Entertainment

Stephen Colbert was back at The Late Show Monday night, following having COVID. The talk show host used a planned week off to recover, with his wife Evie, who was also infected.

Colbert noted that while he’s back on his feet, the “first three days sucked,” and now, although he’s negative, he’s got a “serious head cold.” He also thanked “science” for providing the vaccines and boosters he’d taken before coming down with the virus.

The late show host also offered well-wishes to Jimmy Kimmel, who announced yesterday that he’s down for the count with the virus. “TV is down a Jimmy!” Colbert joked in a “broadcast emergency.”

“I’m calling on President Biden to open the United States’ Strategic Jimmy Reserve!” Colbert snarked.

That said, Colbert insisted he didn’t infect his late-night colleague. “Of course, I’m on the East Coast, Jimmy’s in LA, there’s no way I could have given it to him,” Colbert said.

“And yes, last week, I did lick a lot of things and FedEx them to his office. But I only paid for two days: gotta be sterile by the time he opens it.”

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Ashley Judd is taking a walk down memory lane as she reflects on the passing of her mother, Naomi Judd. 

The actress took to Instagram following The Judds‘ induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame to share how the family has been honoring the memory of Naomi, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 76 due to mental illness. 

In the loving post, Ashley shared a photo of her and sister Wynonna Judd with their backs to the camera, looking at the bronze plaque of The Judds that sits in the rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with a photo of Carly Pearce performing at the ceremony. 

Ashley then takes viewers inside the Judds’ home, sharing a photo of the altar she created in her mother’s honor that includes a picture of her silhouette from when she was 11 years old, surrounded by flowers and a book titled Grief Therapy. She also shares a video of Naomi’s husband, Larry Strickland, singing “How Great Thou Art,” along with a throwback photo from childhood of the sisters with their mom at Little Cat Creek in their home state of Kentucky. 

“Speechless,” Ashley begins in the caption. “Your outpouring is reaching me. Thank you for every thought, prayer, message, text, email, post, expression. We each are alone and we are in fellowship, broken and held, protected from nothing and sustained in everything. It’s the beginning of an old story, life and death, loss and life. Be free, my beautiful mother. Be free.” 

Ashley and Wynonna were both present at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Nashville Sunday, where they paid a tearful tribute to their late mother, who died one day before the event.

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(NOTE CONTENT) In a Virginia courtroom today, attorneys for Amber Heard were unsuccessful in their motion to lobby Judge Penny Azcarate to dismiss the $50 million defamation lawsuit leveled against the actress by her ex-husband Johnny Depp.

As reported, Depp is alleging a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post that obliquely accused the actor of physical and sexual abuse, was not only false, but it devastated his reputation and career.

Attorneys for both parties took turns in oral arguments to the judge without the jury present, with Depp’s attorneys mounting a longer, point-by-point defense of why the case should proceed, including a recap of the testimony detailing how the ACLU helped Heard craft her controversial op-ed, and the abuse the Pirates of the Caribbean star allegedly suffered at the hands of the Aquaman actress.

“She even lied about the final insult left on the marital bed,” one of Depp’s attorneys added, regarding the testimony about the poop Depp’s camp says Heard left in their bedroom.

In the end, Judge Azcarate ruled for the plaintiff, Depp, noting, “if there is a scintilla of evidence that a reasonable juror could weigh, then the matter survives a motion to strike.”

She added, there is, “evidence that jurors could weigh that the [op-ed] statements were about the plaintiff, that the statements were published and that the statement was false,” and “that the defendant made the statement knowing it to be false or…made it so recklessly as to amount to willful disregard for the truth…”

The judge then declared the case will resume following a lunch break.

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It might be hard to believe, but director Sam Raimi‘s first Spider-Man film turns 20 Tuesday.

It technically wasn’t the first hit film to star a Marvel movie superhero and usher in the still-going wave of cinematic comics-based adventures — that honor, most experts agree, belongs to 1998’s Blade.

X-Men followed in 2000, but Raimi’s first of three Sony Pictures-produced Spidey films in 2002 became a benchmark — so much so that Tobey Maguire reprising his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Willem Dafoe returning as Norman Osborne/The Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home helped push that film far past the billion-dollar mark worldwide.

Kirsten Dunst starred as Parker’s long-pined-for classmate, Mary Jane Watson, in Raimi’s trilogy. The original Spider-Man also gave fans Oscar-winner JK Simmons as Spidey-hating newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson — the latter another characterization so beloved it was brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Spider-Man went on to earn $825 million and set up Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 in 2004, which may have earned less but is widely considered by fans to to be the best of the trilogy, and one of the best comic movies ever made.

While Raimi’s 2007 Spider-Man 3 was a financial success, the critics were less than kind — including Raimi himself, who recently called it “awful.” The director stepped back from the genre after that film, until recently, when Marvel Studios hired him for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. That film, which opens Friday, is so far receiving very positive reviews.

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Universal may have found its replacement for director Justin Lin, who made the surprising announcement last week that he was exiting Fast X. Deadline reports Louis Leterrier is in the running to take Lin’s place; the French director is known for the Transporter movies and the 2013 surprise hit Now You See Me. The 10th Fast and Furious adventure is set to open May 23, 2023…

Fox’s hit The Masked Singer is taking a page from the Eurovision Song Contest and going global, according to Variety. The trade says the planned program, tentatively titled One World, One Masked Singer, will see competitors from various overseas version of The Masked Singer competing against each other on a global stage…

Jeff Daniels is set to star in Netflix’s Man in Full, a limited series based on a Tom Wolfe novel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series is being adapted by David E. Kelley, who will produce the project along with Regina King. Daniels will play Charlie Croker, an egotistical real estate mogul facing bankruptcy…

On Monday, Paramount+ announced the revival of Yo! MTV Raps will premiere on May 24. According to the streamer, the series, which originally ran from 1988 until 1995, “will be a comprehensive deep dive into the current state of hip hop, with hosted segments from renowned battle rapper Conceited and celebrated deejay DJ Diamond Kuts, live performances, cyphers and lifestyle content.” Paramount+ also revealed the star-studded guest list, which features rappers Latto, Trina, Tee Grizzley and more…

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It was a blast from the past on Monday night’s American Idol.

In celebration of its milestone 20th season, some of the show’s alumni gathered for a night of appearances and performances in The Great Idol Reunion. The one-hour special featured a walk down memory lane in the form of six duets from 12 former contestants to showcase American Idol through the years.

Season two’s Ruben Studdard teamed up with 2007 Idol winner Jordin Sparks and sang “Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” by George Michael and Aretha Franklin.

Laine Hardy and Laci Kaye Booth, the 2019 winner and Top 5 finalist, respectively, put a country spin on the classic “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

2018’s winner, Maddie Poppe, and runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson, who also happen to be a couple, took the stage with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers‘ hit duet “Islands in the Stream.”

David Cook and Kris Allen, the 2008 and 2009 winners, respectively, teamed up for a collaboration of The Cranberries‘ “Dreams.”

From last year’s pool of talent, Willie Spence and Grace Kinstler kept the celebration going with “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit, featuring Jess Glynne.

Closing out the night with “When You Say Nothing at All” by Alison Kraus was 2011’s winner, Scotty McCreery, and runner-up Lauren Alaina.

Former American Idol judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, who sat at the table when the show debuted in 2002, also made a surprise appearance. Also popping in was Justin Guarini from the inaugural season, who was the runner-up to the first ever American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson.

Monday’s show was a break for the Top 7, but the competition continues when American Idol returns Sunday, May 8.

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The Met Gala is back!

One of fashion’s biggest nights returned Monday and celebrities brought out their very best looks for the affair.

Held in New York City, the theme, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” serves as the second iteration of the Costume Institute exhibition’s series focused on American style. The first part, titled “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” was last year’s theme.

In addition to this year’s theme, there is also an associated dress code: gilded glamour. This style of dress reflects the gilded age of New York that historically went from 1870 to 1890.

Here are some of the most standout looks of the night.

Kim Kardashian: Kardashian stunned in the gown Marilyn Monroe‘s wore when she serenaded President John F. Kennedy on his 45th birthday in 1962. The dress was based on a sketch by Bob Mackie for the French-born Hollywood costume designer Jean-Louis.

Megan Thee Stallion: Donned in head-to-toe Moschino, the hot girl wore a gold ensemble with mesh side cutouts.

Vanessa Hudgens: Hudgens wowed onlookers in a dark sheer Moschino gown paired with a gorgeous updo that was accessorized with jewels.

Blake Lively: Lively was regal in a multi-colored Versace dress.

Rege-Jean Page: The Bridgerton star spiced things up with a dark blue velvet suit jacket. 

La La Anthony: Anthony commanded attention in a ravishing ruby-toned ensemble designed by Laquan Smith.

Gigi Hadid: The model wore a show-stopping crimson red leather corset and matching pants.  

Sebastian Stan: Rocking a hot pink monochromatic look, Stan wore a Valentino overcoat, bomber jacket, long-sleeve shirt and trousers. 

Ariana DeBose: DeBose stunned in a black sequined gown with gold embellishments.

Ciara: Ciara looked breathtaking in a one shoulder black and silver dress with a high thigh slit. 

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Michael John Warren directed the masterful documentary, Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known, which revisits the revolutionary musical 15 years after it took over Broadway.

It follows the original cast — including Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff and Skylar Astin — reuniting to perform a one-night only spectacular and looking back at the eight-time Tony Award-winning musical’s legacy.

Speaking to ABC Audio, Warren revealed his goal was to make the documentary “feel alive” because, as he explained, “I actually feel like a lot of live performance is really poorly captured” because they are “filmed improperly.”

Warren’s approach had him dive deep into the musical’s history with the cast and crew and “open my heart and… feel things” with them. “I can’t let myself be walled off, otherwise I’m not doing my job,” he said.

An example was Lea performing “Mama Who Bore Me” and tearfully experiencing it as a mother for the first time. “She’s crying. Half the people in the room are crying and I’m crying behind the camera,” he remarked.

Although there were moments he was “caught up in the emotion,” Warren also had to juggle “stay[ing] calm in these storms” and determine what would “resonate onscreen as much as possible” with those watching at home.

Warren also revealed he had little time to prepare for this project because he learned he was directing it shortly before cameras began rolling.

“I found out roughly the week before we were going to start filming,” he revealed.  “This all happened very, very fast. … We shot it in five days.  We cut it in weeks, not months.”

Warren explained documentaries of this caliber typically take a year to complete. Despite the “timeframe we were working with,” he attested, “I’m really proud how it came out!”   

The documentary is on HBO Max.

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Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on Sesame Street for 44 years before leaving in 2015, makes her animated debut on Monday on the PBS Kids show Alma’s Way.

The actress plays Granny Isa in the program, which she created. “It’s wonderful!” she enthuses about her first-ever animated role. “I never have to worry about what I’m gonna wear because animated characters never change their clothes. Every hair is in place!”

Manzano explains that the show “is based on critical thinking,” noting, “Every episode, Alma gets into some sort of jam or she has a problem and she…decides to ‘think it through,’ and kind of a bubble appears next to her head. And kids see the thought process. And we’re hoping that that will inspire them to understand that everybody has a brain and they could think, too.

The show takes place in the New York City borough of the Bronx — where Manzano grew up — something she calls “fabulous.”

“I feel like I’ve gone full circle,” she says. “You know, I started out in the Bronx, and now here I am, ending up in the Bronx.”

She adds, “Alma’s Way takes place in the Bronx in neighborhoods that I lived in, populated with many people that I loved and some who were actually my relatives.”

In fact, her character, Granny Isa, was so named to honor Manzano’s own mother, Isa.

As for her previous gig, Sesame Street, Manzano explains that she’s still thanked for helping generations of kids.

“I do hear it from a lot of people,” she tells ABC Audio. “And it’s frankly, it’s very gratifying to realize that all the work that you’ve been doing has made some impact and that people were indeed paying attention.”

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While he famously “bumps” Matt Damon from every episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Jimmy bumped himself tonight’s show — because he’s COVID positive.

“Our daughter brought us covid (even though we specifically asked her not to),” he quipped on Twitter.

Jimmy continued, “All feeling fine, I am double vaxxed and boosted but the show must not go on.”

Kimmel added apologies to his presumed guests for the episode, Tom Cruise and Iliza Shlesinger, and also thanked comic Mike Birbiglia, who will be filling in for him at the host’s desk starting Tuesday evening.

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