Entertainment

The students of Utah’s Payson High School are getting ready to cut loose: Footloose star Kevin Bacon has made their dreams come true and will return to the very school in which he shot the 1984 film.

Payson High students lobbied the 65-year-old actor to return to the school for its final prom before it changes location. In an announcement aired on the Today show on Friday — which was watched by the assembled students, who got there at 4 in the morning — Bacon said he’s back.

“I have been so impressed with everything that’s been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back,” said Footloose‘s Ren McCormack himself.

“I don’t need to say it, but the movie and Payson High School was a big part of my life. I’ve been amazed at the work all of you have been putting into this with the musical and the flash mobs and the re-creations.”

He added, “It hasn’t gone unnoticed by me.”

The savvy students sweetened the deal by prepping a prom that would benefit Six Degrees, Bacon’s charity that helps communities in crisis.

He added, “The fact that you tied in SixDegrees.org, our foundation, and are trying to figure out ways to give back to your community. It’s really inspirational.”

He then told them, “I’m gonna come. I gotta come,” resulting in cheers from the students.

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As that nerd from IT probably has already told you twice, the Star Wars movies are headed back into the theater.

But the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission in San Francisco has announced plans for an “epic” screening of all nine of the so-called “Saga” films, with the Star Wars The Skywalker Saga May the 4th Marathon.

It’s not for the casual fan: It’s approximately 21 hours of programming that starts on May 3 with 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and wraps up on May 4 — Star Wars Day — with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.

To keep moviegoers awake and alive for the event, the movie house is kicking in for free coffee and water. There will also be trivia, exclusive merch and appearances by the Star Wars costuming group The 501st Legion on May 3, as well as a menu of to-be-announced themed food from that galaxy far, far away.

However, Alamo warns: “If you’re doing the marathon, you’re doing the whole thing. That means if you’re late to the beginning or if you leave the theater, we reserve the right to offer your spot to someone else without a refund.”

They don’t suggest how they’ll deal with those who might be inclined to leave the theater before the divisive Sequel Trilogy.

Star Wars is owned by Lucasfilm, a division of ABC News’ parent company Disney.

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On the latest installment of First We Feast’s Hot Ones, an admittedly ill-prepared Gwyneth Paltrow ran the “Wings of Death” gauntlet, and she dropped an F-bomb — but not from the hot sauce. 

Paltrow was already iffy at the very first hot sauce selection, explaining she only agreed to do the show because her son, Moses Martin, is obsessed with hot sauce.

“I feel determined, but I also feel like I’m going to pass out,” Gwyneth said after wing four, but one of host Sean Evans‘ subsequent questions got a surprised laugh out of the actress and entrepreneur: “Is it true that Bill Clinton passed out asleep during a White House screening of Emma?” Evans asked.

“True,” Paltrow said, laughing. “He was snoring right in front of me. I was like, ‘Wow, I guess this going to be a real hit movie,” the actress said sarcastically.

“[B]ut it was, so f*** you, Bill Clinton!” she added. 

In the end, Paltrow conquered the gauntlet of hot wings and even helped Evans give himself a facial using Goop products. 

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Netflix’s epic science fiction series 3 Body Problem is now streaming. An adaptation of Liu Cixin‘s book, the show broadly centers on a group of scientists and a detective teaming up to unravel our first contact with alien life.

The show flows back and forth from 1960s China to the present day, with Zine Tseng playing the younger version of scientist Ye Wenjie and Rosalind Chao playing her in the present.

“This is what happens when a young woman makes a fateful decision that changes the course of and the future of humanity,” Chau teases to ABC Audio, with Tseng adding, “And it crosse[s] time and space into the present day, and we see how humanity make their choices to survive the biggest threat [to] the entire universe.”

The show was developed by Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and features many stars from that show, including John Bradley — GOT‘s Samwell Tarley. He offers, “I know that they know how to write to my strengths. And without even knowing what the show was, it was pretty much a yes.”

“I owe them everything, and I would have probably been on board no matter what it was,” Bradley adds, but he says he was “delighted” it was this project.

Playing Jin Cheng, “supposedly the genius of her generation,” Jess Hong says she had to wrap her brain around “a lot of physics lingo.” However, the producers knew the material cold, and there was an Oxford physics professor acting as a consultant “any time we needed [it].”

Eiza González plays physicist Auggie Salazar, and she admits to being intimidated by the role. She explains of 3 Body Problem, “I don’t say this because I’m in the show … I’ve never seen a show like this, ever.”  

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Have no fear, your reality roundup is here! Here’s a look at what happened in the world of reality television this week:

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Bravo)
Annemarie Wiley will not appear on the next season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The reality star confirmed she was not asked to return to the series in an Instagram post shared on Thursday. “To say that I’m disappointed is an understatement,” Wiley wrote. “To the fans that saw past what was portrayed and saw the REAL me, thank you so much for the love and support. I wish all the ladies good luck on the next season and thank you Bravo for the opportunity.”

Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Professional dancers Peta Murgatroyd and Maks Chmerkovskiy are having another baby boy. The married couple and Dancing with the Stars pros, who are already parents to sons Shai and Rio, announced the gender of their third child Thursday on Instagram. “I’ve been quietly preparing myself to be a real-life wolf pack Mumma with our THIRD baby boy on the way,” Peta wrote. “Maks and I are beyond happy to have another buddy for Shai and Rio.”

90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise (TLC)
Four Americans will travel to different countries for love in the upcoming new season of 90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise. The show returns to TLC on April 22 and will find four couples embracing love in Brazil, Italy, Malta and Colombia.

In more serious news, Selling Sunset‘s Christine Quinn‘s husband, Christian Richard, was arrested for the second time this week on Wednesday after he allegedly violated an emergency protective order, People reports. Richard was first arrested Tuesday on domestic violence charges after an alleged incident with a deadly weapon.

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Warner Bros. finally conjured up the anticipated teaser to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to the 1988 supernatural comedy.

As reported, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Michael Keaton returns as the titular “Ghost with the Most” for original director Tim Burton, as does Winona Ryder, as a now-adult Lydia Deetz, with franchise newcomer and Burton’s Wednesday star Jenna Ortega playing her teen daughter, Astrid.

Also back is Schitt’s Creek Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara as Lydia’s flighty stepmom, Delia.

Set to a children’s choir singing Harry Belafonte‘s “Day-O: The Banana Song,” which was featured prominently in the original, the sneak peek teases locations known to fans.

Ortega’s character bicycles through the fictional town of Winter River, Connecticut, past Miss Shannon’s School for Girls — Lydia’s alma mater — and into the red covered bridge from which Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis‘ characters fell to their deaths in the first film.

The chorus is singing at a burial attended by the aforementioned women, so it could be for Lydia’s father, played by Jeffrey Jones in the first film, but that’s not clear.

The teaser continues with a trip up to the attic from the original film, where Ortega’s character uncovers the model of the town that played a central role in the first movie.

The scaled-down streets are then shown splitting open, revealing Keaton in his character’s iconic striped suit, who utters the teaser’s only line of dialog, to a shocked Lydia: “The ‘Juice is loose!”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice debuts in theaters September 6.

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Emma Heming Willis is celebrating her 15th wedding anniversary with Bruce Willis.

On Thursday, Heming Willis shared a sweet photo of Willis giving her a kiss on the cheek and wrote about their crystal anniversary.

“Today, I can make a choice. I can wallow in sorrow or I can celebrate it,” Heming Willis began in the caption of her Instagram post. “I call this the ‘remarkable reframe.’ What I know is there is so much to celebrate.”

“Our union and connection is probably stronger than ever,” she continued. “We have two bright, fun and healthy daughters. We have a family unit that is built on mutual respect and admiration. And simply, I just love and adore the man I married.”

“I’m so proud of what we have and continue to create,” she added. “So, happy crystal anniversary to us!”

Heming Willis and Willis were married in 2009. They welcomed their first child together, daughter Mabel, in 2012, and their second daughter together, Evelyn, in 2014.

Willis also shares daughters Rumer, Scout LaRue and Tallulah Belle Willis with ex-wife Demi Moore, to whom he was married from 1987 to 2000.

Willis’ entire family has been by his side since he was diagnosed with the degenerative brain condition aphasia in 2022, then frontotemporal dementia in 2023.

Earlier this month, Heming Willis spoke out after a report claimed Willis had “no more joy” after being diagnosed.

“Stop scaring people to think that once they get a diagnosis of some kind of neurocognitive disease that that’s it, it’s over,” Heming Willis said, insisting, “it is the complete opposite of that, OK? 100%. There is grief and sadness … But you start a new chapter.”

“That chapter is filled … with love. It’s filled with connection. It’s filled with joy … happiness. That’s where we are,” she added.

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Pete Davidson has revealed that his semi-autobiographical Peacock comedy Bupkis will not return for a second season. “I’ve always seen Bupkis as a window into my life, since it is so personal and about my struggles and family,” Davidson said in a statement obtained by Variety on Thursday. “After nearly a decade of my personal life being in the media I wanted a chance to tell my story my way … I do also feel that this part of my life is finished. I’m very excited for this next chapter and for you guys to see the work. Thank you to all who support me for I am forever grateful.” Edie Falco played Davidson’s mom and Joe Pesci portrayed his grandfather in the series. Season 1 also featured guest appearances from Machine Gun Kelly, Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Charlie Day and Ray Romano, among others …

NBC has renewed the dramas Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., as well as Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU. The status of Law & Order: Organized Crime is “still under discussion,” per the network. The Chicago shows are the top three Wednesday shows this season in total viewers, while the 25th season of Law & Order: SVU — the longest-running primetime drama in American TV history — is Thursday’s #1 entertainment show in the 18-49 demo …

Kyle Schmid has been tapped to play the younger version of special agent Michael “Mike” Franks in CBS’ upcoming prequel series NCIS: Origins, according to Entertainment Weekly. Set in 1991, the new show “follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs — played by Austin Stowell … as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks,” as reported …

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Are you Team Alicent or Team Rhaenyra?

HBO’s House of the Dragon is asking fans to pick a side in the two new trailers it debuted to promote season 2 of the Game of Thrones prequel series on Thursday.

One trailer focuses on Queen Alicent’s team green: those who make their home at King’s Landing, including Alicent’s sons, King Aegon and Prince Aemond, her father, Otto, and the knight Ser Criston Cole.

“Only weeks ago, my Lord husband was alive, and the realm was at peace. On his deathbed, he knew the realm would never accept a queen,” Alicent, played by Olivia Cooke, says in the team green trailer.

The other trailer tells a different story. It follows Queen Rhaenyra’s team black – including her husband, Prince Daemon, and her remaining sons, who all reside at Dragonstone.

“My father chose me, his first-born child, to succeed him,” Rhaenyra, played by Emma D’Arcy, says in the team black trailer. “He held to his decision until death. And yet, Alicent’s son sits my throne. I mean to fight this war. And win it.”

The trailers debuted at the same time, but, at the time of writing, Rhaenyra’s team black has more support – that trailer has over 1 million views, while Alicent’s team green trailer has picked up just over 780,000.

Season 2 of House of the Dragon premieres June 16 on HBO and Max.

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Drake Bell‘s TV family members are rallying around the actor on social media, following the revelation in the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV that Bell had been sexually abused by former dialog coach Brian Peck when he was a young Nickelodeon star.

Josh Peck, no relation, who played Drake’s stepbrother on the hit Drake & Josh, broke his silence Thursday.

He said he needed “a few days to process” the Investigation Discovery series and that he’d “reached out privately” to Bell — something Drake previously told his own followers on TikTok.

That said, Peck expressed that he “wanted to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world.”

He continued, “Children should be protected. Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry.”

Nancy Sullivan, who played Bell’s mother, Audrey Parker-Nichols, on the show, also posted about the actor.

Sullivan said it “broke my heart into a million pieces to hear just how much Drake was holding inside while we were working together.” She added, “I was both devastated and proud seeing the man he’s grown into sit down on camera and bravely tell his truth.”

She continued, “Past abuse doesn’t define us, and it has no right to rule our lives, I know that putting this burden down will free him in so many ways. I hope memories of the joy he had on our shows will someday greatly overshadow the pain. Sending love to Drake for a deep healing and for a rich and beautiful life ahead.”

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