Entertainment

Jonathan Scott and actress Zooey Deschanel recently celebrated their two-year dating anniversary, and the Property Brothers star admitted that he knows he’s very lucky to have her in his life.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the media personality joked, “I know I am dating up!”

“It means I just need to keep raising the bar and keep up with those expectations,” Jonathan clarified before diving into how his relationship has also inspired him to come up with new ideas on how to expand his Property Brothers empire. The Emmy nominee hinted that he has a new show in the works, which allows him to work side-by-side with Deschanel.

“[My brother Drew Scott] actually came up with a good concept, because Zooey is obsessed with real estate,” Jonathan teased.

As for how the Property Brothers will be allowed to fix up a random stranger’s home, Jonathan exclaimed, “Is someone going to say no if Zooey Deschanel just walks up to their door and knocks on it and says, ‘Hey, this guy will fix your house if you want it!’?”

The HGTV star also revealed that he and his brother can be credited for Hollywood’s latest hot couple — Ant Anstead and Renee Zellweger. Apparently, the two met on their show Celebrity IOU: Joyride, and Jonathan says sparks were flying between the two almost instantly.

“There was a scene where they were joking about being flirtatious, and Ant was like, via zoom, was putting on the flirty moves,” he dished. “It was just a joke, but apparently it worked!”

Drew chimed in, “He is that smooth… It’s that British accent, I tell you. He just charms with that!”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alec Baldwin broke a record at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Foundation’s annual charity gala, where he auctioned off tickets to the French Open and made history when he secured a winning bid of $250,000.

A source who attended the Monday night gala told Page Six that said the event was also attended by stars Mike Tyson, Billie Jean King, Anna Wintour and many others.  

However, the highlight of the night “was when [the night’s co-host] Baldwin adopted an Inspector Clouseau-like French accent and started auctioning off the Roland Garros package,” said the source, referring to the French Open by its official name.

The package included six tickets to the French Open, which also included a stay at the Ritz Paris, complementary round-trip travel on a private Gulfstream G550 jet, and other perks.

“Alec started the bidding at $100K, and his comedic chops got the room rocking,” the insider dished. “[He] ultimately sold the package for $250K…the highest price in the gala’s history.”

Another package that included French Open tickets also went for a jaw-dropping $250K.  In all, the source says the event raised over $2 million.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Rose McGowan is not a fan of Oprah Winfrey. 

On Sunday, the actress and activist took to Twitter to share her thoughts about the longtime television talk show host. 

“I am glad more are seeing the ugly truth of @Oprah. I wish she were real, but she isn’t,” McGowan wrote, sharing an old photo Oprah kissing embattled producer Harvey Weinstein on the cheek. “From being pals with Weinstein to abandoning & destroying Russell [Simmons’] victims, she is about supporting a sick power structure for personal gain, she is as fake as they come. #lizard.”

McGowan’s tweet has also initiated a wider conversation surrounding Oprah’s ties toWeinstein and Simmons, both of whom have both been accused of sexual misconduct, with Weinstein criminally convicted of related crimes.

The derogatory tweet comes after an interview the TV icon did with Dolly Parton resurfaced, and social media users questioned the motive behind Oprah’s questions, which centered around the cosmetic procedures the country star had done and the depression she had faced. 

One user commented, “i feel like oprah wanted her to be embarrassed but ms dolly said ‘nope.'”

Another added, “Oprah thought she was about to catch Dolly up with this one look at her looking into the camera,” making note of a moment in the clip that Oprah appeared to look at the camera while asking her questions. 

On the other end, some users thought that people were reading too much into the snippet.

“I just can’t. People out here trying to cancel Oprah for a past Dolly interview Are we watching the same interview?” a third tweeted. “It was a great, fun interview. Also, these are things Dolly has openly talked about. I just can’t with all this. LOL.”

I am glad more are seeing the ugly truth of @Oprah. I wish she were real, but she isn’t. From being pals with Weinstein to abandoning & destroying Russell Simmon’s victims, she is about supporting a sick power structure for personal gain, she is as fake as they come. #lizard pic.twitter.com/RCuXNpWCU0

— Rose 🌊McGowan (@rosemcgowan) August 29, 2021

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Pierce Brosnan isn’t bothered that he’s now playing the affable father figure in movies.  The Irish actor, who gained acclaim for his portrayal of James Bond in the mid-90s and early aughts, stars as King Rowan in the upcoming fantasy romance, Cinderella.

Brosnan explained to ABC Audio, “You hope to stay at the table for as long as you can as an actor. And, of course, you get older and then you have to adjust and you have to hopefully find parts that will lead you into the next chapter of your career.”

Brosnan said he’s enjoying the ride, adding, “I’m in that time in that chapter of life now playing the fathers, the grandfathers, the wizards [and] the Kings!”

He certainly enjoyed playing King Rowan and revealed that he used his charm to convince writer/director Kay Cannon to make his part even more special — by giving him a solo.

“I forced my way onto the stage with a song,” the GoldenEye star confessed. “I said, ‘You know, don’t you realize that they gave me a platinum album for Mamma Mia! Don’t you realize that there’s an audience out there that needs to hear me sing once more?!'”

The Golden Globe-nominee, who declined to divulge more about his solo, also spoke about making peace with Cinderella skipping theaters because of COVID-19.

“You cannot have such petty concerns in a time of a pandemic,” said Brosnan. “You just wish for people to be embraced by the entertainment of it all and to be able to share it in their homes with their family and their children.”

While he admits seeing Cinderella on the big screen would’ve been “wonderful,” he notes “it’s not meant to be.” 

Cinderella waltzes into your living room this Friday on Amazon Prime Video. 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Sony and MGM know fans have been champing at the bit for the repeatedly pandemic-delayed James Bond thriller No Time to Die, and to that end, two new final trailers dropped today. 

Both the domestic and international trailers are similar, but they play out in very different ways.

The domestic trailer leans into this being Daniel Craig‘s final turn in the tux, opening with the legend, “In the beginning he became 007,” complete with scenes from his previous films including Casino Royale and Skyfall.

“…Every mission, every sacrifice has led him to this,” the domestic titles tease.

“The wait is over,” opens the foreign release, hinting at the movie’s bumpy road to theaters.

Both trailers showcase more of Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar winner Rami Malek‘s villain Safin, who is masterminding a global catastrophe. “We both eradicate people to make the world a better place,” he tells Bond. “I just want to be a little tidier.”

Safin’s plot remains mysterious, but he’s apparently such a baddie that an incarcerated Blofeld, played by Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, is worried. He smiles as he tells Bond in the foreign snippet, “Now your enemy is my enemy. How did that happen?”

“Well, you live long enough…” Bond smiles.

At the center of the scheme is apparently Bond’s mysterious love interest from SPECTRE, Léa Seydoux‘s Madeline. “When her secret finds its way out, it’ll be the death of you,” Blofeld warns him. 

As expected, the trailer is action packed, though several of the car chases and high-flying sequences have been glimpsed in previous teasers.

“If we don’t do this, there will be nothing left to save,” Bond urges Lashana Lynch‘s Nomi, Bond’s successor to the 007 designation.

No Time to Die (finally) opens October 8.

>br>

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Bel-Air has found its Fresh Prince.

Peacock revealed in an announcement video on Tuesday that they have tapped newcomer and West Philadelphia native Jabari Banks to play the role of Will in the forthcoming The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot, Bel-Air. Original Will and Fresh Prince star Will Smith surprised Banks in the video, sharing the news of his casting. As previously reported, the hourlong series is a reimagining of the ‘90s sitcom as a drama series. It is based on a viral YouTube trailer created by writer Morgan Cooper that explores Will’s “complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air.” Additional casting has yet to be announced.

In other news, Starz has announced additional casting for the second season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan. LeToya Luckett, Omar Dorsey, Krystal Joy Brown and Paulina Singer have all been tapped for recurring roles. Luckett will play Kenya, Jukebox’s mother who comes back into her life; Dorsey a charismatic businessman named Cartier “Duns” Fareed; Brown will play Marvin’s anger management therapist, Renée Timmons; and Singer will star as Zisa, an up-and-coming singer looking to make a name for herself. A season two premiere date for Raising Kanan has yet to be announced.

Finally, Paramount+ has unveiled a Thursday, November 11 premiere date for their The Game reboot. During the Television Critics Association virtual presentation on Tuesday, Paramount+ shared that Tim Daly and Toby Sandeman have also been added to the cast. Meanwhile, fan favorite Coby Bell will make a special appearance in his original role as former footballer Jason Pitts. As previously reported, the new series is set in Las Vegas and centers on a “modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of pro football.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mike Richards is officially out as executive producer of Jeopardy! after recently stepping down as the quiz show’s new permanent host.

The news was shared with Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune staff Tuesday via an internal note from Suzanne Prete, the executive vice president of business and strategy for both game shows.

“I’m writing to let you know that Mike will no longer be serving as EP of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! effective immediately,” Prete wrote in the note, which was obtained by ABC News.

“We had hoped that when Mike stepped down from the host position at Jeopardy! it would have minimized the disruption and internal difficulties we have all experienced these last few weeks. That clearly has not happened.”

Prete said an executive from production company Embassy Row will be assisting with production “on an interim basis until further notice” to “ensure that production remains on schedule” for the new season.

Prete ended the note by thanking the entire team for their “cooperation and professionalism” throughout the “challenging” past few weeks.

Richards’ exit as executive producer closes out what has been a tumultuous month for the Jeopardy! brand. After having been announced as the late Alex Trebek‘s successor on Aug. 11, he stepped down from hosting duties on Aug. 20.

Richards had come under fire for resurfaced controversial remarks he made on The Randumb Show, a podcast he hosted from 2013 to 2014. A report from The Ringer exposed various disparaging comments he made about women, the recordings of which have since been deleted. Richards has apologized for the comments.

The report also brought to light a 2010 lawsuit in which a former model on The Price Is Right, during Richards’ tenure on that program, alleged her contract was not renewed after she gave birth.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Bachelor star Kelley Flanagan tearfully opened up to fans on Monday about a recent change in her health, revealing that she has tested positive for Lyme disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans via infected tick bites. Common symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash. Without treatment, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and the nervous system. Most cases can be successfully treated with antibiotics over the course of a few weeks.

Flanagan hinted that she may have been unknowingly wrestling with the disease for a while, telling fans while wiping away tears, “I always felt like my body’s been so much more sensitive and super reactive to a bunch of things.”

Noting that she “just got the results back,” the reality star said she is now focused on making a full recovery.

In a lengthy caption, Flanagan expressed, “[I] decided to finally get tested for serval different things and tested positive for [L]yme disease and several other co-infections. It’s a blessing and a curse because now i can target why i feel off so often but also means several different lifestyle changes and extensive research on how to help/hopefully cure this!”

She also revealed that her siblings also wrestled with the disease, noting her journey will be “tough for me seeing what my brothers have gone through mentally and physically.”

“I’m going to put so much of my time and energy into figuring this out and combating this,” Flanagan closed, promising to keep fans in the loop on her “new journey.”

Bachelor Nation rallied around Flanagan, with Kaitlyn Bristowe, Ashley Iaconetti, Victoria Fuller, Raven Gates, Kristian Haggerty and several others sending in their well wishes and encouraging words.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Kelley Flanagan (@kelleyflanagan)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

John Cho will bring the character Spike Spiegel to life in the Netflix live-action reboot of Cowboy Bebop, but admits he had a hard time wrapping his head around the age difference separating him and his character.

In the Cowboy Bebop anime, which ran for one season between 1998 and 1999, Spike is listed as being in his mid 20s. Cho is 49. In a new interview with Vulture, the actor admitted the age difference was his “biggest fear” going into the project and that he “had to get over it.”

“I’m not a person who says age is just a number or whatever. It was gonna be harder — physically. And I was gonna look different than a 25-year-old guy,” he explained. “At some point, the opportunity is ‘Yes or no — do you wanna do it?’ And I did wanna do it. So I wasn’t gonna stop myself from doing it.”

Cho said he then learned that his age gave him an advantage at depicting Spike, saying it allowed him to make the character more well-rounded.

“I couldn’t have done it when I was 27. I mean, maybe I would’ve been better suited athletically, but in terms of my discipline, I am strangely better suited at this age,” the Star Trek star continued. “I don’t think I would’ve done justice to the emotional depth we tried to give Spike.”

Cho added that younger actors are best suited to make vengeful characters filled with rage, adding, “That might’ve been a more pronounced element in the character. What I’m better at, being older, is showing weakness and vulnerability and love. Those things are more accessible to me. Personally, I’d prefer the version I’m able to do now. That’s my taste.”

Cowboy Bebop premieres November 19 on Netflix.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The 17th season of Discovery’s hit Deadliest Catch recently premiered, and in addition to the many dangers of crab fishing on the Bering Sea, this season sees the crews dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the show’s biggest stars, and the show’s technical consultant — F/V Northwestern Captain Sig Hansen — says at the height of the pandemic, he and the crews felt “blessed,” because their work was deemed essential.

“I’ve had friends that are on other fishing vessels…that literally did not leave their boats for eight to nine months, they could not step on land,” he explained to ABC Audio via phone.

“The state of Alaska, we went through our own COVID regulations. You’ve got federal, state, and then every [harbor] has its own set of regulations as well. So, quite honestly, we were so fortunate to be able to go out there and go to work, you know.”

Hansen explains how it’s still amazing to see how people follow the show after so many seasons. “It’s been this snowball. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard families come up to me… ‘My grandson watches Deadliest Catch or my granddaughter or my mother or my father.’ It’s just a generational thing where I think families watch it together.”

Sig adds, “And I still think that’s a good thing, even though this is a dangerous factor in Deadliest Catch, you’ve got that work ethic all the guys have up there. I just think…that’s important for people to see.”

After fishing his whole life as his father did, the captain, best-selling author, and entrepreneur says he’s got no plans to quit his “day job.”

“Yeah, it’s an addiction, it’s in your blood.”  

Deadliest Catch airs tonight at 8 p.m. on Discovery.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.