Entertainment

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Days after Alec Baldwin called claims he wasn’t cooperating with authorities “a lie,” the Santa Fe County, New Mexico, Sheriff’s Office announced that the actor still hasn’t surrendered his cellphone in the Rust shooting investigation. 

Authorities had issued a search warrant for the device back in December, to aid in the analysis of Baldwin’s fatal shooting of camerawoman Halyna Hutchins back on October 21.

Despite negotiations between the Santa Fe County District Attorney’s office and Alec’s legal reps, “To date, the cell phone has not be turned over to authorities,” the Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday. 

In his Instagram post, Baldwin was defensive about the situation, explaining, “They can’t just go through your phone and take your photos, or your love letters to your wife, or what have you,” the actor and producer of the Western said. 

He insisted, “Any suggestion that I am not complying with requests or orders or demands or search warrants about my phone, that’s bulls***, that’s a lie.”

Baldwin’s lawyer Aaron Dyer had previously issued a statement that claimed they wanted to “take steps to protect Mr. Baldwin’s family and personal information…unrelated to the investigation. A phone contains a person’s entire life, and personal information needs to be protected.”

Baldwin insisted to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that he didn’t pull the trigger of the vintage-style Colt revolver that was pointed at Hutchins during a rehearsal. Nevertheless, a live round that went unnoticed in the pistol discharged and fatally struck Hutchins, and also injured director Joel Souza.

The statement from Baldwin’s lawyer continued, “While they evaluate the phone information, we hope that the authorities continue to focus on how the live rounds got on the set in the first place.”

Investigators say hundreds of rounds were recovered from the set, “a mix” of harmless dummy rounds, fireable blanks, and potentially deadly live ammunition. 

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As Hollywood continues to mourn the late Sidney Poitier, Halle Berry wrote a tribute to her idol for Variety.

As a biracial child, she said watching Poitier in the 1967 classic, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, about an interracial couple, changed her life. “For the first time in my childhood, I felt seen. Understood. Validated,” she wrote.

Halle will also never forget interviewing the iconic actor when she starred in the 1999 film, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. “I can’t imagine anyone other than you bringing my dear friend Dorothy to the screen,” he told her. “You embody the essence of who she was.” 

In 2002, when Berry became the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball, Poitier was in the balcony.

“History will remember Sidney as a giant of the screen, a legendary actor and director, a performer whose enormous talents were eclipsed only by his kindness,” she continued. “I will forever see him as the angel in the balcony watching over all of us.”

In other news, West Side Story star Ariana DeBose tells Entertainment Tonight it’s an “overwhelming and wonderful” feeling to be nominated for a SAG Award for Female Actor in a Supporting Role. DeBose recently won a Golden Globe Award for the film, and now she’s focusing on hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend.

“I still have no idea what I am doing and I probably won’t know until we go live, so it will be a surprise to me and you,” she says.

Finally, Deadline reports that Jada Pinkett Smith will star in Redd Zone for Netflix. Based on a true story, the film tells the story of a single mother helping her sons and their high school football teammates heal after the murder of their best friend.

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The wait for season two of Secrets of Sulphur Springs is finally over when Harper, Griffin and Savannah return to the Disney Channel on Friday.  Ahead of the premiere, the cast chatted with ABC Audio about how the time-traveling paranormal series will explore the 1930s and how it approaches racism.

Last season, the series saw the main cast discovering a portal that helps them solve the mystery of Savannah’s, played by Elle Graham, disappearance in the 1990s.  This season, the time-traveling device malfunctions and traps Kyliegh Curran‘s character Harper in the 1930s while her doppelgänger great grandmother, Daisy, is stuck in present day.

Tracey Thomson, who created the series, says the reason she selected the 1990s, 1960s and, now, the 1930s is because she “wanted to tell multi-generational stories.”

“The different time periods gave us moments,” she stresses, noting some “touch on racism.”

Executive producer Charles Pratt Jr. explains, “We touched on racism in every single era and the more we did, the more you realized that, while the world has changed, it hasn’t changed that much… Things are still going on that went on in 1930.”  Pratt adds they “did the research” to ensure accuracy.

Ethan Hutchison, who plays Daisy’s brother Sam, says the series will show how his character “persevered” and what he did to “survive in that time.”  When describing Sam, Ethan said he is a “sweet and loving kid.”

Curran adds her big-hearted and “determined” character, Harper, falls in love with her great grandmother’s family and does “whatever she [can] to keep them safe.”  The actress teased a future episode will show “how much she cares for Ethan’s character, Sam.” 

Find out how Harper gets back to present day when Secrets of Sulphur Springs returns to the Disney Channel on Friday.

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Nominees are going to have to choose between which awards show to attend this March 13, as the COVID-delayed Critics Choice Awards (CCA) has rescheduled to the same date as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) celebration.

The uptick in Omicron cases prompted the change. 

In a statement, Berlin said, “We could have proceeded with our original January 9th date with limited attendance or switched to a virtual awards show like we did last year, but we decided to wait until we could safely gather in person and truly celebrate…”

CCA president Joey Berlin explained to The Hollywood Reporter of the conflict, “Our choice is to do a show on March 13 or not do a show.” Berlin noted several issues with broadcasting windows and available venues in Los Angeles led them to the new date.

Berlin explained to the trade that organizers of the BAFTAs, “were really gracious” about the situation, and explained that due to the timezone difference, the CCAs would stage a breakfast for L.A.-based BAFTA nominees so they can attend the UK-based awards show via satellite.

As previously reported, Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer will host the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards live from the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles starting at 8 p.m. on CW and TBS.

Belfast and West Side Story lead this year’s Critics Choice Awards film contenders with earned eleven nominations each; HBO’s Succession leads the pack on the TV side with eight.

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Early Thursday morning, HBO Max debuted the first three episodes of Peacemaker, the series spinning off John Cena‘s clueless vigilante character from writer-director James Gunn‘s The Suicide Squad.

Gunn surprised fans by announcing he was already at work on the show shortly after the movie wrapped. “I think it took him by surprise as well,” admits The Suicide Squad co-star Jennifer Holland, Gunn’s longtime girlfriend, who also made the jump with Cena to Peacemaker. She reprises her role as NSA agent Emilia Harcourt.

Holland explained to ABC Audio that COVID played a big part in the show’s creation. “I mean, it was immediately after we got back from…[The Suicide Squad] shoot that everything kind of started shutting down and all this craziness happened…”

She adds, “During…such a sort of unknown territory that we were in with COVID, not knowing…how long we were going to be experiencing this — it turns out a lot longer than we thought — [Gunn] just instantly started writing something to sort of soothe himself…And I think it was just kind of getting all of his emotions out about what was going on…”

In Peacemaker, Holland’s Harcourt is stuck with working with Cena’s character. Her team, it should be said, has no trouble making fun of him behind his back — and to his face.

“In general, she’s very dry and cold and sarcastic, but, you know, when it comes to Peacemaker, I think she just doesn’t care if she hurts his feelings. She feels that he deserves everything that comes at him at this point.”

“In The Suicide Squad, she was…just there to sort of facilitate the Squad’s mission,” Holland explains. “And so getting to explore the different sides of her training and abilities in the show was an absolute blast.”

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To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola‘s Oscar-winning epic The Godfather, Paramount Pictures has announced the acclaimed film is headed back to theaters. 

The masterpiece will screen for a limited time exclusively in Dolby Cinema at AMC Theatres in the U.S., as well as in international territories around the world, starting February 25, 2022.

What’s more, all three films in the Godfather saga, “meticulously restored under the direction of Coppola” will debut for the first time on 4K Ultra HD on March 22, 2022, just before The Godfather‘s official 50th birthday on March 24.

“I am very proud of The Godfather, which certainly defined the first third of my creative life,” says Coppola in a statement. “With this 50th anniversary tribute, I’m especially proud Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone is included, as it captures Mario and my original vision in definitively concluding our epic trilogy.”

Coda was Coppola’s 2020 mostly well-received re-edit of 1990’s Godfather III, which debuted to a harsh critical reception.

Coppola adds of the forthcoming 4K release, “It’s also gratifying to celebrate this milestone with Paramount alongside the wonderful fans who’ve loved it for decades, younger generations who still find it relevant today, and those who will discover it for the first time.”

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Days after the producers of the 94th Annual Academy Awards announced the upcoming telecast will have a host for the first time since 2018, they’ve reached out to fans to see who they’d like to see at the podium. 

“Hypothetically, if we asked you who would you want to host the Oscars, and this is strictly hypothetical, who would it hypothetically be?,” the Oscars official Twitter account queried its 3.6 million followers. 

Believe it or not, it didn’t immediately turn out to be a “Boaty McBoatface” situation, with fans weighing in with honest suggestions like a triple-bill of Spider-Man stars Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire; another offered Oscars hosting vet Hugh Jackman along with his pal Ryan Reynolds, while a third suggested, “Anyone but James Corden.” That post has been liked nearly a thousand times, by the way. 

“Not Pete Davidson” was also a popular choice.

That’s not to say Twitter didn’t have some fun with the question. In fact, Drew Carey Show vet and American Housewife‘s Diedrich Bader was the first to reply, with the suggestion “Diedrich Bader.” When one fan joshed, “Can they get him tho,” the actor replied, “He works for sandwiches.”

One offered Rocco, the pet rock with whom Elmo had publicly beefed on Sesame Street, and one follower tipped the hat to the late great Norm Macdonald, saying, “Just who does everyone want to host the Oscars? You guessed it, Frank Stallone.”

What is interesting is how close to the mark many fans got, perhaps without knowing the Academy was  reportedly already talking to Holland. A double-bill with his equally worshiped girlfriend Zendaya was also popular.  “[T]hose kids have fun on press tours, if they bring that energy you’re set,” offered one poster.

Another popular suggestion was Only Murders in the Building co-stars Martin Short and 2010 Oscars hosting vet Steve Martin, but as previously reported, they’re apparently not interested.

The 94th Annual Academy Awards will air March 27 on ABC.

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NBC has gone all-in on a sequel to the former ABC drama, Life Goes On, with original star Kellie Martin attached to reprise her role, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series, from All American showrunner Nkechi Okoro, will center on Martin’s Becca Thatcher, “now an accomplished doctor, and her extended family as she returns to her hometown,” according to THR. Life Goes On, which ran on ABC from 1989-1993, was a groundbreaking series and featured the first network show to feature a regular character who had Down syndrome — portrayed by Chris Burke…

Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson has been tapped to star in the upcoming horror thriller The Home, according to Deadline. Davidson will play Max, “a troubled man who starts working at a retirement home and realizes its residents and caretakers harbor sinister secrets,” according to the entertainment trade. While investigating the building’s “forbidden fourth floor,” he uncovers “connections to his own past and upbringing as a foster child,” the outlet reports…

Actor Richard Burgi has been fired from CBS’ daytime drama The Young and the Restless for what he claims was his inadvertent violation of the show’s Covid policy. The Desperate Housewives and General Hospital alum said in a video posted to his Instagram Stories that he, “naively and inadvertently violated the show’s Covid policy” by following the CDC’s recent recommendation of a five-day isolation period, according to Deadline. He said he was unaware of the show’s a 10-day isolation policy. The 63-year-old actor said he was visiting family “back East” over the holidays when he tested positive for COVID-19 around Christmas. Guiding Light actor Robert Newman will take over Burgi’s character Ashland Locke beginning in February…

Monarch, the Fox country music family dynasty series starring Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins, is the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Variety. Monarch was originally meant to premiere on Sunday, January 30, immediately after the NFC Championship game on Fox. It would then shift to Tuesday nights beginning February 1 for the remainder of its first season. Instead, the show will now debut as part of the network’s the fall 2022 schedule. Monarch follows America’s “first family” of country music, including mother Dottie Cantrell Roman and father Albie Roman – played respectively by Sarandon and Adkins — as well as daughters Gigi Taylor-Roman and Nicolette “Nicky” Roman and son Luke Roman — portrayed by Anna Friel, Beth Ditto and Joshua Sasse — whose dynasty is threatened by “uncomfortable truths from the past”…

The NBC drama Chicago PD was suspended on Wednesday after a number of positive COVID tests, including cases in Zone A, which includes the cast and those who directly interact with them, according to Deadline. Another Chicago drama, Chicago Fire, also paused production last Wednesday and is reportedly slated to resume filming today. Chicago Med has remained in continuous production.  The three shows all film in Chicago, using separate crews…

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One of Hollywood’s most idolized relationships has come to an end. 

In a joint statement shared on Wednesday, Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet announced they are parting ways after 16 years together. 

“We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times… A revolution is unfolding ~and our family is of no exception… feeling and growing from the seismic shifts occurring And so~ We share our Family news~ That we are parting ways in marriage,” the statement posted to the Game of Thrones alum’s Instagram began. 

“We share this not because we think it’s newsworthy ~ But so that~ as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty,” they explained. “The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived. “We free each other ~to be who we are learning to become.”

The duo concluded, “Our devotion unwavering to this sacred life & our Children Teaching our Children What’s possible ~ Living the Prayer May Love Prevail J & L.”

Momoa and Bonet reportedly began dating in 2005 before tying the knot in 2017. They share two children Lola Iolani Momoa, who was born in 2007, and Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa, who they welcomed the following year. 

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Michael B. Jordan surprised his girlfriend, Lori Harvey, with an early birthday party Monday. The model turns 25 on January 13, however, the Journal for Jordan star decided to have a celebration for her three days in advance at Nobu Malibu in California, according to Page Six.

Harvey’s manager, Tre Thomas, announced at the party, “[Michael] loves you and can’t be here tonight, but enjoy your night. It’s on him.” Although a specific reason was not given for Jordan’s absence, it is believed he was busy working on Creed III which he is starring in and directing.

The model shared several videos in her Instagram Story, walking into a room decked out in balloons, including a big silver “25” for her milestone birthday. The tables are adorned with beautiful white floral arrangements, as well as custom menus that read “Lori’s 25th.”

“Thank you for my surprise party baby @michaelbjordan,” the model wrote on one post. “Sisters,” she wrote for another photo which featured Normani and actress Ryan Destiny from grown-ish.

In other news, Lori’s father, Steve Harvey, says he will not star in another comedy special because cancel culture has killed comedy.

“Nobody can say anything he wants to — Chris Rock can’t, Kevin Hart can’t, Cedric the Entertainer can’t, D.L. Hughley can’t. I can go down the list. The only person that can say what they want to say on stage is Dave Chappelle because he’s not sponsor-driven,” Harvey said Tuesday during the Television Critics Association press tour, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Finally, following Michelle Obama‘s appearance on the season debut episode of black-ish, more guest stars are lined up. Babyface, Magic Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Simone Biles, Daveed Diggs, and more will appear in the eighth and final season, Deadline reports.

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