Entertainment

Chris Evans, star of Marvel’s Captain America and Avengers films, is reportedly in talks to play the late Hollywood song-and-dance legend and Singin’ in the Rain star Gene Kelly in an upcoming untitled film project based on an original idea of Evans’, according to Deadline. The film is about a 12-year-old boy who works on the MGM Lot in 1952 and begins to create an imagined friendship with the movie star while working on his next film. Evans would also co-produce the as yet untitled project, with Rian Johnson’s and Ram Bergman’s T-Street Productions set to produce alongside Gladiator, The Aviator and Skyfall screenwriter John Logan, who also will pen the script…

Following Monday’s announcement that Whoopi Goldberg would be sidelined from The View for a while after testing positive for COVID-19 over the holiday break, came the news on Tuesday co-host Sara Haines also would be absent due to having come into close contact with the virus. “Sara was in close contact, so she’s not here. It’s like Agatha Christie, ‘And then there were three,” fellow panelist Joy Behar said, noting that Haines “feels fine” but that she’s “laying low today.” Haines appeared remotely from home Monday on the ABC daytime chat show. Tuesday’s panel was rounded out by co-hosts Sunny Hostin and guest co-host Ana Navarro. All of the panelists appeared remotely from their homes. Hostin has confirmed that she had COVID-19 over the holiday break and has since recovered…

The official trailer for Netflix’s Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, dropped on Tuesday. The new series from Queer Eye‘s grooming expert is described as “an unabashedly smart and quirky exploration into topics and questions that make Jonathan curious” — everything from skyscrapers to bugs, and gender identity to snacks. Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness features six half-hour-long episodes, debuting January 28 on Netflix…

The Crown‘s Vanessa Kirby is in talks to replace Jodie Comer in Kitbag, Ridley Scott‘s historical drama for Apple, according to Deadline. She would play Empress Josephine opposite Joaquin Phoenix‘s Napoleon Bonaparte in the feature, which follows the Frenchman’s rise on the battlefield and in politics while focusing on his addictive and often volatile relationship with the Empress. It was announced Tuesday that Comer, who recently starred in Scott’s The Last Duel, exited Kitbag over scheduling issues. Kirby will next be seen in the drama Italian Studies, which she also executive produced, slated for release in theaters and on demand on January 14…

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Fresh off The Bachelor‘s exciting season 26 premiere on Monday, former Bachelor and new host Jesse Palmer stopped by Becca Kufrin and Serena Pitt‘s Bachelor Happy Hour podcast to share his approach to hosting the show, and his advice for new Bachelor Clayton Echard.

“I think a big part of hosting The Bachelor and helping Clayton is being empathetic and sympathetic…to the emotional roller coaster that goes on throughout the entire journey,” he explains.

“I think it’s trying to help them navigate all the feelings they have throughout the course of the show,” the season-five alum goes on, adding, “I think the pressure for me really was just, ‘Hey, how can I best help Clayton find what he wants.'”

Jesse thinks Clayton is a great Bachelor because “if he needs help, he’s not afraid to ask,” but Palmer says he also encouraged Echard to follow his heart.

“I told him right from the get-go ‘Hey…if you have questions, I’m happy to try to help you out, but I’m not always gonna be around you.'” Adds Palmer, “Part of the magic of this is you kinda have to figure it out for yourself.”

The one piece of advice Palmer did offer Clayton was “to not be lazy.”

“I think sometimes as the lead, you can sort of rest on your laurels a little bit,” says Jesse, who urged Clayton to “be aggressive, to get out and really sort of show interest” in the ladies: “Really try to show your best self and really put your best foot forward.”

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 pm ET on ABC.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Another celebrity has unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19, this time it was Lupita Nyong’o.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday the Oscar winner announced, “I too have tested positive for COVID-19. I’m fully vaccinated and taking care in isolation, so I trust I will be well.”

“Please do all you can to keep yourself and others protected from serious illness. #StayMaskedAndVaxxed,” she concluded. 

Lupita’s diagnosis and consequent isolation forced her to drop out of virtual interviews for her upcoming film The 355, where she was set to join co-stars Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Diane Kruger, Fan Bingbing, Sebasitan Stan and director Simon Kinber to promote the spy film. 

The 355 hits theaters this Friday. 

I too have tested positive for COVID-19. I’m fully vaccinated and taking care in isolation, so I trust I will be well. Please do all you can to keep yourself and others protected from serious illness. #StayMaskedAndVaxxed

— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) January 4, 2022

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The eighth and final season of black-ish debuts Tuesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC, featuring a very special guest: Michelle Obama. Tracee Ellis Ross, who portrays Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the series, explained to the Wall Street Journal that Michelle is her friend, she invited her to appear on the show, and Obama accepted.

“It felt really fun to welcome someone so special who’s been so important in our world, in our culture, in the kinds of stories we told on black-ish,” the nine-time NAACP Image Award winner says.

In the episode, Obama comes to the Johnson family’s home for dinner, and Dre Johnson, portrayed by Anthony Anderson, has to kick his son Junior, and his daughter, Olivia, out of the room. Zoey also crashes the party, and asks Michelle for her daughters’ sizes so she can send them samples of her fashion line.

Anderson recently revealed to Parade that prior to working with Ross on black-ish, she didn’t like him for a decade.

“We hosted the Vibe Awards [in 2005]. As we were walking onto the stage, there was a loud sound over the speaker, and I said, “Tracee? Did you fart?” The audience loved it, but what I did not know is how offended Tracee was by that comment.”

“She really didn’t start liking me until we were midway through the first season of black-ish,” Anthony added, “and so we laugh about it now.”

Finally, Variety reports Lupita Nyong’o tested positive for COVID-19 and canceled interviews for her new movie The 355, which opens Friday

The Black Panther star tweeted, “I’m fully vaccinated and taking care in isolation, so I trust I will be well. Please do all you can to keep yourself and others protected from serious illness.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

On the same day it emerged that the beleaguered Hollywood Foreign Press (HFPA) is reportedly having trouble booking celebrity presenters for its upcoming Golden Globes, come details from the organization about the awards show. 

The lack of Hollywood enthusiasm notwithstanding, the HFPA just released details about its 79th annual event that will be held on January 9 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. In short, they seem even more odd than the concept of a showbiz awards show without celebrities.

There will be no audience, no red carpet, and no media credentials provided for journalists to cover the event. 

And as previously reported, the event won’t be televised, after longtime broadcast partner NBC severed ties with the awards show, following a racial controversy.

Instead, the organization explained, “In addition to recognizing 2021’s best in film and television, the Golden Globe Awards will shine a light on the long-established philanthropy work of the HFPA, showcasing a range of grantees during the program.”

Furthermore, the HFPA reported, “Kyle Bowser, Senior Vice President of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau, will further discuss the ‘Reimagine Coalition,’ a joint five-year initiative to increase diversity, equity and inclusion across the global entertainment industry.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

It’s not exactly clear that Kristen Bell is spoofing a previous Netflix movie, but it sure sounds like it, judging by the title of her new series The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.

In a new trailer for the film, Bell certainly seems to be going through the same motions as Amy Adams in the streaming service’s 2021 release The Woman in the Window: Drinking too much, taking pills, possibly witnessing a murder from across the street — Check, check and check. 

However, although the series is being described as a spoof by various outlets, the trailer plays things very straight: Nobody believes Bell’s character — and she even doubts herself — as she tries to unravel the mystery in her neighborhood as well as she can considering her booze and chemical intake.

That said, consider its creators: Bell, a comedy veteran, co-produces, along with Will Ferrell, and the show was created by Mike Tyson Mysteries alumna Rachel Ramras and Robot Chicken writer Hugh Davidson.

Check it out for yourself when all eight episodes of The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window debut on January 28.

The cast also features Michael Ealy, Mary Holland, Shelley Hennig, Cameron Britton, Christina Anthony, Benjamin Levy Aguilar, and Samsara Yett.

Netflix premieres all eight episodes of The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window on January 28.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Following a blistering racial controversy last year, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is pressing ahead with  this year’s Golden Globe Awards ceremony — minus a broadcast partner and now, apparently minus celebrity presenters. 

According to Variety, the organization has been trying to book its usual cadre of famous people to present the awards at the podium but, unlike years past, is coming up empty. 

The reason? In February of last year, a Los Angeles Times exposé revealed the HFPA hadn’t included a Black member in 20 years. Following the controversy — and the ouster of one of its heads over racially insensitive emails — Hollywood shunned the organization. Tom Cruise even went so far as to return his three trophies in protest. The HFPA’s longtime broadcast partner NBC later said it wouldn’t carry the show.

In August, however, the HFPA vowed to carry on, announcing reforms to its bylaws and membership rules with the intention of bringing diversity to its ranks. In December, the organization tapped Snoop Dogg to read its usual list of nominees. However, also for the first time, most of the nominees didn’t even acknowledge the honor.

Variety obtained a copy of the email the HFPA sent to try to secure some star power for the event. “The Golden Globes will move forward with a small event on January 9th that will not only award the best performances in television and film for 2021, but also on recognizing the importance of supporting diverse creatives across the industry,” the pitch reads in part. 

The organization also insisted, “The event this year will celebrate and honor a variety of diverse, community-based programs that empower inclusive filmmakers and journalists to pursue their storytelling passions.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Just a day after Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon told fans that he tested positive for COVID-19 over the Christmas break, his fellow NBC late-night funnyman Seth Meyers says he’s positive too. 

“The bad news is, I tested positive for COVID (thanks, 2022!),” the Late Night host posted to his 4.9 million Twitter followers. “[T]he good news is, I feel fine (thanks vaccines and booster!).”

Seth added that Late Night will be cancelling the rest of the shows this week — and intimated that the program won’t be taping anytime soon at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City.

“Tune in next Monday to see what cool location we will try and pass off as a studio!!!” Meyers joked. 

Incidentally, 30 Rock is the same location where Fallon’s Tonight Show tapes, as well as Saturday Night Live, which recently saw its Christmas episode in December starring Paul Rudd severely reworked due to an outbreak of COVID cases there.

Rudd and a handful of stars, including SNL‘s Michael Che and Kenan Thompson, introduced various sketches that were taped earlier in that week, as well as their favorite archival holiday skits from the show.

There was no audience allowed at the taping, although Tina Fey and Tom Hanks also appeared in person, with Fey standing in for Colin Jost in a stripped-down version of the “Weekend Update” segment.

The bad news is, I tested positive for COVID (thanks, 2022!) the good news is, I feel fine (thanks vaccines and booster!) We are canceling the rest of the shows this week, so tune in next Monday to see what cool location we will try and pass off as a studio!!!

— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) January 4, 2022

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

HBO Max debuted its anticipated Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special on New Year’s Day, but the streaming service has just re-uploaded it, after some goofs led the streaming service to summon some editing magic. 

Like any dedicated fan base, devotees of the Boy Who Lived and his spell-casting pals were quick to point out some mistakes that ran in the original documentary, which reunited Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and other cast members from the film series. 

For one thing, viewers took to social media to point out that a photo of Emma Roberts as a child was mistakenly identified as Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the series. 

Another error, misidentifying James Phelps as his brother Oliver, might be less obvious: the twin brothers played Fred and George Weasley, respectively, in the film franchise. Oliver noted the mix-up on his socials — although he took it in stride.

“I guess after all those pranks over the years somebody decided to get their revenge,” Oliver joked on Instagram about the sibling switch. He added, “It was fantastic to be part of the HP reunion. Hope you all enjoyed it.”

Their fellow cast members had a bit of fun with it, too.

“This is legit hilarious,” replied Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in the series. “Dude. Wtf? Haha,” he added.

Tom Felton, who played the nefarious Draco Malfoy in the series, added in character, “It was my doing.”  

HBO Max acknowledged the stir the situation was causing online, with a statement reading, “Well spotted Harry Potter fans!” and adding, “New version is up now.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Golden Globe-winning singer/actress Andra Day stars with Keshia Knight Pulliam in the fertility documentary Eggs Over Easy, airing Tuesday night on OWN.

Pulliam is the narrator and executive producer of the film, which explores infertility in the Black community. Doctors and fertility advocates share their personal experiences with miscarriage, IVF, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and many other reproductive issues.

The one-time star of The Cosby Show, now 41, has a four-year-old daughter, Ella, from her first marriage to former NFL player Ed Hartwell. She married Brad James in September, and in December, she announced that she decided to freeze her eggs because she wants another baby, but not now.

Day, who starred in the 2021 Billie Holiday biopic The United States vs. Billie Holiday, is not married and does not have children. The “Rise Up” singer does want to become a mother in the future. In the Eggs Over Easy trailer, she recalls that she was not prepared for the advice she received from a doctor.

“She said, ‘You know, you should probably freeze your eggs, because you’re gonna put your body through a lot of trauma, and you’re 34 years old,’ and so, that kind of shocked me,” Day remarks in the clip.

Eggs Over Easy premieres Tuesday, January 4, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN, and will also be available on Discovery+.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.