though the reader’s poll included many more names): “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

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A Star Is Born: Judd Apatow turns 50 today

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

So much of the advice that was given to me when I was 15 and 16 years old, I took. Everything from the logistics of how to get on at a comedy club to discipline and patience. A lot of what people talked about was that it took a really long time to become a good comedian. That was important to hear. 

— Judd Apatow, 2015

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Judd Apatow: ‘writing saved my life’ and other stories

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Danny Masterson fired from Netflix’s ‘The Ranch’ following rape accusations

Netflix is parting ways with Danny Masterson, star of “The Ranch,” in light of multiple sexual assault accusations made against the actor earlier this year.

“As a result of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of ‘The Ranch,’” a Netflix spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Times on Tuesday. “Yesterday was his last day on the show, and production will resume in early 2018 without him.”

Representatives for Masterson provided The Times with the following statement from the actor regarding his dismissal:

“I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix’s decision to write my character off of ‘The Ranch.’ From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit. I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one,” the statement read.

“In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, in the current climate, it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused. I understand and look forward to clearing my name once and for all,” it added. “In the meantime, I want to express my gratitude to the cast and crew that I’ve worked so closely with over the past three seasons. I wish them nothing but success. I am also so thankful to the fans that have supported me and continue to do so.”

In March it was revealed that three women had reported being sexually assaulted by Masterson in the early 2000s, with a fourth woman coming forward over the course of the investigation.

The Huffington Post reported in November that the Los Angeles Police Department began interviewing Masterson’s accusers in late 2016 and referred the case to the district attorney’s office in April.

Masterson, who is a practicing Scientologist, said in a March statement that the allegations were false and believed them to be PR-based to support the Emmy-winning documentary TV series “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” which premiered in December 2016.

One of Masterson’s accusers is former girlfriend Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who dated the actor for six years in the early 2000s. Carnell Bixler recently gave a statement to the Daily Beast decrying Netflix’s inaction.

“For me, what Netflix has done feels like a continuation of how the Church of Scientology made me feel when I reported my rape to them, as well as how Danny Masterson made me feel when I would beg him for an apology, an explanation, anything,” Carnell Bixler said.

The Church of Scientology issued its own statement regarding Carnell Bixler’s accusations.

“The Church adamantly denies that it ever ignores any allegations of criminal behavior, especially at the expense of alleged victims. What is being stated is utterly untrue. This has nothing to do with religion. This story is being manipulated to push a bigoted agenda. The Church follows all laws and cooperates with law enforcement. Any statement or implication to the contrary is false,” a representative for the Church of Scientology wrote to The Times.

UPDATES:

3:55 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the Church of Scientology.

This article was originally published on Dec. 5 at 8:54 a.m.

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Terry Crews files suit against Adam Venit over alleged groping

Terry Crews has filed suit against Adam Venit.
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The dispute between actor Terry Crews and William Morris Endeavor Entertainment agent Adam Venit continued Tuesday in the form of a lawsuit.

Representatives for Crews confirmed to The Times that the “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star is suing Venit, whom he accused of groping him at an industry function last year.

No additional details about the suit were immediately available.

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal in October, Crews shared his version of the encounter on Twitter before filing a police report in November. Shortly thereafter, Crews named Venit as his assailant, and the agent was put on a 30-day suspension.

“People need to be held accountable,” Crews said during a November interview on “Good Morning America.” “This is the deal about Hollywood. It is an abuse of power. This guy, again, he’s one of the most powerful men in Hollywood and he looked at me at the end as if, ‘Who is going to believe you?’”

Venit returned to work at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment last week, at which point Crews tweeted, “SOMEONE GOT A PASS.”

Representatives for Venit did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

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Tensions flare when John Oliver presses Dustin Hoffman on harassment accusations

Dustin Hoffman and John Oliver squared off about sexual harassment Monday night during a panel discussion in New York, with both men sticking by their arguments as tension between them heated up.

Oliver, the “Last Week Tonight” host, moderated the chat, which was part of a Tribeca Film Institute 20th anniversary screening of the movie “Wag the Dog” and reported on by the Washington Post and WWD. (Kathryn Hopkins of WWD shot the video above.)

Oliver said he had to address an issue that was “hanging in the air”: accusations of sexual harassment against Hoffman in 1985 and 1991 made last month by a former intern and a then-struggling playwright.

“From a few things you’ve read you’ve made an incredible assumption about me,” Hoffman said, snarking, “You’ve made the case better than anyone else can. I’m guilty. Because someone has alleged something, I’m guilty. You push a button. It’s all over the world. I’m a predator. I’m this and that and it’s not true.”

Oliver cast the actor’s conditional apology, made in early November, as dismissive, while Hoffman explained that his behavior had simply been how cast and crew try to “break up the tension of shooting for 16 hours a day.”

The conversation about harassment dominated the discussion, according to the Post, despite attempts by Oliver and panelist Jane Rosenthal to shift its direction. Hoffman said at one point that he felt blindsided by the line of questioning.

After Oliver read from a 1985 diary entry written by intern Anna Graham Hunter, Hoffman asked the host if he believed what he’d just read.

“I believe what she wrote, yes,” Oliver said.

“Why?” asked Hoffman, who had accused the moderator of not keeping an open mind.

“Because there’s no point in her lying,” said Oliver, who at one point called out Hoffman for not giving evidence that what the actor was accused of didn’t happen.

“There is a point in her not bringing this up for 40 years,” the 80-year-old countered.

“Oh, Dustin,” Oliver sighed, separately explaining, “What seems completely fine or normal to a certain group of people can have victims on the other end. So, ‘the things that we do between takes’ sounds benign — if it is to you. Does that make sense?”

“No, it doesn’t,” the actor replied. “Because the crew and the actors are there, we are one, we are a family. Maybe I shouldn’t have said things. … They bring these interns out on the set to watch. No one told us. No one said, ‘Oh, these girls are 17 years old.’ I didn’t know they were there.”

UPDATES:

12:45 p.m.: This article was updated with WWD video of the discussion and an extended quote from Dustin Hoffman.

This article was originally published at 9:36 a.m.

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It’s a very Robert Mueller Christmas with Stephen Colbert and – Bruce Springsteen?

There must have been something in the late-show waters over the weekend because both “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show” featured very special Christmas celebrations centered around none other than special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

On CBS, Stephen Colbert celebrated the “holiday collusion season” with a choir singing a special version of “12 Days of Christmas.”

“On the first day of Christmas, Bob Mueller gave to me/A Michael Flynn guilty plea,” the choral group sang, running down a list that included “four charges so far,” “three panicked Trumps” and “two officials flipped.”

Across the airwaves on NBC, Jimmy Fallon broke out his patented Bruce Springsteen impression and reimagined the Boss’ famous rendition of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” as a warning to the Trump White House.

“You better watch out, you better not cry/You better not lie to the FBI,” Fallon crooned. “Robert Mueller’s comin’ to town.”

While Fallon was in full Springsteen mode, he conjured some of the musician’s fighting spirit, breaking out his most scathing criticisms of the Trump administration.

“He sees your Russian meetings/He’s read all your emails/He knows that you tried to collude/It isn’t fake news, for goodness sake,” Fallon sang.

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Margot Robbie tells Chris Pratt about the time her mother was almost strangled by a giant python

Chris Pratt and Margot Robbie knocked back some beers over stories about the dangers of growing up in the wilds of Australia on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Monday night.

Pratt, who was filling in as guest host for Kimmel, kicked off the interview by asking the “I, Tonya” actress about something that boggles American minds about life in Australia: all the strange and dangerous wildlife. Like the origin of the kangaroos that “have a donkey face but a rabbit hop.”

“I hate the stereotype. Like everyone thinks, ‘Oh, you’re from Australia — there are creepy, crawly, poisonous, venomous things all over the place,’” said Pratt. “But are there creepy, crawly, poisonous, venomous things all over the place?”

“I mean, kind of,” answered Robbie. “It’s not something you concentrate on, growing up.”

Of course, she didn’t help her cause when she mentioned the giant snakes, venomous spiders and sharks that her country is known for. But she insisted that “when you live there, you don’t worry about it.”

She did, however, share one horror story about her mother’s encounter with a very large snake during Robbie’s “bratty teen years.”

The Aussie actress recounted how one time, when her mother had asked her for some help in removing a snake, she refused because she was “really busy on MSN.”

But when her mother was gone for so long that even “bratty teen” Robbie noticed, she went outside to investigate. There, she found her mother on the driveway with a huge python wrapped around her arm trying to wind itself around her neck.

And that was how Robbie learned that when your mom asks for help removing a snake from the house, you should just do it.

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Ed Sheeran is Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2017

Ed Sheeran, performing in Los Angeles in August, has logged 6.3 billion streams on Spotify this year.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Ed Sheeran has snagged a triple crown of streaming for 2017, ranking as Spotify’s most-streamed artist as well as tallying the most-streamed single (“Shape of You”) and the top-streamed album (“Divide”).

The streaming service reported that “Shape of You” has been streamed 1.4 billion times, making it the most-streamed track ever. “Divide” racked up 3.1 billion streams and overall Sheeran’s music generated 6.3 billion streams.

“There is no doubt that 2017 was the Year of Ed Sheeran, and we are thrilled that so many millions of music fans have discovered, listened to, and shared his music on Spotify,” Stefan Blom, Spotify’s chief content officer, said in a statement.

Sheeran surpassed Drake, Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2015 and 2016. Drake finished second this year, followed by the Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and the Chainsmokers.

Meanwhile, Spotify noted the continued growth of hip-hop in the streaming world, with an increase of 74% over the previous year.

Additionally, Latin music also is making strong inroads, with 10 Latin songs finishing in Spotify’s Global Top 50 list, topped by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s mega hit, “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, which Spotify also named its song of the summer.

Rihanna finished as the top-streamed female artist, followed by Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Sia.

Nielsen Music will be releasing its sales and streaming figures for the year soon.

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A Star Is Born: Margaret Cho turns 49 today

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

I don’t have to necessarily follow anyone’s lead. I can kind of break ground and create my own niche in this industry. And because of my ethnicity and my gender and my youth, I think it’s easier for me in a lot of ways, because in this business, one of the great things is that if you stand out, it’s a real advantage. And I do that by virtue of who I am.

— Margaret Cho, 1994

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Margaret Cho: She’s the freshman. But the 25-year-old Korean American has another role to play besides the ‘All-American Girl’

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Director Bryan Singer fired from upcoming Queen biopic

Bryan Singer has been fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic, 20th Century Fox confirmed to The Times.

“Bryan Singer is no longer the director of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’” the studio said in a statement.

On Sunday, production on the film was suspended after the director failed to show up to set. At the time, the studio credited the halt in production to Singer’s “unexpected unavailability.”

A representative for Singer told BBC News that his absence was prompted by “a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the firing comes on the heels of mounting tension between Singer and the film’s star Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot”) concerning Singer’s frequent absences that necessitated Sunday’s production shutdown.

The Hollywood Reporter also reports that Singer had been warned before production began by Fox Film chairman and CEO Stacey Snider and vice chairman and president of production Emma Watts that they wouldn’t tolerate any unprofessional behavior on his part. In a non-physical altercation with Malek, Singer reportedly threw an object. In his absence, cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel stepped in to help direct for several days of shooting.

The film, about British rock band Queen and its frontman, Mercury, is still expected to be released in December 2018 as planned. The studio has not confirmed when a new director will be named.

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Geoffrey Rush steps down as Australian Academy president amid allegations of inappropriate behavior

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Geoffrey Rush, an Oscar and Golden Globe winner, resigned over the weekend from his position as president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts following allegations of inappropriate behavior while working on a 2015 production of “King Lear” at the Sydney Theater Company.

In a statement posted to its website, the AACTA said it accepted Rush’s decision to step aside.

“We have been deeply concerned about the situation and support a course of action that both respects Geoffrey’s rights to the presumption of innocence and due process, but also acknowledges good corporate governance in these circumstances,” the statement read.

The exact nature of the complaint against Rush has not been made immediately clear. In a statement released to the Associated Press through his attorneys, Rush said, “Certain recent media reports have made untenable allegations concerning my standing in the entertainment community. It is unreasonable that my professional colleagues should be somehow associated with such allegations.

“In the circumstances, I have decided to step aside in my ambassadorial role as president of AACTA effective immediately and until these issues have been resolved. … This decision has not been made lightly. However, in the current climate of innuendo and unjustifiable reporting, I believe the decision to make a clean break to clear the air is the best for all concerned.”

Rush’s resignation comes just ahead of the AACTA’s awards ceremony later this week.

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Elton John ‘in shock’ over death of his mom, Sheila Farebrother

Elton John and his mother, Sheila Farebrother, in 2003.
(KMazur / WireImage)

Elton John’s mom, Sheila Farebrother, has died, the singer announced Monday on social media.

“So sad to say that my mother passed away this morning. I only saw her last Monday and I am in shock. Travel safe Mum. Thank you for everything. I will miss you so much,” John wrote.

Mother and son were reportedly on the outs for a few years after a disagreement in 2008, but according to John they got back in touch last year.

“Out of respect for my mother’s privacy, I have always shied away from speaking publicly about our relationship,” he said at the time. “However, I can say that we are now back in touch and have been so since my mother’s 90th birthday.”

The “Benny and the Jets” singer’s parents divorced when he was 15. Stanley Dwight, who died in December 1991, never saw his son perform.

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Let it go: Disney is stripping ‘Olaf’s Frozen Adventure’ from ‘Coco’ screenings

Even as the animated film “Coco” has led the box office for the last two weekends, there have been complaints about the short film that precedes it, “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.” The short will leave theaters after Thursday.

A representative for Disney confirmed that the short was always intended for a limited run.

A “Frozen” spin-off featuring the voices of Josh Gad, Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff, “Olaf” features four original songs and runs more than 20 minutes, significantly longer than shorts that typically come before a Pixar animated feature.

That is said to be one of the main issues, as audiences ready for the Day of the Dead-themed “Coco” have been confused about what movie they’re actually seeing.

While the news of the short ending its run was first reported by Mashable, the added information that it was always intended as a limited run first came from Entertainment Weekly.

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Patty Jenkins, Colin Kaepernick and, yes, Donald Trump on Time ‘Person of the Year’ shortlist

(Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

After all the free publicity President Trump has generated for Time magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year title, it’s little wonder that he ended up on the list of 10 finalists for the honor.

The magazine announced its shortlist on NBC’s “Today” on Monday morning, its choices representing a wide swath of individuals and issues that defined the year.

Battling the president for the title are Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the undocumented immigrants known as “Dreamers,” “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick, the #MeToo movement, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In November, Trump tweeted that the magazine told him he was “probably” going to be granted the title for the second year in a row, but that he rejected the offer.

“I said probably is no good and took a pass,” Trump tweeted. “Thanks anyway!”

Time refuted the president’s claim, tweeting that he “is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year.”

All things considered, Trump is probably a strong contender for the distinction, given that the award goes to, according to Time, “the person or group of people who most influenced the news during the past year, for better or for worse.”

It would be quite an achievement for Trump to score the honor in two consecutive years. The only other person to manage the feat was Richard Nixon, who earned the accolade on his own in 1971 and shared the title with Henry Kissinger in 1972.

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Billy Bush on Trump and ‘Access Hollywood’ tape: ‘Of course he said it’

(Richard Shotwell / Associated Press)

Billy Bush is back.

He might not have a media job (yet?), but he stepped up Sunday with an essay confirming that no matter what the president might say now, it was indeed Donald Trump speaking on the “Access Hollywood” tape that leaked more than a year ago.

“Of course he said it. And we laughed along, without a single doubt that this was hypothetical hot air from America’s highest-rated bloviator,” the former NBC star wrote in a Sunday op-ed for the New York Times, offering some context for what Trump called locker-room banter.

Bush said he and Trump were with seven other guys in the “AH” bus.

“Every single one of us assumed we were listening to a crass stand-up act. He was performing. Surely, we thought, none of this was real.”

TRANSCRIPTS: The ‘Access Hollywood’ tape, and Trump’s response

After the tape came out, 16 women accused Trump of sexual misbehavior. Last week, it was reported that Trump has been telling some people it wasn’t his voice on the tape.

That, Bush said, is revisionist history, and it “hit a raw nerve.” Seeing his own firing offense in comparison to former NBC colleague Matt Lauer’s can’t be sitting well with Bush, who lost his “AH” and “Today” gigs over a single conversation.

In an interview earlier this year with the Hollywood Reporter, Bush talked about how Trump was his “No. 1 star,” and NBC’s, when that conversation was recorded. On Sunday, he pushed that notion again.

“Was I acting out of self-interest? You bet I was,” Bush wrote in the New York Times. “Was I alone? Far from it. With Mr. Trump’s outsized viewership back in 2005, everybody from Billy Bush on up to the top brass on the 52nd floor had to stroke the ego of the big cash cow along the way to higher earnings.”

Bush will no doubt have more to say about the situation Monday on “Late Night With Stephen Colbert,” where he’ll make his first public appearance since 2016.

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English singer Jorja Smith to receive Brit Awards Critics’ Choice prize

English R&B singer Jorja Smith has won the Brit Awards 2018 Critics’ Choice award, putting her in the rarefied company of previous honorees Adele, Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding.

The annual award singles out “future British recording talent.” It caps growing buzz for Smith, who also has been recognized by Canadian rapper and producer Drake, who included her on his “More Life” mixtape and brought her onstage earlier this year when he played London’s O2 Arena.

“It’s been an unforgettable 2017, during which I’ve fulfilled so many of my dreams,” the 20-year-old singer said after it was announced that she will pick up the award, which will be handed out Jan. 13. “This is such a special way to end the year.”

The first Critics’ Choice prize was introduced 10 years ago at the Brit Awards, the UK’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards, and Adele was the first recipient.

Two years ago, Smith was working in a Starbucks when she put her debut single, “Blue Lights,” up on Soundcloud. The video has logged nearly 3 million views on YouTube since then. Her debut album is due in the new year.

“Jorja Smith has a huge future ahead of her and looks set to follow in the footsteps of the most successful past Critics’ Choice winners,” Brit Awards Chairman Jason IIey said in a statement.

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A Star Is Born: Jeff Bridges turns 68 today

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

My M.O. is resistance; I try not to do anything at all. I only take projects that come to the point where I have no choice. Whatever sucks me in, whatever beats my resistance, those are the ones I did.

— Jeff Bridges, 2009

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Jeff Bridges, psychic warrior

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Met Opera suspends conductor James Levine as investigation continues into sexual misconduct allegations

Conductor James Levine at Tanglewood in 2006.
Conductor James Levine at Tanglewood in 2006.
(Michael Dwyer / Associated Press)

New York’s Metropolitan Opera on Sunday said it was suspending its relationship with longtime conductor James Levine pending an investigation into multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

“Mr. Levine will not be involved in any Met activities, including conducting scheduled performances at the Met this season,” the Met said in a statement.

The Met also said it has appointed Robert J. Cleary, a former U.S. attorney and the current head of the investigations practice at the Proskauer Rose law firm, to lead the investigation.

The action to suspend Levine came a day after the New York Post first reported that one of Levine’s accusers claimed he had sexual contact with Levine as a teenager. Met officials said they learned of the police report last year and announced they were launching an investigation. Then on Sunday, the New York Times reported similar accounts from two other men accusing Levine of sexual misconduct.

“Based on these new reports, the Met has made the decision to act now, while we await the results of the investigation,” said Peter Gelb, Met general manager. “This is a tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected.”

An email to Levine’s manager seeking comment on the accusations was not immediately returned.

The accusations against Levine, among the most prominent classical music conductors in the world, are the latest in a stream of sexual misconduct charges involving high-profile men in entertainment and the media that have rocked the nation since accusations against film mogul Harvey Weinstein were reported in October.

Levine served as music director of the Met from 1976 to 2016, when he assumed the position of music director emeritus.

Levine has struggled with health problems including Parkinson’s disease in recent years but was scheduled to conduct several productions this season.

Earlier: Met Opera to probe misconduct accusation against conductor James Levine

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‘Call Me by Your Name’ and ‘Shape of Water’ pile up awards from L.A. Film Critics Assn.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. had lots of love for Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name” and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” during its annual awards deliberations on Sunday.

Guadagnino’s coming-of-age story about a 17-year-old American boy who falls in love with his father’s assistant played by Armie Hammer won best picture. And Timothée Chalamet was named best actor for his performance as the young American in Italy.

Guadagnino and Del Toro shared the directing award thanks to a tie vote from the critics group.

Del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” also earned several other honors. Star Sally Hawkins was named best actress for her performance as a mute woman who works at a government laboratory and falls in love with captured sea creature. Director of photography Dan Laustsen also won for his cinematography. Composer Alexandre Desplat was runner-up in the music/score category, and Paul D. Austerberry was runner-up for production design in the Fox Searchlight film.

The award for supporting actor went to Willem Dafoe for his work in “The Florida Project,” with Sam Rockwell announced as runner-up for his portrayal of a morally conflicted cop in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

Laurie Metcalf won the supporting actress award for her role in “Lady Bird,” with Mary J. Blige announced as runner-up for her performance in “Mudbound.”

Jordan Peele won the screenplay award for “Get Out”; runner up was Martin McDonagh for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

The animation winner was “The Breadwinner,” with Pixar hit “Coco” named runner-up.

There was a tie in the foreign language voting, with France’s “BPM” and Russia’s “Loveless” sharing the award.

Dennis Gassner won the award for production design for his work on “Blade Runner 2049,” and Lee Smith won for editing on “Dunkirk.” Tatiana S. Riegel was runner-up for her editing work in “I, Tonya.”

Jonny Greenwood took home the award for music for the score of the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed “Phantom Thread,” set in the high-fashion world of 1950s London.

“Faces Places,” directed by the art world odd couple Agnes Varda and J.R., won the award for documentary/nonfiction film, with “Jane,” Brett Morgan’s documentary about chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall, named runner-up.

The Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Award was given to Lee Anne Schmitt’s “Purge This Land.”

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Alec Baldwin’s Trump on ‘SNL’ gets a ‘Christmas Carol’-style haunting by Michael Flynn and Hillary Clinton

Alec Baldwin reprised his role as President Trump on “Saturday Night Live” in a cold open inspired by “A Christmas Carol.”

In the sketch, Baldwin as Trump is visited by “the ghost of witness flipped” Michael Flynn, the president’s fired national security advisor (played by Mikey Day), appearing in chains in the style of Charles Dickens’ doomed ghost Jacob Marley.

Flynn tells Baldwin’s Trump, “I came to warn you. It’s time for you to come clean for the good of the country.”

Baldwin then has his Trump fumbling his words, unable to say the phrase “good of the country.”

The chained Flynn next says there are a lot of people in the president’s past who will come back to haunt him and that three are on their way.

First up is Billy Bush (Alex Moffatt), who appears as a reminder of the “Access Hollywood” recording that came to light during last year’s presidential campaign. (“Can you believe I got fired just for listening to you?” he asks Baldwin’s Trump.)

Second is Vladimir Putin (played by a shirtless Beck Bennett), who scolds “Trump”: “We put a lot of work into you, so much time and money, and you’re about to mess it all up. You seem so volatile. … Chill out, broski.”

Finally, appearing in a black cloak and hood, is not Steve Bannon, as Baldwin’s Trump hopes, but Hillary Clinton (Kate McKinnon). “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to say this,” she says with glee, “Lock him up!”

Trump vows to change his ways after the visits.

“I know what I need to do,” he says. “Erase Seasons 1-14 of ‘The Apprentice’ and fire Robert Mueller.”

Check out the clip above.

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‘Unexpected unavailability’ of director Bryan Singer halts production of Freddie Mercury biopic

Bryan Singer in 2016 when he was promoting "X-Men: Apocalypse."
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Production on the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic has been suspended after director Bryan Singer didn’t show up on the set.

“Twentieth Century Fox Film has temporarily halted production on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ due to the unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer,” the studio said in a statement released to Deadline and other outlets.

A representative for Singer told BBC News that the director’s absence was prompted by “a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, this is not first time that Singer has disappeared during a production. He momentarily vanished during the shooting of both “X-Men: Apocalypse” and “Superman Returns.”

A representative for Singer and 20th Century Fox could not immediately be reached by The Times for comment.

The film, about British rock band Queen and its frontman, Mercury, stars “Mr. Robot’s” Rami Malek as the late singer.

The movie is still expected to be released in December 2018 as planned.

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A Star Is Born: Julianne Moore turns 57 today

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

There’s always something of you in every character you play. You’re the conduit. A character who is so miserable and angry, I can access that, you know? I really can. It doesn’t mean I’m happy to, but I am able to. I can dig it out of somewhere.

— Julianne Moore, 1997

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Not Strictly Naked Ambition

Oscars 2015: Julianne Moore and the art of effortlessness

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A Star Is Born: Charlie Puth turns 26 today

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles times)

Look, I like people recognizing me on the street and asking to take pictures. But it’s honestly not about my ego. It fuels my creativity. Ten girls just came up to me? Wow. Now I want to make another song they can blast in their convertible.

— Charlie Puth, 2016

FROM THE ARCHIVES: The two sides of Charlie Puth: baby-faced tween idol and hard-core music nerd

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‘Now You’re in the Sunken Place’: ‘Get Out’ eyes Oscar with awards collectible of the season

"Now you're in the Sunken Place": Art inspired by the film "Get Out"
(Jen Yamato / Los Angeles Times)

Each year awards hopefuls make their push into the Oscar fray, scrapping for the attention and loyalties of voters and critics by using stars, screeners and swag. But there’s a uniquely powerful populist thrust behind Universal’s campaign to boost Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” into the conversation, and it arrived this week in the form of a limited-edition collectible book of art inspired by the critically acclaimed social thriller.

The majority of pieces collected in the glossy, large-format, 104-page Taschen-style book were discovered on Instagram, where writer-director Peele found himself tagged in a stunning array of fan art as the film struck a chord with audiences following its February debut.

The first time it happened, he shared the artist’s work on his own social media channels.

“I was blown away by the fact that she had connected to the movie enough to express her own pain so elegantly… and this was just the beginning,” Peele wrote in the book’s foreword.

“Months later I am still getting sent art every day from strangers of all races, creed and genders. What began as a singular tale of my own fear turned into something greater; a chorus who recognized their own fears and responded; all speaking back to the shared experience. If the film is me using my voice, then this book celebrates the many voices shared with me.”

Awards voters saw much of this art printed on canvas and displayed gallery-style at a recent awards launch event for “Get Out,” staged eerily in the vein of the actual garden party from the film. Lucky recipients of the book have the most unique Oscar collectible of the season on their hands, since Universal has no plans to make them available for purchase.

Reprinted with the artists’ permission and credit, the pieces range in medium and style taking cues from the film’s iconic moments: Daniel Kaluuya’s Chris trapped in the Sunken Place; Lakeith Stanfield’s memorably off-putting garden party expression; the terrifying juxtaposition on Betty Gabriel’s face as Georgina, fighting a war within her own mind; the teacup.

Of course, gimmicks are an awards campaigning staple; this year Focus Features sent out bottles of Pol Roger champagne, Winston Churchill’s fave, to promote “The Darkest Hour” and Netflix mailed plushy Okjas for awards pundits to cuddle up to. Swag sourced organically from a film’s fandom is a rarity and squares up with Universal’s strategy, as evidenced by massive For Your Consideration billboards erected around Hollywood, of reminding industry insiders of the considerable cultural impact “Get Out” had on its own community and audience.

“Get Out” has fostered tentative outsider awards hopes since its warm Sundance Film Festival debut set the stage for an enormously successful February release, which found critics and audiences alike responding to writer-director Peele’s horrifically realistic skewering of modern race relations. Still, the odds were considerably stacked against it as a February horror release, so much so that Universal submitted it to the Golden Globes as a comedy, causing a minor uproar.

Now buoyed by recent awards from the Gotham Awards, the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle, the $254 million hit is aiming for nominations in several major categories including director, original screenplay, actor and best picture. Last year’s “Moonlight” win and the Academy’s influx of diverse new voters also indicate new potential that unconventional contenders might be considered as much as more traditional and Academy-friendly awards bait.

Will “Get Out” climb its way out of Hollywood’s Sunken Place and onto the Dolby stage come March 4?

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Disgraced Matt Lauer retreats from social media, deactivates accounts

Disgraced “Today” show veteran Matt Lauer has scrubbed his social media accounts just days after being fired from the NBC morning show amid sexual misconduct allegations.

As of Friday afternoon, the veteran broadcaster appears to have deactivated his verified Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.

NBC fired Lauer on Tuesday night because of concerns over “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” The ouster, and its on-air announcement, took place just before Variety published an investigation in which several women levied accusations of misconduct against him. More women have since come forward.

On Thursday, the former morning show monarch released a public apology addressing the people he hurt.

“Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly.”

The 59-year-old said that repairing the damage will take time and soul-searching, but considers it his “full-time job.”

Lauer was last spotted Thursday near his East Hampton home to meet with his lawyer and to reportedly explain to his family in person what happened and why he was fired, Page Six reported.

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Geraldo Rivera apologizes to Bette Midler and for his ‘tawdry book’

(Richard Shotwell / Associated Press, left; Rich Fury / Associated Press, right)

Geraldo Rivera is once again apologizing for something he’s written. This time it’s his 1991 memoir, “Exposing Myself.”

He’s also sorry about what happened with Bette Midler back in the ’70s — or “in the very least” for embarrassing her by mentioning what happened in his book — though he still doesn’t 100% agree with her version of what happened.

Rivera had tweeted his support for Matt Lauer on Wednesday in the wake of the “Today” host’s firing over allegations of sexual misconduct. At the same time, he called journalism a “flirty” business and said the current wave of accusations might be “criminalizing courtship & conflating it [with] predation.” Then he apologized, saying he “didn’t sufficiently explain” that he also thought sexual harassment was a “horrendous problem.”

On Friday morning, the Fox News correspondent tweeted, “27 years ago I wrote a tawdry book depicting consensual events in 1973-45 years ago-I’ve deeply regretted its distasteful & disrespectful tone & have refrained from speaking about it-I’m embarrassed & profoundly sorry to those mentioned-I have & again apologize to anyone offended.”

Rolling back to the ’90s, here’s what the Los Angeles Times said about Rivera’s book when it came out:

Geraldo Rivera has written an autobiography called “Exposing Myself,” and it does just that. The syndicated talk-show host’s new book includes tales of threesomes in an ABC boiler room and celebrity interviews that ended with Rivera bedding the interviewee. He claims to have fondled Bette Midler while preparing for an interview and to have had sex with ex-Canada First Lady Margaret Trudeau. He also tells of a relationship with two nameless college students that “blossomed into one of my great romances.”

The memoir — which the Daily Beast described Thursday as a “horndog’s bible of workplace harassment” — came back on the radar on the same day Midler revived a 1991 Barbara Walters interview clip in which the singer talked about what had happened between her and Rivera, as compared to what he had written.

At that time, he was four years into the 11-year run of daytime talk show “Geraldo” (and three years off the cover of Playgirl), and Barbara Walters was sitting down with Bette Midler for an interview.

Walters, asking about a passage in the book “in which he said you and he had a torrid sexual affair and you were insatiable,” urged Midler to “get in a little trouble” talking about it.

During an interview in the ’70s, Midler said, Rivera and his producer left their crew in another room, “pushed me into my bathroom, they broke two poppers and put them under my nose, and proceeded to grope me. ... I did not offer myself up on the altar of Geraldo Rivera. He was unseemly. His behavior was unseemly.”

Midler tweeted Thursday, “Geraldo may have apologized for his tweets supporting Matt Lauer, but he has yet to apologize for this.”

That’s what he addressed Friday, saying, “Although I recall the time @BetteMidler has alluded to much differently than she, that does not change the fact that she has a right to speak out & demand an apology from me, for in the very least, publically [sic] embarrassing her all those years ago. Bette, I apologize.”

That tone was a bit different from what he told Howard Stern in 1991 after the Walters interview aired.

Talking to Stern on the radio, he said his encounter with Midler went down “precisely” as he had written about it and noted that he had “all kinds of witnesses.”

Said Rivera: “If she keeps up this interview rape talk, and saying I drugged her for sex, I’ll sue her.”

Beyond referring to Rivera’s tweets, a Fox News spokesperson had no comment on the apologies for the book and to Midler. As of late Friday morning on social media, the Divine Miss M, who turned 72 the same day, had not remarked either.

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Selena Gomez, Billboard’s newly awarded Woman of the Year, is in a reflective mood

(Chris Pizzello / Invision/Associated Press)

Selena Gomez has been named Billboard magazine’s Woman of the Year, and with that came several revelations about her physical and emotional mindset following her kidney transplant over the summer.

On Thursday, during the Women in Music awards ceremony, the 25-year-old singer delivered an emotional acceptance speech and dedicated her award to her friend Francia Raisa, who donated a kidney to save her life.

“Honestly, I couldn’t be more grateful for the position that I’ve been given in my career, from 7 to 14 to now,” the tearful actress-singer said. “I want people to know that I respect the platform that I have so greatly.

“I’ve never felt this proud to be a woman in the industry than I do today, and that’s because I actually feel comfortable with every single woman that has encouraged me,” she continued, stressing how crucial it is that women’s voices are finally being heard.

“I’m so grateful for all the older women who have lifted all of us up, because I couldn’t be here without any of you,” she said.

Gomez has been abundantly introspective, which was clear from the accompanying interview she did for the Dec. 9 issue of Billboard. That Q&A (read it here) generated several intention-setting mantras, including “I want to live a life that’s worth living” and “I’m actually grateful for who I am.”

“I don’t know how to explain the place that I’m in other than to say I just feel full,” she added, repeatedly indicating that she isn’t concerned with how people perceive her.

Here are a few more things we learned about the former Disney Channel star.

She cherishes on/off beau Justin Bieber and is best friends with her ex, the Weeknd.

Gomez, who was spotted again with the Biebs on the heels of her breakup with the “Starboy” crooner, explained her reunion with Bieber this way: “I cherish people who have really impacted my life. So maybe before, it could have been forcing something that wasn’t right.”

As for the Weeknd, she said they parted ways as besties, “genuinely about encouraging and caring [for each other], and that was pretty remarkable for me.”

She’s proud of her transplant scar.

The “Bad Liar” singer said that she’s altered and edited herself her whole life for the sake of others. She is now trying to accept who she is, and that’s taken her about five years, a few stints in rehab and a lot of therapy.

“That time for me was so painful and really hard and very lonely. But I really, really felt that that’s what helped me feel satisfied with where I am.”

Meanwhile, if she wanted to cover up her scar, she could, but doesn’t plan to just yet: “When I look at my body now, I just see life.”

She’s also really proud of where she is right now.

After years of struggling with anxiety and depression stemming from her long-term lupus battle, Gomez said she now handles her challenges in a healthy way. She’s enjoying where she is, being able to say no and “being part of the world.”

“I’m proudest of not becoming jaded,” she said.

She auditioned for Woody Allen’s 2018 comedy “A Rainy Day in New York” five times.

Gomez said she “didn’t have the greatest confidence” during her early auditions and was passed up. When the filmmakers couldn’t find anyone else, they gave her another shot and she gave it her all.

“I do feel like I earned it. And it was a great experience for me. In acting and in film, you’re around a much more stable community. … It really opened me up, and I needed that after the surgery,” she said.

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Jimmy Kimmel agrees to meet Roy Moore: ‘But I’m leaving my daughters at home!’

Note to embattled politicians: Watch out if you throw down on social media with a guy who has 10.5 million followers, a national TV show and a sense of humor. Like, say, Jimmy Kimmel.

Because someone like Kimmel can say things like, “Maybe if you went man to man instead of man to little girl, you wouldn’t be in this situation. Allegedly.”

Kimmel went off Thursday night on former Alabama state judge Roy Moore, the Republican Senate candidate who has a decent chance of winning an election Dec. 12 despite allegations of multiple incidents of sexual misconduct, including molestation of a 14-year-old girl and assault of a 16-year-old when he was an assistant district attorney in his 30s.

It all started when comedian Tony Barbieri, in character as Jake Byrd, got kicked out of an Alabama church where Moore was holding a campaign rally Wednesday night. In a segment for Kimmel’s show, Barbieri was posing as a Moore supporter but was subsequently booted.

On Thursday, Moore threw down the gauntlet, tweeting at the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” host, “If you want to mock our Christian values, come down here to Alabama and do it man to man.”

Kimmel responded, “Sounds great, Roy — let me know when you get some Christian values and I’ll be there!”

After calling D.C. and Hollywood elites “bigots,” Moore said he’d save Kimmel a seat in the front pew.

“OK, Roy,” Kimmel replied, but I’m leaving my daughters at home! P.S. - wear that cute little leather vest.”

Talk about monologue fodder. So Thursday night, Kimmel made the first seven minutes of his show a scathing address to the candidate in which he talked about being Christian himself — a practicing Catholic, he noted. “Christian is actually my middle name. I know that’s shocking, but it’s true.”

Kimmel accepted Moore’s invitation and said he’d come down to Alabama with a team of high school cheerleaders to meet at the Gadsden Mall. If the candidate could control himself in that situation, Kimmel said, they could discuss Christian values. But, he noted, it sounded like Moore was actually challenging him to a fight, not a chat.

“There is no one I would love to fight more than you. I would put my Christian values aside just for you and for that fight,” Kimmel said.

“Maybe if you went man to man instead of man to little girl,” he added, “you wouldn’t be in this situation. Allegedly.”

As of Friday morning, Moore had nothing new to say to Kimmel.

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‘Big Bang Theory’s’ Kaley Cuoco engaged to equestrian Karl Cook

After a night of birthday festivities and a freak chandelier accident, “The Big Bang Theory’s” Kaley Cuoco is engaged to boyfriend Karl Cook.

The CBS star, 32, and professional equestrian, 26, who’ve dated for about two years, shared the emotional news with videos posted on Instagram late Thursday. In the clip, Cuoco is a bawling mess of emotion with a stunning pear-shaped diamond on her finger.

“We’re engaged,” she cried, hiding her red face. Apparently in all the excitement, Cuoco didn’t actually say yes until after that, when Cook prompted her to do so during the video.

Cook, the son of Intuit software co-founder Scott Cook, faux proposed at a Target earlier this week with a novelty engagement ring, which Cuoco wasn’t thrilled about. He popped the question Thursday during a romantic dinner at home, which was featured on Cuoco’s Instagram stories. He also happened to gash his head on a chandelier during the celebration.

“Well after nearly two years I finally got up the courage to ask her to marry me,” he wrote. “This is the best night of my life and I think the video shows it is the best night for kaley as well.....if she said yes!!!!!”

He later posted a video of them slow-dancing and a close-up of his fiancée’s sizable sparkler.

This will be the second marriage for Cuoco, who wed tennis player Ryan Sweeting in 2013 after three months of dating. She filed for divorce less than two years later.

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A Star Is Born: Janelle Monáe turns 32 today

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

I’ve always had really big ideas. I dreamed of writing my own movie and starring in it – all these audacious goals and ideas. Then once I got in touch with my own ideas, I knew there was some light in me trying to come out.

— Janelle Monáe, 2010

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Janelle Monáe in Wondaland

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Bette Midler says Geraldo Rivera never apologized for allegedly groping her decades ago

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Bette Midler has dredged up a decades-old accusation she made against Geraldo Rivera in the wake of the Fox News correspondent’s empathetic remarks about ousted “Today” show anchor Matt Lauer.

Midler, who turns 72 on Friday, began by tweeting “Yup. Me, too” on Thursday, belatedly joining the scores of women who said they experienced some sort of sexual harassment. The outspoken star followed up the tweet by sharing vintage footage of an interview she did with Barbara Walters in which she accused Rivera of sexual misconduct and pointed out that he never apologized.

“Tomorrow is my birthday. I feel like this video was a gift from the universe to me,” she wrote. “Geraldo may have apologized for his tweets supporting Matt Lauer, but he has yet to apologize for this.”

Pressed by Walters during the 1991 interview, Midler alleged that in the early 1970s Rivera and his producer pushed her into a bathroom and then drugged and groped her.

The discussion stemmed from the former talk-show host boasting in his ’90s memoir, “Exposing Myself,” that he had trysts with Midler and other stars.

“I didn’t offer myself up on the altar of Geraldo Rivera. He was unseemly. His behavior was unseemly,” Midler told Walters.

The story had legs at the time and turned into a he-said/she-said volley in the headlines, with Rivera publicly disputing Midler’s account of their interactions and threatening to sue her for “rape talk.”

The resurfaced allegation comes a day after Rivera came to the defense of Lauer, who was fired this week amid sexual misconduct allegations brought forth by several women. Rivera later apologized for calling the news business “flirty.”

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HBO and J.C. Penney part ways with Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons
(Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press)

The fallout continues for music mogul Russell Simmons in the wake of multiple women accusing the Def Jam Recordings co-founder of sexual misconduct.

HBO released a statement Thursday afternoon severing ties with Simmons in light of the recent allegations.

Simmons’ show with the network, however, will go on.

“HBO will be airing ‘All Def Comedy’ as planned. However, Russell Simmons will not appear in the new series and we will be removing his name from the show moving forward,” the TV service’s statement read.

“The series is a platform for promising and upcoming comedians and we do not want to deprive them of an opportunity to showcase their talents to a national audience. We have no other projects with Russell Simmons.”

HBO was not alone in distancing itself from Simmons on Thursday.

A representative for department store chain J.C. Penney told The Times that it had “decided to discontinue selling Argyleculture merchandise.” Argyleculture is Simmons’ menswear collection launched in 2012.

J.C. Penney has already removed the products for purchase on its website.

Simmons stepped down from his businesses Thursday morning, after screenwriter Jenny Lumet accused him of sexual misconduct in 1991.

Previously Simmons had been accused of sexual assault by former model Keri Claussen Khalighi, who told The Times that Simmons made aggressive sexual advances and that she “fought it wildly.”

In a statement to The Times, Simmons disputed Khalighi’s claims, insisting that what transpired between them was consensual.

In s statement Thursday responding to Lumet, he asserted that though he remembered that night differently, he remained abashed.

“While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize,” his statement read.

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Finally some good news: Jenny Slate and Chris Evans are back together

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

It’s been a tough year for fans who choose to live vicariously through celebrity relationships.

Fergie and Josh Duhamel hit the skids. Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres called it quits after 14 years of marriage. And bright and shining comedic couple Chris Pratt and Anna Farris went their separate ways in August.

But one couple, whose love was thought dead and buried in February, is fighting back against the graveyard of broken dreams that is 2017.

According to People magazine, Chris Evans and Jenny Slate have picked up where they left off and are dating again.

The pair had dated for nearly a year before their amicable breakup, but there have been hints at a reconciliation between Captain America and the comedy queen for weeks.

In October, an Instagram post revealed that Slate joined Evans and some of his “Avengers” castmates at a dinner in Atlanta.

Later that month, the pair exchanged flirty tweets suggesting they “cut class” and meet up after school.

But perhaps the smoking gun of Slate and Evans’ rekindled romance came when the actor shared a video of his dog crooning along with a stuffed lion toy.

The video went viral and, given her extensive voice work credits, it was impossible not to notice Slate’s signature giggle in the background.

It’s impossible to say whether the couple’s relationship will last the test of time, but it’s nice to know that love isn’t dead.

Yet.

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All Prince George wants for Christmas is ...

(Heikki Saukkomaa / AFP/Getty Images)

Britain’s Prince William carried out a crucial holiday errand for his son during his first official visit to Finland, hand delivering the future king’s Christmas list to Santa Claus.

And all Prince George seems to want is a police car, according to the hand-scrawled note the Duke of Cambridge showed a man dressed as St. Nick at Helsinki’s famed Manta’s Market Christmas fair.

Well, he’s 4, after all. Though he has a kingdom at his disposal, he also has a firm understanding that there are certain tasks only Santa can execute. He also circled the “nice” option” on his letter to Father Christmas and signed his name.

William, the second in line to the British throne, is in Finland on royal business for two days. And while he, his wife and children have been the royal family’s happy newsmakers for years, Wills seems delighted to shift global attention to his newly engaged younger brother, Prince Harry.

“For me personally, I hope it means he stays out of my fridge and will stop scrounging my food, which he’s done for the last few years!” the 35-year-old said during an event earlier this week.

Meanwhile his wife, Catherine, who is pregnant with their third child, is back home carrying out a few official duties of her own, visiting the Foundling Museum in London on Tuesday and also fielding questions about Harry’s engagement to American actress Meghan Markle.

“William and I are absolutely thrilled,” the former Kate Middleton told reporters, according to People. “It’s such exciting news. It’s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.”

Harry and Markle are due to wed in May, the month following royal baby No. 3’s expected arrival.

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A Star Is Born: Ridley Scott turns 80 today

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

What I do for a living, I secretly enjoy most doing things where part of the task is to create universes. It’s hard. I always think the universe that the actors work in is more than the proscenium, it’s one of the most important characters.

— Ridley Scott, 2014

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Ridley Scott’s ‘Exodus’ casts a wide net of spectacle and family

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It’s date night for Kelly Clarkson on ‘Carpool Karaoke’

Kelly Clarkson graced the front seat of James Corden’s ride Wednesday night, as the songstress made her debut on “Carpool Karaoke.”

Fresh off her Grammy nomination for pop solo performance, Clarkson and Corden started their cruise by belting out her 2004 hit, “Since U Been Gone,” during which it became clear that Clarkson’s voice is so pure that Corden ended up sounding, well, a little pitchy.

The pair quickly cycled through a number of songs, including “Stronger” and “Because of You,” as well as “Love So Soft” and “Whole Lotta Woman” off Clarkson’s latest album.

But things got really spicy when Corden asked Clarkson whether she got to spend much time with her husband — and manager — Brandon Blackstock outside of work.

Clarkson got a little teary talking about how getting time together alone is difficult and wondered whether her husband had asked Corden to pose an intervention.

Not quite.

Corden quickly pulled over and threw Clarkson and Blackstock a surprise date in the backseat, complete with sparking apple juice, chocolate-covered strawberries and a romantic violinist.

“I feel like we’re making a porn,” Blackstock said. The romance only bloomed from there. Check it out above.

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Geraldo Rivera backpedals after criticism of his sexual harassment comments

Geraldo Rivera
(Richard Shotwell / Associated Press )

Geraldo Rivera, who spoke highly of Matt Lauer on Twitter on Wednesday and commented at length about sexual harassment, has apologized for calling journalism a “flirty” business and saying the current wave of accusations might be “criminalizing courtship & conflating it [with] predation.”

Lauer’s termination for alleged sexual harassment went public early Wednesday morning via the “Today” show, his haunt for more than 20 years.

“Reaction to my tweets today on #sexharassment makes clear I didn’t sufficiently explain that this is a horrendous problem long hidden,” Rivera tweeted in the evening, hours after expounding on the gray areas of sexual behavior.

“Harassers are deviants who deserve what is coming to them-Often victims are too frightened to come forward in a timely fashion-I humbly apologize.”

His employer said Wednesday in a statement, “Geraldo’s tweets do not reflect the views of Fox News or its management. We were troubled by his comments and are addressing them with him.”

In his earlier tweets, Rivera had suggested that allegations should be made in a timely manner — he thought five years would do — with contemporaneous confirmation. Big-bucks settlements mean some people might be motivated by “more than justice,” he said.

He said sexual harassment should be limited to situations where a supervisor imposes him or herself on a subordinate who feels unable to make a complaint.

“This issue is so red hot right now there is no room for any thought or opinion but hang em high,” Rivera said. “If News wasn’t (formerly) a flirty biz then how do we explain so many newsroom courtships that have led to happy marriages?”

UPDATE

11:21 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Fox News.

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Russell Simmons steps down from businesses after new sexual misconduct allegation

Russell Simmons released a statement Thursday morning announcing that he would be stepping down from his companies in the wake of a new sexual misconduct accusation.

The announcement came after screenwriter Jenny Lumet detailed an encounter she had with Simmons in 1991, during which, she alleged, the music mogul intimidated her into having sex.

Lumet – daughter of director Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of music legend Lena Horne – is not the first woman to accuse the Def Jam Recordings co-founder of misconduct. In an interview with The Times earlier this month, Keri Claussen Khalighi accused Simmons of assaulting her in 1991, in the presence of director Brett Ratner. Simmons dismissed Khalighi’s allegations, claiming whatever happened between them was consensual.

With his decision to step away from his companies, Simmons leaves behind All Def Digital, film company Def Pictures and yoga lifestyle brand Tantris, as well as his philanthropic efforts.

Here is Simmons’ full statement:

“I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet’s recollection about our night together in 1991. I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described. While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real. While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize.

“This is a time of great transition. The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard. As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don’t want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded. The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward. I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing. As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening.”

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Disney casts Chinese actress Liu Yifei in live-action ‘Mulan’

Liu Yifei will star as Mulan.
(Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

Disney has enlisted a Chinese actress to star in the title role of its live-action version of “Mulan.”

Liu Yifei, who also goes by Crystal Liu, will play the legendary Chinese warrior in the 2019 epic, Walt Disney Studios announced Wednesday.

Niki Caro, who directed “Whale Rider,” “North Country” and Disney’s “McFarland, USA,” will helm the project, Disney said, and Jason Reed, Chris Bender and Jake Weiner will produce. “House of Flying Daggers” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” producer Bill Kong will be executive producer.

The upcoming film is inspired by the “Ballad of Mulan,” in which a young woman impersonates a man to take her father’s place in the army, and Disney’s 1998 musical adaptation of the poem, which grossed more than $120 million at the domestic box office and $304 million worldwide. Music from the animated film also earned an Academy Award nomination.

Well known in China as a model and singer, the 30-year-old Yifei has appeared in “The Forbidden Kingdom” with Jackie Chan and “Outcast” with Nicolas Cage. She also stars in this year’s Mandarin-language fantasy adventure movie “Once Upon a Time,” which is not to be confused with ABC’s fantasy series that also featured a Mulan character played by Jamie Chung.

The studio searched for a year to find the right Mulan and considered nearly 1,000 candidates for the role, the Associated Press reported.

While several studios have faced stark criticism for whitewashing their films, Yifei’s racially sensitive casting was lauded on Twitter, much like the studio’s casting of a Middle Eastern actor for the lead role in its live-action “Aladdin” earlier this year. Many also voiced support for the diverse, star-studded cast of Disney’s live-action “The Lion King” adaptation, announced earlier this month.

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Catch the first glimpse of Kevin Spacey’s replacement, Christopher Plummer, in ‘All the Money in the World’

Well, that didn’t take long, did it?

Just three weeks after actor Kevin Spacey was dropped from his role as J. Paul Getty in the upcoming kidnapping thriller “All the Money in the World,” Sony/TriStar is releasing a new TV spot that offers the first glimpse of Christopher Plummer, Spacey’s replacement as the tycoon.

As Spacey quickly became engulfed in a sexual misconduct scandal, some were skeptical that the film’s director, Ridley Scott, could swap out the actor in time to make the planned Dec. 22 release date. But in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Scott says he never doubted for a second that he could pull it off.

“I know I can deliver,” said the director, who turns 80 on Thursday. “I move like lightning.”

With a reported price tag of $10 million, the emergency reshoots still represent a significant gamble for Scott and the film’s backers. But, given the allegations being lodged against Spacey, Scott told EW, there was really no other choice.

“You can’t tolerate any kind of behavior like that,” the director said. “And it will affect the film. We cannot let one person’s action affect the good work of all these other people. It’s that simple.”

Watch the new TV spot and note how, in the same scene, Plummer utters the word “nothing” with blithe callousness compared with Spacey’s more sinister delivery in this earlier trailer:

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Garrison Keillor fired over allegations of improper behavior

Garrison Keillor, the former host of “A Prairie Home Companion,” said Wednesday he has been fired by Minnesota Public Radio over allegations of improper behavior.

Keillor told the Associated Press of his firing in an email. In a follow-up statement, he said he was fired over “a story that I think is more interesting and more complicated than the version MPR heard.” He didn’t give details of the allegations.

“It’s some sort of poetic irony to be knocked off the air by a story, having told so many of them myself, but I’m 75 and don’t have any interest in arguing about this. And I cannot in conscience bring danger to a great organization I’ve worked hard for since 1969,” Keillor said.

“A person could not hope for more than what I was given,” he said.

Minnesota Public Radio confirmed Keillor had been fired, saying it received a single allegation of “inappropriate behavior” and doesn’t know of any other similar allegations.

Keillor, 75, retired as host of his long-running public radio variety show in 2016. His hand-picked successor, mandolinist Chris Thile, is in his second season as “Prairie Home” host.

The statement came shortly after Keillor, an avowed Democrat, wrote a syndicated column that ridiculed the idea that Minnesota Sen. Al Franken should resign over allegations of sexual harassment.

Keillor started his Saturday evening show featuring tales of his fictional Minnesota hometown of Lake Wobegon, Minn. — “where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average” — in 1974. The show featured musical acts, folksy humor, parody ads for fake products such as Powdermilk Biscuits and the centerpiece, Keillor delivering a seemingly off-the-cuff monologue, “The News From Lake Wobegon,” in his rich baritone voice.

Keillor bowed out with a final show at the Hollywood Bowl in July 2016 and turned the show over to Thile, a mandolinist and frequent “Prairie Home” guest musician. Keillor went on a 28-city bus tour this summer, vowing it would be his last tour, but he continues on the road with solo shows. Keillor also is finishing a Lake Wobegon screenplay and a memoir about growing up in Minnesota.

UPDATE

10:02 a.m. This article was updated with comments from Keillor and MPR’s confirmation of his dismissal.

This article was originally published at 9:32 am.

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Marvel Studios unveils first trailer for ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

As it prepares to ring in the 10th anniversary of its cinematic universe next year, Marvel Studios already has its eyes on infinity.

On Wednesday, Marvel released the first trailer for its next – and biggest – comic-book mash-up, “Avengers: Infinity War,” due in theaters in May.

The culmination of a number of storylines that have been building for nearly a decade, the film brings together every Marvel hero introduced to date – including Avengers newbies Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy – to battle against the cosmic supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin), whose plot to take over the galaxy was first teed up five years ago in the first “Avengers” film.

The first two installments in the “Avengers” series grossed nearly $3 billion collectively at the box office worldwide.

Marvel first debuted footage from “Infinity War,” which is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, this summer at Disney’s D23 fan expo. But the new trailer offers the general public its first glimpse at what promises to be the most supersized superhero team-up movie ever made.

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Trevor Noah explains the president’s Pocahontas jab: ‘Donald Trump was being woke’

Donald Trump found an unusual ally Tuesday night as Trevor Noah tackled the problematic Elizabeth Warren behavior that spawned the president’s “Pocahontas” nickname.

On Monday, during a ceremony honoring Navajo code talkers, Trump again used his nickname for Warren in derogatory fashion.

“This whole beef between Donald Trump and Elizabeth Warren is a tricky one to process because all the other nicknames that he uses on other people are self-explanatory,” Noah explained on “The Daily Show.”

He illustrated his point by mentioning “low-energy” Jeb Bush, “little” Marco Rubio and “lyin’” Ted Cruz.

Because Warren’s nickname isn’t as readily apparent, Noah dove into the backstory, which included years of the Massachusetts senator misidentifying herself as Native American.

“The way Warren tells the story, it’s been part of her family lore for decades, that they have some Native American ancestry,” Noah said, though evidence has never born that family history out.

“Is Trump racist?” Noah asked, “Yeah. But in his own … way, he’s hitting Elizabeth Warren for saying she’s Native American when she wasn’t. Something she’s never apologized for or owned up to.”

Warren, he pointed out, did something problematic, something conscientious people call each other out on every day.

Noah then made the most unnerving pronouncement of all: “As weird as it is to say, in his own racially offensive way, Donald Trump was being woke.”

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Reactions to Matt Lauer’s firing range from heartbroken to heartened

Matt Lauer is out at "Today."
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images)

Matt Lauer’s firing from “Today” had social media hopping Wednesday morning after the show’s female anchors talked about still “trying to process” their colleague’s departure.

“I’m heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear friend and my partner and he is beloved by many, many people here,” Savannah Guthrie, near tears, said on the show. “And I’m heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story.”

Echoing Sarah Silverman talking about her friend Louis C.K., Hoda Kotb said it was “hard to reconcile what we are hearing with the man who we know who walks in this building every single day.”

On Twitter, people were more blunt about Lauer, with many — including Emmy Rossum — immediately linking the former “Today” fixture and President Trump. Kathy Griffin had an “I told you so” attitude, while Rose McGowan was glad to see Lauer go.

Chrissy Teigen, unsurprisingly, had a comedic subtweet on the situation — and a pretty good idea for the writers of “Saturday Night Live.”

Meanwhile, the president jumped into the Lauer fray with both feet, taking it a step further to swing at nemeses Andrew Lack, chairman of NBC News and MSNBC; Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC; and Joe Scarborough,the GOP congressman turned MSNBC host. The “unsolved mystery” the president referenced is likely the accidental death of a 28-year-old staffer in his congressional office.

Scarborough responded, “Looks like I picked a good day to stop responding to Trump’s bizarre tweets. He is not well.”

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A Star Is Born: Don Cheadle turns 53 today

(Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times)

The majority of scripts out there I don’t believe are written for me, or written for my type. Without there being black writers and producers en masse out there, people are going to write about their perspective, from their points of view. It would be as if I were writing about a bar mitzvah.

— Don Cheadle, 1998

FROM THE ARCHIVES: From Mouse to Rat Pack

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New Marvel editor in chief C.B. Cebulski used to write as Akira Yoshida

It turns out new Marvel editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski has a hidden past: He used to moonlight as a Japanese comic book writer. No, not as a writer of Japanese comics.

The Times has confirmed that Cebulski used to write for Marvel Comics under the name Akira Yoshida.

“I stopped writing under the pseudonym Akira Yoshida after about a year. It wasn’t transparent, but it taught me a lot about writing, communication and pressure,” Cebulski told Bleeding Cool, which first reported the news. “I was young and naïve and had a lot to learn back then.”

Cebulski also shared that all of this had already been “dealt with” over at Marvel and discussed how he is shifting his focus on his new role as editor-in-chief.

The story explains that Cebulski wrote using the name Yoshida partly because of Marvel policy at that time preventing staff from writing or drawing in Marvel titles (for additional pay).

But Yoshida is bit more than a mere nom de plume. The fictional writer had an entire backstory explaining how, in addition to growing up reading manga in Japan, he learned English through his exposure to U.S. superhero comics from his father’s job. The backstory even detailed how Yoshida kicked off his career writing American comics.

That Yoshida’s résumé includes writing on titles such as “Wolverine: Soultaker” and “X-Men: Kitty Pryde — Shadow & Flame” adds additional complications to Cebulski’s reveal. Both series took popular Marvel characters to Japan as they encountered ancient gods, demons and ninjas.

As if these details weren’t already a bit incredible, Bleeding Cool also reported that people who remembered meeting “Akira Yoshida” in person actually met “a Japanese translator who had visited the offices ... who was mistakenly identified as Akira Yoshida.”

When reached for comment on Tuesday, Marvel confirmed Cebulski’s use of the name Akira Yoshida but no other details from Bleeding Cool’s reporting and replied, “we don’t have a statement at this time.”

Update:

4:55 p.m.: This article has been updated to reflect Marvel’s clarification regarding the confirmation of C.B. Cebulski’s use of the name “Akira Yoshida.” The story was originally published at 2:46 p.m.

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The National Board of Review names ‘The Post’ best picture of 2017

Steven Spielberg’s “The Post” received its first major honor of awards season on Tuesday, as the movie about the journalism industry was named the year’s best picture by the National Board of Review.

The film, which will not be released in theaters until Dec. 22, documents how the Washington Post covered the Pentagon Papers. It stars Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, who were each recognized by the NBR as the best actor and actress of the year, respectively.

Spielberg, however, missed out on the directing nod — that went to Greta Gerwig, the actress who wrote and directed the coming-of-age tale “Lady Bird.” Jordan Peele was recognized for having the year’s best directorial debut, “Get Out,” which also was called one of the best 10 movies of the year. Other top acting awards went to Willem Dafoe (“The Florida Project”), Laurie Metcalf (“Lady Bird”) and Timothée Chalamet (“Call Me by Your Name”).

Unlike other awards groups, the NBR’s taste does not always align with the majority of critics and prognosticators. The NBR — which was founded in 1909 and describes itself as a “select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals and academics of varying ages and backgrounds” — last picked the same best picture as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2008, when “Slumdog Millionaire” won the Oscar.

This year’s NBR honorees will receive their prizes at a New York City gala hosted by Willie Geist in January.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

BEST FILM
“The Post”

BEST DIRECTOR
Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird”

BEST DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
Jordan Peele, “Get Out”

BEST CAST ENSEMBLE
“Get Out”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“Coco” (Disney/Pixar)

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me by Your Name”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Phantom Thread,” Paul Thomas Anderson

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Disaster Artist” (Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“Foxtrot” (Sony Classics, Israel)

TOP FOREIGN FILMS
“A Fantastic Woman”
“Frantz”
“Loveless”
“Summer 1993”
“The Square”

SPOTLIGHT AWARD
“Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins and actress Gal Gadot

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (tie)
John Ridley’s “Let it Fall: Los Angeles, 1982-1992”
Angelina Jolie’s “First They Killed My Father”

BEST DOCUMENTARY
“Jane” (Nat Geo)

TOP FIVE DOCUMENTARIES
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”
“Brimstone & Glory”
“Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars”
“Faces Places”
“Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS”

TOP 10 MOVIES
“Baby Driver”
“Call Me by Your Name”
“The Disaster Artist”
“Downsizing”
“Dunkirk”
“The Florida Project”
“Get Out”
“Lady Bird”
“Logan”
“Phantom Thread”

TOP 10 INDEPENDENT MOVIES
“Beatriz at Dinner”
“Brigsby Bear”
“A Ghost Story”
“Lady Macbeth”
“Logan Lucky”
“Loving Vincent”
“Menashe”
“Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer”
“Patti Cake$”
“Wind River”

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‘Lady Bird’ kicks ‘Toy Story 2’ to the Rotten Tomatoes curb

Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, “Lady Bird,” has broken a Rotten Tomatoes record: It has accumulated the longest run of positive reviews ever recorded by the movie website.

As of Tuesday morning, the film written by Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan found itself at 170 fresh reviews and counting, with an overall rating of 8.9 out of 10 from critics and no “rotten” reviews. About 87% of the audience rated it 3.5 stars or better.

Here’s some perspective: Before “Lady Bird” earned its 164th consecutive positive review on Monday, the Rotten Tomatoes title was held by “Toy Story 2,” an animated crowd-pleaser released in 1999.

Want more perspective? “Citizen Kane” also has 100% positive critical response, with a 9.4 rating, but only 75 reviews total. “Get Out,” which won big at the 2017 Gotham Awards on Monday, has far more positive reviews than “Lady Bird” — 289 — but only a 99% rating, because two critics didn’t dig it. Still, even with all those positive reviews, its overall rating was 8.3 out of 10.

These days, it seems everyone’s a critic.

“We put our heart and souls into this movie, and the last step of this deeply collaborative art form of filmmaking is giving the film to the audience and the film critics,” Gerwig told the website. “That there has been such a warm reception is a dream come true.”

In his “Lady Bird” review, The Times’ Kenneth Turan called the movie “an exquisitely constructed, completely entertaining scripted drama” in which Ronan “turned herself so completely into a Sacramento teenager circa 2002 it almost seems like witchcraft.”

Buzz and Woody, you had a nice run.

ALSO

Greta Gerwig gathers more glory at ‘Lady Bird’ Toronto premiere

‘Lady Bird’ star Saoirse Ronan wins best actress at 2017 Gotham Awards

Greta Gerwig talks about her directorial debut and casting Saoirse Ronan in ‘Lady Bird’

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Royal wedding location set; Meghan Markle to become U.K. citizen

(Chris Jackson / Associated Press)

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take place in May 2018, Kensington Palace announced Tuesday.

That puts the wedding festivities right behind the birth of royal baby No. 3, since Harry’s elder brother, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, are expecting their third child in April. (That’s the one who will displace Harry as fifth in line to the British throne.)

The nuptials will be held at Windsor Castle in the 15th century St. George’s Chapel. The castle is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s main residences, which she had to grant her grandson permission to use. The location, west of London, is far more intimate than Westminster Abbey in London proper, where Prince William and the former Kate Middleton wed in 2011.

And, in a lucky break for Markle’s parents, the royal family confirmed that it will foot the bill for the wedding.

Harry, 33, and Markle, 36, announced their engagement on Monday after about a year and a half together. The two sat down for an extended interview about their romance and proposal shortly after the announcement, officially kicking off royal wedding fever.

Britain’s prince and his unconventional fiancée, an actress best known for her work on the TV series “Suits,” touched upon some of the “disheartening” criticisms and major changes Markle will undergo as she joins the centuries-old institution.

According to CNN and People, Markle will retain her U.S. citizenship during the lengthy process of becoming a U.K. citizen, a spokesman said. She intends to become a British citizen once she marries Harry, but it is unclear if she will maintain dual citizenship.

The actress has been married once before, but the Church of England, which the queen governs, allows divorced people to remarry. The last royal wedding involving a divorced person was that of Harry’s father, Prince Charles. The heir apparent wed for a second time in 2005 when he and Camilla Parker Bowles tied the knot in a civil ceremony at a Windsor town hall.

The allowances have been hailed as a sign of a modernizing monarchy and a far cry from the 1930s when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American.

Also on Tuesday, the palace announced that the affianced pair will undertake official royal duties together this week. Markle will join Harry in Nottingham on Friday for their first official royal engagement, visiting Terrence Higgins Trust on World AIDS Day for a charity fair.

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Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ scores big at 2017 Gotham Awards

Jordan Peele accepts the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award for “Get Out” at the 2017 Gotham Awards.
(Evan Agostini / Associated Press)

Tent-pole movies, get out — the 27th annual IFP Gotham Awards weren’t about you. But “Get Out”? You can come right on in.

Jordan Peele’s horror thriller about a young black man going to meet his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time notched three wins from the Independent Filmmaker Project on Monday night in New York City, including the Gotham Audience Award. Peele, helming his first feature, took home the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award and best screenplay honor.

“Call Me by Your Name,” directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet, was named best feature. Chalamet was named breakthrough actor for his work as an Italian teen who falls for an American graduate student who’s spending the summer assisting the 17-year-old’s professor father.

“Lady Bird” star Saoirse Ronan accepts the Gotham Awards' best actress trophy.
(Evan Agostini / Associated Press)

Saoirse Ronan and James Franco got lead acting nods for “Lady Bird” and “The Disaster Artist,” respectively.

In the breakthrough series categories, FX comedy “Atlanta” — which earlier this year took home an Emmy and a Golden Globe — won for long form, while Nancy Andrews’ YouTube effort “The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes” won for short form.

Yance Ford’s “Strong Island,” about the 1992 murder of his brother, was named best documentary, and Dee Rees’ “Mudbound,” a feature about two black men returning to rural Mississippi after fighting in World War II, earned the Special Gotham Jury Award for ensemble performance.

Tribute awards went to actor Dustin Hoffman, director Sofia Coppola, actress Nicole Kidman, cinematographer Ed Lachman, film producer Jason Blum and former Vice President Al Gore, who was recognized for his humanitarian work.

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‘Avengers 4’ will be a finale of sorts, producer Kevin Feige says

Producer Kevin Feige at the “Thor: Ragnarok” world premiere in October.
Producer Kevin Feige at the “Thor: Ragnarok” world premiere in October.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)

The fourth “Avengers” movie will be a key inflection point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, according to producer Kevin Feige. Like, the end of the beginning.

The still-untitled movie, due in May 2019, will “bring things you’ve never seen in superhero films: a finale,” Feige told Vanity Fair for its new holiday issue.

Of course, said finale — which theoretically could involve any number of dead superheroes — would only affect characters who make it through May 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” right? Small comfort, as the third “Avengers” installment includes just about every Marvel character we’ve seen so far.

“There will be two distinct periods,” Feige told the magazine. “Everything before ‘Avengers 4’ and everything after. I know it will not be in ways people are expecting.”

Audiences couldn’t be blamed for expecting a lot, given that when the movie started production, Feige spun it as “the culmination of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe as started in May of 2008” with the release of the first “Iron Man” movie. No biggie.

Culmination or not, Marvel Studios’ cameras will keep rolling. With more than a score of films under its belt already, he said, Marvel’s “got another 20 movies on the docket that are completely different from anything that’s come before — intentionally.”

For the record:

Nov. 28, 9:30 a.m.: An earlier version of this story referred to “Avengers: Infinity War” as the fourth “Avengers” installment. Due in May 2018, it is the third “Avengers” movie. The fourth film comes out in 2019. This story was originally posted Nov. 27 at 12:08 p.m.

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Trevor Noah and Seth Meyers take on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ tax cut

As Thanksgiving fades from Americans’ memories like so much tryptophan, their eyes – and wallets – turn to Christmas.

Both Washington, D.C., and late-night television are attempting to capitalize on this holiday pivot, with Trump and the GOP falling over themselves to pass a tax bill that would cut taxes for corporations by 15%. Meanwhile, late-night hosts are scrambling to ridicule the lawmakers at every turn.

“We’re going to give the American people a huge tax cut for Christmas,” President Trump said in a clip played on “The Daily Show. “Hopefully, that will be a great, big beautiful Christmas present.”

The concept was met with boos from host Trevor Noah, who interspersed his razzing with jabs about Trump’s plans.

“You promised us a wall!” he said mockingly.

“Donald Trump is such a divorced dad,” Noah continued. “He spends his whole year golfing, breaking his promises, and then he thinks he can just buy our love with one big Christmas present. ‘I hate you, President Dad!’”

Over on “Late Night,” Seth Meyers had similar sentiments.

“I’m sorry,” Meyers quipped, “but the last person I want to get a Christmas present from is Donald Trump. He’s the kind of guy who would give you a framed photo of himself and tell you where to put it in your house. “

Watch more from both “The Daily Show” and “Late Night” in the videos above and below.

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A Star Is Born: Ed Harris turns 67 today

(Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)

You can’t rely on the business to provide you with the opportunity to act. If what you want to do is act, then you’ve got to find the situation where you can do that. If what you want to do is become a star, then good luck.

— Ed Harris, 2005

FROM THE ARCHIVES: He’s on his own A-list

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CBS dropping Jeremy Piven drama ‘Wisdom of the Crowd’

“Wisdom of the Crowd,” the Jeremy Piven-led crime drama on CBS, is not receiving a full-season pickup at the network.

The series, which airs Sundays at 8 p.m., will wrap its run after its initial 13-episode order concludes, The Times has learned. The decision likely signals the underperforming drama is canceled.

The show, which stars Piven as a tech visionary who launches a crime-solving app to solve a murder, ranks as the lowest-rated freshman drama on the network. It averages around a 1.0 rating in the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults ages 18 to 48 and 7.4 million total viewers.

The decision not to extend the show also comes in the wake of Piven facing accusations of sexual harassment by multiple women. Piven has denied the allegations and CBS has said that it was “looking into the matter.”

“Wisdom of the Crowd” joins the comedy “Me, Myself, and I,” which was pulled from the schedule earlier this month, in the freshman TV show casualties pool. CBS’ other freshman shows — “Big Bang Theory” prequel “Young Sheldon,” military drama “SEAL Team,” and the reboot of “SWAT” — have previously received full-season orders.

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Terry Crews says agent Adam Venit ‘got a pass’ after groping allegations

Terry Crews.
(Richard Shotwell / Associated Press)

Terry Crews, who recently accused Adam Venit of grabbing his genitals at an industry party in 2016, was not pleased Monday to learn that the agent had returned to work at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment after a 30-day unpaid suspension over the alleged incident.

“SOMEONE GOT A PASS,” the “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” actor tweeted Monday morning, linking to coverage of Venit’s reinstatement.

Venit, formerly head of WME’s motion picture group, is back as an agent for the company, Deadline Hollywood reported Monday. WME sources told the Hollywood Reporter that an internal agency investigation had determined the alleged groping was an isolated event and not indicative of a pattern of behavior. Hence Venit’s return.

Crews alleged in October that he had been groped at a Hollywood event, in full view of his wife, by a man who also made “overtly sexual tongue moves” at him. He confirmed in mid-November — shortly after severing ties with his own rep at WME — that he was accusing Venit.

Also on Monday, Crews posted a marked-up version of an essay WME co-CEO Ari Emanuel wrote years ago for the Huffington Post in which Emanuel demanded that actor-director Mel Gibson be blacklisted over anti-Semitic remarks he made during a DUI arrest.

“I exchanged Adam Venit for Mel, and sexual assault for anti-Semitic,” Crews said. “He said ‘it’s different’ and handed the letter back to me.”

Previously, Crews shared a Nov. 3 message he said was from entrepreneur-producer Russell Simmons, in which the music mogul said, “Did he ever apologize. Give the agent a pass, ask that he be reinstated.”

“Dear @UncleRUSH —— NO ONE GETS A PASS,” Crews tweeted at the time.

Simmons has since responded to allegations of sexual misconduct that were detailed in a Nov. 19 Los Angeles Times report, saying in a statement, “I completely and unequivocally deny the horrendous allegations of non-consensual sex against me with every fiber of my being.”

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Seth Meyers to host the 2018 Golden Globes

Seth Meyers is on board to take a closer look at the 2018 Golden Globes.

After speculation last week that he had secured the gig, NBC released a statement Monday announcing the news.

“We are thrilled that Seth Meyers is going to be hosting the Golden Globes this year,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment. “As he does every night for us in late night, he will be taking a closer look at this year’s best movies and television with his unique brand of wit, intelligence and mischievous humor.”

Meyers takes over for NBC stablemate and former “Saturday Night Live” cast mate Jimmy Fallon, who hosted the ceremony in January.

The former “SNL” Weekend Update anchor is no stranger to awards ceremonies; Meyers has been nominated for 18 Emmys.

The Golden Globes are set to air live on both coasts from the Beverly Hilton on Jan. 7.

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‘House of Cards’ could resume production on final season in December

There’s still hope for Netflix’s embattled “House of Cards,” based on a letter that producers Media Rights Capital distributed Sunday to the show’s cast and crew members.

According to the missive, acquired by The Times and signed by Pauline Micelli, MRC’s senior vice president of television business and legal affairs, the company hopes to resume production soon.

“As we continue these discussions, we have determined together that the crew will be paid for an additional two week hiatus – beginning on November 27th and continuing through December 8th,” Micelli wrote.

Production on the sixth and final season of the political thriller was halted on Oct. 31 after a string of sexual misconduct allegations against lead actor Kevin Spacey.

Spacey was consequently fired from the show, leaving questions of how the series would – or could – continue in his absence.

“These last two months have tested and tried all of us in ways none of us could have foreseen,” Micelli wrote. “The one thing we have learned throughout this process is that this production is bigger than just one person and we could not be more proud to be associated with one of the most loyal and talented production cast and crews in this business.”

Micelli then promised that the company will provide an update by Dec. 8.

Netflix had no comment on MCR’s letter when asked by The Times on Monday morning.

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Harvey Weinstein hit with first U.K. civil claim over sexual assault allegations

Harvey Weinstein in 2015.
(Michael Sohn / Associated Press)

A woman who worked in the film industry has filed the first civil claim in Britain against Harvey Weinstein, alleging a series of sexual assaults by the producer and seeking personal injury damages to exceed $400,000.

The Weinstein Co. in the U.S. and the U.K. are also named as “vicariously liable” for the alleged assaults and subsequent psychological damage, which are said to have occurred in the course of the woman’s employment.

Through a representative, Weinstein has repeatedly denied any allegations of nonconsensual sex.

Personal injury lawyer Jill Greenfield, who has requested anonymity on behalf of her client, told the BBC that she expected a criminal case to go along with the civil suit, although the woman hadn’t yet filed a report with Scotland Yard. In early November, Scotland Yard said it was already handling 11 Weinstein-related investigations.

The woman in London is seeking personal injury damages, expenses and consequential loss including aggravated and exemplary damages and interest stemming from the alleged series of assaults, Greenfield’s firm said in a statement.

Stateside, actress Dominique Huett filed the first civil suit against the Weinstein Co. in Los Angeles in October alleging the studio and its board were “aware of Weinstein’s pattern of using his power to coerce” actresses into sexual acts. She said the producer lured her into a hotel room in 2010 on the pretext of a business meeting, then demanded that she give him a massage and let him perform oral sex on her.

Huett’s lawsuit seeks millions of dollars in damages, including punitive damages and money to cover the costs of medical and psychological care.

Dozens of women have come forward in recent months to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle kick off wedding planning with engagement photos and peek at her ring

Let the royal wedding planning begin!

Britain’s once-eligible bachelor Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle are engaged. As part of their official duties, the couple posed for a engagement photocall on Monday to give the world new images of their coupledom and a peek at the “Suits” actress’s engagement ring. The event and corresponding interview will also be featured in a television broadcast due to air Monday evening.

The official photocall took place at Kensington Palace’s Sunken Gardens, which is said to have been a favorite place of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana. That’s where Markle debuted her sparkly new accessory, which also paid tribute to Harry’s mum.

A closeup of Meghan Markle's engagement ring.
(Chris Jackson / Getty Images)

According to People, Harry designed the three-stone ring with Cleave & Co., his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s jewelers. The larger center stone hails from Botswana, which Harry has previously called his second home and visited with Markle last summer, and the surrounding two diamonds came from Princess Diana’s collection.

The prince popped the question in London earlier this month, the palace said, and the twosome is expected to wed in spring. They’ve been together since November 2016.

Harry, 33, smiled when asked when he knew Markle, 36, was the one, replying, “the very first time we met.” Details on the proposal “will come later,” he added, teasing that it was very romantic.

Members of the royal family shared their well wishes for the bride and groom, sentiments which were posted on the palace’s official Twitter account. The queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, said they are “delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness,” and Harry’s father, Prince Charles, said he and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are “thrilled” for them.

Meanwhile, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, shared that they are “very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”

Harry, who will be sixth in line to the British throne once William and Catherine welcome their third child in April, also “sought and received the blessing” of Markle’s parents, the palace said.

The two will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.

MORE: L.A.-born Meghan Markle is poised to dazzle the fashion world

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A Star Is Born: Kathryn Bigelow turns 66 today

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Talent comes in many guises, but all original talents share the same quality: They’re unique, one of a kind. Totally unlike the rest of the crowd.

— Kathryn Bigelow, 2013

FROM THE ARCHIVES: First Person: Bigelow praises ‘Zero Dark Thirty’s’ Chastain

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A Star Is Born: Tina Turner turns 78 today

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

I didn’t like it, but I got to be known as a sex symbol. The short dresses and being wild onstage had a lot to contribute to that sexiness. But it wasn’t me so much trying to be a Madonna or what Sharon Stone is doing. It was just work, you know.

— Tina Turner, 1996

FROM THE ARCHIVES: ‘The Lesson Is Don’t Give Up

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Rance Howard, Ron Howard’s father, dies at 89

Rance Howard, father of director Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, died on Saturday. He was 89.

Ron Howard took to Twitter to announce his father’s death Saturday afternoon. Details were not immediately disclosed.

“Clint & I have been blessed to be Rance Howard’s sons,” he wrote. “He stood especially tall [for] his ability to balance ambition [with] great personal integrity. A depression-era farm boy, his passion for acting changed the course of our family history. We love & miss U Dad.”

The elder Howard appeared in more than a dozen films his son directed, including “Apollo 13,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Splash,” “Cocoon,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Parenthood” and “Grand Theft Auto,” which he co-wrote with his son.

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A Star Is Born: Christina Applegate turns 46 today

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

I think people put limits on you. As long as you don’t believe in those limits, you’re OK. I’m sure there were doors I couldn’t get in to. I’m sure there are doors I still can’t get into. And that’s OK.

— Christina Applegate, 2002

FROM THE ARCHIVES: She’s After the Other Sweetest Thing

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Russell Simmons says Keri Claussen Khalighi ‘never accused me of what she has said publicly’

In response to allegations of sexual misconduct, music mogul Russell Simmons said a 1991 encounter with then-17-year-old model Keri Claussen Khalighi was “consensual.”

Khalighi told The Times that Simmons made aggressive sexual advances toward her in 1991 at his apartment and tried to force her to have intercourse. Simmons eventually relented and coerced her to perform oral sex as his protege at the time, Brett Ratner, “just sat there and watched,” Khalighi alleged to The Times.

Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, said in a letter published Wednesday in the Hollywood Reporter that Khalighi, in subsequent conversations and in a meeting many years later, “never accused me of what she has said publicly.”

“She insisted I was not violent,” he said in the letter. “She did tell me her boyfriend and many others found out about our long weekend together and she said she was ashamed by that discovery. I am sorry for the embarrassment she recounted to me.”

Simmons previously disputed Khalighi’s account in a statement released to The Times, saying, “Everything that occurred between Keri and me occurred with her full consent and participation.”

Simmons said in the Wednesday letter that three witnesses, including his then-assistant Anthony McNair and two anonymous individuals, have signed statements that “our experiences that weekend with Keri Claussen Khalighi 26 years ago were consensual.”

“My longtime loathing of any form of violence and abuse has been woven into all of my personal interactions, as most who know me will attest,” Simmons says in the letter. “I would never knowingly cause fear or harm to anyone.”

In a Wednesday interview on “Megyn Kelly Today,” Khalighi said she and Simmons “have had a face-to-face about what happened, where there was no dispute about what happened.”

“He actually apologized,” she said in the interview. “Part of what’s so confusing and retraumatizing is what he’s speaking about privately with me is completely different than what has come out publicly.”

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Musicians and fans react to the death of power pop singer-songwriter Tommy Keene

The guitar pop singer and songwriter Tommy Keene, whose death was announced on Thursday, wasn’t a household name. Among masters of the craft, however, he was considered one of the best songwriters of his generation, and many of them lined up to celebrate an artist whose knack for melody and hook propelled his cult-classic albums, including “Songs From the Film,” “Based on Happy Times” and “Isolation Party.”

Keene’s death was confirmed by his publicist, Cary Baker, who wrote that “the 59 year-old Keene passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, in his sleep at his Los Angeles area home on Wednesday.”

A major figure in the so-called “power pop” movement that sprouted in the 1970s and ‘80s, Keene worked alongside or inspired kindred spirits including the dBs, Matthew Sweet, Guided by Voices, the Replacements and Ted Leo. Like those he affected, Keene focused on three- and four-minute songs that adhered to — and thrived within — the strictures of classic American popular song structure.

Across the Thanksgiving holiday, musicians took to Twitter to acknowledge Keene’s sudden passing. That includes the musician Peter Holsapple (the dBs, Continental Drifters), who posted a photo from a recent performance by the nonprofit organization Wild Honey. Notably, those who shared appreciations also celebrated the artist’s kindness.

The urgent pop-punk singer Ted Leo offered praise, as well, celebrating Keene’s music first, then following up later, writing, “I want to add that my overall impression of Tommy Keene is that his talent was surpassed only by his kindness. Those who knew him better will corroborate, I’m sure.”

The songwriter Matthew Sweet, who toured with Keene earlier in 2017, posted a lovely photo of the late artist sitting atop some sort of rusty vehicle.

Keene was born in Evanston, Ill., and raised in Bethesda, Md., and started performing in post-punk bands around Washington, D.C., in the early 1980s. His 1986 major label debut album for Geffen Records, “Songs From the Film,” was produced by longtime Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, and the follow-up, 1989’s “Based on Happy Times,” was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tenn., home to classic recordings by avowed inspiration Big Star.

Over his career Keene issued a dozen albums, the last of which, “Laugh in the Dark,” came out in 2015.

Keene is survived by his longtime partner, Michael Lundsgaard; his father, Robert Keene; stepmother Dorothy Keene; brother Bobby Keene; and nephews Hunter and Jason Keene.

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Uma Thurman expresses gratitude to her fans on Thanksgiving -- with one #MeToo exception

Actress Uma Thurman posted a Thanksgiving message on Thursday that further illuminated her recent statement expressing anger at revelations of sexual misconduct in the film industry.

In a mid-October red carpet video interview, Thurman indicated she was hesitant to address the issue because “I’m not a child and I’ve learned that when I’ve spoken in anger, I usually regret the way I express myself.”

The actress is perhaps best known for her work with director Quentin Tarantino, whose films including “Pulp Fiction” and the “Kill Bill” series were financed by film mogul Harvey Weinstein. The executive has been the subject of dozens of allegations of sexual misconduct.

Less than two weeks after the red carpet interview occurred, Thurman took to Instagram to further illuminate her position. Offering gratitude for her loved ones and “all those who have the courage to stand up for others,” she then restated her current ire.

“I said I was angry recently, and I have a few reasons, #metoo, in case you couldn’t tell by the look on my face,” Thurman wrote, adding that in these circumstances it’s important to “take your time, be fair, be exact.”

She then repeated her Thanksgiving wishes — with a crucial caveat: “(Except you Harvey, and all your wicked conspirators - I’m glad it’s going slowly - you don’t deserve a bullet) -stay tuned Uma Thurman.”

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A Star Is Born: Colin Hanks turns 40 today

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Going through a difficult chapter of your life is hard enough. To then have a camera in your face while you’re doing it? I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy’s dog.

— Colin Hanks, 2017

READ MORE: How Colin Hanks found the ‘emotional truth’ in Eagles of Death Metal’s return to Paris

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‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ will return to Netflix for season 12

Fans of wisecracking robots and terrible science fiction flicks, rejoice: “Mystery Science Theater 3000” will return for a new season on Netflix.

The news of the 12th season was announced at the end of the annual “MST3K” Thanksgiving marathon hosted by Jonah Ray, Felicia Day and Joel Hodgson. The reveal didn’t include a premiere date, but the corresponding news release promised the new season would drop in the “not-too-distant-future.”

In 2015 “MST3K” series creator Hodgson (along with the American home video company Shout! Factory) launched a Kickstarter in hopes of resurrecting the scrappy series, which aired from 1988 to 1999.

The crowdfunded operation was a success and brought in more than $5 million for a brand new Satellite of Love, the spaceship in which Joel and his pals reside. The revival aired in the spring of 2017 with a new crew and a new collection of movies to roast.

Most of the producers will return for the new season, including Hodgson and lead writer Elliott Kalan along with Richard Foos, Bob Emmer, Garson Foos, Jonathan Stern and Harold Buchholz, according to the news release.

As for returning cast members, we asked the new crew at San Diego Comic-Con who may be coming back.

See their answers below.

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A Star Is Born: Miley Cyrus turns 25 today

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

I want to be a role model. And my job is to be a role model. But that shouldn’t require me to be a parent. I’m going to make mistakes. While your kids are growing up, I have to grow up too.

— Miley Cyrus, 2009

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Miley Cyrus has poise aplenty

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Jennifer Lawrence, director Darren Aronofsky split

Jennifer Lawrence and writer-director Darren Aronofsky at the New York premiere of 'Mother!' in September.
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)

Lawrofsky is no more — as if the portmanteau ever was — because Jennifer Lawrence and Darren Aronofsky have reportedly called it quits.

The Oscar-winning actress and “Mother!” director dated for about a year before splitting last month, “Entertainment Tonight” and People reported. And though their romantic relationship is over, the two appear to be proceeding with their cordial professional relationship as “Mother!” does the rounds for awards season.

It was an amicable split and the two remain friends, a source told “ET,” which also reported that the two were friendly when they sat together at the film academy’s Governors Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Lawrence, 27, and Aronofsky, 48, have been romantically linked since September 2016, confirming reports that they began seeing each other after the film wrapped.

“We had energy,” Lawrence said in the September issue of Vogue. “I had energy for him. I don’t know how he felt about me.

“I’ve been in relationships before where I am just confused. And I’m never confused with him,” she added, also shutting down concerns over their significant age difference.

The two didn’t much speak about their romance but continued to praise each other’s work on Aronofsky’s controversial psychological thriller.

Lawrence was previously linked to her “X-Men” films costar Nicholas Hoult and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Aronofsky previously dated actress Rachel Weisz, with whom he shares a son.

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Nick Carter, accused of rape by Dream singer Melissa Schuman, is ‘shocked and saddened’

Melissa Schuman is seen in 2001 when she was with Dream; Nick Carter appears in 2017.
Melissa Schuman is seen in 2001 when she was with Dream; Nick Carter appears in 2017.
(Arista Records, left; Richard Shotwell / Associated Press, right)

Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys has been accused of rape by Melissa Schuman, a former member of the girl group Dream, who says the singer had oral sex and intercourse with her against her will at his apartment when he was 22 and she was 18.

Carter, now 37, said in a statement Wednesday that he was “shocked and saddened” by Schuman’s allegation, which he said he was hearing for the first time.

Schuman wrote early in November on her personal blog that she met Carter over the phone via their reps when she was 18 and accepted an offer to hang out with friends at his apartment. Carter provided alcohol, she said. Schuman described a night of Carter leading her from room to room and escalating his sexual behavior — including performing oral sex on her and initiating intercourse — despite what she said were continued refusals to consent.

“Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual,” Carter said. “We went on to record a song and perform together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally.”

Shortly after the incident, Schuman said, she told her then-manager what had happened and he said he’d investigate. He wound up advising her that she couldn’t fight his legal team, she said. She said that shortly after they performed a song together at a showcase, she lost interest in continuing her pursuit of a solo singing career.

Schuman hadn’t intended to share her story publicly, she said, until after a woman with a similar story was bashed in online comments after speaking anonymously to Radar Online in late October. That woman alleged that when she was a 20-year-old Backstreet Boys fan, Carter and a friend sexually assaulted her at a 2006 weekend house party in Key West, Fla. The incident was investigated by Wisconsin police at the time, Radar reported, but no charges were brought and the case was closed.

A rep for Carter told Radar in October, “The woman fabricated the claims against Nick for one simple reason — she was hoping to extort money from him.”

“The victim in the … article remains unnamed and I can’t blame her,” Schuman wrote. “I can’t help but feel empathy for her as well as sicken [sic] by the lack of belief and support. There is nothing worse than being victimized and having others call you a liar. Or claim you are looking for 15 mins of fame.”

She tweeted a link to her blog post on Saturday, saying, “I’m not afraid anymore #metoo.”

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After Charlie Rose accusations, Seth Meyers says it’s time to retire the bathrobe

It’s been nearly seven weeks since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke, releasing a wave of long-hidden sexual misconduct claims and allowing late-night hosts to stoke the fires of their righteous indignation.

After another wave of particularly abhorrent allegations, Seth Meyers used Tuesday night’s “A Closer Look” segment on “Late Night” to tee off on veteran newsman Charlie Rose and his ilk.

“Here’s a good rule of thumb,” Meyers said. “If your face isn’t pulling in the babes, your penis isn’t going to make the difference.”

The quip comes after eight women alleged that Rose made unwanted sexual advances toward them, including walking around naked – or naked beneath an open bathrobe – in front of them.

“You know, I’ll just say it: It may be time to retire the bathrobe entirely,” Meyers said, alluding to similar accusations about Weinstein’s behavior.

“You never hear a positive news story involving a bathrobe,” he continued. “It’s never ‘family of four pulled from burning house by man in bathrobe.’ It is always ‘some creep was creepin’ it up in a creepy … bathrobe.’”

Meyers also took aim at other men recently accused of misconduct, including New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush, U.S. Rep. John Conyers and, of course, Alabama politician Roy Moore, whom Meyers characterized as “a guy who looks like the Marlboro Man’s deadbeat dad.”

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Russell Simmons’ accuser tells Megyn Kelly: ‘There was no dispute about what happened’

Keri Claussen Khalighi, the former model who recently accused Russell Simmons and Brett Ratner of sexual misconduct, appeared on “Megyn Kelly Today” on Wednesday to share what transpired after her experience with the music mogul and director.

“Russell and I have had a face-to-face about what happened, where there was no dispute about what happened,” Khalighi said. “He actually apologized.”

In an interview with The Times recently, Khalighi detailed an incident that took place when she was a 17-year-old model in 1991, during which she alleges that Simmons made an aggressive sexual advance toward her while Ratner looked on.

In a statement, Simmons claimed that whatever happened between him and Khalighi was consensual, a version of events that Khalighi called “ludicrous.”

“Part of what’s so confusing and retraumatizing is what he’s speaking about privately with me is completely different than what has come out publicly,” Khalighi said. “And that’s the piece that’s been really, really, really upsetting, disappointing and quite honestly, just repugnant with the hypocrisy with the lies and the denial.”

Now nine months pregnant with her third child, Khalighi credits her children with inspiring her to come forward and share her story.

“I’m coming out now because I really, really think this is such an important empowerment revolution,” she said. “If I can use my experience to further this conversation and to facilitate change in any way, it might not be right now that we see the fruits of this labor.

“But I am bound and determined to make this environment better and safer and more empowered for my daughters and the sons and daughters of the future generation. And it starts with conversations like this.”

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David Cassidy remembered: Who ‘did not want to look like, sound like, just be him?’

Celebrity fans of the late sitcom star David Cassidy mourned the former teen idol’s death on Wednesday, along with pieces of their childhood.

“The Partridge Family” star, who stole hearts as quick-witted singer Keith Partridge on the 1970s musical-comedy and embarked on his own successful recording career, died Tuesday evening of liver failure. He was 67.

Actors, musicians and childhood fans commemorated Cassidy with photos and tributes on social media, recalling stories of his kindness, humor and talent.

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A Star Is Born: Mark Ruffalo turns 50 today

(Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)

Sometimes as an actor you’re so deeply immersed in a part that you lose control of it. If you’re really lucky, a few times in your life, it’ll take you somewhere you never expected to go. It really blows the top off your understanding of your craft. Something emotional happens that just takes you, and it’s usually a big idea.

— Mark Ruffalo, 2014

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Mark Ruffalo unveils his ‘Normal Heart’ in lessons he drew from film

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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have a new baby on the way

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend appear at the Oscars in 2016.
( (Paul Buck / EPA))

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are expecting a second baby. Well, that’s what daughter Luna says.

Cuddling with her firstborn in an Instagram video announcing her second pregnancy, Teigen asks, “Luna, what’s in here?” The 19-month-old replies, “Be-be.”

The caption: “it’s john’s!”

Apparently, Luna has a little brother on the way. “Since this is coming up again,” Teigen said on Twitter in January, “I said our next baby would be a boy because that is the embryo we have left. A boy. So. Yeah.”

A few years back, the Sports Illustrated model and her singer husband started with 20 embryos from a fertility procedure and then narrowed it down to three, she told InStyle for a story published in October.

“The first little girl didn’t work, and then the second is Luna,” she told the magazine. The third was about to be transferred to her womb.

Teigen and Legend got married in September 2013 and welcomed their daughter in April 2016. The child’s full name, Luna Simone Stephens, reflects her dad’s real name, John Roger Stephens.

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‘The Good Place’ gets third-season renewal on NBC

Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, stars of "The Good Place"
Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, stars of “The Good Place”
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

How’s this for proof of life after death: NBC has renewed “The Good Place” for a third season.

The network has ordered a 13-episode season of the afterlife comedy that stars Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto and D’Arcy Carden.

The series, another critical favorite from Michael Schur (“Parks and Recreation”), is midway through its sophomore season. Though currently on a winter hiatus, the comedy has proved to be a solid performer in its Thursday slot so far this season. It’s averaging a 2.0 rating in adults 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall in “live plus seven day” averages from Nielsen Media Research.

The series is set to resume its second season on Jan. 4.

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The Eagles announce 2018 tour dates with Chris Stapleton, Jimmy Buffett and James Taylor

Vince Gill, left, and Don Henley perform with the Eagles during the Classic West concert at Dodger Stadium in July.
(Kevin Mazur / Getty Images)

Who can go the distance?

Apparently the Eagles can. The band, which lost co-founder Glenn Frey in 2016, has announced its initial 2018 tour dates, and they include stadium bills with Jimmy Buffett & His Coral Reefer Band, country-rocker Chris Stapleton and singer-songwriter James Taylor & His All-Star Band.

Founded in 1971, the Eagles have gone through a number of lineup changes over the decades. This year’s model features founding member-drummer Don Henley, longtime guitarist Joe Walsh and bassist Timothy B. Schmit. The band is rounded out by Deacon Frey, who is Glenn’s son, and the chart-busting country singer and guitarist Vince Gill.

The Eagles’ tour will open in mid-March in Chicago and extend through late July, with more dates to be announced in coming months. Details on ticketing and on-sale dates can be found through Ticketmaster.

Eagles’ 2018 itinerary:

  • March 14: Chicago (United Center)
  • March 23: Nashville (Bridgestone Arena)
  • April 14: Orlando, Fla. (Camping World Stadium with Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band)
  • April 21: Miami (Hard Rock Stadium with Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band)
  • May 10: Vancouver, Canada (Rogers Arena)
  • June 23: Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium with Chris Stapleton)
  • June 28: Denver (Coors Field with Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band)
  • June 30: Minneapolis (Target Field with Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band)
  • July 15: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)
  • July 20: Boston (TD Garden)
  • July 26: Washington, D.C. (Nationals Park with James Taylor & His All-Star Band
  • July 28: Philadelphia (Citizens Bank Park with James Taylor & His All-Star Band)

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Colbert and Meyers delight in ‘the feud we’ve been waiting for’ between Donald Trump and LaVar Ball

Donald Trump has found a new nemesis, and both Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers are here for it.

The “Late Show” and “Late Night” hosts each addressed Trump’s latest beef against basketball superdad LaVar Ball on their shows Monday night. Ball is the father of LiAngelo Ball, one of the three UCLA basketball players who were detained in China after being accused of shoplifting.

Trump, upset that the Ball patriarch dismissed his role in securing the players’ release, spent the weekend raging against LaVar on Twitter. The president even tweeted that Ball’s attitude makes him wish he left the three players — who actually thanked Trump for helping them — in jail in China.

For those who don’t follow basketball, “Ball has made a career out of baiting people to get publicity for his company Big Baller Brand,” explained Colbert, who also described him as “a publicity-hungry troll.”

And Ball knew exactly what to do to get a reaction from Trump.

“Pretending not to know him is the meanest thing you can do to Donald Trump,” explained Colbert. “Knowing who he is is his whole thing. That’s why he puts his name on all of his buildings and one of his kids.”

Meyers also could not contain his glee that “petulant man-child in chief” Trump had finally met his match.

“This is the feud we’ve been waiting for,” said Meyers. “This isn’t Marco Rubio trying to win at Donald Trump’s game. Donald Trump’s game is LaVar Ball’s game. And LaVar Ball knows there is no better way to troll Trump than by pretending to not know who he is.”

But in true Meyers form, the “Late Night” host explained why Trump’s latest Twitter tirade is actually problematic.

“Not only are these tweets childish and embarrassing, they’re also part of a disturbing pattern,” explained Meyers. “Trump is clearly a thug and a wannabe dictator who lashes out at anyone who isn’t sufficiently obedient.”

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Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and other ‘SNL’ women stick up for Al Franken

Saying they “feel compelled to stand up for Al Franken,” 36 women affiliated with “Saturday Night Live” during the now-senator’s 20 years on the show have signed a letter countering sexual harassment allegations recently leveled against the Minnesota Democrat.

Signatories included original “SNL” cast members Laraine Newman and Jane Curtin, along with 34 women who worked on the show behind the scenes between 1975 and the present. Franken was a writer and performer on the NBC sketch comedy show primarily from 1975 to 1995.

“What Al did was stupid and foolish, and we think it was appropriate for him to apologize ...,” the letter said. However, it continued, “after years of working with him, we would like to acknowledge that not one of us ever experienced any inappropriate behavior; and mention our sincere appreciation that he treated each one of us with the utmost respect and regard.”

Curtin told the New York Times on Friday that she was surprised by broadcaster Leeann Tweeden’s allegations against Franken.

“I’m just so upset about this atmosphere and good people being dragged into it,” she said. “It’s just like the red menace. You don’t know who’s going to be next.”

Curtin and Franken worked together on “SNL” from 1975 to 1980 and have remained friends.

Tweeden said last week that Franken forcibly kissed her and then groped her while she was asleep during a 2006 USO tour, before he was elected to the Senate in 2009. A second woman, Lindsay Menz, alleged Monday that he grabbed her butt during a photo opportunity at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010.

Also Monday, Page Six ran a photo showing Franken apparently cupping Arianna Huffington’s breast, but Huffington said, “The notion that there was anything inappropriate in this photo shoot is truly absurd.”

Franken apologized to Tweeden on Thursday for what he called “completely inappropriate” behavior; this week, he told CNN he didn’t remember posing for the picture with Menz but felt “badly” that she felt disrespected after their interaction.

“I respect women. I don’t respect men who don’t,” Franken said last week. “And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed.”

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Kevin Hart and wife welcome baby boy Kenzo

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

It’s a healthy, already-smiling baby boy for comedian Kevin Hart and wife Eniko Parrish. They welcomed son Kenzo Kash Hart early Tuesday morning, Hart, 38, confirmed on Twitter.

It’s the third child for the “Jumanji” star. Hart shares two children, daughter Heaven and son Hendrix, with his ex-wife, Torrei Hart.

On Sunday, Parrish took to Instagram as she waited for their son’s arrival, sharing that he already was several days past his due date.

“We just want u to know that we are ready for you any day now baby boy, it’s time to meet your parents! We love you,” the actress-model wrote.

The couple, who wed in August 2015, announced Eniko’s pregnancy on Mother’s Day this year. But the pair has been embroiled in controversy, including cheating rumors, baby-mama drama and an alleged extortion attempt, throughout the pregnancy.

Hart apologized to Eniko and his two children, describing an incident in which a sexually suggestive video of him was recorded as a “bad error in judgment.”

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A Star Is Born: Goldie Hawn turns 72 today

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

I’m not new on the block, so I know what goes on when a gal gets to be at a certain time in her life in this business. You don’t get things like [‘Snatched’]. But look what I got. I got Amy  [Schumer] and me together in, basically, a two-people movie. How awesome to not play an ancillary role? It was an awesome way to reenter.

— Goldie Hawn, 2017

READ MORE: For Amy Schumer’s ‘Snatched,’ it was Goldie Hawn as mom or bust

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Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ finishes first week with sales topping 1.2 million

Taylor Swift's new 'Reputation' album sold more than 1.2 million copies in its first week of release
(John Salangsang / Associated Press)

Taylor Swift’s “Reputation” has clocked a first-week sales figure of 1.216 million copies, making it the biggest selling album of 2017, according to the Nielsen Music monitoring service.

That figure is 41% higher than the combined sales of the other 199 albums that make up Billboard’s top 200 album chart for the week, Nielsen noted.

It’s also her fourth consecutive album to top first week sales of more than 1 million copies, following “1989,” which sold 1.29 million copies in 2014, “Red” (1.21 million in 2012) and “Speak Now” (1.05 million in 2010).

As previously reported, “Reputation” crossed the 1-million sales barrier after just four days, logging equivalent sales of 1,050,000 copies by the end of business on Nov. 13, following its release on Nov. 10.

With “Reputation,” Swift becomes the first artist since Nielsen Music began tracking sales in 1991 to sell more than 1 million copies in a single week on four separate occasions.

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HBO stands by Russell Simmons’ new season of ‘All Def Comedy,’ series will air as scheduled

HBO said Monday that it plans to continue Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy series despite accusations of sexual misconduct against the hip-hop mogul.

“We do plan to air [‘All Def Comedy’] beginning next week,” HBO said in a statement. “The show is a platform for promising new artists, and we want them to have the opportunity to showcase their talent to a national audience.”

Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam,” which first aired on the network from 1992 to 1997, was lauded for creating a platform for black stand-up comics. Some of the famous names whose careers were boosted by appearing on the series include D.L Hughley, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence.

The show later returned with Simmons as executive producer. Last November an “All Def Comedy” special aired on HBO. The series is scheduled to return Dec. 1.

Simmons, who co-founded Def Jam Records, was recently accused of sexual misconduct stemming from an alleged incident involving Brett Ratner in 1991 that was recounted by a then-17-year-old fashion model, Keri Claussen Khalighi. Simmons has disputed the claim. “Everything that occurred between Keri and me occurred with her full consent and participation,” he said in a statement.

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Scrubbing its Harvey Weinstein ties, ‘Wind River’ re-emerges in awards race

Indie crime thriller “Wind River” has been scrubbed of its Weinstein ties, just in time for awards season.

“Wind River” writer-director Taylor Sheridan and producers Matthew George and Basil Iwanyk have taken the film back from the Weinstein Co. and begun to screen a version of the film free of the distributor’s name, its logo or the name of executive disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.

Weinstein had an executive producer credit on the film starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen when it debuted in theaters to acclaim in August. The debut directorial feature from “Sicario” and Oscar-nominated “Hell or High Water” writer Sheridan nabbed the filmmaker the Cannes Un Certain Regard best directing prize and went on to enjoy a robust $33 million box office, positioning it for an outside shot at an awards run.

But in the wake of Weinstein’s sexual misconduct scandal and stunning fall from grace, the film’s themes and activist imperative stood conspicuously at odds with all that Hollywood’s alleged serial harasser represents.

In the film, Renner plays a Wyoming game tracker who teams up with Olsen’s rookie FBI agent to investigate the mysterious death of a young Native American woman on a remote reservation.

A source confirms to the Los Angeles Times that the Weinstein-free “Wind River” began screening for awards consideration again this month, while “For Your Consideration” screeners are also expected to land in voters’ mailboxes sans Weinstein credits.

The filmmakers also made sure to erase the Weinstein name from the film’s home video debut this month via Lionsgate as well as its streaming release on Netflix.

George’s Acacia Entertainment, one of the film’s financiers and producers, stepped in to fund the “Wind River” awards campaign. According to the filmmakers, the movie is now financed by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, whose Economic Development Corporation supported the film through Acacia (which it backs in partnership with George’s Savvy Media Holdings), with Iwanyk’s Thunder Road Pictures.

As part of the dissolution of its relationship with Weinstein, “Wind River” will not receive funding from nor contribute future revenues to the distributor. Instead, all future proceeds from the film will go to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the safety of Native women and children, particularly against gender-based violence.

“At its best, film allows an audience to learn from an experience without the burden of having to endure it. ‘Wind River’ holds a mirror to an ignored epidemic raging through this nation -- the exploitation of women. Nowhere is that epidemic more acute than on this nation’s Indian reservations,” said Sheridan in a statement.

“Through tremendous sacrifice by all involved in this production, and great trust given me by the Tunica-Biloxi tribe -- a trust they have extended to wrest control of this film from a perpetrator of the very violence this film highlights -- we have all endeavored to paint an accurate and empathetic picture of one of my nation’s great shames -- its apathy toward the original inhabitants of this country.”

“As an artist, I am beholden to the responsibility that comes with storytelling — hold the mirror to our world, and do not flinch at the reflection,” he continued. “Meaningful change only comes from telling the truth of what one sees.”

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Lena Dunham accused of ‘hipster racism’ after she initially defended ‘Girls’ writer

Zinzi Clemmons, a writer for Lena Dunham and Jenny Konner’s Lenny Letter, announced her resignation on Sunday in the wake of the women’s statement in defense of “Girls” writer-producer Murray Miller, whom actress Aurora Perrineau has accused of rape.

“For all you writers who are outraged about what she did, I encourage you to do the same,” Clemmons wrote in a statement posted on social media Sunday. “Especially women of color. She cannot have our words if she cannot respect us.”

Dunham and Konner had defended Miller in a statement to Variety on Friday, saying, “While our first instinct is to listen to every woman’s story, our insider knowledge of Murray’s situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3% of assault cases that are misreported every year.”

Miller, through his attorney, told the publication that he “categorically and vehemently denies Ms. Perrineau’s outrageous claims.” Perrineau confirmed to the Wrap on Friday that she had filed a report with law enforcement alleging Miller had nonconsensual sex with her in 2012, when she was 17.

Dunham has since apologized for defending Miller.

“I naively believed it was important to share my perspective on my friend’s situation as it has transpired behind the scenes over the last few months,” she said in a statement Saturday on Twitter. “I now understand that it was absolutely the wrong time to come forward with such a statement.”

Clemmons, however, said that Perrineau’s allegation left her “overcome with emotion” because when she and Dunham “ran in the same circles in college,” Clemmons had a friend who was a victim of sexual assault that wasn’t reported because the alleged perpetrator was an influential member of Dunham’s peer group.

“Back in college, I avoided these people like the plague because of their well-known racism,” Clemmons said. “I’d call their strain ‘hipster racism,’ which typically uses sarcasm as a cover, and in the end, it looks a lot like gaslighting — ‘It’s just a joke. Why are you overreacting?’ is a common response to these kind of statements.”

Clemmons urged other writers to “hold Lena accountable,” even if it meant financial sacrifice. Here’s her full statement:

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‘Good riddance’: Celebrities react to the death of Charles Manson

Murderous cult leader Charles Manson died Sunday of natural causes at the age of 83, and Twitter isn’t entirely certain what to make of it.

Manson’s “family” carried out a series of lurid, bloody murders in 1969, including the killing of pregnant actress Sharon Tate.

Between Tate’s murder and Manson’s obsession with the Beatles, he quickly became a pop-culture figure. His face, scarred swastika carved into his forehead and all, became synonymous with evil.

Naturally, in the face of such pure emotions, celebrities on Twitter are conflicted, torn between jokes and genuine mourning for Manson’s victims.

For comedians, Manson’s passing is rife with comedy. For an actress such as Mia Farrow, Manson’s death means mourning her friend Tate’s life anew.

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A Star Is Born: Dierks Bentley turns 42 today

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Stagecoach is a good barometer for measuring my career. It’s a chance to check back in on where we’ve been, what we’ve accomplished, what we’re looking forward to since the last time we were here.

— Dierks Bentley, 2017

READ MORE: Dierks Bentley recalls when ‘Taylor Swift opened for me’

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Diana Ross marks lifetime achievement honor at American Music Awards with retrospective medley

Diana Ross celebrated her lifetime achievement award at the 2017 American Music Awards with a jubilant, career-spanning medley.

In what’s become her signature grand entrance, the pop diva arrived to the tune of her 1980 Nile Rodgers-produced anthem, “I’m Coming Out.”

With a career that spans nearly 60 years, Ross had a tough task on her hands during her 10-minute segment. She opted for ‘90s tunes like “Take Me Higher” and “The Best Years of My Life” alongside signature hits “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Ease on Down the Road” from “The Wiz.”

“You are everything to me,” Ross told the audience before she was joined onstage by her children, grandchildren and Motown legends Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson.

Her son Evan Ross and daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick helped give their mother the night’s highest honor.

“You blazed a way,” said Ross Kendrick. “Not just for women. Not just for black folks. Not just for entrepreneurs who want to control their own destiny. But for all of us.”

“This is all about love … I feel so humbled by this,” Ross said while accepting the award.

Ahead of Sunday’s honor, the Times talked to Ross about her career and life off the stage.

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‘American Idol’ gets off to early start during 2017 American Music Awards

And this is “American Idol” … on ABC.

Those words may still be jarring for some viewers of the long-running, former Fox competition series, but producers used the 2017 American Music Awards to hype the show’s comeback.

“Tonight the ‘American Idol’ journey begins,” host Ryan Seacrest said in an early spot that aired during the AMAs that kicked off a rarity for ‘American Idol’ – placing voting power in the hands of the public from the get-go.

Throughout Sunday’s ceremony, footage was shown of three singers who didn’t initially make it past the judges panel of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

A second chance would be given to just one of the hopefuls through a public fan vote -- but in a further moment of synergy the viewers’ pick won’t be announced at the end of the AMAs but during Monday’s episode of “Dancing With the Stars.”

Earlier this year, ABC announced it had struck a deal to bring the competition back, just barely year after it closed its 15-season run on Fox.

“American Idol” premieres in March.

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American Music Awards packed a political punch during its first moments

The 2017 American Music Awards on Sunday opened with an emotional salute to emergency personnel, a shout-out to the women speaking out against sexual harassment and a denouncement against the divisive politics that have gripped the country.

Nearly a dozen first responders flanked Jamie Foxx during the show’s cold open.

“We need the power of music to help us heal … 2017 was a year that tested our faith,” said Foxx, honoring the emergency personnel who responded to tragedies from the past year – though it wasn’t said on the telecast what specific events the men and women surrounding him had taken part in.

“Together our strength will pull us through. Together we can unite as a people,” he said.

Foxx’s opening remarks were followed by a duet from Pink and Kelly Clarkson, who teamed for an impassioned cover of R.E.M’s somber hit “Everybody Hurts.”

That political thread continued through the show’s first half hour.

Host Tracee Ellis Ross used her opening monologue to salute the hundreds of women who have publicly shared their experiences with sexual harassment -- a growing movement that has upended Hollywood and beyond – and Demi Lovato made a poignant statement about bullying.

“There’s so much hate in the world. We have to rise above and never say sorry for who you are,” Lovato said before performing her smash self-love anthem “Sorry Not Sorry.” As she performed, harsh Tweets criticizing her body and her looks flashed across the screen behind her.

And while accepting the night’s first award (pop/rock duo or group), Imagine Dragons promoted “peace, love and quality for all.”

“This is the country we know,” said the band’s frontman Dan Reynolds.

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PBS cuts Al Franken tribute from upcoming special honoring David Letterman

Sen. Al Franken has been edited out of an upcoming PBS special honoring David Letterman following allegations of sexual harassment.

“PBS will air an updated ‘David Letterman: The Mark Twain Prize’ on Monday,” the network said in a statement. “Sen. Al Franken participated in the event, but will not appear substantially in the PBS program.

“PBS and WETA, the producing station, felt that the inclusion of Sen. Franken in the broadcast at this time would distract from the show’s purpose as a celebration of American humor.”

The special, scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Monday, was shot last month at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. In his tribute, Franken thanked Letterman for a series of videos he and the former late night host recorded together to raise awareness about climate change.

Last week, TV host and sports broadcaster Leeann Tweeden accused the Democratic senator from Minnesota of kissing and groping her without her consent in 2006.

Tweeden, an anchor on “McIntyre in the Morning” outlined her experiences with Franken in an essay on KABC’s website, detailing Franken’s insistence on rehearsing a kiss for a comedy skit.

“We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth,” wrote Tweeden. After walking away, Tweeden says she felt “disgusted and violated.”

The anchor also shared a photo of the senator posing with his hands over her chest during a USO tour to entertain troops in the Middle East.

Shortly after the post, Franken released a statement offering his “sincerest apologies to Leeann.”

“As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn’t,” he wrote. “I shouldn’t have done it.”

He released a follow up statement later asking for an ethics investigation that he vowed to cooperate with.

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Jeffrey Tambor may leave ‘Transparent’ following allegations of sexual misconduct

Jeffrey Tambor may not return to 'Transparent' after allegations of sexual misconduct.
(Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

After being accused of sexual harassment by two women on the set of “Transparent,” Jeffrey Tambor may not return to the Amazon series.

“Playing Maura Pfefferman on ‘Transparent’ has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life,” Tambor said in a statement released Sunday. “What has become clear over the past few weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago.”

A representative close to the situation noted that no final decision about next season has been made by Tambor or Amazon.

“I’ve already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue,” he continued. “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to ‘Transparent.’”

Tambor, 73, had already been under investigation by Amazon before indicating he might not return to the show. In a statement released earlier this month, “Transparent” showrunner Jill Soloway said she would willingly cooperate with the investigation.

“Anything that would diminish the level of respect, safety and inclusion so fundamental to our workplace is completely antithetical to our principles,” she said. “We are cooperating with the investigation into this matter.”

Amazon on Sunday declined to comment.

Earlier this month, transgender actress Trace Lysette posted on social media about what she called harassment at the hands of Tambor.

In Lysette’s post, she alleged that Tambor made an over-the-top sexual comment to her when her costume was particularly revealing.

Later that same day, she claimed that Tambor approached her and “leaned his body against me, and began quick, discreet thrusts back and forth against my body. I felt his penis on my hip through his thin pajamas.”

Another transgender actress, Van Barnes, also accused Tambor of sexual harassment in a private Facebook post.

Barnes, who was his assistant at the time, claimed that her former boss, whom she did not identify by name, had repeatedly propositioned her, made lewd comments, groped her and threatened to sue her if she spoke up.

“I am aware that a former disgruntled assistant of mine has made a private post implying that I had acted in an improper manner toward her,” Tambor told Deadline after Barnes’ claims became public.

“I adamantly and vehemently reject and deny any and all implication and allegation that I have ever engaged in any improper behavior toward this person or any other person I have ever worked with. I am appalled and distressed by this baseless allegation.”

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Russell Simmons responds to assault allegations: ‘Everything that happened ... was completely consensual’

Russell Simmons presents the Vanguard Award at the NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena in 2015.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

Embattled music mogul Russell Simmons took to Twitter on Sunday to respond to allegations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old model in 1991.

“I completely and unequivocally deny the horrendous allegations of non-consensual sex against me with every fiber of my being,” he said in the statement.

Simmons, 60, has been accused by model Keri Claussen Khalighi of coercing her into performing oral sex on him in 1991 as his former protege Brett Ratner watched.

“Everything that happened between us 26 years ago was completely consensual and with Keri’s full participation,” Simmons said in the statement. “Abusing women in any way shape or form violates the very core of my being.”

Khalighi alleged that the 1991 incident took place at Simmons’ New York City apartment after he pulled off her clothing.

“I looked over at Brett and said ‘help me’ and I’ll never forget the look on his face,” she told The Times. “In that moment, the realization fell on me that they were in it together.”

The Beverly Hills Police Department investigated Simmons and Ratner in 2001 after a woman filed a report alleging that she was a victim of sexual battery. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence.

Also Sunday, Terry Crews said he received an email from Simmons asking the actor to give “a pass” to the agent Crews claims assaulted him.

“No one gets a pass,” Crews wrote on Twitter.

A representative for Simmons could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday evening.

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Terry Crews says Russell Simmons asked him to give target of sexual-assault allegations ‘a pass’

Terry Crews on Sunday posted a screenshot of an email he said was from entrepreneur-producer Russell Simmons that urged the actor to give the target of his sexual-assault allegations a pass.

Crews recently spoke out about his alleged assault at the hands of a “high-powered” male entertainment executive, who was later identified as WME agent Adam Venit. Venit is currently on leave from the agency.

The actor, 49, addressed the matter last week on “Good Morning America,” saying he had suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome as a result. “I’ve never felt more emasculated, more objectified,” he said. “I was horrified.

“I will not be shamed. I did nothing wrong. It was foul to the core, and it still shocks me.”

A representative for Simmons could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday evening.

Simmons, 60, has been accused of coercing model Keri Claussen Khalighi, then 17, into performing oral sex on him in 1991 as his former protege Brett Ratner watched.

“I looked over at Brett and said ‘help me’ and I’ll never forget the look on his face,” she told The Times.

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Diddy, Meghan Trainor, DJ Khaled join Fox’s new singing competition show, ‘The Four’

Sean "Diddy" Combs, Meghan Trainor, and DJ Khaled
(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times; Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times; Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Every singing competition show needs an all-star panel of experts. “The Four: Battle for Stardom,” Fox’s retort to ABC’s revival of “American Idol,” has filled its musical chairs with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Meghan Trainor, DJ Khaled and music executive Charlie Walk.

The new reality competition fills the network’s void left by one-time stalwart “American Idol,” which was pulled out of retirement and jumped ship to ABC.

“Diddy, DJ Khaled, Meghan and Charlie are giants in the music space,” said Rob Wade, Fox’s head of alternative programming “They understand what an artist needs to break through – from killer music and style to innovative marketing and social media. This is a show like no other and we can’t wait to get started.”

Combs, who is familiar with using the reality competition format to find music’s next big stars as seen on MTV’s “Making the Band,” was quick to declare the new Fox show would “disrupt the world of competition television” and would “revolutionize the format.”

“It took the right show and network to bring me back in the game,” Combs said in a statement. “We plan on being the best talent show out there, taking it to that next level and making history again. This series is about pure competition, fighting for your survival. Do you want to win? Do you want to be great? We’re giving fans a genuine look at what it takes to make it to the top and stay there – surrounding these up-and-coming artists with the best, turning them into the next generation of stars.”

Khaled, a hip-hop producer and DJ, also hyped the show’s subversiveness and his involvement.

“I’ve spent my career discovering amazing talent and working with the biggest icons from every corner of the globe, and now I’m bringing my one-of-a-kind approach to Fox,” he said in a statement. “I immediately jumped at the opportunity when I realized Fox shared the same vision as me, and that’s to be the best!!! … So be prepared for a new era of television.”

Trainor was equally enthusiastic about applying her knowledge about breaking out in the music industry to her new role.

“I know firsthand what it’s like to be thrown into the music industry head first, as an artist and a songwriter,” she said. “I also know what it takes to hang on for the ride. I’m so humbled to help discover new talent with this amazing panel of experts.”

As for Walk, he currently serves as the president of Republic Records Group. Over the span of his career, he has worked with John Mayer, John Legend, and Destiny’s Child.

“What lies at the heart of the music business is ‘talent,’” Walk said in a statement.. “Discovering and developing talent remains the most important, consistent driver of my home, Republic Records, and now Fox’s ‘The Four.’”

“The Four” will make its debut Jan. 4, ahead of the March debut of the “American Idol” reboot on ABC and the spring cycle of “The Voice.”

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‘Bodied,’ ‘The Insult’ and ‘What Will People Say’ pick up audience prizes at AFI Fest

The cast of "Bodied," from left: Shoniqua Shandai, Kid Twist, Rory Uphold, Calum Worthy, director Joseph Kahn, Jackie Long, Dumbfounded and Dizaster.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The AFI Fest announced its prize winners Friday afternoon, bringing this year’s edition to a close.

The audience award for world cinema went to Ziad Doueiri’s drama “The Insult,” which is Lebanon’s submission for the foreign-language Academy Award.

The New Auteurs audience award went to “What Would People Say,” a culture-clash, coming-of-age story set in Norway and Pakistan from writer-director Iram Haq.

The audience award for the American Independents section went to Joseph Kahn’s battle-rap satire “Bodied.” This makes the third audience award the film has picked up, following prizes at the Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest.

Juried short-film prizes went to Farnoosh Samadi’s “Gaze” for live-action short and Niki Lindroth von Bahr’s “The Burden” for animated short, with a special jury mention to Pia Borg’s “Silica.”

This year’s AFI Fest saw unexpected drama when the announced closing-night title, Ridley Scott’s “All the Money in the World,” was pulled from the festival in the fallout over sexual harassment allegations against star Kevin Spacey. (It subsequently was announced that Spacey’s scenes will be reshot with actor Christopher Plummer taking over his role as oil tycoon J. Paul Getty.)

“Molly’s Game,” starring Jessica Chastain and marking the feature directing debut of Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin, was slotted in as a replacement for Thursday’s closing-night film.

The festival opened with the Los Angeles premiere of Dee Rees’ “Mudbound.” Other gala screenings included Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me By Your Name,” James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist” and Scott Cooper’s “Hostiles.” Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya” and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” were among the films shown as special screenings.

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L.A. book reading by ‘Mad Men’ creator Matthew Weiner still planned amid harassment allegation

(Michael Nagle / For The Times)

A reading at the Los Angeles bookstore Chevalier’s Books with “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner will proceed as scheduled Friday night, despite an accusation of sexual harassment recently levied against him.

Weiner’s promotional tour for his new novel, “Heather, the Totality,” has been disrupted several times in recent weeks in the wake of the allegations, with events in Seattle and Washington, D.C., canceled altogether. When asked on tour about the allegation, Weiner has denied it.

The situation got more complicated Friday, when television writer-producer Marti Noxon, who worked as a consulting producer on “Mad Men,” chimed in on Twitter in support of series writer Kater Gordon, who alleged last week that Weiner had harassed her when they worked together in 2008.

“I believe her,” Noxon wrote. “I was at work with her the day after what she described transpired. I remember clearly how shaken and subdued Kater was — and continued to be from that day on.”

The alleged incident took place during a late-night writing session, where Gordon claimed that Weiner told her that she owed it to him to let him see her naked.

Gordon worked as Weiner’s personal assistant before advancing to a role as writing assistant on “Mad Men.” She won a writing Emmy in 2009 for the Season 2 finale of the series, “Meditations in an Emergency,” an episode co-written with Weiner.

Gordon returned to the show as a staff writer but was let go at the conclusion of the third season. She has not worked on a television show since.

Writer-producer Marti Noxon says she believes Kater Gordon's allegation that Matthew Weiner sexually harassed her.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

In a statement made to the Information after Gordon’s allegations arose, a representative for Weiner said, [Weiner] does not remember saying this comment nor does it reflect a comment he would say to any colleague.”

“Responding to [Gordon’s] statement, Matt claimed he would never make that kind of comment to a colleague,” Noxon wrote in a series of 12 tweets. “But anyone with an even cursory knowledge of the show Mad Men could imagine that very line coming from the mouth of Pete Campbell.”

“Matt, Pete’s creator, is many things. He is devilishly clever and witty, but he is also, in the words of one of his colleagues, an ’emotional terrorist’ who will badger, seduce and even tantrum in an attempt to get his needs met,” Noxon continued.

The “UnREAL” co-creator went on to describe an oppressive atmosphere behind the scenes of “Mad Men,” which she attributed to Weiner.

As to why no one reported Weiner’s alleged behavior before, Noxon attributed it both to an awe and respect for his talents, as well as the fear and uncertainty of potential repercussions.

“I believe Kater Gordon,” Noxon concluded.

Weiner will appear at Chevalier’s Books on Larchmont Boulevard at 7 p.m. Friday to discuss his novel with “Orange Is the New Black” creator Jenji Kohan.

Kohan and Weiner are longtime friends, and Weiner directed a Season 4 episode of “OITNB.” In a further twist of fate, Kohan’s husband is writer Christopher Noxon, brother of Marti.

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C.B. Cebulski named new Marvel editor-in-chief

Similar to the reboots, remakes and retcons for which the superhero industry has become known, Marvel Entertainment has decided to reorganize its top brass.

The comic book publisher announced Friday that C.B. Cebulski will be replacing Axel Alonso as editor-in-chief.

“As our characters continue to reach unprecedented levels of global popularity, we need to ensure our core comic business sets the standard with fresh and compelling graphic storytelling that excites both our longtime fan base and new fans,” Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Entertainment, said in a statement.

The announcement characterizes Alonso’s departure after seven years as a mutual decision, and it comes on the heels of the recent loss of Marvel mainstay Brian Michael Bendis.

Cebulski, who has spent the last 18 months of his Marvel career in Asia developing publishing deals in foreign markets, will relocate to New York.

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Meryl Streep reflects on history of violence: ‘I do know something about real terror’

Meryl Streep gave a stirring speech at the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2017 International Press Freedom Awards on Wednesday night in which she shared her own history with violence.

The Oscar-winning actress spoke at length about the bravery of female journalists amid a “poisonous” time for the press.

“I revere the people who do this because I am not a naturally brave person,” Streep said. “I think standing up in front of 1,000 people that are smarter than me and presuming to tell them anything is nauseating and I would rather be home watching Rachel [Maddow], frankly.”

But, Streep went on to point out, she also knew a little about real terror.

“The two times in my life when I was threatened and dealt with real, physical violence, I learned something about life that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. I was lucky, because my instincts served me well,” she said.

In the first instance, Streep recalled playing dead until the blows stopped, as if watching herself from 50 feet above.

In the other, Streep intervened in someone else’s abuse, going after the perpetrator.

“I just went completely nuts,” she said. “Ask Cher, she was there.”

“But I was changed by these events on a cellular level,” Streep said. “Because women do know something particular about coming to the danger place. We come to it disadvantaged through the many millennia preceding our present moment, and because of our vulnerability we anticipate danger, we expect it.

“We’re hyper alert to it, we have the 360 on the whole room. We have measurably more acute hearing, we have a better sense of smell, we notice details — what people are wearing, their tics and peculiarities.”

These skills, she said, serve journalists and actors well.

It was not the first time Streep has publicly lauded the press. During the Golden Globes ceremony in January, Streep memorably called for people to support CPJ, leading to a huge bump in donations for the organization.

Streep is also in journalism mode after the conclusion of filming on Steven Spielberg’s “The Post,” which depicts the story of Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham and editor Ben Bradlee (played by Tom Hanks) as they attempt to publish the Pentagon Papers.

“The Post” will be released Dec. 22.

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U2 and Kendrick Lamar advocate for empathy on new song ‘American Soul’

U2 and Kendrick Lamar’s new collaborative single, “American Soul,” might sound a little familiar.

Released Friday, the song is a riff and update on Lamar’s track “XXX,” which was previously released on his album “Damn” and featured U2.

But the gritty, surging revamp was substantial enough to warrant a fresh release by the Irish rockers. There’s less Lamar on this one, as he opens the tune with a short sermon: “Blessed are the bullies/ For one day they will have to stand up to themselves.../ Blessed are the liars/ For the truth can be awkward.”

This time, there are more earnest salvos about the power of rock ‘n’ roll — the hook is, indeed, Bono chanting, “You are rock ‘n’ roll.”

In the song’s long, discursive bridge, Bono pleads for connection and empathy: “Let it be community/ For refugees like you and me.../ Will you be our sanctuary?”

The song comes from U2’s forthcoming LP, “Songs of Experience,” which is due out Dec. 1. It’s not their first collaboration with Lamar -- he appeared on U2’s “Get Out of Your Own Way” -- but it does suggest that U2 is taking some chances on its follow-up to 2014’s “Songs of Innocence.”

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Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian get married in the Big Easy

Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams.
(Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

Tennis great Serena Williams and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian got married Thursday, not quite three months after welcoming their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian.

Mommy and Daddy became Mrs. and Mr. in a “Beauty and the Beast”-themed wedding, according to “Entertainment Tonight.” Guests “were expected to dress to the theme,” an ET source said.

Fellow tennis star/BFF Caroline Wozniacki and NBA fiance David Lee, Beyoncé, Eva Longoria and Kim Kardashian were among the guests at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans, according to People.

Other famous faces showing up in arrival photos included Kelly Rowland, Anna Wintour and Colton Haynes, Just Jared reported. Per E! News, the bride’s sister, Venus Williams, was of course on hand, as were Ciara and Russell Williams.

The bride wore a gown designed by Donatella Versace to the rehearsal dinner Wednesday night at Emeril Lagasse’s new restaurant Meril, where the chef himself showed up to oversee event prep in the late afternoon, the Daily Mail said. She headed back to her rental mansion afterward, wearing white wedge-heeled Nikes with her fancy dress.

Serena, 36, and Alexis, 34, started dating in 2015. They got engaged in December 2016.

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A Star Is Born: Martin Scorsese turns 75 today

(Bruce Gilbert / For The Times)

At a certain point, you can actually feel it go through your body. It’s part of you. And sometimes, when it all comes together on the set, and especially when it comes together in the cutting room, it becomes part of you. It’s like it just seeps out of your body. And ... you become the film you’re making.

— Martin Scorsese, 1990

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Martin Scorsese Eats, Sleeps, Breathes and Dreams Movies, Shot by Shot

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‘Transparent’ actress alleges inappropriate behavior by Jeffrey Tambor

Jeffrey Tambor is accused of a second allegation of sexual misconduct.
(Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

Another woman working on Amazon’s “Transparent” has come forward to accuse Jeffrey Tambor of sexual misconduct.

Transgender actress Trace Lysette, who plays yoga instructor Shea on the series, wrote a lengthy post on social media Thursday night outlining her own experiences with Tambor.

In Lysette’s post, she alleges that Tambor made an over-the-top sexual comment to her when her costume was particularly revealing.

Later that same day, Lysette claims that Tambor approached her and “leaned his body against me, and began quick, discreet thrusts back and forth against my body. I felt his penis on my hip through his thin pajamas.”

Lysette is the second woman to come forward alleging improper behavior from Tambor.

Two weeks ago, Tambor’s former assistant, Van Barnes — also a transgender woman — claimed that the “Arrested Development” actor behaved inappropriately around her, sparking an official Amazon investigation.

“I am aware that a former disgruntled assistant of mine has made a private post implying that I had acted in an improper manner toward her,” Tambor told Deadline after Barnes’ claims became public.

“I adamantly and vehemently reject and deny any and all implication and allegation that I have ever engaged in any improper behavior toward this person or any other person I have ever worked with. I am appalled and distressed by this baseless allegation.”

In her Thursday post, Lysette urged Amazon to “remove the problem and let the show go on.”

“It’s vital that the show’s creator, show runner and its studio re-center the narrative of ‘Transparent’ on the experiences of the other trans characters and family members audiences have grown to love on the series,” Lysette wrote .

Representatives for Lysette, Tambor and Amazon did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Friday morning.

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Seth Meyers knows just the thing to help sexual predators sleep at night: Pervatol

There is nothing funny about allegations of sexual misconduct. That might leave some late-night TV hosts in a bind, but Seth Meyers found a way to toe the fine line between scathing social commentary and comic entertainment Thursday night.

The deluge of sexual harassment allegations that have been making headlines for the last few weeks, including the recent accusations against Roy Moore and Sen. Al Franken, underscores how perpetrators are in all aspects of society.

To highlight this pervasiveness, Meyers debuted a commercial for a (fictional) new drug that promises to calm any man losing sleep over fears that “his past episodes of sexual assault and/or harassment will come to light.”

The name of this magical “sleep aid specifically designed for sexual predators”? Pervatol.

The commercial features various men who aren’t quite sure whether Pervatol is the right pharmaceutical for them. But as they share progressively problematic stories about their interactions with women, it’s clear that Pervatol is exactly what they need.

As the narrator of the commercial becomes increasingly frustrated with these men, she leaves them with a disclaimer and a warning.

“Pervatol is effective as a sleep aid only,” she says. “Pervatol in no way, shape or form can erase your history of sexual assault and harassment and cannot absolve you of your guilt and shame.

“In fact, those who take Pervatol should be aware that within our current climate, these accusations will come out sooner than later,” she continues. “Now that victims are no longer afraid to speak up, we are going to take down the patriarchy and make you watch as it burns.

“I swear to God, we’re coming for every last one of you,” the voice promises. “So you might as well get some sleep. With Pervatol.”

Watch the commercial above.

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Danny Masterson accuser calls out Netflix for keeping ‘The Ranch’

A woman who previously accused actor Danny Masterson of rape — an allegation he has denied — has gone on the record to criticize Netflix for continuing with his show “The Ranch” even as it has severed ties with Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. after allegations of sexual misconduct.

“For me, what Netflix has done feels like a continuation of how the Church of Scientology made me feel when I reported my rape to them, as well as how Danny Masterson made me feel when I would beg him for an apology, an explanation, anything,” Chrissie Carnell Bixler told the Daily Beast. “I was made to feel unimportant. I was made to feel like I didn’t matter.”

The Masterson investigation into alleged assaults from the early 2000s went public in March. At that time, the actor’s rep called the allegations false and framed them as a PR move to boost the Emmy-winning documentary TV series “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” which premiered in December 2016.

The rep noted that the accusations came only after Remini started speaking out against the church, which counts Masterson as a member. The “That ’70s Show” alumnus has not been charged with a crime.

Known as Chrissie Carnell in the early 2000s, when she and Masterson were a couple for six years, Bixler publicly thanked Remini in November 2016 for speaking out against the Church of Scientology, saying Remini had given her the “strength to leave” it.

Netflix announced in October that Part 4 of “The Ranch” would drop Dec. 15. Two weeks ago, multiple sources told the Huffington Post that an LAPD investigation into sexual assault allegations against Masterson had stalled.

“I will NOT shut my mouth when Netflix tries to make us feel like we don’t matter ...,” Bixler told the Daily Beast. “Victims are taking back the power that was stolen from us, and things are going to change. Netflix should write that down.”

Netflix and a rep for Masterson did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.

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Sarah Silverman breaks silence on friend Louis C.K.: ‘We need to be better. We will be better’

Sarah Silverman broke her silence on the actions of longtime friend Louis C.K. on Thursday, in a moving monologue before the latest episode of her Hulu talk show, “I Love You, America.”

“This recent calling out of sexual assault has been a long time coming. It’s good. It’s like cutting out tumors — it’s messy and it’s complicated and it is going to hurt, but it’s necessary and we’ll all be healthier for it,” Silverman said of the recent spate of women coming forward to share their stories.

“And it sucks and some of our heroes will be taken down, and we will discover bad things about people we like, or in some cases, people we love,” Silverman continued.

“Let’s just say it: I’m talking about Louis.”

C.K. and Silverman’s friendship has spanned more than 25 years, with the latter playing a fictionalized version of herself on the former’s FX series, “Louie.”

Silverman admitted that she wished she could not comment on the matter, that she could sit this round out.

Some, in fact, wondered whether Silverman was sitting this round out after her Friday appearance on “Real Time With Bill Maher,” which avoided the subject of C.K. altogether.

But Silverman buoyed herself with a Mr. Rogers quote that has become something of a mantra for the comedian: “If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable.”

“I’m going to address the elephant masturbating in the room,” Silverman said.

She started with the facts. One of her best friends had masturbated in front of women and wielded his power in messed-up ways, “sometimes to the point where they left comedy entirely.”

There was a heavy pause after Silverman said this, as if to allow the painful reality of her words room to breathe.

Silverman said she could talk about the good times she and C.K. have had together or that he’s a great father, but that none of that is relevant to the conversation at hand. What matters right now, Silverman emphasized, are the victims.

“I hope it’s OK if I am, at once, very angry for the women he wronged and the culture that enabled it, and also sad, because he’s my friend,” Silverman said.

“I believe with all my heart that this moment in time is essential,” Silverman concluded. “It’s vital that people are held accountable for their actions, no matter who they are. We need to be better. We will be better. I can’t ... wait to be better.”

After Silverman’s three-minute monologue, the episode continued as scheduled, with a focus on hate speech in America and reversing radicalism.

This week’s episode of “I Love You, America” will be available to stream on Hulu at 3 p.m. Pacific time Thursday.

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Samantha Bee sounds off on Roy Moore, Louis C.K. and the personal pervert problem

Samantha Bee talks Louis C.K. on the latest episode of "Full Frontal."
(TBS / YouTube)

Samantha Bee had a few things to say to both Alabama and the entertainment industry Wednesday night.

Bee opened “Full Frontal” with an extended examination of recent accusations levied against Alabama “senatorial candidate and sophomore enthusiast” Roy Moore.

The host primarily focused on the reaction to the allegations, particularly in Moore’s home state of Alabama, quoting a recent survey in which nearly 40% of Alabama Christians said that the accusations only make them more likely to vote for Moore.

“What is wrong with Alabama?” Bee asked, with a photo of Moore behind her. “OK, and also New York,” she added, as the photo changed to Woody Allen. “All right, and California,” with a photo of Michael Jackson. “Oh, and all the Thanksgiving tables where creepy uncles are still allowed,” Bee concluded over a photo of photographer Terry Richardson.

“You know what, this isn’t just an Alabama problem. It’s a human problem,” Bee said. “It’s easy to condemn someone else’s predator, but it’s harder when it’s your own critically acclaimed pervert.

“I can scream about Roy Moore all day – and I have – but it won’t matter if his own neighbors keep making excuses for him,” said Bee. “Each community has to kick out its own creeps. That applies whether it’s in politics or entertainment or whatever the ... you call Steven Seagal’s profession.”

At this point, a composite photo featuring Moore, Seagal, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K.

“We’ve made some important progress in the entertainment industry, but it’s not enough,” Bee said, picking up steam.

“Everyone in Hollywood is patting themselves on the back for exiling Harvey Weinstein, but this week, the Hollywood Reporter raved about ‘Daddy’s Home 2’ -- proclaiming ‘Mel Gibson is once again family-friendly,’ because nothing says family-friendly like a racist, domestic abuser with a drinking problem and the words ‘daddy’s home.’”

Bee summed up her disgust with a call of action to Alabama voters, telling them to prove that they’re better than “liberal, sex-crazed Hollywood” and vote.

The latest episode of “Full Frontal” can be seen here.

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A Star Is Born: Maggie Gyllenhaal turns 40 today

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

I am not very trusting of directors. I go in with my fists up -- or at least my cards really close to my chest, because I have been burned before. I find that directors have a hard time believing that a young actress is going to have an artistic opinion that is worth something.

— Maggie Gyllenhaal, 2003

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Pushing boundaries

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‘Veep’ production postponed during Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ cancer treatment

Production on the seventh and final season of HBO’s “Veep” has been postponed while its star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, undergoes treatment for breast cancer.

“We’re obviously postponing production of the show. We were supposed to have started now, while she’s in treatment,” journalist Frank Rich, who is an executive producer on the Emmy-winning HBO series, said on SiriusXM’s “Press Pool” on Wednesday. “But the expectation is that we will shoot again. We have one more season we’re doing, which we’re incredibly excited about.”

In September, the iconic “Seinfeld” alum found out she had breast cancer the day after winning her sixth consecutive Emmy Award for playing career politician Selina Meyer. She went public with her diagnosis days later. HBO, which had already announced plans to end the series in 2018, said Louis-Dreyfus’ diagnosis had no bearing on the decision. The premium cable network also said that it would adjust production as needed.

“Rather impressively, while we wait for her to gather her full strength around her treatment, we’ve been having — with the cast in Los Angeles — table reads of scripts for the final season as they’re ready,” Rich said. “It’s been quite something because she’s fighting a serious, what is for anybody, a real illness. And yet, [she] wants to keep working as much as circumstances allow without being crazy about it.”

The 56-year-old star has been documenting her treatment on social media, sharing chemotherapy updates and silly inspirational videos made by her costars.

Rich said that the actress participated in a table read 10 days ago and was hilarious as her character.

“She’s a very strong person and we can’t wait to welcome her back at full speed,” he said.

There has been no word yet on how the postponement will affect the show’s slated 2018 premiere.

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Simone Garcia Johnson chosen as the first Golden Globe Ambassador

Simone Garcia Johnson.
(Richard Shotwell / Associated Press)

Simone Garcia Johnson, daughter of Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, has been selected as Golden Globe Ambassador as the awards ceremony heads into its 75th year.

Much like her father used to be called the Rock, Garcia Johnson’s new gig used to be called Miss Golden Globe — or, occasionally, Mr. Golden Globe. This year the title changed, along with the job description.

Historically, the Hollywood scion awarded the gig has helped get the trophies onstage and the winners off it when each speech is done. For the 2017 ceremony, it took all three of Sylvester Stallone’s daughters to pull it off.

This year, instead of an awards-season one-off, the role has been expanded to “embody the HFPA’s philanthropic efforts year round,” said Meher Tatna, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which presents the Globes and plans this year to distribute $2.8 million in charitable grants to entertainment-industry organizations.

“I’ve been lucky enough to grow up in a household with strong role models,” Garcia Johnson said in a statement released by the HFPA. “I hope to serve as a role model to young people everywhere and empower them to speak out on issues they are passionate about.”

The association celebrated the unveiling at Catch LA in West Hollywood on Wednesday night with a party attended by Jake Gyllenhaal, Saoirse Ronan, Issa Rae, Nina Dobrev, Kate Bosworth, Kumail Nanjani, Alison Brie, Salma Hayek and others.

Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Chrissy Metz and James Sullivan of “This Is Us” showed up, as did former Miss Golden Globe Corinne Foxx (2016) and Greer Grammer (2015).

The 75th anniversary Golden Globe Awards will be held Jan. 7.

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‘Titanic’ to sail (and sink) again, returning to theaters for 20th anniversary

It’s been 20 years since Rose promised Jack that she’d never let go. It’s also been 20 years since she broke that promise and left him to drown in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.

What better way to commemorate such a momentous cinematic occasion than to sob into your popcorn all over again? You’re in luck: “Titanic” is returning to theaters next month.

Dolby Laboratories Inc., Paramount Pictures and AMC Theatres announced Wednesday a one-week return engagement for the second-highest grossing film of all time.

Starring Kate Winslet and Leonard DiCaprio as doomed lovers, James Cameron’s film has been remastered in Dolby Vision 2D and 3D.

“Titanic” took home 11 Academy Awards and has grossed more than $2 billion worldwide.

It will exclusively screen at AMC theaters equipped with Dolby Cinema, including 20 3D locations, beginning Dec. 1.

Tickets for the “Titanic” rerelease went on sale Wednesday.

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Terry Crews names Hollywood exec he accuses of groping him

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Terry Crews has named the high-level Hollywood executive he accused of groping him at an industry function last year.

During a “Good Morning America” interview that aired Wednesday, the actor confirmed weeks of speculation by identifying William Morris Endeavor’s Adam Venit as the assailant who allegedly groped his privates. Crews filed a police report about the encounter last week.

“Back in February 2016, I was assaulted by Adam Venit, who is head of the Motion Picture Department at William Morris Endeavor, one of the biggest agencies in the world, period,” the 49-year-old former NFL star told Michael Strahan.

“He’s connected to probably everyone I know in the business. Here’s the thing, I did not know this man. I have never had a conversation with him, ever. I knew of him ... but the first time I ever had an interaction with him is at this event,” Crews recalled.

Crews detailed his account of the incident in a series of tweets in October, emboldened by the stories women shared when the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke. On Monday, he revisited the “bizarre” encounter on-air, alleging that Venit made “overtly sexual tongue moves” at him while he was attending a party with his wife, Rebecca King-Crews, in 2016.

“He comes over to me. I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals. I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey.’ And he’s still licking his tongue out and all this stuff and I go, ‘Dude, what are you doing? What are you doing?’ and then he comes back again. He just won’t stop,” Crews recalled.

The enraged star said that he then pushed the agent away, causing Venit to bump into other attendees. He also said that he went over to actor Adam Sandler, one of Venit’s other clients at the party, to tell him what happened. (Sandler’s rep did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for confirmation.)

“I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified,” Crews said. “It’s so bizarre. I wake up every morning wondering, ‘Did this really happen?’”

Crews dropped WME as his talent agency after filing his police report. The actor previously said that he plans to pursue a civil lawsuit in addition to criminal charges.

“People need to be held accountable,” Crews said. “This is the deal about Hollywood. It is an abuse of power. This guy, again, he’s one of the most powerful men in Hollywood and he looked at me at the end as if, ‘Who is going to believe you?’”

Venit, who has a star-studded client list at WME, was suspended by his agency following an investigation into the matter, WME confirmed to ABC News. WME did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

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Rose McGowan plans not-guilty plea on drug charge she believes is linked to Weinstein scandal

Rose McGowan surrendered Tuesday to law enforcement in Virginia in response to a warrant for her arrest on a drug-possession charge stemming from a January incident at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C.

The actress, who’s been vocal in her rape allegations against Harvey Weinstein, says two small bags of cocaine found in a wallet she left on a late Jan. 20 LAX-to-Dulles flight were planted.

“I will clearly plead not guilty,” the 44-year-old “Charmed” alum told the New Yorker on Sunday in an interview that was published Tuesday after her arrest.

“Are they trying to silence me? There is a warrant out for my arrest in Virginia,” McGowan tweeted on Oct. 30.

McGowan, who posted $5,000 bail after her arrest, is set to be arraigned Thursday. At that hearing, she will enter her plea.

McGowan noticed the wallet missing when she was trying to hail a ride service from the airport ahead of the Jan. 21 Women’s March on Washington, she told the magazine. She said she filed a lost-luggage claim with the airport and hours later was contacted by a detective who asked her to come get it.

Nervous that she was being followed by private investigators hired by Weinstein and uncertain whether she was talking to a real detective, she didn’t go to the airport, choosing instead to board a bus for the march, she told the New Yorker.

The next day, she said, she got an anonymous message on social media saying cocaine had been found in her wallet. A warrant for her arrest was issued Feb. 1.

McGowan’s attorney has asked the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s attorney to drop the charges because the drugs could have been planted either when the actress got up to use the bathroom during the flight or during the hours the wallet was not in her possession, according to a court filing obtained by the New Yorker.

According to a previous New Yorker report, Weinstein operatives using false identities met with McGowan in fall 2016 to try to get information from her after she had tweeted about being raped by a studio head, and again in 2017.

Though a former attorney for the producer verified that investigators had been employed, a Weinstein rep told the magazine it was “a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time.”

McGowan reached a $100,000 settlement with Weinstein in 1997 over the alleged rape, according to the New York Times, but learned this summer that it didn’t include a confidentiality clause. She joined the chorus of voices that followed an NYT investigation that included stories about Weinstein from Ashley Judd and other women.

After surrendering Tuesday, the actress tweeted images reflecting her mood.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A Star Is Born: Ed Asner turns 88 today

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

The most frightening moments of violence are those which have been implied, rather than, for example, seeing the bullet enter the middle of the forehead and leave the backside. It has nothing to do with freedom of expression; it’s a matter of taste.

— Ed Asner, 1993

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Getting at ‘The Naked Truth’

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Former child star Mara Wilson defends ‘Stranger Things’ actress Millie Bobby Brown in poignant essay

Mara Wilson.
(Christina House / For The Times)

“Stranger Things 2” star Millie Bobby Brown has found an unexpected ally in former child star Mara Wilson.

In a new essay for Elle magazine, Wilson (“Matilda,” “Mrs. Doubtfire”) used her own experiences to defend the 13-year-old Netflix star from the critical eye of social media and the wandering eyes of predators. She also argued against “the culture of dehumanization” Hollywood has enabled.

The “Bojack Horseman” actress is the latest celebrity to come to the defense of the popular sci-fi series’ young stars, who have been subjected to increased scrutiny since the second season recently launched. (“Game of Thrones” star Sophie Turner recently defended 14-year-old Finn Wolfhard after a video of him avoiding fans surfaced.)

Millie Bobby Brown attends Netflix's "Stranger Things 2" premiere on Oct. 26 in Westwood. Her appearance sparked reactions in social media
(Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images)

Recalling her own experiences as a young actress, Wilson, now 30, wrote about her discomfort with commentary on images of Brown, 13, dressed up at a premiere. The reactions, she said, were split, with Twitter users and news outlets saying that the young star looked old or blamed the actress’ parents for letting her dress the way she did.

“It would be unacceptable for an adult to comment on the body of a 13-year-old girl they knew. So why do these adults make pronouncements about the body of a 13-year-old girl they have never met?” Wilson wrote. “I laughed when it happened to me. But I can’t laugh when it happens to others.”

She felt sick and furious that Brown’s innocence was fetishized, asserting that “a 13-year-old girl is not all grown up.”

As someone who grew up in and near Hollywood, Wilson said she believes that the industry “isn’t necessarily immoral, but amoral.” She also called on writers and commentators to be “careful and thoughtful” with their words.

“If a stranger on the internet tells me that I’m ugly, or that they want to have sex with me (which happens multiple times a week), I can handle it. I am not a child anymore. Millie Bobby Brown is. Commenting on a child’s body, whether in a ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ way, in a sexualizing or pitying way, is still commenting on a child’s body.”

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Pink reveals how Jon Bon Jovi broke her heart – but later made it up to her

Pink stopped by “The Late Late Show With James Corden” Tuesday to hitch a ride, croon some tunes and swap some stories on “Carpool Karaoke.”

One month after the release of her most recent album, “Beautiful Trauma,” Pink and Corden cruised the streets of Los Angeles singing “What About Us” before the songstress opened up about her first love: Jon Bon Jovi.

“I still remember, I was in the car, coming home from singing lessons, and they said on the radio that he married his high school sweetheart,” she said solemnly. “I almost threw up in my mouth.”

Pink told Corden how she ripped all her Bon Jovi posters off her wall and threw them out, before settling into a multiday funk.

“I was devastated,” she said. “It was the first time someone ever broke my heart.”

Years later, when Pink appeared on a New Jersey radio show with Bon Jovi, she shared her childhood crush – and made sure he and his wife were still happily married, she joked.

Pink did end up with a consolation prize, however.

“And then he sent me a flower arrangement and there was a pair of leather pants and a note that said, ‘Now you can finally get into my pants,’” she said.

Corden and Pink hit many of the singer’s hits while on their drive, including “Raise Your Glass,” “Get This Party Started” and “Beautiful Trauma.”

Pink’s “Beautiful Trauma” tour begins in March, with stops at Staples Center on May 31 and the Forum on June 1.

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Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ tops 1 million sales in four days

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
(John Salangsang / Associated Press)

Just past the halfway point of its first week of release, Taylor Swift’s sixth album, “Reputation,” has surpassed the 1-million sales mark, Nielsen Music reported Tuesday.

The album had tallied 1,050,000 copies by the end of business Monday, four days after its release Friday, according to Nielsen.

Various industry sources told Billboard recently that Swift’s label, Big Machine Records, is projecting first-week sales that may approach 2 million copies.

Whether it reaches that figure, it still establishes a record for the 27-year-old singer and songwriter, making it her fourth album in a row to exceed first-week sales of 1 million copies.

Her previous albums to top that mark were “1989,” which sold 1.29 million in 2014, “Red” (1.21 million in 2012) and “Speak Now” (1.05 million in 2010).

“Reputation” isn’t expected to threaten the record holder for first-week sales, Adele’s “25,” which posted equivalent sales of 3.4 million copies when it came out two years ago.

Swift’s latest bolted out of the gate Friday with sales of more than 700,000 copies in the first 24 hours, Nielsen reported, and it had reached 925,000 by the end of Sunday.

As it has with Swift’s previous albums, Big Machine has withheld “Reputation” from streaming services initially, a move that helps drive sales early among fans most committed to hearing it immediately.

The label did, however, have a deal with iHeartRadio to stream it for 24 hours on the broadcast conglomerate’s marketing site, HitRadio.

The album has been met with largely positive reviews, scoring a collective 72 (out of possible 100) on the Metacritic.com aggregate website, based on 22 reviews.

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Electronic producer and DJ William ‘the Gaslamp Killer’ Bensussen files defamation lawsuit against accusers

William Bensussen, a.k.a. the Gaslamp Killer
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Producer and DJ William Bensussen, who performs under the stage name the Gaslamp Killer, has filed a defamation lawsuit against two women who last month accused him of rape. In addition, the suit names one of the accuser’s boyfriends and claims that he also knowingly spread defamatory information.

The suit, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, claims that the women, named in the court papers as Chelsea Tadros and RaeAn Medina, as well as Tadros’ boyfriend, Jack Wagner, spread “malicious and fabricated rape allegations against William Bensussen on the internet based on a consensual sexual encounter” that occurred on July 5, 2013.

The court action follows an Oct. 12 allegation, reprinted in the lawsuit, that Tadros posted to her Twitter account. After posting her story, her boyfriend, Wagner, posted numerous tweets slamming Bensussen.

In a direct message to The Times sent a day after she posted her allegations, Tadros wrote, “i havent considered whether or not to take legal action.” Contacted after the suit was filed, she declined to comment further.

The musician has not replied to an interview request, but on Tuesday morning, his attorney, Parag L. Amin, called the allegations against Bensussen “incredibly damaging to someone’s career, someone’s personal life, to have these accusations made against them.”

He added, “We are 100% certain that these are fabricated allegations, and they’re malicious and disgusting.”

After the allegation came to light, Bensussen denied it in a tweet, writing, in part, “I would never hurt a woman. I would never drug a woman and I would never put anyone in a situation where they were not in control, or take anything they weren’t offering.”

Bensussen has since parted ways with the Low End Theory, where he was a resident DJ, and canceled his upcoming performances.

No court date has been set.

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More bad news for Louis C.K. as ‘I Love You, Daddy’ loses global distributors

The fallout continues for Louis C.K. as several foreign distributors have opted not to move forward with the release of “I Love You, Daddy” in the wake of C.K.’s sexual misconduct.

“As much as we acknowledge Louis C.K.’s creative and performing talent, releasing the film in the Middle East and North Africa would mean condoning this type of behavior and forgetting the damage it has caused and still causes to the victims regardless of gender,” Front Row Filmed Entertainment representative Gianluca Chakra said in a Tuesday statement to The Times.

“We at Front Row have decided not to release the film. This is the type of message we must send to the whole system which needs to drastically reexamine its core ethical and professional values,” Chakra added.

Front Row is not the only distributor rethinking its plans for “I Love You, Daddy.”

French distributor ARP Selection has also dropped the film, according to the Hollywood Reporter; the distributor’s contract stipulated that the French debut must be held after the film had premiered in the U.S. With the Orchard canning the film’s release in this country, ARP is hamstrung.

“Contract or no contract, just look at the trailer — you can’t watch it now,” Michele Halberstadt, ARP co-founder and head of acquisitions, told THR. “But [now] it is telling a different story. There is a subtext there, and that subtext is killing the movie.”

According to Deadline, all international distributors of “I Love You, Daddy” have now dropped the film.

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‘American Idol’ alum Jordin Sparks secretly weds and now has a baby on the way

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Jordin Sparks is a married lady and a mama-to-be.

The “American Idol” winner wed boyfriend Dana Isaiah during a secret ceremony in July, she confirmed to People.

Sparks, 27, said they eloped while on vacation in Hawaii and were joined by a small group of friends. Then, a month later, she found out she was pregnant.

“I’m extremely grateful because life is nuts,” Sparks told the mag. “This is the best part so far because I have [Dana] and I have this little one and I have a new family. I’m the most content I’ve ever been in my life.”

The “No Air” songstress was introduced to Isaiah, 25, an aspiring model, via family group chat when she was enlisted by their moms to discourage him from moving out West.

“My mom was trying to get [Jordin] to talk me out of moving to L.A. because she’s experienced the industry out here,” Isaiah said. “It wasn’t like, ‘We want you guys to date.’ ”

The two bonded over their tight-knit families and their shared Christian faith, the mag said, and after talking for nearly a month, Isaiah flew to Los Angeles to meet her in person. A few days later, Sparks told herself, “That’s going to be my husband! That’s my husband right there.”

Sparks previously was linked to singer Jason Derulo, whom she dated for three years before they split in 2014. She is featured in his “Marry Me” music video, which reportedly was the beginning of the end of their romance.

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Elizabeth Perkins names James Woods on #MeToo protest sign

Elizabeth Perkins participates in the Take Back the Workplace March on Nov. 12 in Hollywood.
(Sarah Morris / Getty Images)

Elizabeth Perkins called out James Woods by name on a “#MeToo” sign at the Take Back the Workplace protest march Sunday in Hollywood.

Whether the comment referred to her own experience or someone else’s was unclear, and a rep for the “Weeds” actress did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment. Perkins and Woods’ movie and TV acting resumes, as listed on IMDb, do not appear to overlap.

Woods, who just hit 1 million Twitter followers Monday, did not comment on social media regarding the sign, and a rep for the two-time Oscar nominee didn’t immediately answer a request for comment.

“Well well well,” Amber Tamblyn tweeted Monday with a link to a story focusing on Perkins’ sign. In September, Tamblyn accused Woods of trying to pick up her and a friend in Las Vegas when she was 16.

The protest march, chaired by early Harvey Weinstein accuser Lauren Sivan, was sponsored by the Feminist Majority Foundation in conjunction with Civican and We for She, according to its Facebook page.

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CW’s Arrowverse stars voice support for accusers in producer’s misconduct scandal

"The Flash" star Grant Gustin, left, and "Arrow" star Stephen Amell
(Chris Frawley / Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. via Getty Images)

The CW’s Arrowverse stars have teamed up again — and this time it isn’t for a super-crossover. The front-of-the-camera talent from several of producer Andrew Kreisberg’s superhero TV shows banded together to support the women and men accusing him of misconduct.

Following “Supergirl” star Melissa Benoist’s post about the scandal on Sunday, her costar Chyler Leigh, “Arrow’s” Stephen Amell and Emily Bett Rickards, “The Flash’s” Grant Gustin and “Legends of Tomorrow” star Caity Lotz took to social media to champion women and condemn those who were complicit in alleged wrongdoing. None of them accused Kreisberg by name.

“To the men who committed harassment, who perpetuated rape culture, who turn a ‘blind eye,’ and complain about ‘reverse sexism’: you are weak and complicit,” Rickards wrote on Twitter. “To the women who found the strength to speak up. To the women who supported one another and to the women finding their voice: You can. You are Heroines.”

In Amell’s case, the actor directly addressed Warner Bros.’ investigation into the executive producer, who was suspended when 19 claims of misconduct were alleged in a Variety story last week, including frequent touching without permission, requests for massages from female staff members and sexualized comments about women’s appearances. That investigation is being conducted in cooperation with Berlanti Productions, which oversees Kreisberg’s shows.

Speaking candidly in a Facebook Live video, Amell offered to assist in the investigation if called on.

“If they need my help in any way shape or form, they will get it,” Amell said. He also said that he stands behind and fully supports the comments of Benoist, Rickards and Lotz.

“Our biggest asset on ‘Arrow’ is our crew and furthermore their biggest strength and our biggest strength is working as a team. I think we can do this because we promote and we champion a safe and progressive work environment,” he said, adding that “if anyone feels less than 100% safe,” they should come forward and he’ll stand “right beside them” and speak on their behalf.

“The Flash’s” Gustin took the opportunity to address the seismic shift in the industry since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke last month.

“Hearing of different men, again and again, especially in the industry I work in, treating women as if they are less than, and both physically and emotionally abusing them has become a daily occurrence. This is not OK. This can’t become our new normal,” the actor wrote on Instagram.

Gustin then shifted the onus onto himself and said that he wants to be a “better man, a better ally. And I especially want all of the women in my life to know that I hear them, I stand with them, and I support them.”

“These women are the real superheroes, and they should be treated as such,” he wrote.

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A Star Is Born: Josh Duhamel turns 45 today

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

[Modeling] was such a short blip in my life, but it was important because it was sort of a transition from the middle of nowhere in North Dakota to Los Angeles .... But modeling wasn’t nearly as glamorous as I thought it was going to be.

— Josh Duhamel, 2015

FROM THE ARCHIVES: It’s all or nothing with Josh Duhamel: Either jeans and a T-shirt, or a Dolce & Gabbana suit

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A choked-up Jimmy Fallon returns to ‘The Tonight Show’ with moving tribute to his mother

A solemn Jimmy Fallon returned to “The Tonight Show” on Monday night, just nine days after the death of his mother.

“She was the best audience,” Fallon said. “She was the one I was always trying to make laugh.”

Fallon then shared a childhood memory of his mother, Gloria, walking hand in hand with him and his sister to the store.

“She would squeeze my hand three times and say, ‘I love you,’ and I would squeeze back ‘I love you too,’” Fallon recalled.

He took a moment to compose himself before continuing.

“Last week I was in the hospital and I was by her side and I grabbed her hand and I squeezed ‘I love you,’” Fallon said, falling silent and shaking his head to indicate that his mother did not respond.

“I just knew we were in trouble.”

“The Tonight Show” was off last week to allow Fallon time to be with his family. But Monday it was back with guests Jeff Daniels, Mary J. Blige and a surprise appearance by Taylor Swift, who debuted a song from her new album with some painfully relevant lyrics.

From “New Year’s Day,” an emotional ballad from “Reputation,” Swift sang: “You squeeze my hand three times in the back of the taxi / I can tell that it’s gonna be a long road / I’ll be there if you’re the toast of the town, babe / Or if you strike out and you’re crawling home.”

After her performance, a visibly moved Fallon exchanged a long hug with Swift.

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Louis C.K.’s ex-manager Dave Becky apologizes for misinterpreting accusers’ stories

Dave Becky, left, and Louis C.K. in January 2012.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

Dave Becky, comedian Louis C.K.’s former manager, is apologizing for his behavior and explaining his side of the story in the sexual misconduct scandal that enveloped the Emmy-winning comedian last week.

“I profoundly regret and am deeply sorry for not listening to and not understanding what happened to Dana and Julia,” Becky said in a statement Monday. “If I had, I would have taken this event as seriously as it deserved to be, and I would have confronted Louis, which would have been the right thing to do.”

In the New York Times story that brought C.K.’s behavior into the light last week, the 3 Arts Entertainment-affiliated manager was quoted regarding accusations by comedians Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov, who said C.K. got naked and masturbated in front of them in a hotel room in 2002. C.K. admitted Friday that their story was true, as were those told by several other women interviewed by the newspaper.

Becky — who represents Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari and Amy Poehler — wanted the women to stop speaking of the encounter and was accused of threatening them if they continued to share the story, the New York Times story said. The women said they later steered clear of projects linked to Becky.

In his statement, released just days after 3 Arts Entertainment and other companies dropped the comedian, Becky said he didn’t realize the women’s encounter with the “Louie” star was threatening or non-consensual. He said he was providing further context “so that others do not make the same mistake” he did.

I have come to realize my status wielded an atmosphere where such news did not reach me, or worse yet, that it seemed such news did not matter to me. It does. It matters tremendously.

— Dave Becky, former manager to Louis C.K.

“At that time, I heard the story third-hand, and I interpreted the conversation as two women telling a story about a sexual encounter with a then-married Louis,” Becky said. “Albeit enormously embarrassing, in no way did I interpret the interaction as threatening or non-consensual. I misperceived the casual way the story was portrayed to me — instead I should have recognized that it must have been a mask for their unease and discomfort in the face of his detestable behavior.”

Becky said his intention was to “seek discretion” regarding what he thought was a matter of infidelity. Now, he explained, he comprehends that his response “was perceived as a threat to cover-up sexual misconduct. This is not an excuse. What I did was wrong, and again, I am extremely sorry.”

He also said he was “operating blindly from a one-sided place of privilege.” Becky said he knew of only “one isolated incident” until last week and was appalled to learn of the others.

“I have come to realize my status wielded an atmosphere where such news did not reach me, or worse yet, that it seemed such news did not matter to me. It does. It matters tremendously,” he said.

“I am going to take time to reflect on this, to educate myself daily, and to strive towards a more enlightened path. I want to ensure that all voices around me are heard, and that everyone is treated respectfully and empathetically. More than anything, I want to create an environment that is a better, safer and fairer place.”

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‘Justice League’ Amazons get a revealing costume makeover

Sometimes creators just can’t help but mess with a good thing. Coca-Cola had New Coke. Garth Brooks had Chris Gaines. And now “Justice League” has its redesigned Amazon costumes.

According to pictures posted over the weekend by the film’s original director Zack Snyder, Wonder Woman’s cronies sport significantly different duds in the new flick than the ones they donned in June’s blockbuster smash “Wonder Woman.”

The costume updates are leaving some online critics cold and, all things considered, might have done the same for the actresses who wore them.

See, unlike the reinforced, torso-covering warrior gear modeled by Robin Wright in the photo above, the Amazons featured in “Justice League” are wearing a little less. More accurately, a lot less.

While some of the new costumes provide protection for the women’s internal organs, many leave the fighters depending only on their god-like abs of steel for defense.

But, you may ask, what of the “Wonder Woman” training scenes, where many Themyscira inhabitants were more casually clad?

You’re not wrong. But in the narrative of the story, those garments were never intended for battle, where they would be easily ripped to shreds. They were made for sparring.

OK, but how about some equal opportunity exploitation?

After all, Snyder also made “300,” a film not exactly known for its extensive abdominal protection.

Is it sexist? Is it disrespectful?

Hard to say. The main takeaway from the costume kerfuffle is probably that Snyder doesn’t have a firm grip on the purpose of armor.

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Marc Maron talks empathy and Louis C.K. on latest podcast

(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

After tweeting on Thursday that he planned to discuss the sexual misconduct allegations against his friend Louis C.K., actor and comedian Marc Maron has followed through on his promise.

On the latest episode of his podcast “WTF,” Maron unpacked his thoughts and feelings about the C.K. accusations and clarified what he knew about the stories beforehand as well as his own experience with unwanted sexual conduct.

“He’s my friend and it’s a difficult position to be in,” Maron said. “Because I certainly can’t condone anything he did. There was no way to justify it. There’s no way to defend it. There’s no way to apologize for him about it.”

Maron moved on to address whether there was culpability for C.K.’s actions, given that rumors about his now-admitted inappropriate behavior had swirled around the comedy community for years.

“There was a story out there,” Maron said, “going back several years. That there were unnamed people in the story. Took place in a hotel room in Aspen. It was always out there but then it would pick up momentum at different times and I would ask him about it.”

The podcast host and star of Netflix’s “GLOW” recalled asking C.K. about the story, if it were true that he made women watch him masturbate, and said that C.K. always denied it.

When Maron would suggest C.K. quash the rumor publicly, the “Louie” creator would say, “No, I can’t. I can’t do that. It’ll give it life. It’ll give it air.”

Maron also had thoughts on the empathy required for men to force themselves out of their own head space and into a woman’s perspective and the struggle he’s had with acknowledging the inherent power dynamic involved in the workplace.

“In a situation where there’s a power dynamic. In a situation where you’re not even seeing a person. You’re just seeing a person who is there to receive your garbage,” Maron said of overcoming “man brain.” “It’s hard to understand that the power dynamic is real and it exists because things have been the way they’ve been for a long time.”

Before the episode was over, Maron also attempted to illustrate the problematic nature of C.K.’s actions to those who may wish to dismiss them on grounds of not being illegal.

He shared a story of being a college undergraduate struggling with a philosophy class and finding guidance from the professor, a man he looked up to.

Maron described the professor as a “powerful, impactful guy” and said, “I wanted him to acknowledge me as someone who is smart, who is on the right path, who is going to do it.”

The professor and Maron grabbed dinner one night and afterward, his teacher kissed him.

“And my body went into like a paralysis,” Maron recalled. “It was almost like a leaving-the-body kind of moment and I could not do anything.”

Though careful not to suggest his own experience was on the same level as that of the women C.K. targeted, Maron explained what made the encounters so devastating.

“Well, the big deal is that it’s boundary-shattering. It is traumatizing. It is unexpected,” he said. “These things — they may not destroy your life. They may not even register in the big picture. But they’re stuck there. They’re stuck there as trauma.”

The latest episode of “WTF” can be heard here.

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Radhika Jones succeeds Graydon Carter as Vanity Fair’s editor in chief

Radhika Jones will succeed Graydon Carter as Vanity Fair’s editor in chief.

The former New York Times books editor will be the magazine’s fifth editor in chief since its modern revival in 1983, publisher Condé Nast announced Monday following a report of her appointment that was published over the weekend.

“There is nothing else out there quite like Vanity Fair,” Jones said in a statement. “It doesn’t just reflect our culture — it drives our understanding of it. It can mix high and low, wit and gravitas, powerful narrative and irresistible photography. It has a legacy of influential reporting, unmatchable style and, above all, dedication to its readers. I am honored to succeed Graydon Carter as editor and excited to get to work.”

Carter, who has served as the magazine’s editor since 1992, announced in September that he was stepping down after he feeling that he’d “pretty much accomplished everything” he ever wanted to do.

Jones earned a nod of approval from Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor in chief who also serves as Condé Nast’s artistic director. Wintour called the newly minted chief “a fearless and brilliant editor whose intelligence and curiosity will define the future of Vanity Fair in the years to come.”

Jones previously served as deputy managing editor at Time magazine and editorial director of the New York Times’ book section. She begins her new gig at Vanity Fair on Dec. 11, overseeing all content development, production and consumer experiences for the magazine’s numerous platforms, Condé Nast said.

She will also head up the glossy’s iconic Oscars party, the fifth annual New Establishment Summit and the brand’s 105th anniversary, as well as continue the digital expansion of the mag’s new vertical, the Hive.

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Costumes, props from ‘The Mindy Project’ heading for auction

Mindy Lahiri’s colorful costumes, accessories and a slew of amusing props from “The Mindy Project” are going up for auction to mark the show’s series finale.

Hulu, Universal Television and ScreenBid are hosting an online auction featuring 45 items from Mindy Kaling’s sitcom to celebrate the final episode Tuesday.

Items on the block include Mindy’s “Microwave Cooking for One” book from Season 1, Danny’s chewed pen from Season 2 and Danny and Mindy’s wedding invitation set from Season 4, as well as several costumes from the show’s six seasons.

Opening bids range from $25 to $500. Iconic costumes created by Emmy-nominated costume designer Salvador Perez start at $200.

The auction begins Monday at 9 p.m. Pacific Time (midnight on the East Coast) and ends Nov. 27. Ten specific items will be auctioned to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Browsing through Mindy’s closet now. Later, baby.

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Amazon is bringing ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to the small screen

A “Lord of the Rings” TV series is coming to Amazon.

The Seattle-based e-commerce giant announced Monday that is has acquired the global television rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novels. It has given a multiple-season commitment to a TV adaptation slated to debut on its streaming service.

The series will be produced by Amazon Studios in cooperation with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, book publisher HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment behind the film adaptations.

The TV adaptation will, according to a press release, “explore new storylines preceding ‘The Fellowship of the Ring.’” The deal also allows for potential spinoff series.

“’The Lord of the Rings is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, head of scripted series at Amazon Studios. “We are ... thrilled to be taking ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fans on a new epic journey in Middle-earth.”

It makes sense that Amazon would pursue the rights to the fantasy novels. CEO Jeff Bezos has made it known that he wants the streamer to find its own “Game of Thrones.” And “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom and Sean Astin among others, grossed nearly $6 billion worldwide.

“We are delighted that Amazon, with its longstanding commitment to literature, is the home of the first-ever multi-season television series for ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” said Matt Galsor, a representative for the Tolkien Estate and Trust and HarperCollins.

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John Oliver calls Louis C.K.’s actions ‘indefensible’

John Oliver didn’t have much time to spare on Sunday night’s Season 4 finale of “Last Week Tonight,” giving the bulk of the episode over to dissecting the twisted behemoth that is the Trump presidency.

But the “Daily Show” alumni did carve out a moment to savage the recently exposed Louis C.K. sexual misconduct scandal with just a few brief lines.

“We saw everything from Republicans continuing to roll out their tax reform plan, with all the grace of a horse falling down a spiral staircase,” Oliver said of the past week, “to the New York Times reporting Louis C.K.’s gross sexual misconduct.”

That would be conduct which, according to Oliver, “is completely indefensible and which inevitably resulted in the cancellation of his new film, ‘Exhibit A If This Ever Goes to Trial.’”

Oliver was referring to C.K.’s unreleased film “I Love You, Daddy,” a black-and-white effort that many critics view as a blatant homage to the work of Woody Allen, that dissects the power imbalance implicit between young women and older men.

On Thursday, the New York Times published the stories of five women who accused C.K. of masturbating in front of them — or asking if he could. On Friday, C.K. admitted that the incidents were true.

Even before C.K. verified the accusations were accurate, the distributor for “I Love You, Daddy,” the Orchard, announced that it would not move forward with the release of the film.

The entirety of this week’s episode of “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” can be seen on HBO Go.

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Taylor Swift sets ‘Reputation’ tour dates

(John Salangsang / Associated Press)

Taylor Swift’s long-awaited “Reputation” is already assured to be one of the best-selling album launches in recent history. Now the singer has a stadium tour to go with it.

Swift announced the first round of U.S. dates for her “Reputation” tour on Monday morning. It is set to begin May 9 in Arizona, and includes a Rose Bowl show May 19. It is scheduled to wrap up in Texas in October.

This tour will make use of Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program, the groundbreaking if controversial effort with which fans can boost their place in the ticket-buying line (and hopefully beat scalpers) by purchasing albums and merchandise and sharing Swift content on social media.

The effort already seems to have worked in one respect: Last week, “Reputation” sold an estimated 700,000 albums — that’s sales alone, not even streaming equivalents — on its first day of release.

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Carrie Underwood breaks wrist in a fall at home

Carrie Underwood performs at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards in April 2017.
(Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

Carrie Underwood, who broke her wrist Friday, says she’ll be all right given a little time to heal.

The country singer, who last week co-hosted the CMA Awards for the 10th year, fell on the steps outside her Nashville home Friday, according to the Tennessean. In addition to the wrist injury, she was treated at a hospital for cuts and bruises, her representative told the paper.

“Thanks so much for all the well wishes everybody...I’ll be alright...might just take some time...glad I’ve got the best hubby in the world to take care of me,” Underwood tweeted on Sunday.

Mike Fisher, her husband since 2010, flew home overnight to be with her, according to People. CMAs co-host Brad Paisley also wished her a swift recovery.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to take part in Sunday’s Country Rising benefit concert to assist victims of the Las Vegas shooting and help with hurricane recovery.

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‘Supergirl’ Melissa Benoist: ‘Heartbreaking’ that her industry doesn’t mirror her show’s message

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

“Supergirl” star Melissa Benoist has spoken out in the wake of sexual harassment accusations against co-showrunner Andrew Kreisberg, who has been suspended pending an investigation by Warner Bros.

“I am a woman who leads a show that supports equality and feminism, empowerment and fighting for what is right. I have always tried to conduct myself this way personally, as well,” Benoist said in a statement posted Sunday night on Twitter. “Sadly, the show and my career are a part of an industry that doesn’t always mirror these sentiments.”

In a Variety story Friday, 15 women and four men detailed years of alleged misconduct by Kreisberg, including frequent touching without permission, asking for massages from female staff members and sexualized comments about women’s appearances.

Kreisberg has denied the accusations. Warner Bros. is conducting an investigation with the cooperation of Berlanti Productions, which oversees the producer’s shows. Variety said its sources chose to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation.

Benoist didn’t directly mention Kreisberg — who serves as an executive producer on The CW’s “Arrow,” “The Flash” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” in addition to “Supergirl” — but addressed the atmosphere of the aftermath of allegations against him.

“This is heartbreaking, and at times makes me feel helpless. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way,” she wrote. “But I’m an optimist. I believe lasting change is possible, and when people are mistreated, they should have a safe forum to speak their trust and always be heard.”

She continued: “And when people commit crimes or harass others they should always be held accountable — no matter what industry they work in or how much power they wield.”

Benoist then moved to advocate that people, including herself, should continue speaking up in the face of wrongdoing and to hold themselves to a higher standard.

“So this week, I’ll head back to work on Supergirl even more committed to being a part of changing the norm by listening when people speak up, and refusing to accept an environment that is anything less than a safe, respectful and collaborative space,” she concluded.

The third season of “Supergirl” is airing on the CW. It premiered on CBS in 2015 and moved to its current home for its second cycle.

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‘Disaster Artist’ stars talk sexual harassment and turning failure into success at AFI premiere

Nathan Fielder, Paul Scheer, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jacki Weaver, Ari Graynor, and Josh Hutcherson pose on the red carpet for the AFI Fest 2017 Gala presentation of
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Failure is not always failure.

That was the resounding message from the L.A. premiere of “The Disaster Artist” at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. James and Dave Franco and Seth Rogen were among the stars on hand Sunday to celebrate a film that chronicles the creation of director Tommy Wisea’s 2003 movie “The Room.”

“I love Hollywood stories,” said James Franco, who along with his brother read actor Greg Sestero’s book “The Disaster Artist” and decided to make it into a movie.

“This was unlike any Hollywood story I’d ever heard of and read about,” said James Franco, who directed and produced the movie. “I read the book and thought this would be so unusual and weird, but at its core it’ll have this great story about dreamers trying to make it and friendship.”

James Franco plays Wiseau, who wrote, produced, directed and starred in “The Room.” When the movie premiered in 2003, it was labeled as perhaps one of the worst movies ever made. However, the film would go on to become a cult classic and central to Sestero’s 2013 memoir.

Dave Franco stars as Sestero in a cast that includes his wife, Alison Brie, Josh Hutcherson, Ari Graynor and Paul Scheer, among others.

“I would say every job I’ve ever not gotten is an example of that,” Brie joked about turning perceived failures into success. “You look back at jobs that you lost sleep over [not getting] and shed tears over, and you realize if you got that, you wouldn’t have gotten something else that changed your life.”

PHOTOS: AFI Film Festival 2017 >>

As Sugar Lyn Beard — who plays two characters in the film —put it, “Failure doesn’t exist.”

“As long as you’re trying and putting passion behind it, even if it doesn’t go the way that other people think it should’ve, that’s not failure because you learn from that,” she said.

And as will be the case of every red carpet as award season kicks into high gear, the conversation turned to the deluge of sexual assault allegations shaking Hollywood.

“I just hope that as we move forward that men and everyone in our industry takes note of what’s going on and changes that type of behavior,” Graynor said.

Hutcherson added: “It’s something that’s horrible and embarrassing and disgusting. It’s really great and amazing that women are coming forward and we can enact some change and those people that are causing harm and pain to others can be brought to justice.”

“The Disaster Artist” opens in theaters Dec. 1.

For the record

8:15 a.m.: An earlier version of this article credited Alison Brie with an Oscar win for 2015’s “Room.” The best actress Academy Award went to Brie Larson.

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A Star Is Born: Whoopi Goldberg turns 62 today

(Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

Indies are the place to go. I think actors are just starting to feel like we’ll go anywhere to do our craft, if it’s on TV or an indie. I think we just want to act in good things that have something to say. When we do crap, we want it to be great crap like ‘Sharknado.’ That is great crap.

— Whoopi Goldberg, 2015

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Whoopi Goldberg talks about plum role in ‘Big Stone Gap’

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‘Molly’s Game’ will replace ‘All the Money In the World’ as AFI Fest closer

The American Film Institute announced Sunday that “Molly’s Game” will replace “All the Money in the World” as the festival’s closer Thursday in the wake of mounting allegations of sexual misconduct against Kevin Spacey.

“Aaron Sorkin is an American master, and we are proud to shine a proper spotlight on his directorial debut, ‘Molly’s Game,’ on AFI Fest’s closing night,” AFI Fest director Jacqueline Lyanga said in a press release. “As Sorkin embarks on the next chapter of his career, his talents are timely for a tribute as he brings his gift of crafting compelling narratives and complex characters to the story of female impresario Molly Bloom.”

The originally scheduled closing night premiere of “All the Money in the World” was canceled Monday following the controversy surrounding Spacey. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film was to feature Spacey as oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in the telling of the 1973 kidnapping of his grandson, John Paul Getty III. But Scott decided to cut out Spacey and replace him with Christopher Plummer. Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg also star.

“Molly’s Game,” distributed by STX Entertainment, was already scheduled to play at the festival but will now receive a higher-profile slot on the program as well as a tribute to Sorkin and a moderated discussion about his work.

The film stars Jessica Chastain as Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested. Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera and Chris O’Dowd also star.

A statement released Monday by Sony’s TriStar Pictures read, “‘All the Money in the World’ is a superb film and more than worthy of its place of honor in the AFI Fest. But given the current allegations surrounding one of its actors and out of respect for those impacted, it would be inappropriate to celebrate at a gala at this difficult time. Accordingly, the film will be withdrawn.

“However, a film is not the work of one person,” it added. “There are over 800 other actors, writers, artists, craftspeople and crew who worked tirelessly and ethically on this film, some for years, including one of cinema’s master directors. It would be a gross injustice to punish all of them for the wrongdoings of one supporting actor in the film. Accordingly, the film will open wide as planned on December 22.”

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A Star Is Born: Ryan Gosling turns 37 today

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

I feel like there’s so many facets to L.A., and I’m always discovering new ones, which is why I stay there. I feel lucky to be able to make movies that reflect that.

— Ryan Gosling, 2016

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Q&A: Ryan Gosling, the tortured heartthrob of ‘La La Land’

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Warner Bros. suspends ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Arrow’ producer after sexual harassment allegations

Andrew Kreisberg, second from right, is shown with 'The Flash' team at Comic-Con.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Warner Bros. confirmed it has suspended Andrew Kreisberg, an executive producer on The CW’s “Arrow,” “Supergirl,” “The Flash” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” after opening an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.

The allegations by 19 unnamed sources, including 15 women and four men, appeared Friday in Variety and detailed a pattern of misconduct over a period of years. According to Variety the sources chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. Kreisberg has denied the allegations, which include frequent touching without permission, asking for massages from female staff members and sexualized comments about women’s appearances.

Berlanti Productions, which oversees Kreisberg’s shows, issued a statement signed by heads Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter stating, “We were recently made aware of some deeply troubling allegations regarding one of our showrunners. We have been encouraging and fully cooperating with the investigation into this by Warner Bros.

“There is nothing more important to us than the safety and well-being of our cast, crew, writers, producers and any staff. We do not tolerate harassment and are committed to doing everything we can to make an environment that’s safe to work in and safe to speak up about if it isn’t.”

Warner Bros. Television Group also issued a statement that read, “We have recently been made aware of allegations of misconduct against Andrew Kreisberg. We have suspended Mr. Kreisberg and are conducting an internal investigation. We take all allegations of misconduct extremely seriously, and are committed to creating a safe working environment for our employees and everyone involved in our productions.”

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A Star Is Born: Stanley Tucci turns 57 today

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

What’s unspoken, the way we talk around things, how our actions are inconsistent with what we’re feeling, how anger and affection manifest themselves in strange ways at inappropriate times. If you can bring that to the screen, it has much more resonance than a lot of films.

— Stanley Tucci, 2000

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Directing His Trust in Pause and Effect

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Anthony Edwards pens powerful essay accusing Gary Goddard of molestation

Anthony Edwards published a poignant essay on Friday.
(Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images)

As Hollywood’s watershed moment of transparency and sexual misconduct continues, actor Anthony Edwards has written a devastating essay accusing writer and producer Gary Goddard of molesting him as a child.

A representative for Goddard has denied the claim.

In Edwards’ essay, which he published Friday morning on Medium under the title “Yes Mom, There is Something Wrong,” he described his mother asking him about rumors of Goddard being a pedophile and initially he denied it through tears.

“To face that truth was not an option as my sense of self was completely enmeshed in my gang of five friends who were all led by this sick father figure,” Edwards wrote.

The “ER” actor went on to accuse Goddard, whom he called a “mentor, teacher and friend,” of molesting him for years.

Goddard’s spokesman Sam Singer called the claim “disturbing.”

“Gary played an important role in helping start Anthony’s acting career and acted as his personal manager,” Singer said in a statement issued Friday night. “He has nothing but the greatest respect for Anthony as a person. Gary is saddened by the false allegations.”

Beyond his allegations, Edwards relayed personal insight into the experience of survivors and how individuals find healing in the aftermath of trauma.

“The resulting damage to the emotional development of a child is deep and unforgivable,” Edwards wrote. “Only after I was able to separate my experience, process it, and put it in its place could I accept this truth: My abuse may always be with me, but it does not own me.

“Shame can thrive easily when we are isolated, but it loses its power when people come together to share their common experiences,” Edwards wrote.

In his essay, Edwards also claims that he confronted Goddard about the alleged abuse 22 years ago, during a chance encounter in an airport.

“He swore to his remorse and said that he had gotten help,” Edwards wrote. “I felt a temporary sense of relief.”

Temporary, according to Edwards, because of the rage he felt when Goddard’s name reappeared in headlines several years ago.

This is not the first time Goddard has been hit with sexual abuse accusations.

In 2014, Goddard and “X-Men” director Bryan Singer were named in lawsuits alleging that they had sexually abused two different teenage boys. Both suits were voluntarily dismissed.

Goddard’s spokesman said Friday that the legal complaint against his client “was completely fabricated, and ultimately withdrawn by the complainant and his attorneys.”

Representatives for Edwards did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Friday morning.

Read Edwards’ full essay here.

8:06 p.m.: This post was updated with a statement from Goddard’s spokesman denying Edwards’ claim.

This post was originally published at 1:48 p.m.

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Corey Haim’s mother dismisses tabloid story that Charlie Sheen sexually abused her son

Corey Haim’s mother on Friday dismissed a report that linked her late son to actor Charlie Sheen, then pointed an accusing finger back at Dominick Brascia, the former child actor who told a tabloid this week that Sheen had once abused Haim.

“This guy Dominick is the guy that abused my son,” Judy Haim told Dr. Mehmet Oz on Friday on “The Dr. Oz Show.” She blamed actor-turned-musician Corey Feldman for introducing her son to Brascia and to drugs.

Brascia, she said, has “made up a lot of stories” but knows what really happened. The “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning” actor was the main named source quoted in a National Enquirer story alleging that Sheen had raped Corey Haim on the set of their 1986 movie, “Lucas,” when the younger actor was 13.

Sheen has “categorically denied” the allegations in the Enquirer story, which was published Wednesday. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Corey Haim died of pneumonia in 2010.

The former teen idol was abused “one time, in Dominick’s house,” according to his mother. She said Brascia lived nearby and a number of boys would hang out there to play pool and watch TV. She said her son was not raped but allegedly had “a form of sex” with Brascia. Oz pointed out that what she had whispered in his ear was an illegal act with a minor.

Brascia did not immediately respond to an email request from The Times for comment on Judy Haim’s allegations; Oz said on the show that Brascia hadn’t responded to their requests either.

Feldman, the other half of TV’s “The Two Coreys” reality show, went on “The Dr. Oz Show” last week and identified a man he said was one of a number of men who abused him when he was a teen. He also talked to the Los Angeles Police Dept., but the LAPD said Thursday that the statute of limitations had run out on the alleged incident.

Feldman is scheduled Monday to come back to “The Dr. Oz Show” with more names and details from his own experience as a teen.

In a scene from “The Two Coreys,” which ran for two seasons in 2007 and 2008, Haim and Feldman both talked about being sexually abused by different people when they were 14, with Haim lighting into Feldman for continuing to hang out with Haim’s alleged abuser.

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Louis C.K. dropped by FX, management and publicist in wake of misconduct scandal

FX Networks has severed ties with Louis C.K. following the New York Times’ bombshell investigation that detailed years of sexual misconduct by the comedian.

The cable network, which airs four comedies C.K. produces, ended its professional relationship with the Emmy-winning comic after five women came forward Thursday with accusations that C.K. behaved inappropriately with them — allegations that he admitted on Friday were true.

Several of C.K.’s other projects were canceled — including his upcoming film “I Love You, Daddy,” a Netflix stand-up special and a charity appearance on HBO — in the wake of the scandal.

Also on Friday, his longtime management company, 3 Arts, dropped him.

“We have terminated our relationship with Louis C.K.,” the company said in a statement. “We are doing a full internal review regarding this situation and are taking additional steps to strengthen our processes and procedures while engaging with our staff to address any concerns about harassment or abuse of power. This behavior is totally unacceptable in all circumstances and must be confronted and addressed.”

C.K.’s publicist, Lewis Kay, also parted ways with the beleaguered comedian.

Here is FX’s full statement:

“Today, FX Networks and FX Productions are ending our association with Louis C.K. We are cancelling the overall deal between FX Productions and his production company, Pig Newton. He will no longer serve as executive producer or receive compensation on any of the four shows we were producing with him – “Better Things,” “Baskets,” “One Mississippi” and “The Cops.”

Louis has now confirmed the truth of the reports relating to the five women victimized by his misconduct, which we were unaware of previously. As far as we know, his behavior over the past 8 years on all five series he has produced for FX Networks and/or FX Productions has been professional. However, now is not the time for him to make television shows. Now is the time for him to honestly address the women who have come forth to speak about their painful experiences, a process which he began today with his public statement.

FX Networks and FX Productions remain committed to doing everything we can to ensure that all people work in an environment that is safe, respectful and fair, and we will continue our review of all of these productions to ensure that was and is the case.

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Rosie O’Donnell is hopeful, but cautious, about the culture of misogyny changing anytime soon

She’s no longer on “The View,” but that doesn’t mean that Rosie O’Donnell doesn’t have opinions about the state of Hollywood, pop culture and the world as we know it.

O’Donnell stopped by Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” on Thursday and had plenty on her mind, including Meghan McCain’s progress on “The View” and the Kardashian pregnancies.

Of particular note were O’Donnell’s thoughts on sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry and beyond.

Cohen asked O’Donnell if she thought that this moment will change the culture of abuse in Hollywood. O’Donnell was hopeful, but also realized the scope was much larger than just Tinseltown.

“I certainly hope so, but it’s not just Hollywood, you know, right? It’s all over the world. It’s every industry. If you were a teacher, if you work in a hospital, this is just a culture of misogyny and patriarchy and also it’s a country of racism,” O’Donnell said. “We have to look at the shadow of who we are and where we are now and how do we make all these things work better.”

O’Donnell also discussed the surrealism of seeing Donald Trump, with whom the actress has been feuding for years, in the Oval Office.

“When he got to be president, it was very trippy,” O’Donnell said. “It took me about six months to regain my equilibrium.”

“Is that true?” Cohen asked.

“I felt like I fell through the ice and I was just waiting to resurface,” O’Donnell responded.

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Here are the 26 films vying for an Oscar nomination for animated feature

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday that 26 animated features have been submitted for Oscar consideration. The submissions include “Despicable Me 3,” “The Boss Baby” and “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie,” as well as several pictures that have yet to be released, including Disney’s “Coco” and Sony’s “The Star.”

For the first time, voting for nominations in the animated feature film category is open to the entire eligible voting membership of the academy. Nominations will be announced Jan. 23.

Here’s the full list of contenders:

  • “The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales”
  • “Birdboy: The Forgotten Children”
  • “The Boss Baby”
  • “The Breadwinner”
  • “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”
  • “Cars 3”
  • “Cinderella the Cat”
  • “Coco”
  • “Despicable Me 3”
  • “The Emoji Movie”
  • “Ethel & Ernest”
  • “Ferdinand”
  • “The Girl Without Hands”
  • “In This Corner of the World”
  • “The Lego Batman Movie”
  • “The Lego Ninjago Movie”
  • “Loving Vincent”
  • “Mary and the Witch’s Flower”
  • “Moomins and the Winter Wonderland”
  • “My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea”
  • “Napping Princess”
  • “A Silent Voice”
  • “Smurfs: The Lost Village”
  • “The Star”
  • “Sword Art Online: The Movie - Ordinal Scale”
  • “Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming”
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Ellen Page says Brett Ratner outed her to ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ cast and crew

(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Ellen Page says director Brett Ratner crudely outed her as gay at a meet and greet for the cast and crew of “X-Men: The Last Stand” when she was 18 years old. She also says making a Woody Allen movie is the biggest regret of her career in an industry where inappropriate sexual behavior is “ubiquitous.”

The Oscar nominee, who came out publicly as a lesbian in 2014, said Friday on Facebook that the director made a profane comment suggesting a woman 10 years her senior — who was standing right there — have sex with Page “to make her realize she’s gay.”

At the time, the “Juno” actress, now 30, had not yet come out even to herself, she said.

“I knew I was gay, but did not know, so to speak. I felt violated when this happened. I looked down at my feet, didn’t say a word and watched as no one else did either.” The “public, aggressive outing” left her with “long standing feelings of shame, one of the most destructive results of homophobia,” she wrote.

Ratner’s attorney did not respond immediately Friday to a request for comment. Last week, six women accused the director of sexual harassment; Ratner’s attorney disputed those accounts in a 10-page letter to The Times. Beverly Hills police investigated Ratner and music mogul Russell Simmons in 2001 after a woman said she was a victim of sexual battery, but the L.A. County district attorney’s office found insufficient evidence to press charges.

Brett Ratner in 2015.
(Mike Coppola / Getty Images)

Page, a professional actor since age 10, also recounted incidents of inappropriate sexual behavior she experienced when she was 16. Contextualizing the incidents as part of what she called ubiquitous behavior in the industry, the actress didn’t name names but began by talking about a director who took her to dinner, ostensibly to talk business.

“He fondled my leg under the table and said, ‘You have to make the move, I can’t.’ I did not make the move, and I was fortunate to get away from that situation,” the “Flatliners” star wrote. “It was a painful realization: my safety was not guaranteed at work. An adult authority figure for whom I worked intended to exploit me, physically. I was sexually assaulted by a grip months later. I was asked by a director to sleep with a man in his late twenties and to tell them about it. I did not.”

Page said she was ashamed she made the 2012 movie “To Rome With Love.” She had yet to find her voice, she said, and felt pressured because “of course you have to say yes” to working with Woody Allen, who has been accused over the years of inappropriate sexual behavior.

“Ultimately, however, it is my choice what films I decide to do and I made the wrong choice. I made an awful mistake,” Page said.

In her Facebook post, which uses blunt language, Page called for men who have abused others from positions of power to be held accountable for their behavior, and for what she called a self-perpetuating status quo to end.

“I want them to sit and think about who they are without their lawyers, their millions, their fancy cars, houses upon houses, their ‘playboy’ status and swagger,” she wrote.

“What I want the most, is for this to result in healing for the victims. For Hollywood to wake up and start taking some responsibility for how we all have played a role in this. I want us to reflect on this endemic issue and how this power dynamic of abuse leads to an enormous amount of suffering.”

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Read Louis C.K.’s statement on allegations: ‘These stories are true’

Just a day after five women came out accusing him of sexual misconduct in the New York Times, Louis C.K. has issued a statement admitting that all of the women’s accusations are true.

Five female comedy writers and performers — four of whom went on the record — stated that C.K. had masturbated in front of them or asked if he could.

Here’s C.K.’s full written response he released Friday morning:

I want to address the stories told to the New York Times by five women named Abby, Rebecca, Dana, Julia who felt able to name themselves and one who did not.

These stories are true. At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my [penis] without asking first, which is also true. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your [penis] isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.

I have been remorseful of my actions. And I’ve tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I’m aware of the extent of the impact of my actions. I learned yesterday the extent to which I left these women who admired me feeling badly about themselves and cautious around other men who would never have put them in that position.

I also took advantage of the fact that I was widely admired in my and their community, which disabled them from sharing their story and brought hardship to them when they tried because people who look up to me didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t think that I was doing any of that because my position allowed me not to think about it.

There is nothing about this that I forgive myself for. And I have to reconcile it with who I am. Which is nothing compared to the task I left them with.

I wish I had reacted to their admiration of me by being a good example to them as a man and given them some guidance as a comedian, including because I admired their work.

The hardest regret to live with is what you’ve done to hurt someone else. And I can hardly wrap my head around the scope of hurt I brought on them. I’d be remiss to exclude the hurt that I’ve brought on people who I work with and have worked with who’s professional and personal lives have been impacted by all of this, including projects currently in production: the cast and crew of “Better Things,” “Baskets,” “The Cops,” “One Mississippi,” and “I Love You Daddy.” I deeply regret that this has brought negative attention to my manager Dave Becky who only tried to mediate a situation that I caused.

I’ve brought anguish and hardship to the people at FX who have given me so much The Orchard who took a chance on my movie. and every other entity that has bet on me through the years.

I’ve brought pain to my family, my friends, my children and their mother.

I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen.

Thank you for reading.

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Late-night TV treads lightly on Louis C.K.

After Thursday’s New York Times story outlining allegations of sexual misconduct by Louis C.K., it seemed inevitable that the comedian would immediately wind up in the crosshairs of late-night talk shows.

But C.K. escaped relatively unscathed from his comedic brethren who, due to the timing of the story or perhaps skittishness, largely avoided C.K.’s ensuing fallout. Here’s how it played out:

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”

The above clip opens with Colbert spending three and a half minutes excoriating GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, who was also accused of extensive sexual misconduct on Thursday, before the host pivots to C.K.

“For those of you tuning in to see my interview with Louis C.K. tonight, I have some bad news,” Colbert said. “Then I have some really bad news.”

“Louis canceled his appearance here tonight because the New York Times broke this story today: Five women are accusing Louis C.K. of sexual misconduct,” Colbert said. “When reached for comment, Jesus said, ‘La la la la la. I don’t want to hear about it. I was a big fan.’”

Thirty seconds later, Colbert had moved on to mocking Keith Urban’s song inspired by the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

“Conan”

Nothing.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Also nothing.

“The Late Late Show With James Corden”

Still nothing.

“Late Night With Seth Meyers”

On NBC, Meyers also slid the C.K. news in alongside Moore.

After detailing the accusations against Moore during his monologue, Meyers said, “Man, politics is so full of perverts and deviants; I’m just so glad I work in comedy.”

At that moment a photo of the Times story on C.K. appeared on screen, resulting in Meyers exclaiming, “Ahhhh, damn it!”

“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”

Noah took more time for the C.K. scandal than most, pairing his criticisms of the comedian with a segment about Facebook’s new nude-photo submission system.

“When I saw this story, I thought, ‘Man, this is the most pervy story of the day,’ and then Louis C.K. said, ‘Hold my penis,’” Noah quipped.

The host suggested that the Oscars introduce a new category: best actor whose movies we can’t watch anymore.

Noah then doubled-down, saying that, actually, it’s the women of Hollywood who should all win double Oscars, “for acting like all the men were cool all along, every single one of them.”

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Louis C.K.’s ‘I Love You, Daddy’ will not be released amid sexual misconduct allegations

The distributor for Louis C.K.’s “I Love You, Daddy” has canned the new film in the aftermath of sexual misconduct allegations published Thursday against the comic.

“The Orchard will not be moving forward with the release of ‘I Love You, Daddy,’” the company said in a statement early Friday, a day after canceling the movie’s New York City premiere. The distributor, however, had already sent out screeners in the past week for consideration for the looming awards season.

As reported Thursday by the New York Times, C.K.’s alleged sexual misconduct includes accusations from five female comedy writers and performers — four of whom went on the record — that he masturbated in front of them or asked if he could.

C.K. has not yet commented, though in 2016, he called rumors brought up in a Gawker story “not real.”

“I Love You, Daddy,” which was written, directed and edited by C.K., is about a successful TV writer (played by C.K.) whose 17-year-old daughter (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) gets involved romantically with a 68-year-old movie director (played by John Malkovich).

The Orchard acquired “I Love You, Daddy” in September after it was shown as a surprise at the Toronto International Film Festival. C.K. secretly filmed the movie in New York City earlier this year.

As allegations of sexual misbehavior have rippled through Hollywood since an investigation of producer Harvey Weinstein’s alleged decades-long sexual misconduct was published, “Daddy” is not the only project to be affected.

A second Louis C.K. stand-up special that was part of a contract he had with Netflix has been scrapped by the streaming service.

“The allegations made by several women in The New York Times about Louis C.K.’s behavior are disturbing,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement. “Louis’s unprofessional and inappropriate behavior with female colleagues has led us to decide not to produce a second stand up special, as had been planned.”

The BBC put its miniseries “Agatha Christie’s Ordeal by Innocence” on hold Friday due to rape accusations by two women against actor Ed Westwick, who has adamantly called the allegations “provably untrue” and says he is cooperating with authorities to clear his name.

Netflix is “not moving forward” with a movie starring Kevin Spacey as Gore Vidal and fired the actor from the series “House of Cards,” and Spacey’s scenes in Ridley Scott’s movie “All the Money in the World” are being cut and reshot with Christopher Plummer now cast in the role of J. Paul Getty.

“I Love You, Daddy,” the Toronto festival said on its website earlier this year, “is pure, unfiltered Louis C.K., and shows him to be a ruthless observer of showbiz behind the scenes and human nature behind the masks.”

It continued: “We don’t see this kind of movie anymore. As for the actions of the characters on display here, we’ll continue to see them so long as artists pursue their visions, and people their desires.”

Early Friday morning, the Orchard still had “Daddy” and its trailer listed online among its “coming soon” movies.

Discussing comparisons to the work and life story of Woody Allen, C.K. told reporters at TIFF that the movie is “more about the bleeding edge between generations, between what one group thought was OK to do and [for] another now it’s not.”

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Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ could notch first-week sales of 2 million

Taylor Swift has faced a big question as she has geared up for Friday’s release of her sixth album: Could she extend the streak she established with her previous three albums, which each sold more than 1 million copies in the first week of release?

Now, it seems, the relevant question is how close to doubling that figure “Reputation,” her latest release, might come.

Swift’s label, Big Machine Records, has jettisoned the conservative projections it held out for “Speak Now” in 2010, “Red” in 2012 and “1989” three years ago, Billboard reports. The label is estimating “Reputation” will double the first-week equivalent sales of her previous efforts.

“That’s despite the fact that the U.S. music industry is far more dependent on streaming than sales than it was in 2014, with album sales down 18 percent so far this year while audio-on-demand streams — the only streams that count toward the Billboard 200 — are up 59 percent year to date,” Billboard notes.

Big Machine has withheld “Reputation” from streaming services initially, as it has done with Swift’s other albums, a move that pushes fans most interested in hearing her new music immediately to purchase physical or digital copies. The only other outlet for hearing “Reputation” is an exclusive deal Big Machine struck with media conglomerate iHeartRadio, using its marketing site Hit Nation.

The Associated Press reported that “Reputation” had racked up 400,000 advance orders. No one, however, appears to expect that the album can equal or surpass the first-week record holder, Adele’s “25,” which sold 3.4 million copies in its first week of release in 2015. That album also was withheld from streaming services for seven months, which helped drive sales.

In any event, “Reputation” is expected to become this year’s top-selling album, surpassing the current front-runner, Kendrick Lamar’s “Damn.”

Meanwhile, Swift is due to perform on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” this weekend. She’ll also anchor iHeartRadio station KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball at the Forum in Inglewood on Dec. 1, along with Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Demi Lovato, the Chainsmokers, Kesha, Halsey, Niall Horan and a slew of other pop stars.

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Jenny McCarthy on Steven Seagal allegation: ‘How many girls had to take off their clothes?’

(Victoria Will / Invision/Associated Press)

Jenny McCarthy has again shared her story of a casting-couch encounter she says she had with actor Steven Seagal.

Details of her story come on the heels of new allegations of sexual harassment brought by “Arrested Development” actress Portia de Rossi, who alleged in a tweet that the action star unzipped his pants during an audition, and “The Good Wife” star Julianna Margulies, who alleged that Seagal brought a gun to a meeting with her.

However, McCarthy has spoken of her 1995 encounter before. She previously shared her story in a 1998 interview with Movieline, recalling that during her audition for “Under Siege 2,” Seagal allegedly repeatedly told her to take off her dress, which resulted in McCarthy fleeing in tears.

Seagal’s representative did not immediately respond to a Times request for comment on Friday.

The actor’s spokesman has previously denied McCarthy’s accusations, telling the Daily Beast that Warner Bros. casting for the film confirmed that McCarthy never auditioned for a role in “Under Siege 2” and “her claim is completely false.”

Further detailing that encounter on her Sirius XM show on Thursday, McCarthy, now 45, explained that she arrived for the audition wearing a muumuu so that the casting crew would pay attention to her face and performance.

However, Seagal was the only one in the room and took a seat on a sofa near a fireplace and invited her to sit next to him and “relax,” she said.

“I said, ‘No, thank you! I’m just really excited to read for this part. And I have so much energy I need to stand,’” McCarthy said.

McCarthy recalled that he kept bragging about himself and told her there would be nudity in the film. When she told him she knew there wasn’t nudity, McCarthy said he then said, “There is off-camera nudity,” and asked her to lower her dress for him.

“I paused, I looked up at him, went from shocked to sadness. My eyes filled with water and I yelled, ‘Go buy my Playboy video — it’s on sale for $19.99’ and just took off,” she said.

As she was leaving, she said, Seagal followed her to her car and said not to tell anyone “or else.”

“I was the last girl that day. How many girls had to take off their clothes? How many girls had to do more? It just so grossed me out,” she said.

“Inside Edition’s” Lisa Guerrero and actress Rae Dawn Chong have also made allegations against Seagal on separate incidents.

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A Star Is Born: Tracy Morgan turns 49 today

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

I like normal people. Regular people make me laugh. Real people. Real things make me laugh. That’s funnier than something contrived. I like something that’s real.

— Tracy Morgan, 2010

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Sunday Conversation: Tracy Morgan

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‘I Love You, Daddy’ stars drop out of film promotion after Louis C.K. allegations; FX, HBO weigh in

FX Networks, HBO, and the stars of Louis C.K.’s upcoming film “I Love You, Daddy” have responded to sexual misconduct allegations leveled against the comedian in a New York Times report Thursday.

“I was as appalled as everyone to read the allegations made in the New York Times,” actor Charlie Day said in a statement to the L.A. Times. “I do not condone sexual misconduct and, in light of the allegations, will not be promoting the movie further.”

Day appears opposite writer/director/producer/star C.K. in “I Love You, Daddy,” about a veteran television producer (C.K.) trying to stop a 68-year-old filmmaker (John Malkovich) from dating his teenage daughter (Chloë Grace Moretz).

In the film, Day mimes masturbation as his character and C.K.’s character discuss a female character. He also encourages C.K.’s character to confront Malkovich’s character about rumors of sexual predation that mar the older man’s public image.Moretz pulled out of all film promotion two weeks ago “when she was made aware of numerous possible accusations,” her publicist told The Times.

Other members of the “I Love You, Daddy” cast, which includes Rose Byrne, Edie Falco, Helen Hunt, Pamela Adlon and Malkovich, were not immediately available for comment.

FX Networks — home to C.K.’s show “Louie,” which is currently on indefinite hiatus; the Adlon-fronted “Better Things,” which is currently airing; and the Zach Galifianakis vehicle “Baskets,” all of which C.K. executive produces under his Pig Newton banner — said in a statement that it was reviewing its relationship with the comedian.

“We are obviously very troubled by the allegations about Louis C.K. published in The New York Times today,” said FX Networks in a statement. “The network has received no allegations of misconduct by Louis C.K. related to any of our 5 shows produced together over the past 8 years. FX Networks and FXP take all necessary actions to protect our employees and thoroughly investigate any allegations of misconduct within our workplace. That said, the matter is currently under review.”

HBO also weighed in after the New York Times exposé, saying that C.K. will no longer participate in its Nov. 18 program “Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs.”

“In addition, HBO is removing Louis C.K.’s past projects from its On Demand services,” the cable network added in its statement. That includes the multi-camera comedy series “Lucky Louie,” which lasted a single season.

“I Love You, Daddy” distributor the Orchard canceled the film’s premiere event today “due to unexpected circumstances” but has not yet announced any change to the film’s Nov. 17 limited theatrical release.

“There is never a place for the behavior detailed in these allegations,” the Orchard said in an email. “As a result, we are giving careful consideration to the timing and release of the film and continuing to review the situation.”

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L.A. district attorney forms task force to investigate Hollywood sexual assault allegations

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein
(Jordan Strauss / Invision)

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey announced the creation of a special task force for examining the allegations of sex abuse roiling Hollywood.

Lacey made the announcement Thursday as local law enforcement agencies investigate allegations made against such Hollywood heavyweights as producer Harvey Weinstein, director James Toback and actor Ed Westwick, among others.

The district attorney said she has assigned a group of veteran sex crimes prosecutors to work together to examine the cases and “ensure a uniformed approach to the legal review and possible prosecution of any case that meets both the legal and factual standards for criminal prosecution.”

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‘The Last Jedi’ director Rian Johnson will create a whole new trilogy of ‘Star Wars’ movies

Daisy Ridley and Rian Johnson appear at the 2017 "Star Wars" Celebration.
Daisy Ridley and Rian Johnson appear at the 2017 “Star Wars” Celebration.
(Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney)

After 40 years of making movies about the Skywalkers, Lucasfilm is finally ready to visit a different corner of the galaxy far, far away.

It was announced during a Disney earnings call that writer and director of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” Rian Johnson will create a whole new trilogy of “Star Wars” movies.

According to a simultaneous news release, the fresh series will be developed by Johnson and his producer, Ram Bergman, with Johnson writing and directing the first film of the trilogy.

“We all loved working with Rian on ‘The Last Jedi,’ ” president of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy said at StarWars.com. “He’s a creative force, and watching him craft ‘The Last Jedi’ from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.”

Recently, Kennedy teased that the Lucasfilm story room was already planning the next 10 years of “Star Wars” stories and name-checked the characters Rey, Poe, Finn and BB8 as potential storylines to follow. However, this new Johnson-verse sounds like a clear break from the Skywalker story series.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” the second in the core franchise’s current trilogy, will premiere Dec. 15.

Meredith Woerner interviews Rian Johnson at D23 on July 15 in Anaheim.

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Louis C.K.’s ‘I Love You, Daddy’ premiere canceled amid N.Y. Times report of sexual misconduct

Thursday’s New York premiere of comedian Louis C.K.’s intergenerational romance “I Love You, Daddy” has been scrapped.

“The premiere is cancelled for this evening,” a rep for the film confirmed to The Times on Thursday, declining to share any additional information.

The event was pulled “due to unexpected circumstances,” the film’s distribution company, the Orchard, said in an email.

The comic also was slated to appear on CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on Thursday, but that appearance was shelved too, CBS said. “Shameless” star William H. Macy will be the lead guest star on the episode instead.

The cancellations were announced shortly before the New York Times published an exposé of the Emmy-winning comedian regarding allegations of sexual misconduct. C.K. has repeatedly dismissed such accusations or declined to discuss them altogether in recent years.

The “Louie” star’s black-and-white film, which he also wrote, directed and shot in secret in June, already has generated some controversy given its taboo subject matter. The film was acquired by the Orchard following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

In addition to C.K, the film also stars John Malkovich, Chloë Grace Moretz, Rose Byrne, Edie Falco, Charlie Day, Pamela Adlon, Helen Hunt and Ebonee Noel.

“I Love You, Daddy” is scheduled to open in limited release on Nov. 17.

Update:

11:50 a.m.: This article was updated with a link to the New York Times’ report on Louis C.K.’s alleged sexual misconduct.

This post was originally published at 11:16 a.m.

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Watch the 5 most memorable moments from the CMA Awards

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood perform at the CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision/Associated Press)

The 51st annual CMA Awards had a tough row to hoe Wednesday night, forced to find a balance among politics, press, tragedy and Donald Trump, all while celebrating country music.

Luckily, the show had veteran hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood — now in their 10th year of MC duties — to lead the way and deliver a show both moving and mildly critical of the president.

Here’s a look at five of the evening’s best moments.

Underwood and Paisley’s ‘Before He Tweets’

Things were solemn as the show began, with Paisley and Underwood calling for unity in a year that had seen so much division, including the tragic shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas last month.

But the pair quickly transitioned to poking fun at the president with a gentle send-up of his Twitter habits, set to the tune of Underwood’s hit “Before He Cheats.”

Underwood’s ‘Softly and Tenderly’ in Memoriam

In addition to her hosting duties, Underwood also sang the hymn “Softly and Tenderly” for the ceremony’s in memoriam segment.

Always moving, the segment carried additional weight with the inclusion of the Las Vegas victims.

Underwood’s vocals were ethereal, but the emotion proved too much for her by the song’s end and she fell silent momentarily.

A raucous Troy Gentry tribute

A rollicking tribute to Troy Gentry, the Montgomery Gentry co-founder who died in a helicopter crash in September, saluted another of country’s fallen heroes this year.

Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts, alongside Eddie Montgomery — Gentry’s musical partner in crime — sang Montgomery Gentry’s “Our Town.” The performance turned into a full-blown singalong, with many country music stars fighting back tears.

A Sugarland reunion?!

It has been seven years since Sugarland released an album and five years since the band performed together. But is all of that about to change?

The duo featuring Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush graced the stage Wednesday to present the award for vocal duo of the year, which they won for five consecutive years. The award went to Brothers Osborne.

Shortly after the ceremony, the band posted an intriguing photo that suggests a comeback may be imminent.

Sturgill Simpson doesn’t mince his words

Perhaps the most shocking statement of the evening came from outside of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, where Sturgill Simpson, who won the 2017 Grammy for country album of the year, was busking.

With his Grammy in his guitar case, Simpson streamed on Facebook Live and donated all money raised to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Next to his case was a sign that read, “I don’t take requests, but I take questions about anything you want to talk about because fascism sucks.”

Simpson has never been fully embraced by mainstream country music and doesn’t shy away from talking politics.

Asked by a fan to give a mock CMA acceptance speech, Simpson delivered quite a doozy:

“Nobody needs a machine gun, and that’s comin’ from a guy who owns quite a few guns. Gay people should have the right to be happy and live their life any way they want to and get married if they want to without fear of getting drug down the road behind a pickup truck,” he said. “Black people are probably tired of getting shot in the streets and being enslaved by the industrial prison complex. Hegemony and fascism is alive and well in Nashville, Tenn. Thank you very much.”

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Gloria Allred and Gabrielle Carteris to lead SAG-AFTRA panel on sexual harassment

Attorney Gloria Allred will be part of a panel on sexual harassment in the entertainment industry hosted by SAG-AFTRA next week.
(Howard Simmons / New York Daily News)

In what has been announced as the first in a series of conversations on the issue of sexual harassment, on Tuesday SAG-AFTRA will host an event with attorney Gloria Allred and the organization’s president, Gabrielle Carteris.

Billed as “Beyond the Headlines: A Conversation on Sexual Harassment and Abuse in the Entertainment Industry,” the panel will also include director Niki Caro, assistant director and producer Liz Tan, actor Lisa Vidal and casting director Debra Zane.

Allred has represented a number of the women who have come forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault in recent weeks. Allred’s daughter, attorney Lisa Bloom, initially represented Weinstein but soon dropped him as a client as the full scale of the accusations against him became apparent.

The announcement of the SAG-AFTRA panel notes that Allred will “share the facts, dispel the myths surrounding sexual harassment and lead a discussion on empowering members to assert their rights and identify meaningful steps and actions we can take to develop best practices in creating a safer industry.”

The event is open only to “paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing.”

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Actor Terry Crews files police report about alleged groping incident with Hollywood exec

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Terry Crews has filed a police report after alleging that he was groped by a high-level Hollywood executive, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Thursday.

Crews “is the victim in that report,” LAPD Officer Drake Madison told The Times on Thursday morning.

Madison declined to state when the report was filed and what was in it, but noted that the department’s Robbery Homicide Division is handling the investigation.

On Wednesday, the actor was seen leaving LAPD’s Hollywood division and confirmed to TMZ that the report was about the groping incident. Crews also said he plans to file a civil lawsuit.

The former NFL star described the alleged incident in a series of tweets on Oct. 10, just days after the Harvey Weinstein scandal erupted. Crews said that a “high level Hollywood executive” groped his privates during an industry function he was attending last year. Crews’ said his wife witnessed the incident.

The 49-year-old star did not publicly name the exec, but speculation on the assailant’s identity has ramped up in recent weeks.

Crews tweeted that he talked to everyone he knew about the incident, and the exec even called him the day after to apologize, but “never really explained why he did what he did.”

The actor decided to let it go at the time because he didn’t want to be ostracized.

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L.A. declares Friday ‘Morrissey Day’ timed to singer’s Hollywood Bowl shows

Coinciding with his Hollywood Bowl shows this weekend, Morrissey will be celebrated on Friday with "Morrissey Day" in Los Angeles.
(Julio Cesar Aguilar / AFP/Getty Images)

Friday has been deemed “Morrissey Day” in L.A. by the Los Angeles City Council. The distinction coincides with the British pop star’s two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend and next week’s release of his latest album, “Low in High School.

“Los Angeles embraces individuality, compassion, and creativity, and Morrissey expresses those values in a way that moves Angelenos of all ages,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement Wednesday. “Morrissey Day celebrates an artist whose music has captivated and inspired generations of people who may not always fit in — because they were born to stand out.”

In the same statement, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said that the former singer for the Smiths “continues to touch and uplift countless people across the globe. Morrissey uses his voice to raise awareness for many social issues while ‘in his own strange way,’ always staying true to his fans.”

In recognition of Morrissey’s animal-rights advocacy, the Hollywood Bowl is changing its menu to all vegetarian fare during his performances Friday and Saturday, with Billy Idol in the opening slot. (Tickets are available here.)

Morrissey has long maintained a particularly strong fan base in Los Angeles, which is the fourth city on his U.S. tour this year.

En route to L.A., Morrissey put off a performance in Paso Robles on Sunday because stage heaters for the outdoor amphitheater were on the fritz and the singer said it was too cold for him to go on.

Concert promoter Nederlander Concerts issued a statement attributing the postponement “to an inoperable heating system on stage,” adding that the show will be rescheduled for 2018.

Hear a track from Morrissey’s new album here:

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Hillary Clinton helps Seth Meyers with some jokes he can’t tell

Seth Meyers knows there are certain jokes that are just not his to make. So on Wednesday night, Hillary Clinton stopped by “Late Night” to offer him a helping hand for the latest edition of “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell.”

The recurring segment is a way for the show to share jokes from the writing staff that aren’t quite appropriate for Meyers to make “due to [him] being a straight, white male.” Writers Amber Ruffin and Jenny Hagel deliver those punch lines instead.

Wednesday’s edition opened as usual with the trio riffing on some recent headlines, including “black restaurant week” and Sally Ride’s new distinction as the first lesbian to ever be made into a Lego mini-figure. However, Meyers eventually came across the setup for a joke that caused him to pause.

“Hold on. This next joke seems really specific,” Meyers said. “I don’t know if it applies to either of you.”

“That’s OK, we brought a friend to help us,” reassured Hagel, before waving Clinton onto the stage.

Wednesday, of course, marked the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s winning the presidency. Neither Meyers nor Clinton commented on the significance of the date during the segment.

But the former presidential candidate did get to joke about something she has acknowledged helped her recover from that devastating loss.

“According to a recent article, Chardonnay is making a comeback,” Meyers noted.

“And they said I wouldn’t be able to create jobs,” quipped Clinton.

Watch the full segment above.

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A Star Is Born: Eric Dane turns 45 today

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Physical activity is absolutely important for me in my battle with depression. I don’t want to be cavalier about it. I wish exercise was the complete answer, but it’s not.

— Eric Dane, 2017

READ MORE: ‘The Last Ship’s’ Eric Dane says this is key to his battle with depression

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Garth Brooks is named entertainer of the year at the CMA Awards

(Chris Pizzello / Invision/Associated Press)

Referring to presenter Reba McEntire as “the entertainer of a lifetime,” Garth Brooks accepted the award for entertainer of the year at Wednesday’s CMA Awards, claiming Nashville’s highest honor for the second year in a row.

Earlier in the night, Brooks’ chances seemed to slim as upstart Chris Stapleton took two high-profile categories, album of the year (for his “From a Room: Volume 1”) and male vocalist of the year.

But in the end the CMA went with the popular country veteran, who returned to full-scale touring in 2014 after a long hiatus and released his most recent studio album, “Gunslinger,” last year.

“We’re family,” Brooks told the crowd at the Bridgestone Arena, reiterating an idea the show’s host, Carrie Underwood, had laid out at the beginning of the three-hour production.

“The most important thing, other than God himself, are you, the people that allow us to be in the greatest music ever: country music, man.”

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Sturgill Simpson, busker? The country artist played to fans on the sidewalk outside of the CMA Awards

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Instead of hanging out in the warm confines of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Sturgill Simpson decided to busk and answers question outside of this year’s CMA Awards, and he did it all live on Facebook

Often talked over by a man in the background with a microphone, Simpson spoke favorably of his pals, or wannabe pals, including Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban (“We were homies, for like 5 minutes”). He also got political, speaking out in favor of LGBT rights, among other in-the-news topics.

A sign next to his guitar case noted that all donations would go to the American Civil Liberties Union, while inside country royalty took some jabs at President Trump..

The Kentucky-born singer and songwriter was nominated for album of the year at this year’s Grammy Awards for his “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.” While Simpson lost in that field to Adele, his work did take the top country Grammy.

Simpson, as should be apparent by his busker move, exists just outside the country mainstream, thriving in a rootsy, twangy corner of the world occupied by such critically acclaimed acts as Stapleton, Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Rhiannon Giddens, the Lumineers, Rodney Crowell, John Hiatt and Alison Krauss, among others.

Whether watching the awards or not, social media reacted to the singer’s candid, and sometimes explicit, comments.

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Here’s why Pink was at the CMA Awards

(Chris Pizzello / Invision/AP)

Why exactly was Pink at the CMA Awards?

“To make country music’s biggest night even bigger,” said Brad Paisley as he introduced the pop star.

Well, OK!

In reality, of course, Pink -- who scored a country hit last year with a Kenny Chesney duet -- was there to promote her new album with a performance of the rootsy-enough “Barbies.”

And her appearance was in keeping with Nashville’s well-established love of pop carpetbaggers (see Tyler, Steven).

But few at the CMA probably have forgotten the backlash sparked last year when Beyoncé showed up to jam with the Dixie Chicks.

So you can bet Pink struck the trade group as just the person to demonstrate its open mind.

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Kevin Spacey to be replaced by Christopher Plummer in Ridley Scott’s ‘All the Money in the World’

Even for those who think they have seen it all in Hollywood, 2017 continues to be a year of surprises. In the latest twist to the unfolding downfall of actor Kevin Spacey, his role as tycoon J. Paul Getty in “All the Money in the World” is being recast with Christopher Plummer.

Director Ridley Scott is said to be aiming to shoot and edit the scenes with Plummer in time to still make the film’s scheduled release date of Dec. 22. The film was initially planned to have its world premiere next week at the closing night of AFI Fest. The movie was pulled from that slot this week.

“All the Money in the World” tells the saga of the 1973 kidnapping of Getty’s grandson John Paul Getty III and the behind-the-scenes efforts for his return. The movie also stars Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg and Charlie Plummer (no relation).

A representative of Sony confirmed the reshoot news to The Times and that Wahlberg and Williams were expected to participate.

The decision was said to be made by Scott, his Scott Free Productions and Imperative Entertainment, the film’s producers. Sony, which will release the film in the U.S. through TriStar Pictures, supports the decision.

An awards campaign had been planned for Spacey but was scrapped as he became engulfed in scandal. It was not immediately clear whether a similar push would be made for Plummer’s yet-to-be-shot performance.

Kevin Spacey, Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg in the trailer for Ridley Scott’s “All the Money in the World.”

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‘Think before he tweets’: CMA Awards open with a gentle Trump jab

(Rick Diamond / Getty Images)

“Tonight we’re gonna do what families do,” Carrie Underwood said to begin her and Brad Paisley’s opening monologue at Wednesday night’s CMA Awards. “Come together, pray together, cry together and sing together too.”

The statement of purpose was the co-host’s way of addressing the elephant in the room: whether country music’s most prestigious awards show would respond to the recent mass shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, and to President Trump’s controversial handling of them.

But if the monologue signaled that the CMAs would emphasize healing over outrage, that didn’t mean Underwood and Paisley were determined to avoid politics.

As the climax of a bit about what artists on the show could and couldn’t say, the two sang a parody of Underwood’s hit “Before He Cheats” that took up Trump’s history of tweeting impulsively from a “gold-plated White House toilet seat,” as Paisley vividly imagined it.

The song’s lyrical payoff?

“Think before he tweets.”

Not bad.

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‘Pokemon Go’ creators are making a ‘Harry Potter’ AR game

Accio smartphone! “Harry Potter” fans will soon get a chance to explore the Wizarding World in real life with a new mobile game from “Pokemon Go” creators Niantic.

Niantic announced Wednesday that it will team up with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WB Games San Francisco for “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,” a new location-based augmented reality game based on the world of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series.

“With ‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,’ players that have been dreaming of becoming real life Wizards will finally get the chance to experience J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World,” Niantic said in its announcement.

In “Wizards Unite” players will learn spells while exploring real-world locations, encounter legendary beasts and team up with other players to fight powerful enemies. Fans were also teased that the game will include encounters with “iconic characters.”

Like 2016’s “Pokemon Go,” “Wizards Unite” builds on the framework set by “Ingress,” Niantic’s first augmented reality mobile game. But the game, Niantic said, will also provide “an opportunity to pioneer all new technology and gameplay mechanics.”

No word yet on an official release date for “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.”

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First trailer for Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Post’ pits the press against the White House

Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep star in the trailer for Steven Spielberg’s “The Post.”

For months, the period drama “The Post” has, sight unseen, been widely considered one of this Oscar season’s presumed heavy-hitters, with its all-star roster of director Steven Spielberg and stars Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep and its timely tale of a titanic struggle between the press and the powers-that-be in Washington.

Now, with the first trailer for the film, 20th Century Fox is finally starting to pull back the curtain.

“The Post” chronicles the 1971 publication of the leaked Pentagon Papers that shed light on decades-long efforts by government officials to deceive the American people about how the Vietnam War was being prosecuted.

The film centers on the Washington Post’s high-stakes legal battle with the Nixon administration and its decision to step up and publish the documents after the New York Times, which first broke the story, was barred from continuing to release them by a court order.

With overtones that can’t help but resonate in today’s political climate, the new trailer shows Hanks, as Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, asking Streep’s publisher Katharine Graham, “If we don’t hold them accountable, who will?”

“The Post” arrives in theaters on Dec. 22, with hopes of following in the footsteps of other journalism-lionizing films such as 1976’s “All the President’s Men,” which was nominated for eight Academy Awards, and 2015’s “Spotlight,” which earned the best picture Oscar.

Watch the trailer above.

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Accuser sued by Brett Ratner stands by her allegation of rape

The woman accusing producer Brett Ratner of rape is standing by the Facebook post she wrote about him — an allegation that resulted in a defamation lawsuit against her.

“I stand by it,” former marketing executive Melanie Kohler said on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday. “I posted on Facebook and was just starting to feel healing about it all, and an hour and a half after I posted, my cellphone rang.”

It was Ratner’s attorney, Martin Singer, who contacted Kohler while the post was still up and threatened to sue her if she didn’t take it down. She removed it, but Ratner’s team filed the lawsuit anyway, calling her allegation “false, fabricated, and fictional,” and accused her of posting the account “maliciously” and with intent to harm Ratner’s reputation. Ratner has disputed all of the allegations against him.

Kohler was sued just hours after the Los Angeles Times published a story with allegations from six women — including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge — accusing the “Rush Hour” and “Horrible Bosses” producer of sexual misconduct and harassment. Kohler was not quoted in the article.

A lot of people have asked, ‘Why now?’ and it’s because I can’t get through the day without being reminded of it.

— Melanie Kohler

In the Facebook post in question, Kohler wrote that Ratner had “preyed on me as a drunk girl [and] forced himself upon me,” explicitly accusing Ratner of raping her.

Kohler said the incident took place about 12 years ago while she was living in Los Angeles. Kohler initially said she hadn’t told anyone about it at the time, but, according to her “GMA” interview, her best friend back then did recall a conversation they had had about it and since has talked to Kohler’s lawyers.

Kohler and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said they are prepared to go to court if it comes to that and have the resources to do so. Kaplan, reiterating what her spokesman told The Times last week, said that the lawsuit was a way for Ratner to “send a message to other women.” (Since The Times published its story, dozens more women have come forward with allegations against him.)

“A lot of people have asked, ‘Why now?’ and it’s because I can’t get through the day without being reminded of it,” Kohler said. “It’s everywhere. Everyone’s talking about it. I have so much respect for these women who are coming forward and sharing these humiliating things that happened to them.”

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Apple lands Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston drama about TV morning shows

Actresses Jennifer Aniston, left, and Reese Witherspoon, at a Hollywood function in 2011, will reunite for a TV show on Apple.
Actresses Jennifer Aniston, left, and Reese Witherspoon, at a Hollywood function in 2011, will reunite for a TV show on Apple.
(Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

An upcoming Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston original drama, set in the world of morning talk shows, has found a home in Apple.

The tech giant confirmed Wednesday a straight-to-series order for two seasons; Witherspoon and Aniston will both star and executive produce.

The untitled show explores the lives of people who work the morning show circuit and, according to the news release, “the unique challenges” they face.

News of the series broke in late July, when it hadn’t yet been shopped around to networks.

It now stands as one of the early entrants in Apple’s push into original programming, alongside previously announced “Amazing Stories,” from Steven Spielberg.

In June, the Cupertino, Calif., company tapped former Sony Pictures Television Presidents Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg to oversee original series production.

Apple has budgeted about $1 billion to spend on programming to compete with streaming heavyweights such as Netflix and Amazon.

The series, which hails from former HBO head of drama Michael Ellenberg, marks Aniston’s big return to the small screen more than a decade after “Friends” ended its run and deepens Witherspoon’s presence in television following this year’s splashy HBO project, “Big Little Lies,” which has rumblings of a potential second season.

It is also a small-screen reunion: Witherspoon guest-starred on “Friends” as Rachel’s (Aniston) little sister Jill during the show’s sixth season.

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Keith Urban set to perform new Weinstein-inspired song at CMA Awards

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Of all the stories that Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault scandal has spawned, the latest is about a country music song.

Country star Keith Urban has released a new song called “Female,” which was inspired by the disgraced producer and the way society treats women.

Urban is set to perform “Female,” written by Ross Copperman, at the Country Music Assn. Awards on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

“I think it’s just time for a recalibrating of the past, you know? Things have been a certain way for a long, long time, and I think you’re seeing a turning of the tide for that,” Urban said at the BMI Country Awards on Tuesday, AP reported.

The four-time Grammy winner and “The Voice” coach, who is married to Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, said Copperman’s song “just spoke to me” and he wanted to record it right away. Some reports indicated that the “Big Little Lies” actress provided background vocals on the track.

Copperman was again named songwriter of the year by the music rights organization BMI Country on Tuesday and has worked with Urban in the past. He has also written hits for country stars Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen and Brett Eldredge.

The songwriter said he wrote “Female” around the time the Weinstein scandal began to hit a fever pitch.

“We’re in a room and we’re like, ‘What can we do about this?’ And that’s the one thing we can do is write songs,” Copperman said.

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Stephen Colbert squares off against the ‘only Donald Trump in the Western Hemisphere’

What kind of legacy will Donald Trump leave behind for his children? Will it be a string of golf courses bearing his name? An unlikely presidency that riled a nation? Or will it be a birthright of making bad tweets?

Probably the latter.

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” took the occasion of President Trump’s 12-day visit to Asia to check in on Donald Trump Jr. and see how he was holding down the fort as the “only Donald Trump in the Western Hemisphere.”

As it turns out, things aren’t going so well for Trump Jr.

“Donald Jr. woke up this morning [Tuesday] to urge people to get the vote out but maybe he should have waited until he had his morning cup of hair gel,” Colbert said.

Yesterday, otherwise known as election day, the son-in-chief took to Twitter to urge Virginia voters to cast their ballots for Republican candidate for governor Ed Gillespie tomorrow. Meaning today. Meaning the day after the election.

Oops.

Things weren’t going so hot for the elder Trump in South Korea either.

Colbert featured a clip in his opening monologue of the president talking intently about the United States’ power.

“I think we’re showing great strength. I think they understand we have unparalleled strength. There has never been strength like it,” Trump said.

“It is one of the strongest strengths in the Strong-o-verse and now, just totally unrelated, does anyone have a thesaurus,” Colbert said, imitating Trump.

Luckily for Colbert, the president still has more than a week left of his journey, so expect more late-night examinations of foreign diplomacy in the days to come.

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A Star Is Born: Alfre Woodard turns 65 today

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

I don’t love the business that much that I would fill my days with the business. If a role is so obvious, I’d rather see someone else do it. I go to work when I feel like, ‘There’s something about this character that might get overlooked.’ That’s when I’m excited to go to work.

— Alfre Woodard, 2012

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Alfre Woodard, an activist who acts

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Meryl Streep clarifies decades-old quote about how she first met Dustin Hoffman

(Vianney Le Caer / Invision/Associated Press)

Meryl Streep is setting the record straight about an old anecdote involving Dustin Hoffman, her “Kramer vs. Kramer” co-star.

In the days after Hoffman was accused by two women of sexual harassment, Slate uncovered a 1979 interview Streep did with Time magazine, where she described her first encounter with Hoffman in unflinching terms.

“He came up to me and said, ‘I’m Dustin — burp — Hoffman,’ and he put his hand on my breast,” Streep reportedly said of meeting Hoffman while auditioning for a play he was directing. “What an obnoxious pig, I thought.”

In a statement given to E! News on Monday, a representative for Streep stated that the decades-old account was not an “accurate rendering of that meeting.” Streep’s rep noted that “there was an offense and it is something for which Dustin apologized. And Meryl accepted that.”

Accusations of sexual harassment against Hoffman were levied last week by “Genius” producer Wendy Riss Gatsiounis and author Anna Graham Hunter.

In a statement given to the Hollywood Reporter after Hunter’s claim, Hoffman said, “I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put [Hunter] in an uncomfortable situation.

“I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am,” he said.

Representatives for Streep did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Tuesday morning.

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Brian Michael Bendis, creator of Marvel’s Jessica Jones and Miles Morales, signs exclusive deal with DC Comics

Holy poaching, Batman! Longtime Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis has signed an exclusive deal with DC Comics.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Brian Michael Bendis exclusively to the DC Family with a multiyear, multifaceted deal,” DC announced on Twitter on Tuesday morning. “He’s one of the premier writers in the industry having created so many stories wherever he’s been and we can’t wait to see what he has planned for the DC Universe.”

During his time with Marvel, Bendis has co-created a number of fan-favorite characters including Miles Morales, the young black and Latino Spider-Man (with Sara Pichelli), and Jessica Jones, the superhero-turned private investigator (with Michael Gaydos).

He also recently helped introduce 15-year-old science prodigy Riri Williams, co-created by Mike Deodato, to the Marvel comics world. Williams took over superhero duties from Tony Stark, donning her very own Iron Man suit and operating under the code name Ironheart.

In addition to creating those characters, Bendis has had a hand in crafting stories for many of Marvel’s household names. On top of solo books for Spider-Man, Iron Man and Jessica Jones, Bendis has written on “Daredevil,” “Avengers,” “Moon Knight,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “X-Men” titles.

Bendis was also often trusted to helm Marvel’s special crossover event series including “Secret War,” “House of M,” “Secret Invasion,” “Age of Ultron” (unrelated to the MCU film) and the recent “Civil War II.”

With such deep ties to Marvel, Bendis’ move may seem surprising, but the Eisner Award-winning writer confirmed his move in a tweet.

Bendis’ only previous DC credit is a story in the 2007 anthology “Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told” Vol. 2.

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Sting, Justin Trudeau, k.d. lang salute Leonard Cohen at tribute marking anniversary of his death

Sting, k.d. lang, Seth Rogen, Lana Del Rey, Elvis Costello, Courtney Love and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, were among nearly two dozen participants Monday at “Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen.” The star-studded event marked the one-year anniversary of the poet-singer-songwriter’s death.

They were joined by Feist, the Lumineers’ Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, Børns, Bettye LaVette, Damien Rice, Ron Sexsmith, Couer de Pirate, Patrick Watson, the Webb Sisters, Cohen’s longtime collaborator, Sharon Robinson, and his son, Adam Cohen.

The Trudeaus noted that the song they chose for their first dance at their wedding was Cohen’s “I’m Your Man.”

Sting opened the evening with “Dance Me to the End of Love,” lang ended the first half with “Hallelujah” and Adam Cohen closed the show with the song he described as the first one of his father’s songs he ever learned, “Coming Back to You.” The concert was produced by Hal Willner.

Cohen died Nov. 7, 2016, at age 82. The concert was a benefit for the Canada Council for the Arts, the Council of Arts and Letters of Quebec and the Montreal Arts Council.

Watch highlights of the evening above.

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Stephen Colbert urges viewers to ‘vote for someone who will do something’ about gun violence

Stephen Colbert once again found himself in a sad but familiar position on Monday night: behind his desk on “The Late Show,” somberly addressing viewers in the wake of a mass shooting.

“The world is a harrowing place and sometimes you just don’t know what to say about it. For instance, I haven’t the slightest idea how to adequately address the attack in Sutherland Springs, Texas, yesterday,” Colbert said.

Just 35 days removed from the Las Vegas shooting where 59 people died and 527 were injured, “a madman with a semiautomatic weapon and body armor” attacked a church in Texas killing 26 people and injuring 20 more.

After recounting the details of the tragedy, Colbert noted that despite everyone’s heartbreak and desire for change, nothing changes.

“No one does anything, and that seems insane. And it can make you feel hopeless,” said Colbert. “Now, I don’t know what to do, but I know that hopelessness is not the answer. You cannot give up in the face of evil.”

Colbert encouraged his viewers not to give into “this powerlessness you feel when nothing gets done” because that’s just playing into what the gun lobby wants.

“I actually think there are some ... truly evil people out there who want you to feel powerless, just for a buck,” said Colbert. “Because if you feel powerless enough, you know what might make you feel more powerful? Going to buy a gun.”

Instead, Colbert urged everyone to use the power they do have: the power to vote.

“In 2018, vote for someone who will do something,” he said. “Because this is an act of evil, and the only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.”

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Elton John receives Harvard Foundation’s humanitarian award

(Steven Senne / Associated Press)

Elton John has achieved one of Harvard University’s highest honors: Humanitarian of the Year.

The celebrated musician’s philanthropic efforts to combat HIV and AIDS garnered the Harvard Foundation’s Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award, which John received during a ceremony at the Cambridge, Mass.-based institution on Monday.

The 70-year-old joins an elite class of previous recipients that includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former United Nations Secretaries-General Ban Ki-moon, Kofi Annan, Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Javier Perez de Cuellar. John is also the recipient of the Harvard School of Public Health’s AIDS Initiative Leadership Award, which he accepted in 2013.

“I’ve seen the power of the human spirit translated into compassion and extraordinary global progress,” the singer said Monday, according to the university’s newspaper. “This has been the most important lesson of my life. Nothing is more profound or more powerful than recognizing our common humanity.”

The Oscar- and Grammy-winning artist said he has lost friends to AIDS and regretted not doing more to help the cause earlier in his career — a time when he was battling his own addictions such as drugs, alcohol addiction, an eating disorder and self-absorption.

John, who was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 after meeting and being inspired by Indiana teenager Ryan White, who became a poster child for HIV awareness during the 1980s. The “Rocket Man” singer’s foundation has since raised more than $385 million to support HIV/AIDS-related programs.

The musician’s philanthropic efforts also earned him a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.

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Sia posts her own nude photo to thwart paparazzi plans

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Australian singer-songwriter Sia scooped prying paparazzi by tweeting a nude photo of herself that a vendor was allegedly attempting to sell.

The notoriously private artist, who often completely obscures her face with wigs while performing, tweeted a screenshot showing her naked from behind late Monday night. The screenshot had a watermark on it and a message: “If you make the purchase it will be unblurred and you will receive 14 additional images.”

“Someone is apparently trying to sell naked photos of me to my fans,” Sia tweeted alongside the invasive photo. “Save your money, here it is for free. Everyday is Christmas!”

The eight-time Grammy nominee is releasing an original Christmas album Nov. 17. The title? “Everyday Is Christmas,” of course.

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A Star Is Born: Joni Mitchell turns 74 today

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

You have to pull the weeds in your soul when you are young, when they are sprouting, otherwise they will choke you.

— Joni Mitchell, 2004

FROM THE ARCHIVES: An art born of pain, an artist in happy exile

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Harvey Weinstein expelled from Television Academy for life

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The Television Academy has voted to expel disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein in the wake of sexual harassment and assault allegations.

“After a hearing today, the Television Academy’s governance has voted to expel Harvey Weinstein from the Academy for life,” the Television Academy said in a statement. “The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue.

“The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behavior are deeply disturbing to the Academy’s leadership,” the statement continued. “We have been in contact with leaders across the industry and share with them a deep sense of responsibility to provide clear workplace benchmarks reflecting decency and respect.

“As a result, we are expediting an already-begun detailed review and revision of our Television Academy membership codes of conduct. We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment,” said the academy.

Weinstein’s TV credits include serving as executive producer on shows such as “Project Runway” and “Scream: The TV Series.”

The Television Academy joins the numerous professional organizations that have distanced themselves from Weinstein since allegations of sexual misconduct were first reported on Oct. 5. The claims had already led to his expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as the Producers Guild of America, which also voted to ban Weinstein for life.

Read The Times’ full coverage of the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal >>

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‘All the Money in the World’ pulled from AFI Fest amid growing Kevin Spacey controversy

The AFI Fest closing night premiere of “All the Money in the World” planned for Nov. 16 has been canceled in the wake of expanding allegations of sexual harassment and assault involving one of the film’s stars, actor Kevin Spacey. The film will still open on Dec. 22.

A statement released Monday by Sony’s TriStar Pictures read, “‘All the Money in the World’ is a superb film and more than worthy of its place of honor in the AFI Fest. But given the current allegations surrounding one of its actors and out of respect for those impacted, it would be inappropriate to celebrate at a gala at this difficult time. Accordingly, the film will be withdrawn.

“However, a film is not the work of one person,” it added. “There are over 800 other actors, writers, artists, craftspeople and crew who worked tirelessly and ethically on this film, some for years, including one of cinema’s master directors. It would be a gross injustice to punish all of them for the wrongdoings of one supporting actor in the film. Accordingly, the film will open wide as planned on December 22.”

The festival also released a separate statement on Monday: “AFI Fest celebrates film as a collaborative art form. We support Sony’s decision to postpone the premiere in order to ensure the thousands of people who worked together on this film are honored at a proper time and in a proper light.”

No replacement title for the festival’s closing night was immediately announced.

Directed by Ridley Scott, “All the Money in the World” stars Spacey as oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in the telling of the 1973 kidnapping of his grandson, John Paul Getty III. Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg also star.

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Rose McGowan mocks Alec Baldwin after his spat with Asia Argento, Anthony Bourdain

Rose McGowan, who on Friday promoted a PBS NewsHour interview in which Alec Baldwin said everybody knew a rumor that Harvey Weinstein had raped her, mocked the “30 Rock” alum Sunday after he got in a name-calling match with Asia Argento and Anthony Bourdain about that same sit-down.

In the interview, which aired Friday, Baldwin said that Weinstein’s alleged rape of McGowan was a well-known rumor for decades. He didn’t know until now that she had settled with the producer, he said, then nudged the onus back toward the actress when it came to nothing being done.

“What happened was Rose McGowan took a payment of $100,000 and settled her case with him,” he said. “It was for Rose McGowan to prosecute that case.”

Baldwin then brought up a question he said many people had asked about whether women who took settlements and stayed mum had hurt the cause of exposing sexual misconduct and bringing about change.

Argento appeared to be unhappy with the entire interview.

“[Y]ou’re either a complete moron or providing cover for your pals and saving your own rep. Maybe all three,” Argento tweeted at the actor Saturday.

He blasted back, “If you paint every man w the same brush, you’re gonna run out of paint or men.”

Bourdain responded to the shot at his girlfriend with a mildly crude comment calling Baldwin dumb.

According to the couple, Baldwin then blocked both of them. “So many self-seeking liars to block, so little time....,” the actor tweeted at Bourdain.

Said Argento, “I’ve been blocked on Twitter by Alec Baldwin. I wear this medal with pride.”

McGowan had no respect for Baldwin lashing out at the two.

“[W]ee little baby man had a widdle baby tantrum cos he wants to protect rapists. You’re sooo liberal, you scum bucket,” she tweeted Sunday, linking to a story detailing the spat.

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Mariah Carey, N.W.A, Tom Waits nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame

N.W.A, Mariah Carey, Tom Waits, the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, Alice Cooper and Alan Jackson are among more than two dozen nominees for induction next year into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, officials told the Associated Press on Monday.

If inducted, Compton heroes N.W.A would be only the second rap act ushered into the songwriters’ organization, following Jay-Z, who was welcomed in earlier this year.

In addition, John Mellencamp, Tracy Chapman, reggae star Jimmy Cliff, the Isley Brothers, Kool & the Gang and veteran country singer-songwriters Tom T. Hall and Bill Anderson are under consideration among writers who also are performers.

The nonperforming songwriters nominated include William “Mickey” Stevenson, Maurice Starr, Allee Willis, Steve Dorff, Mike Chapman, Randy Goodrum, Tony Macaulay and Jermaine Dupri.

Three songwriting teams also have been nominated: Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan, Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer, plus L. Russell Brown and Irwin Levine.

Writers are eligible after 20 years after their initial songwriting successes. The annual induction ceremony is typically held in June in New York.

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‘Tonight Show’ cancels this week’s shows after death of Jimmy Fallon’s mother

(Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

NBC has canceled this week’s tapings of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” after the death of Fallon’s mother on Saturday.

“On behalf of everyone at NBC, we extend our deepest condolences to Jimmy and all his family at this time of enormous loss,” a spokesperson for the network said in an email to The Times. “Our hearts go out to Jimmy and everyone else whose lives were so touched by Gloria Fallon’s love, kindness and support.”

“ ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ tapings have been canceled for the week of Nov. 6-10. Repeat episodes will be scheduled,” the statement concluded.

The Nov. 3 episode of “The Tonight Show” was similarly canceled citing a “private Fallon family matter,” which was later revealed to be Gloria Fallon’s hospitalization.

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Rose McGowan will release unapologetic memoir ‘Brave’ next year

(Rena Laverty / AFP/Getty Images)

Rose McGowan, an actress who has been among those leading the charge against sexual harassment and assault in the film industry, will release a memoir in January.

“Brave,” McGowan’s first book, will be published Jan. 30 by Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins, according to a news release from the publisher.

Harper One describes the book as “unscripted, courageous, victorious, angry, smart, fierce, unapologetic, controversial, and real.”

McGowan has long been a critic of misogyny in Hollywood. On Twitter last month, she claimed she had been raped by “HW.” After her tweet, film producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women.

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Asia Argento urges Uma Thurman to speak out on Hollywood misconduct

Uma Thurman at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.
(Alastair Grant / Associated Press)

Uma Thurman weighed in – in her own way – on Hollywood’s harassment and assault problem weeks ago, but it was only after a poignant tweet from actress, director and Harvey Weinstein accuser Asia Argento that people started to take notice.

On Saturday, Argento tweeted a link to an October “Access Hollywood” video featuring Thurman and implored the actress to use her voice to speak out.

“Dear Uma Thurman,” Argento wrote, “May peace be with you and your soul. We need your strong voice, it truly is commanding.”

In the video clip, Thurman is asked about inappropriate behavior in the workplace, and her response is measured but her voice is strained with emotion.

“I don’t have a tidy soundbite for you,” Thurman said. “I’ve learned that when I’ve spoken in anger I usually regret the way I express myself. So I’ve been waiting to feel less angry. And when I’m ready, I’ll say what I have to say.”

It’s been nearly three weeks since Thurman’s original comment and the actress – who’s starring in “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon‘s “The Parisian Woman” on Broadway – has yet to issue a follow-up statement.

Thurman’s thoughts on Weinstein and the slew of accusations against him are of particular interest given the actress’ longstanding relationship with the producer.

Thurman appeared in seven films with Weinstein involvement over the years, including “Pulp Fiction,” the “Kill Bill” films and “The Producers.”

Representatives for Thurman did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Monday morning.

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Comedian Patton Oswalt marries actress Meredith Salenger at star-studded affair

(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

Comedian Patton Oswalt and actress Meredith Salenger have tied the knot.

The “Veep” actor and “Mad” actress wed at the Jim Henson Company lot in Los Angeles on Saturday, according to their numerous social media posts about the happy affair.

Oswalt’s 8-year-old daughter, Alice, served as the flower girl, and Salenger dutifully boasted about going from being her happiest auntie to her happiest mom.

The ceremony was officiated by “The Good Wife” alum Martha Plimpton, who reportedly introduced the lovebirds, and the reception was DJed by Questlove, whose voluminous hair made for a memorable photobomb. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the first boy Salenger ever kissed, was also in attendance.

It’s the second marriage for Oswalt, whose first wife, writer Michelle McNamara, died suddenly in her sleep in April 2016. McNamara and Oswalt had been married 10 years.

Oswalt and Salenger made their public debut as a couple at the “Baby Driver” premiere in June and announced their engagement in July.

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Lamar Odom ‘great’ after collapse in WeHo club, his rep says

(Greg Doherty / Getty Images)

Lamar Odom collapsed early Sunday at Bootsy Bellows nightclub in West Hollywood, and his rep said heat and dehydration were to blame.

The former Lakers and Clippers basketball player was caught on video, released by TMZ, seemingly out of it. Odom wound up sitting up in a booth with his eyes open after security staffers got the 6-foot-10 ex-athlete up from the floor.

The man once married to Khloe Kardashian has a bad track record with losing consciousness: Two years ago, he went into a coma and nearly died after an overdose at a brothel in Nevada.

However, his rep said Odom was simply dehydrated Sunday after a workout the previous day.

“It was also very hot in the club,” the rep told E! News, adding that Odom was now “doing great.”

In January, fresh out of rehab after a series of troubling incidents (including one on a plane), Odom said, “I want my wife back. Other than that, I just want to live a happy, healthy life.” His and Kardashian’s divorce was final in December 2016, and she’s now expecting a baby with Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Anti-Defamation League slams Larry David’s ‘SNL’ monologue

(Evan Agostini / Invision )

The Anti-Defamation League is among those decrying Larry David’s controversial “Saturday Night Live” monologue.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the organization that fights anti-Semitism and forms of hate, was among the numerous Twitter users who were offended by David’s remarks, calling the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator “offensive, insensitive and unfunny all at the same time.”

The self-deprecating Jewish star sparked controversy during his second hosting stint over the weekend after joking about finding a date at a concentration camp — a bit he did to riff on Hollywood’s numerous sexual assault allegations. David also pointed out that many of the men accused of misconduct over the past few weeks are Jews.

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A Star Is Born: Thandie Newton turns 45 today

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Only in the last couple of years have I considered myself an actor. Up until then, I was in school and movies would come along -- ‘Thandie, do you want to do this?’ ‘Yeah, OK’ -- and this went on for five films. And then I thought, ‘My God, I really am an actress.’ But I never imagined myself to be a spectacle like that. I was just going to be a chorus dancer and I was very happy with that.

— Thandie Newton, 1995

FROM THE ARCHIVES: A Revolutionary Style

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Jimmy Fallon’s mom, Gloria Fallon, dies at 68

“Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon lost his mom, Gloria, on Saturday, a day after he canceled a taping of the show.

“Jimmy was at his mother’s bedside, along with her loved ones, when she passed away at NYU Langone Medical Center in NYC,” a family spokesperson said in a statement. “Our prayers go out to Jimmy and his family as they go through this tough time.”

Fellow hosts Stephen Colbert, Andy Cohen and Loni Love and stars like Terry Crews and Josh Gad tweeted condolences Sunday morning.

Fallon has been open about how close he was with his mother.

Gloria Fallon attended the taping of her son’s first night hosting “The Tonight Show” in 2014. Jimmy Fallon has also featured his mom in the show’s hashtag segment, #MomQuotes.

Over the years, Fallon would chat about his mom with guests on the show including Colin Hanks, who fell in love with her chutzpah at a party, and Danny DeVito, who recalled with a laugh a moment when she crinkled a wrapper during a quiet moment in a Broadway play. He also spoke to Beyoncé about a bit his mom did with her mother, Tina Knowles Lawson, on Letterman.

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Larry David sparks controversy with concentration camp jokes in monologue and revives Sanders impression on ‘SNL’

Not everyone was amused by Larry David’s “Saturday Night Live” monologue in which he joked about trying to get a date at a concentration camp.

In his second outing as “SNL” host, the “Curb Your Enthusiasm”’ star touched on the recent spate of sexual assault allegations in the news.

“I couldn’t help but notice a very disturbing pattern emerging, which is that many of the predators — not all, but many of them — are Jews,” David noted with comic grimace. “I know I consistently strive to be a good Jewish representative.”

The former “SNL” writer then pivoted to discussing his obsession with women and wondered: “If I’d grown up in Poland when Hitler came to power and was sent to a concentration camp, would I still be checking out women in the camp?”

“I think I would,” he continued. “The problem is, there are no good opening lines in a concentration camp.”

David then launched into an impression of himself approaching an imagined fellow prisoner: “‘How’s it going? They treating you OK?’”

“‘You know, if we ever get out of here, I’d love to take you out for some latkes. You like latkes?’”

The bit sparked debate on social media with some calling the joke out of bounds and others defending the “Seinfeld” co-creator.

David also reprised his Bernie Sanders impression later in the night during a bit spoofing the game show “The Price is Right” featuring musical guest Miley Cyrus, her beau, Liam Hemsworth, and Alec Baldwin as Tony Bennett.

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A Star Is Born: Tilda Swinton turns 57 today

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

I sometimes do honestly believe that the cinema has gone downhill since people started talking.

— Tilda Swinton, 2001

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Just a Mom Cleaning Up After the Kids

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A Star Is Born: Sean Combs turns 48 today

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

People have this perception of me — which is my fault — of ... Champagne-sipping and Hamptons and white fur and just cliche type of things that are just kind of old and dated and corny .... That was just part of my image for a second. It wasn’t who Sean is. You evolve — like, I need to retire my diamond necklace and fur jacket now. Things change. Times change.

— Sean Combs, 2010

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Sean Combs looks to establish a good comedy rap with ‘Get Him to the Greek’

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Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria are expecting ‘Baldwinito’ No. 4

(Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria are expecting a fourth child, she announced Friday — but, just like their kids, we’ll all have to wait until Saturday to find out whether it’ll be a boy or a girl.

“Our Baldwinitos are getting a new teammate this spring,” the pregnant 33-year-old said on Instagram. “I’m gonna make them a special cake to tell them if it’s a boy or a girl. ... I’ll post it tomorrow midday. We are so excited!”

In April 2016, when Hilaria was carrying their third child, Alec told People they didn’t plan to have any more babies after that one.

“[W]e’re thinking, if we had another one, it wouldn’t be wrong, but it would be very stressful,” he said.

Guess time will tell if Baby No. 4’s arrival affects the 59-year-old actor’s ongoing gig as President Trump on “Saturday Night Live.” In November the “30 Rock” alum told Vanity Fair he wouldn’t be doing his Trump all that frequently, and his wife explained why.

“When he does ‘SNL,’ it takes a big chunk out of [the weekend] because you’re up so late, and then it eats into the next day,” Hilaria said. “And for us, with little kids, it’s hard.”

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Tyrese Gibson’s abuse investigation dropped as he reconciles with Dwayne Johnson

(Jemal Countess / Getty Images)

All appears to be well again in Tyrese Gibson’s world.

The actor-singer made waves this week with personal details that alarmed his loyal fan base. However, the problems he shared — his messy custody battle with his ex-wife and his beef with “Fast and Furious” costar Dwayne — seem to have been resolved.

Gibson’s rep confirmed to The Times on Friday that the investigation by child services into the alleged physical abuse of his 10-year-old daughter, Shayla, has been closed. Gibson, who appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, will not be subjected to criminal charges.

His ex-wife, Norma Gibson, was trying to obtain a permanent restraining order against him after saying that he beat their daughter in August.

The “Sweet Lady” singer also appeared to reconcile with Johnson, with whom he publicly feuded, specifically Johnson’s plans to appear in a “Fast and Furious” spinoff. Gibson threatened to leave the franchise if Johnson appeared in the ninth installment.

In an Instagram post that he promised would be his last about Johnson, Gibson said he had “a real heart to heart” with one of Johnson’s associates and added that director Justin Lin will return as director of the upcoming films.

Several of Gibson’s Instagram posts have since indicated that he’s leaving Los Angeles for a while and focusing on his health.

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Kevin Spacey faces new complaints from ‘House of Cards’ staffers; London police investigate separate allegation

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Several new accusers have come forward with allegations against Kevin Spacey. The actor is being accused of sexual assault as well as misconduct on the set of his Netflix series “House of Cards.” A separate alleged incident from 2008 has also prompted an investigation in London.

The two-time Oscar winner has been accused of making the set of his D.C. drama a “toxic” work environment, according to a CNN report referencing eight crew members who currently work or have worked on the Emmy-nominated show.

One former production assistant alleged that Spacey sexually assaulted him during an early season of the series, when he was assigned to pick up Spacey and take him to the set.

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Former ‘Bachelorette’ producer Becky Steenhoek talks about sexual harassment lawsuit on ‘Today’

Former “Bachelorette” producer Becky Steenhoek, who is suing Warner Bros., spoke out about her allegations of sexual harassment on Friday.

“I was just getting asked a lot of personal questions, that had no relevancy to the show or really my job description,” Steenhoek explained on “Megyn Kelly Today.”

The Iowa native was hired on the hit ABC show in 2014 and was promoted to producer in the 2016 season featuring “Bachelorette” JoJo Fletcher. The questions, she said, had a sexually explicit nature and covered such topics as anal or oral sex, masturbation and her personal grooming habits, among others. The people engaged in the conversations, she alleged, were the show’s executive producers, her supervisor and Fletcher.

“These were conversations that were happening daily. We never even talked really about our jobs, nothing revolving around the show,” she told Kelly.

“And it was just something that made me feel very uncomfortable and very kind of violated and it wasn’t something again, that had any relevancy to the show. It didn’t have anything to do with how I was doing my job.”

Steenhoek said she knew the franchise was often salacious and “pushed boundaries,” but she didn’t expect to be engaged in such conversations herself.

Becky Steenhoek.
(Michael Stravato / For The Times)

According to the lawsuit she filed against Warner Bros. and five of the show’s producers on Monday, when she complained to her supervisor, she was fired. In the suit, she alleged sexual harassment and retaliation, which Warner Bros. said were “thoroughly investigated” earlier this year.

The studio said its findings “did not support the plaintiff’s characterization of the events claimed to have taken place.” Warner Bros. and NZK Productions, which produces the reality show, have since filed for arbitration.

“They don’t get a pass, because there is no reason to question Becky about her personal sexual life. That has nothing to do with the creative process, despite what ‘The Bachelor’ is claiming,” said her attorney Michael Morrison, who appeared on the Friday program via remote satellite.

“This is about taking on the girl from Iowa, the conservative girl, and it is basically a way for them to – you know, she is the butt of the joke, it is enjoyable to them. This is all about bullying,” he said.

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CMA Awards lifts ban on asking country musicians about guns and politics

Brad Paisley
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

After warning media outlets to keep on the sunny side with coverage of next week’s CMA Awards show, threatening those who didn’t comply with a risk of being ejected, the Country Music Assn. has withdrawn its heavily restrictive media guidelines.

Several country artists including Brad Paisley, Maren Morris and Margo Price quickly registered their opposition to the CMA’s edict that reporters avoid bringing up the Las Vegas mass shooting during a country concert, gun control or musicians’ political beliefs while interviewing those arriving for the ceremony in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

“CMA apologizes for the recently distributed restrictions in the CMA Awards media guidelines, which have since been lifted,” the organization said in a statement issued Friday morning. “The sentiment was not to infringe and was created with the best of intentions to honor and celebrate country music.”

The original media guidelines threatened those covering the event that if they violated the policy, “your credential will be reviewed and potentially revoked via security escort.”

Early Friday, singer-songwriter and guitarist Paisley, who again will co-host the show with Carrie Underwood, tweeted, “I’m sure the CMA will do the right thing and rescind these ridiculous and unfair press guidelines. In 3...2....1.....”

A short time after the CMA’s announcement that it was rescinding the guidelines, he added, “Bravo CMA awards for doing the right thing & apologizing for this mistake. All are welcome, let’s have a great show.”

Morris also tweeted on Friday. “Country music has always been about the truth,” she wrote. “Out of respect for the Las Vegas victims, let’s keep it that way.”

Outspoken country newcomer Price, who was named the emerging artist of the year in 2016 by the Americana Music Assn., posted this note to her Twitter followers: “And people wonder why I’m not invited.”

The CMA’s original instructions to media outlets stated, “In light of recent events, and out of respect for the artists directly or indirectly involved, please refrain from focusing your coverage of the CMA Awards red carpet and backstage media center on the Las Vegas tragedy, gun rights, political affiliations or topics of the like.

“It’s vital, more so this year than in year’s past due to the sensitivities at hand, that the CMA Awards be a celebration of Country Music and the artists that make this genre so great,” the statement said. “It’s an evening to honor the outstanding achievements in country music of the previous year and we want everyone to feel comfortable talking to press about this exciting time.”

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Corey Feldman names one alleged abuser, then defends a man with a similar name

Corey Feldman went on “The Dr. Oz Show” on Thursday to name one of the men he alleges abused him when he was a child actor. Later in the day, he found himself defending a man with a similar name after people on social media started going after the wrong guy.

Feldman accused Cloyd Jon Grissom, a man with a criminal record that, according to “The Dr. Oz Show,” includes convictions in California on child molestation charges.

After the show aired, the actor-turned-musician tweeted, “THE MAN WHO MOLESTED ME ISNT SPELLED JOHN, ITS SPELLED JON! JON C, PLEASE STOP HARRASSING THE WRONG MAN!”

Google searches of “John Grissom” on Thursday and Friday were showing, in a box on the upper right, two film credits that belonged to Cloyd Jon Grissom along with a link to a YouTube video of John Grissom of North Carolina. The latter Grissom, whom the search labeled as an actor, wound up getting nasty messages via social media.

“This message is to all my friends,” John Grissom wrote Thursday on Facebook. “I want you all to know Google got my picture up with my name and underneath of that they got actor. I told them I’m no actor and these people are getting on here saying I molested this actor name corey feldman.

“I told these people I don’t know him but they refuse to believe me,” he added. “They are calling me a actor. I want you all to know this. I reported this to Google and Youtube. This is false I don’t know him.”

He later posted an image of Feldman’s tweet clarifying the situation.

On television, talking about Cloyd Jon Grissom, Feldman said, “This guy, on his Myspace page and his Facebook page, has pictures of me and Corey Haim. He still taunts it and flaunts it.” “Dr. Oz” showed a Myspace page that appeared to belong to the man he accused.

Grissom is listed on IMDB as having been in the 1988 movie “License to Drive” (as C. Jon Grissom) and 1989’s “Dream a Little Dream” (as John Grissom) with Feldman and Haim, who died in 2010.

On the show, Feldman and Dr. Mehmet Oz contacted the Los Angeles Police Department via phone to ask whether a report could be taken on an alleged offense from 20 to 25 years ago. A detective explained that a report would be taken and interviews would be done, then a decision would be made on whether to move forward with the case. The show said it would turn off its cameras so Feldman could make a report.

The LAPD told the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday that while it had been made aware of the incident, no report had been taken.

Feldman has been trying to raise $10 million to make a feature film about what he experienced and what he observed when he was a young actor, and last week said he would name names once he had legal and physical protection via funding for that project. Between Monday and Friday, about $30,000 more had been pledged via Indiegogo toward the project, bringing the total to around $193,000.

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Jennifer Lawrence gets weird in delightful interview with Kim Kardashian West

Jennifer Lawrence is a Grade A weirdo and an absolute delight.

That’s the real takeaway from the actress’ stint guest-hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday night, as exemplified by an 18-minute interview with reality-TV star and makeup mogul Kim Kardashian West.

“I have been obsessed with the first guest and her family for over a decade in a very, very healthy way,” Lawrence said during her introduction of Kardashian West.

From the very start of the interview, Lawrence’s manic energy proved that she had absolutely no chill.

“Do you think it’s a coincidence that Reggie Bush’s wife looks just like you? I don’t,” she inquired, drawing big laughs from the audience. Kardashian West famously dated the former USC football star from 2007-09.

The conversation got only more bizarro – and entertaining – from there.

Lawrence revealed that she had recently been over to Kris Jenner’s house to join a Kardashian family dinner, which ended with her and Jenner getting rip-roaringly drunk. So drunk, in fact, that Lawrence stripped off all her clothes in Jenner’s closet and demanded that Kardashian West style her.

“I’ve never seen my mom more drunk in our lives,” Kardashian West observed.

“Take it easy,” Lawrence emphatically responded. “I was way more drunk than your mom.”

For all 18 minutes of gloriousness, check out the full video above. Highlights include the pair discussing farting, faux dildos and “Family Feud.”

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A Star Is Born: Roseanne Barr turns 65 today

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

I want to put something on TV that hasn’t been on TV before. I want to talk about my spiritual journey, fighting the angel and the devil in me.

— Roseanne Barr, 2003

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Putting the bloom back on Roseanne

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CAA and publicist Staci Wolfe part ways with Kevin Spacey amid sexual allegations fallout

(Nicholas Kamm / AFP-Getty Images)

CAA and Polaris PR have parted ways with Kevin Spacey amid the actor’s sexual misconduct scandal.

A representative for CAA confirmed that the “House of Cards” star, who signed with the agency in 2009, is no longer a client. Publicist Staci Wolfe also confirmed Thursday evening that she and Polaris PR had split from Spacey.

It has been just four days since Spacey was accused of making an unwanted sexual advance in 1986 by then 14-year-old actor Anthony Rapp. Spacey was 26 at the time of the alleged assault.

Rapp made his claim to Buzzfeed in an article published Sunday evening. Spacey responded with a statement saying he did “not remember the encounter” but added an apology “if I did behave then as [Rapp] describes.” Spacey also came out as gay in the statement, which earned widespread criticism.

The fallout has been swift.

On Monday, Netflix announced that the upcoming sixth season of “House of Cards,” which Spacey executive produces and stars in, would be its last.

On Tuesday, a second accuser, filmmaker Tony Montana, came forward alleging to Radar Magazine that Spacey drunkenly groped him in a Los Angeles bar in 2003.

Also on Tuesday, “House of Cards” producers Netflix and Media Rights Capital announced they were halting production indefinitely on the show’s sixth season to review the unfolding situation and address cast and crew concerns.

As recently as Wednesday, Wolfe, who at the time was still Spacey’s publicist, released a statement on the actor’s behalf: “Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment. No other information is available at this time.”

A “robust” Oscar campaign to garner Spacey a best supporting actor nomination for his turn in Ridley Scott’s upcoming “All the Money in the World” was scrapped in light of the scandal, Variety reported Thursday afternoon.

By Thursday evening Spacey was repped no more.

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Warner Bros. responds to sexual harassment lawsuit brought by former ‘Bachelorette’ producer with arbitration demand

Warner Bros. has issued a new response to a complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday by a former “Bachelorette” segment producer. Becky Steenhoek alleged in the complaint that she was exposed to “pervasive and persistent sexual inquiries and language” about her own sex life while on the set of the show in 2016.

“Our findings did not support the plaintiff’s characterization of the events claimed to have taken place, which is why we are disappointed by the filing of this lawsuit,” Warner Bros. initially said in a statement provided to The Times for a story on the allegations published Monday.

Now Steenhoek’s attorney on the matter said that Warner Bros. and NZK Productions, which produces the ABC reality show, has filed an arbitration claim with JAMS, a mediation and arbitration service.

“Not surprisingly their first move is to move this into arbitration so you take it away from a public court system where the proceedings can be followed,” said Steenhoek’s attorney, Michael Morrison.

As outlined in The Times story, Steenhoek’s suit alleges a work environment in which she was frequently asked graphic sexual questions by a group of the show’s producers. When she complained to her supervisor, the lawsuit claims, she was fired.

Steenhoek alleged that she was told, “I wasn’t being enough of a bitch and that my morals were not a good fit with the show.”

“Their purpose is to intimidate and silence my client,” Morrison said of the studio’s latest response. “My client will not be silenced.”

Warner Bros. did not immediately return The Times’ call for comment.

On Thursday afternoon, NBC announced that Megyn Kelly will interview Steenhoek in the “Today” show studio on Friday at 9 a.m. with Morrison joining via live remote.

ALSO: Ex-’Bachelorette’ segment producer discusses why she sued Warner Bros., alleging sexual harassment

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Variety’s Inclusion summit puts diversity front and center

Variety held its second annual Inclusion summit presented by Mercedes-Benz Wednesday, shining a spotlight on diversity in Hollywood.

Held at Beverly Hills’ Montage hotel, the conference featured conversations with power players such as filmmakers Lee Daniels, Jordan Peele, John Singleton and Paul Feig; CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Dawn Hudson; and actress Geena Davis and actor Nnamdi Asomugha, among others.

Diversity of race, gender, sexuality, ability and age were among the topics at the ticketed event, which was open to the public but attended in large part by members of the film industry.

A keynote conversation between comedian Chelsea Handler and civil rights activist and attorney Anita Hill about sexual harassment and misconduct in Hollywood kicked off the conference.

“We are making change,” said Hill. “It’s not instant, there won’t be one tipping point and there will need to be others after this. But this is monumental.”

Peele participated in the second keynote conversation, discussing the runaway success of his psychological horror film “Get Out” and the importance of “boundary-pushing cinema.”

“Over time, you begin to realize that truth is what works,” said Peele. “Time and time again, you realize the more truth you’re hitting on that people haven’t seen put in this way, the more successful it is.”

“Empire” director Daniels talked about representation for characters and actors of advanced age, while “Snowfall” director Singleton was part of a panel discussing the future of inclusive storytelling and how depicting underrepresented communities onscreen is just “good business.”

Davis led a talk about gender balance in the entertainment industry, and Feig spoke on a panel about ending sexual harassment in Hollywood.

“I think it’s up to our industry to police itself,” said Feig. “What has to come out of this moment is zero tolerance.”

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Pre-taped Jeremy Piven interview pulled from Friday’s ‘Colbert’ show

(Richard Shotwell / Associated Press)

A “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” segment with Jeremy Piven that was scheduled for broadcast Friday has been pulled, CBS said Thursday.

“Jeremy Piven’s interview for Friday’s broadcast was pre-taped earlier this week on Monday....,” a network spokesperson said in a statement. “Since we were unable to address recent developments in that interview, we are replacing that segment with a new guest.”

“Recent developments” refers to a Monday afternoon allegation against Piven by actress Ariane Bellamar, who accused him of sexual misconduct at the Playboy Mansion and on the set of the HBO series “Entourage,” which he was part of in 2004-2011.

The 52-year-old actor told Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday that he “unequivocally” denied what he called “appalling allegations” about his behavior.

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Dustin Hoffman accused of inappropriate behavior by a second woman

(Jordan Strauss / Associated Press)

A day after Dustin Hoffman apologized for anything he “might have done” that caused a former intern to accuse him of sexual harassment dating back to 1985, a second woman has come forward with new allegations of harassment against the actor.

Wendy Riss Gatsiounis told Variety in an interview published Wednesday that when she was a struggling playwright in her 20s in 1991, she had two meetings with Hoffman and “Tootsie” screenwriter Murray Schisgal to discuss possibly adapting her play “A Darker Purpose” into a feature film.

Riss Gatsiounis, who in recent years has worked as a writer on “Reign” and story editor on “The Killing,” said the first meeting started with Hoffman joking to Schisgal that the screenwriter couldn’t ask her whether she had a boyfriend or husband because times were changing. The meeting then turned professional, she said, and she was asked to rewrite her movie pitch.

Three weeks later, she said, Hoffman was “really different” at a second meeting and asked her whether she’d ever been intimate with anyone over 40; Riss Gatsiounis said she tried to laugh it off, but he kept going.

“I’ll never forget — he moves back, he opens his arms, and he says, ‘It would be a whole new body to explore,’ ” she told Variety. Then, Riss Gatsiounis alleged, he asked her to come with him to go clothes shopping at a local hotel. She said she repeatedly refused, the actor left and Schisgal told her they weren’t really interested in her movie pitch, which had not been discussed at the meeting.

She called the alleged incident “a source of torment” as she wondered for months whether she had damaged her career. When she talked to her agent immediately after the meeting, she said, she had been near tears.

Hoffman’s rep did not reply Thursday to a request from The Times for comment. However, in a statement Wednesday to the Hollywood Reporter, he said regarding allegations made by Anna Graham Hunter, “I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.”

In a guest column for THR on Wednesday, Hunter, who at 17 interned as a production assistant on Hoffman’s “Death of a Salesman” TV movie, alleged a pattern of escalating crude language and behavior by the actor toward her over the course of five weeks in 1985.

Hunter, who’s now a writer in L.A., said her supervisor at the time advised her to “try to have a sense of humor and just giggle and slap his hands or something.”

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Tyrese Gibson says he’s OK after emotional video he posted amid custody battle

Tyrese Gibson attends the 2016 Grammy Awards with his daughter, Shayla.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Tyrese Gibson says he’s fine after sharing a Facebook video of himself crying during his messy custody battle with his ex-wife, Norma Gibson.

The “Fast and Furious” franchise star alarmed fans after posting a rambling video on Wednesday in which he cried and repeatedly pleaded, “Don’t take my baby.”

“I’m not doing anything illegal,” he said in the increasingly emotional and expletive-laden footage.

In the Facebook video, the actor-singer said that he last saw his 10-year-old daughter, Shayla, two months ago, accused his ex-wife of making him unemployable and declared that his legal fees are adding up to $13,000 a month. He also said that his wealthy friends have left him in the lurch and no one is listening to him.

“Contrary to what some of y’all may believe, I’m actually OK,” he clarified in another video posted to Instagram on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the “Sweet Lady” singer shared another clip on Instagram soliciting prayers on his way to a hearing with his ex-wife, whom he separated from in 2009 after about two years of marriage.

Norma accused him of physically abusing their daughter in August -- a claim he denies -- and is trying to obtain a restraining order against him. (She was granted a temporary restraining order last month.)

The actor has also been feuding with his “Fast and Furious” costar Dwayne Johnson. He said that Johnson’s decision to do a franchise spinoff slated for 2019 will delay the ninth installment of the muscle car films by a year.

Gibson contends that the move further exacerbates his financial well-being and ability to keep up the fight for his daughter. Gibson appeared to issue an ultimatum that if Johnson appears in “Fast and Furious 9,” then he will bow out of the film in protest. He also intentionally cropped out Johnson from an Instagram photo on Wednesday, adding #ShaylaRocks to the caption.

According to CinemaBlend, reports indicate that the ninth film was actually pushed back so that director Justin Lin could fit it into his schedule.

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‘Late Night’ writer Jenny Hagel blasts Kevin Spacey’s response to alleged sexual misconduct

“Late Night With Seth Meyers” writer Jenny Hagel on Wednesday tore into Kevin Spacey and his response to fellow actor Anthony Rapp’s accusations that Spacey sexually assaulted him.

Rapp has alleged that Spacey made an unwanted sexual advance on him in 1986 when the “Star Trek: Discovery” actor was 14 years old. Hours after that accusation, Spacey issued a statement on Twitter to deny any recollection of the incident and cited it as “inappropriate drunken behavior.” He also announced that he “now choose[s] to live as a gay man.”

After addressing the news, Meyers turned the show over to Hagel, who dismantled Spacey’s statement piece by piece.

“As a gay woman, I have a lot of problems with Kevin Spacey’s statement,” Hagel said.

She pointed out that the “House of Cards” actor’s coming out in response to the allegations was completely inappropriate because “those two things are totally unrelated.”

“The only appropriate response to ‘you tried to have sex with a 14-year old’ is ‘I am also a 14-year old,’ ” Hagel said.

Deeming Spacey’s move a moment “worse for gay people than when NBC canceled ‘The Golden Girls,’ ” Hagel also took issue with Spacey chalking up his actions to “drunken behavior.”

“That makes it sound like every gay person is two beers away from molesting a kid,” she said. “I’m not. I’m two beers away from singing [Melissa Etheridge’s] ‘Come to My Window’ at karaoke. And three beers away from singing it from my window.”

Hagel then blasted Spacey for trying to join the LGBTQ community after he “threw us all under the bus” with his coming out.

“The gay community has been made up of brave, brilliant people like Alan Turing and Audre Lorde and Billie Jean King,” Hagel explained. “You’re not in the gay community. You’re in the creep community. Go celebrate creep pride, and throw a little creep parade, and leave us out of it.”

Watch the segment above.

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Lana Del Rey will retire Weinstein-inspired song ‘Cola’

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The “Cola” has fizzled out: Lana Del Rey will be cutting the song from the set list of her upcoming “L.A. to the Moon” tour.

Given the ubiquitous sexual assault allegations stemming from the ever-evolving Harvey Weinstein scandal, the singer-songwriter told MTV News that she no longer feels comfortable performing the song.

The fan favorite from her 2012 album, “Born to Die: The Paradise Edition,” has been rumored to be inspired by the now-disgraced film producer. (The track is about an affair with an older man and boasts the refrain: “Harvey’s in the sky with diamonds / And it’s making me crazy / All he wants to do is party with his pretty baby.” Hear it here.)

In fact, the “Summertime Sadness” singer told the outlet that she “definitely” thinks it’s time to retire “Cola.”

“When I wrote that song, I suppose I had a Harvey Weinstein/Harry Winston-type of character in mind,” the 32-year-old Grammy-nominated singer said. “I envisioned, like, a benevolent, diamond-bestowing-upon-starlets visual, like a Citizen Kane or something. I’m not really sure.”

Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by scores of women in recent weeks, allegedly lured women to his hotel rooms with overtures about improving their careers in exchange for a sexual relationship with him. It is unclear if Del Rey, who wrote music for the Weinstein Co.’s 2014 film “Big Eyes,” had such an encounter with him.

Del Rey said she thought “Cola” was funny at the time, but finds it “really sad now.” She also said she supports the women who came forward with their accounts of sexual harassment and assault.

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A Star Is Born: k.d. lang turns 56 today

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

To me, interpretive singing is a dying art form. I think it’s important to take standards and give them a contemporary perspective. I’ve never been interested in a retrospective approach; I always try to mix the traditional with the progressive.

— k.d. lang, 1997

FROM THE ARCHIVES: A Plucky Strike

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Beyoncé will voice Nala in 2019’s ‘The Lion King’

Beyonce Knowles-Carter is joining the cast of “The Lion King” to voice to role of Nala.

The Walt Disney Studios revealed the main cast for its upcoming live-action and CG adaptation of its 1994 animated classic Wednesday and confirmed the months old rumor that the pop superstar would be lending her voice to the project.

Some had been previously announced for the film including Donald Glover as Simba and James Earl Jones as Mufasa. Other cast include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon and Keegan-Michael Key as a hyena.

Jon Favreau, who brought Disney’s CG and live-action adaptation of “The Jungle Book” to life, is set to direct.

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Jeremy Piven calls sexual misconduct allegations against him ‘appalling’

Jeremy Piven was recently accused of sexual harassment by actress Ariane Bellamar.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jeremy Piven joined a growing list of Hollywood entertainers accused of sexual harassment Monday, when actress Ariane Bellamar alleged that Piven groped her on two separate occasions.

Bellamar penned a series of tweets on Oct. 30 tagging Piven and claiming the actor “cornered me & forcefully fondled my breasts & bum.”

“‘Member when I tried to leave; you grabbed me by the [butt], looked at yourself in the mirror, & said what a ‘beautiful couple’ we made,” Bellamar tweeted.

According to Bellamar, who also appeared on the reality show “Beverly Hills Nannies,” one of the incidents took place on the set of HBO’s “Entourage” and the other at the Playboy Mansion. Bellamar is a former Playboy model.

In a statement made to Entertainment Weekly Tuesday, Piven denied Bellamar’s claims.

“I unequivocally deny the appalling allegations being peddled about me. It did not happen,” Piven said. “It takes a great deal of courage for victims to come forward with their histories, and my hope is that the allegations about me that didn’t happen, do not detract from stories that should be heard.”

HBO responded to Bellamar’s accusations with a statement Tuesday confirming that it was the first time it was hearing of the incident that purportedly took place during the filming of “Entourage.”

“Today, via the press reports, is the first we are hearing about Ariane Bellamar’s allegations concerning Jeremy Piven,” the statement read. “Everyone at HBO and our productions is aware that zero tolerance for sexual harassment is our policy. Anyone experiencing an unsafe working environment has several avenues for making complaints that we take very seriously.”

CBS, where Piven stars on the freshman drama “Wisdom of the Crowd,” issued a statement of its own Tuesday, stating, “We are aware of the media reports and are looking into the matter.”

Representatives for Piven, Bellamar and CBS did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for further comment Wednesday afternoon.

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Dustin Hoffman apologizes after allegations that he sexually harassed a 17-year-old intern in 1985

Actor Dustin Hoffman apologized on Wednesday after being accused of sexually harassing a 17-year-old intern in 1985 on the set of a TV adaptation of “Death of a Salesman.”

In a guest column for the Hollywood Reporter, Anna Graham Hunter alleged that, while working as a production assistant on the project, she was targeted by the actor with a range of inappropriate behavior, including groping her and directing crude comments at her.

“He asked me to give him a foot massage my first day on set; I did,” Hunter writes. “He was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my ass, he talked about sex to me and in front of me.”

A representative for Hoffman did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Times about the allegations. But in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, the 80-year-old actor expressed remorse for his alleged behavior.

“I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation,” Hoffman said. “I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.”

The allegations against Hoffman are the latest in a series of sexual harassment accusations to emerge in the past month against Hollywood figures including film mogul Harvey Weinstein, former Amazon Studios head Roy Price and directors James Toback and Brett Ratner.

In her column, Hunter, who is now 49 and working on a memoir, wrote that her feelings toward Hoffman – who won an Emmy for his performance in “Death of a Salesman” – were complicated at the time and remain so to this day.

“Yes, he was gross. But he could also be sweet and wanted me to like him. Which I did,” she writes. “I would be more comfortable if I felt nothing but revulsion for a man who had power over me and abused it. But I still like watching him onscreen.”

At the same time, she writes, “I understand what Dustin Hoffman did as it fits into the larger pattern of what women experience in Hollywood and everywhere. He was a predator, I was a child, and this was sexual harassment.”

A two-time Oscar winner for the films “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Rain Man,” Hoffman most recently starred in director Noah Baumbach’s dramedy “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected),” for which he has received strong reviews.

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U2 announces ‘Songs of Experience’ release, tour details

U2 frontman Bono performs at the Forum in Inglewood in 2015.
U2 frontman Bono performs at the Forum in Inglewood in 2015.
(Rich Fury / Invision)

U2 has confirmed its new album, “Songs of Experience,” will arrive next month. The follow-up to 2014’s “Songs of Innocence” will arrive Dec. 1, and an arena tour will follow in the spring, including a stop at the Forum in Inglewood on May 15.

Originally set for release shortly after “Songs of Innocence,” U2 delayed the project amid divisive politics on both sides of the Atlantic with Brexit and the election of President Trump inspiring darker lyrics.

“The elections were a shock to the system personally and a shock to the system politically, not just in America but in Europe,” Bono told the New York Times in September. “This is my lyrical response to both of those shocks. I leaned more on the personal than the political, but the political is there to put the personal songs in the context of time, of history.”

U2 collaborated with Ryan Tedder, Jacknife Lee, Steve Lillywhite and Kendrick Lamar for the record. The lyrical approach of the album was greatly inspired by Irish poet, novelist and Trinity College, Dublin Professor Emeritus Brendan Kennelly’s advice to Bono to “write as if you’re dead.” The result is a collection of songs that take the form of intimate letters to places and people close to the singer’s heart -- family, friends, fans and himself.

Just as “Songs of Experience” serves as a companion to “Songs of Innocence,” the band’s new Experience + Innocence Tour will act as a sequel to 2015’s Innocence + Experience Tour.

Fifteen dates have been announced so far, and tickets go on sale Nov. 20 through Ticketmaster.

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Julianne Moore and Whoopi Goldberg reflect on post-Weinstein Hollywood

Things took a turn for the candid Tuesday night on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” after a caller inquired about guest Julianne Moore’s recently canned project at Amazon.

“[With] the Weinstein debacle and another issue at Amazon, everyone kind of walked away and torpedoed it,” Moore said of the planned David O. Russell show that would also have starred Robert De Niro.

The show originally received a two-season commitment in 2016 in a partnership between Amazon and Weinstein Co. but was quickly abandoned last month after sexual harassment allegations began emerging against both producer Harvey Weinstein and Amazon Studios head Roy Price.

Fellow “Watch What Happens” guest Whoopi Goldberg quickly jumped into the conversation when the next viewer query wondered whether lasting change in the Hollywood power dynamic was finally at hand.

Moore suggested that change is possible as long as there are repercussions for wrongdoers, but Goldberg had a different take on the matter.

“I think it will only change things when women decide they don’t want to take it,” Goldberg said. “You have to make it very, very hard for [people in power] to do it. And that’s going to be on us, predominantly.”

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Millie Bobby Brown raps a recap of ‘Stranger Things’: ‘Bad news when you see that bloody nose’

Here’s one of the “Stranger Things” to come from Millie Bobby Brown: She raps.

The 13-year-old actress, who plays Eleven on Netflix’s ‘80s-inspired, coming-of-age/sci-fi series, recapped the show’s first season in verse on the Halloween edition of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday.

Consider the performance, above, a semi-spoiler fest if you haven’t seen “Stranger Things” Season 1 or a helpful tool if you don’t want to rewatch the first eight episodes before embarking on the new season, which started streaming Friday.

“All I need is my Eggo waffles/ I’m in love with those,” she rapped. “What I’m left with when I use my powers is a bloody nose/ Bad news when you see that bloody nose.” Ah, yes, that’s Eleven in a nutshell.

That said, the Eleven-and-Halloween combo has creeped her out a bit in recent years, as her character is now, well, a costume.

“I can’t really, like, think about it too much,” Brown told Fallon. “Because if I think about it, it freaks me out that, like, grown men are dressing up as me.”

And that’s possibly the strangest thing of all.

For the record, 1:15 p.m.: An earlier version of this story referred incorrectly to “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.” It is “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

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Watch Dave Grohl and Kristen Bell give ‘Frozen’ a Metallica makeover

With Jimmy Kimmel out for the week on family medical leave, a slew of celebrity guests have taken over hosting duties at ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” with Dave Grohl running the show during Tuesday night’s eventful Halloween episode.

The most memorable bit was undoubtedly when he persuaded guest Kristen Bell to jam with him to “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from her hit film “Frozen.”

Grohl invoked his daughters’ admiration for the film in his pitch to Bell, who quickly agreed to perform.

Also, they were dressed as the title character of “Magnum P.I.” (Bell) and David Letterman (Grohl).

After a perfectly sweet rendition of the first verse of “Snowman,” Bell suddenly transitioned into a Metallica-esque version with the band (featuring Grohl on drums). Before long, the song fully devolved into Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” (Or is it “Enter Snowman”?)

For more Halloween ridiculousness, check out Grohl’s opening monologue in full (and disturbingly accurate) Letterman mode.

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It’s official: Heidi Klum won Halloween with her howlingly good costume

Yep, that's Heidi Klum.
(Craig Barritt / Getty Images for Svedka Vodka)

Heidi Klum had a howling evening at her annual Halloween bash on Tuesday.

The blond supermodel transformed into the iconic werewolf featured in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video for her 18th annual Halloween Party at Moxy Times Square in New York City. The “Project Runway” host also performed a routine from the 1982 classic accompanied by a throng of zombies.

Klum, 44, teamed up with special-effects makeup studio ProRenFX to create her costume and shared clips from the lengthy process on social media.

“It takes a long time to lay the prosthetics but then putting it all together, it took seven hours,” Klum told People. “Michael Jackson was always such an icon and the ‘Thriller’ video is such an iconic video and I was like, ‘I have to redo that.’”

The festive celeb typically goes all out for her Halloween soirée. Klum has memorably transformed into Jessica Rabbit, a cadaver, a butterfly, an old woman and, last year, she cast five “clones” of herself to accompany her to the affair.

Here’s a peek at Klum’s celebrity guest list and what they wore.

Kelly Tisdale, Heidi Klum, Mike Myers and Nick Cannon

(Mike Coppola / Getty Images)

Zac Posen

(Mike Coppola / Getty Images)

Desiree Gruber and Kyle MacLachlan

(Mike Coppola / Getty Images)

Jay Manuel

(Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press)

Jon Batiste, Heidi Klum and Questlove

(Mike Coppola / Getty Images)

Coco and Ice T, Dylan Sprouse and Heather Graham

(Craig Barritt / Getty Images)
(Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images)
(Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images)
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A Star Is Born: Toni Collette turns 45 today

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

To tell you the truth, my father says I came out of the womb literally singing and dancing, as though there was a spotlight on me. When I ask what I was like when I was little, they just say ‘loud.’

— Toni Collette, 2006

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Heavyweight, but only in acting

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