Entertainment

Andor, the latest Star Wars small-screen project, launches on Disney+ Wednesday with a three episode premiere. 

The 12-episode prequel series follows Diego Luna‘s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story character Cassian Andor, and his early days with the Rebellion against the evil Galactic Empire. 

The series was written and produced by Rogue One‘s Tony Gilroy, and the show matches that beloved movie’s “boots on the ground” feel of that galaxy far, far away as the Empire tightens its grip. 

Kyle Soller plays Syril Karn, a tightly-wound Imperial agent trying to be promoted off of the backwater planet he’s stationed. He and Denise Gough, who plays icy Imperial Security Bureau agent Dedra Meero, explained they were spared from revealing any Andor secrets because the day after they got their jobs, COVID-19 hit. 

“We went into lockdown,” Soller says.

Gough laughs, “Yeah, the world sort of became more interested in other things, you know, life and death.”

She adds, “And now we’re becoming really aware, ‘Oh, Jesus, we’re in Star Wars. This is really actually quite full on.'” 

Genevieve O’Reilly again plays Senator-turned Rebel leader Mon Mothma. O’Reilly first played her in 2005’s Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, but her scenes were cut.

She called it “a unique experience” to play the character in again in Andor, set five years before the events of Rogue One.

She adds, “…I think it’s also important for me to acknowledge just what George Lucas did back then of creating the leader of the rebel alliance who was a woman! I am ever grateful for him.”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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Two Bachelorettes, one happy ending — Gabby Windey’s journey as The Bachelorette concluded on Tuesday night with an engagement to Erich Schwer, a 29-year-old real estate analyst from Bedminster, New Jersey. Co-star Rachel Recchia‘s romance with Tino Franco, unfortunately, didn’t have the storybook ending they’d hoped for.

Gabby and Erich’s relationship seemed to be on the skids, after their final date with him saying he wasn’t ready to for an engagement and just wanted to “date” her.

That sent Gabby storming off in tears, insisting “I don’t want to do this anymore,” adding, “So, here we are, a big fat dumpster fire.”

However, when the big moment arrived, Erich ultimately did get down on one knee and proposed to Gabby.

Their young romance hasn’t exactly been rosy, though. During the live After the Final Rose part of the show, the couple admitted they’re “not done learning about each other.” Specifically, revelations on social media where an ex-girlfriend of Erich’s said he broke up with her to have an opportunity to be on the show.

“I handled it poorly a hundred percent. I led her on and I want to own that,” he said about his previous relationship. “I have no hard feelings for her at all and I understand her actions…but I kind of took the easy way out…I didn’t want a hard conversation.”

He went on to say that he was “using the show as an excuse to not confront [the girl] about our relationship.” Referring to Gabby, Erich insisted, “I love this girl with all my heart. It’s a hundred percent real, I never expected it and, you know, I want this thing to be forever.”

Earlier, Rachel and Tino seemed to have gotten their happy ending when he proposed. Unfortunately, that’s not how the story ended.

The couple hit a rough patch shortly after that last episode, during which Rachel accused Tino of cheating on her. The two arranged a meeting to try and patch things up, which failed when he insisted on placing at least some of the blame for his alleged indiscretion on her, claiming he interpreted her reference to not wearing her engagement ring “if they broke up,” to mean they were through as a couple.

Tino got one more chance to save the relationship, but failed again, leading to a surprise appearance from Aven Jones, who surprised the audience — and Rachel — by asking if she’d like to step out and “catch up.”

“I’d love nothing more,” she said, before the two strolled off the set, indicating her Bachelorette journey may not be over after all.

In other news, Zach Shallcross, whom Rachel had cast off after hometowns, was introduced as the next Bachelor for the show’s 27th season, premiering January 23 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Billy Eichner brought back his Emmy-nominated comedy show Billy on the Street with the help of Marvel movie star Paul Rudd. The pair hit the streets in branded T-shirts in order to spread the word among the straights about Billy’s Netflix “gay rom-com” Bros.

The addition of Rudd worked for many of the folks, including one burly guy who said he’d go if Rudd himself carried him to the theaters. Rudd obliged, doing Ant-Man proud by lifting the much bigger guy off the ground.

It didn’t work for one person, however, leaving Billy to scream in frustration, “I’m sorry I’m not Florence Pugh!”

Later in the bit, Billy recruited “a pack of wild lesbians” to scour the street for new converts to his film, which opens September 30. He even reprised his “for a dollar” segment from the classic Billy on the Street episodes to plug the Universal movie.

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Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller will be the first host of Saturday Night Live‘s 48th season, which kicks off on October 1st. The sketch show made the announcement via social media, also confirming Kendrick Lamar will be the first musical guest.

The October 8th episode will star veteran Irish character actor Brendan Gleeson with musical guest Willow, and for the October 15th installment, recording artist and recent She-Hulk guest star Megan Thee Stallion will serve as both host and musical guest.

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After producing several series for Starz, including the Power franchise, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is not renewing his contract and is seeking a new network.

“Starz deal done, we had nothing but success so no hard feelings,” 50 commented on Instagram. “We out.”

Jackson is believed to be entertaining multiple offers from streamers and studios for his G-Unit Film & Television company. An announcement of his new TV partner is said to be imminent, according to Deadline.

The entertainment mogul premiered the second season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan on Starz on August 14. The second season of his Power Book IV: Force is coming, as well as season two of BMF, a third season of Raising Kanan and a third season of Power Book II: Ghost.

In more 50 Cent news, the G-Unit founder is suing a Miami plastic surgeon for using a photo of herself and him to imply he’d received a penile enhancement at her business.

The Fader reports that Jackson filed the lawsuit against Angela Kogan, the CEO of Miami’s Perfection Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa.

The lawsuit states that Logan falsely listed 50 Cent as one of her clients in a since-deleted August interview posted by The Shade Room, titled “Penis Enhancements Are More Popular Than Ever & BBL’s Are Dying Out.”

“This case is about the abuse of a popular entertainer and businessman’s act of goodwill by an unscrupulous business owner for her own economic gain,” Jackson’s attorney wrote.

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After weathering negative headlines that tarnished the award show’s already controversial reputation, the Golden Globe Awards will return to NBC on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

The Golden Globes found itself embroiled in controversy in early 2021, after accusations of sexism and racism were leveled at the organization. The organization behind the Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), had long maintained its status in Hollywood despite having zero minority journalists in its voting ranks and engaging in other “unethical conduct,” as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Additionally, its former president was ousted after an email from him surfaced in which he allegedly referred to Black Lives Matter as a “racist hate movement.”

In response, NBC severed its ties with the organization as stars like Scarlett Johansson, Shonda Rhimes and Mark Ruffalo publicly dragged it. Tom Cruise even went so far as to return his three acting trophies from the organization in protest.

The HFPA subsequently vowed it would be making “transformational changes” to boost minority membership and representation, and increase transparency into the organization and its inner workings.

A 2021 event was held, but it wasn’t televised, and no major celebrities showed up.

In the announcement of the show’s return, Frances Berwick, NBCUniversal television and streaming’s chairman noted, “We recognize the HFPA’s commitment to ongoing change and look forward to welcoming back the Golden Globes to NBC for its landmark 80^thAnniversary in January 2023.”

For her part, Helen Hoehne, president of the organization said, “The HFPA remains committed to important changes and supporting programs that prioritize diversity, inclusion, and transparency. See you on January 10!”

It remains to be seen, however, if the entertainment industry is as “thrilled” as Hoehne is to have the event return.

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Roseanne Barr has been back on the stand-up stage following her 2018 ouster from the reboot of her titular show, and now, it appears she’s been warming up for a new comedy special.

A Roseanne Comedy Special will drop on the subscription-based Fox News offshoot Fox Nation in 2023, ABC Audio has learned.

It will be Roseanne’s first comedy special in 16 years.

Fox Nation president Jason Klarman said in an announcement, “Roseanne is a comedy icon whose humor connects with the American audience like no other. Her ability to channel the challenges of everyday people and find the humor in it all has earned her the passionate following of millions of dedicated fans,” adding he’s “thrilled” to add the exclusive comedy special to the streaming platform.

The special promises to showcase, “Ms. Barr’s signature comedic take on a variety of topics, with no subject off limits.”

Barr was fired from ABC’s hit Roseanne reboot in 2018 after sending a racially insensitive tweet; the series was rebranded as The Conners, and her character was killed off off-screen.

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Marvel movie star Anthony Mackie is taking to the skies — well, at least rooftop level — to help people just as his Sam Wilson did as Falcon and Captain America in the MCU.

Mackie, the son of a roofer, has teamed up with roofing and waterproofing manufacturer GAF’s GAF Community Matters, a charity initiative that is literally putting roofs over the heads of people in Mackie’s storm-battered hometown of New Orleans.

“Growing up, I spent summers working on roofs with my family, so I know how important this work is to keeping families safe and building stronger communities,” Mackie said in announcing the team-up. “Everyone deserves a roof over their head, and I’m proud to be working with GAF to give back to my hometown and ensure we withstand the next storm.”

According to FEMA data cited by GAF, more than 10,000 families remain displaced and unable to return home following Hurricane Ida in 2021. Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, around 26% of homes are still vacant in New Orleans’ 7th Ward.

GAF is investing $25 million to rebuild the community through its charity initiative. The goal is not only to physically repair damage but to train residents in how to do so.

The company plans to repair or replace 500 roofs throughout the Gulf Region, starting with 150 roofs in the Katrina-battered 7th Ward, and Mackie is right up there with them, shingles, not shield, in hand.

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In what seems as if it could have been a plot from a 1998 straight-to-video movie, one of Paris Hilton‘s prized pooches is missing, and the hotel heiress is leaving no stone unturned to get her back.

“This is so incredibly hard for me to post because I’ve been at a loss of words,” Hilton told her more than 20 million Instagram followers, along with a video of the tiny dog, who can be currently seen in Hilton Hotels commercials with Paris.

“Diamond Baby…has been missing since last Wednesday,” she continued. “I was at a photoshoot and we’re moving houses and one of the movers must have left a door open.”

She added, “My family and friends have been helping me search high and low throughout my entire neighborhood and have gone door to door but we still haven’t found her.”

Paris opened an email address for any “tips or leads” at finddiamondbaby@gmail.com.

“There will be a big reward for her return and NO questions asked,” Hilton pleaded, adding she’s “hired a pet detective, a dog whisperer, a pet psychic and [is] looking into dog finding drones” to help find the pocket pooch.

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A streaming service decides to bring back a once popular sitcom. Sound familiar? It’s happening over and over again in real life, and it’s the premise of Reboot, a new Hulu comedy out Tuesday from Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan.

Keegan-Michael Key, who plays one of the stars of the original series, tells ABC Audio now is the perfect time for a show like this.

“There’s a plethora of reboots in our world, the fact that nostalgia is something that we’re all kind of connecting to in some way,” he says. “I think part of it has to do with the world that we’re living in right now and the pandemic, we need some comfort food, we need some visual comfort food.”

Paul Reiser, co-creator and star of the hit 1990s sitcom Mad About You, plays the creator of the original show who’s part of the reboot’s writing team, so a lot of his character’s time is spent in the writers room. The calls it a place where he has “learned so much about human nature…because it’s about collaboration, it’s about ego, it’s about tempering egos, supporting egos, filtering out negativity, bringing out the best of people.”

“It’s trying to tamper down the worst in people,” Reiser continues. “So it really is this petri dish of human instincts and emotions.”

As for where the idea for Reboot came from, Levitan shares that it was largely due to the revival of Roseanne and it “kind of blew up because Roseanne got in trouble.”

“I just remember thinking to myself, well that’s the show I want to see,” he said, adding that he thought someone else would have the same idea before he got a chance to: “But much to my surprise, no one ever did.”

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