Jeff Garlin, who parted ways with ABC’s The Goldbergs following an investigation into on-set bullying and other bad behavior, is headed to Mindy Kaling‘s Never Have I Ever.
Deadline reports Garlin will be playing a character named Len, who could be a love interest for Nirmala, Devi’s widowed grandmother on the series, for its fourth and final season.
Garlin’s run as Murray Goldberg was already being cut back in season 9 of the hit family sitcom. The show rolled on for its 10th season, which began by mentioning Garlin’s character had died.
In September of this year, Garlin revealed he’d been diagnosed as bipolar.
After his Goldbergs exit, Garlin continued to work as Jeff Green on Curb Your Enthusiasm, which is currently shooting its 12th season.
While credit for breaking the broom-jumping news goes to Wanda Sykes when she was subbing in the closing weeks of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Don Cheadle is opening up to People about his intimate wedding.
The 58-year-old Marvel movie star tied the knot with his longtime partner, 54-year-old interior designer Bridgid Coulter Cheadle, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pair, who have been together for 28 years, already share two grown children: 26-year-old Imani and 28-year-old Tai.
The Oscar-nominated actor tells the magazine of the small big day, “It was just me and her and our kids and our dogs and the pastor in the backyard.”
Cheadle joked to People that the best part of officially being married was “the tax break.”
He adds, “You guys have to do this. Please do this.'”
On a serious note, he added, “I’m fortunate to be in this relationship.”
He also said of his offspring, “I’m very fortunate to be close with my ‘adult-ren’ — I don’t even call them kids anymore. They’re very grounded and un-Hollywood, and I’m glad about that.”
Cheadle will be seen next on Netflix on December 30 in the dark comedy White Noise.
Billy Idol is set to receive quite an honor in the new tear. The rocker will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 5, which will be the first star of 2023.
“There will be lots of rebels yelling for their favorite rock star Billy Idol when he receives his well-deserved Walk of Fame star on January 5,” Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, shares. “Since the beginning of his career Billy Idol has held the hearts of many of his fans who finally will be able to visit his star and witness his induction into the Walk of Fame.”
Idol will receive the 2,743rd star on the Walk of Fame, in the category of Recording. His star will be located on Hollywood Boulevard in front of Amoeba Records.
(WASHINGTON) — The Senate on Thursday reached a last-minute deal on a sprawling $1.7 trillion package to keep the government funded through the next fiscal year — and send more aid to Ukraine — while getting one step closer to averting a shutdown just before Christmas.
The chamber voted 68-29 to pass the omnibus spending bill after speeding through votes on 17 amendments. Eighteen Republicans joined Democrats in approving the bill that would keep federal agencies operational through Sept. 30, 2023.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a news conference after the vote, said it took “a lot of hard work, a lot of compromise, but we funded the government with an aggressive investment in American families, American workers, American national defense.”
“It is one of the most significant appropriations packages we’ve done in a really long time,” Schumer said.
The legislation will now go to the House for approval before making its way to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The administration has signed off on the package despite it not including everything White House officials requested, such as more COVID-19 funding.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had said at her weekly press conference that the “hope” was the House could pass the bill on Thursday night but noted it takes several hours for it to pass between chambers.
But later Thursday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the chamber will vote on the omnibus bill Friday, giving members enough time to go through the text. The House will reconvene as early as 9 a.m. ET.
Lawmakers have been scrambling to get the bill across the finish line both before Friday’s midnight deadline and before a powerful winter storm unleashes blizzard conditions and severe cold, making their travel home difficult.
The legislation includes disaster relief, medical services for military veterans, a ban of the use of TikTok on government-issued devices and reforms to the Electoral Count Act to avoid a repeat of the Jan. 6 attack.
Also included is $45 billion in humanitarian, economic and security assistance for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a historic visit to Washington on Wednesday to make the case for continued aid, amid some calls from Republicans for more oversight, telling U.S. lawmakers the money “isn’t charity.”
“It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way,” Zelenskyy said.
How the deal happened
Schumer announced Thursday morning an agreement had been struck to expedite the process of passing the omnibus spending bill.
“I would say that the omnibus was an appropriate metaphor for the last two years … a lot of ups and downs but in the end a great result that really helped the American people,” Schumer said after the bill was passed.
Negotiations had hit a snag over an amendment from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, that would have reinstated Title 42 — the Trump-era order used to rapidly expel migrants since the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak on the basis of public health concerns.
A federal judge had ordered Title 42 to expire earlier this week, but Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily paused that ruling as the justices considers a request from Republican-led states to keep the policy in place.
Enough Democratic senators supported Lee’s Title 42 amendment that it likely would have passed — and doomed the whole bill to fail in the House, where the amendment doesn’t have the same backing.
To push the legislation forward, Democratic leadership crafted a workaround by voting on two amendments related to Title 42. One brought forward by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester would’ve preserved Title 42 but included money for humanitarian assistance and border security and required 60 votes to pass.
The other, brought forward by Lee, required 51 votes to pass.
Neither Title 42-related amendment passed.
But several of the other proposed amendments did pass and will be included in the version of the omnibus bill being sent to the House.
Those amendments include the PUMP Act, which expands breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which ensures people with limitations related to pregnancy or childbirth are not forced out of the workplace.
Senators also approved an amendment that will allow states and local jurisdictions to repurpose COVID-19 relief money for infrastructure, disaster relief or other issues.
A measure known as 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act that funds a shortfall in the 9/11 first responder fund called the World Trade Center Healthcare Program was also passed as an amendment to the omnibus bill, as was a bill to authorize $2.7 billion in compensation payments to the families of victims of the 9/11 terror attacks, the Beirut Marine barracks bombing and all victims of terrorism.
ABC News’ Lauren Peller contributed to this report.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden delivered what the White House called a “Christmas address” Thursday afternoon where he emphasized unity, reflection and kindness as 2022 comes to end.
Biden said he hopes “this holiday season will drain the poison that has infected our politics and set us against one another” and mark “a fresh start for our nation — because there’s so much that unites us as Americans, so much more that unites us than divides us.”
“Our politics has gotten so angry, so mean, so partisan, and too often we see each other as enemies, not as neighbors, as Democrats or Republicans, not as fellow Americans. We have become too divided,” he said. “But as tough as these times have been, if we look a little closer, we see bright spots all across the country. The strength and determination, the resilience that’s long defined America. We’re surely making progress.”
“Things are getting better. COVID no longer controls our lives. Our kids are back in school. People are back to work,” he continued. “So, my hope this Christmas season is that we take a few moments of quiet reflection, find that stillness in the heart of Christmas, that’s at the heart of Christmas, and look, really look at each other not as Democrats or Republicans, not as members of Team Red or Team Blue, but as who we really are.”
Biden acknowledged the holidays can be a time of “great pain and terrible loneliness” for many Americans, reminding that 50 years ago this week he lost his first wife, Neilia, and infant daughter, Naomi, in a car accident while his family was out shopping for a Christmas tree.
“Here’s what I learned long ago: No one can ever know what someone else is going through,” he said. “That’s why sometimes the smallest act of kindness can mean so much. A simple smile. A hug. An unexpected phone call. A quiet cup of coffee. Simple acts of kindness that can lift a spirit, provide comfort, and perhaps, maybe even save a life.”
The speech was teased as focusing “on what unites us as Americans, his optimism for the year ahead, and wishing Americans joy in the coming year,” the White House said.
“We are truly blessed to live in this nation. And I truly hope we take the time to look out for one another — not at one another — look out for one another,” Biden said. “So this Christmas, let’s spread a little kindness,” he added.
Biden’s address follows a powerful address from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Congress where the wartime leader invoked the Battle of the Bulge at Christmastime during World War II and reminded Americans of shared values during the holidays as Russian continues its violent invasion of Ukraine.
“Just like the brave American soldiers which held their lines and fought back Hitler’s forces during the Christmas of 1944, brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas,” Zelenskyy said.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Americans, in two days we will celebrate Christmas. Maybe candlelit. Not because it’s more romantic, no, but because there will not be, there will be no electricity,” he continued. “We’ll celebrate Christmas. Celebrate Christmas and, even if there is no electricity, the light of our faith in ourselves will not be put out.”
The speech has drawn comparisons to Winston Churchill’s address to Congress 81 years ago — seeking U.S. help to repel the German invasion of Europe.
“On this special Christmastime, I want to thank you, all of you. I thank every American family which cherishes the warmth of its home and wishes the same warmth to other people,” Zelenskyy said.
Biden’s remarks Thursday also came as Senate lawmakers reach a deal on the massive $1.7 trillion government funding bill, which includes $45 billion to Ukraine. That funding has faced resistance from House Republicans, days before they take control of the chamber.
The president spoke earlier in the day from the Oval Office with a warning on “dangerous” winter weather conditions impacting the country and encouraged anyone planning on traveling for the holidays to “leave now” before it gets worse.
The highest-grossing film of 2022, and of Tom Cruise‘s career, Top Gun: Maverick, is finally available for streaming for free — provided you have Paramount+.
Incidentally, subscribers looking to fulfill their need for speed drove up viewing numbers for the 1986 original while Maverick was still in theaters; in fact, in June, the first Top Gun topped the streaming charts, beating out new offerings like Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ and Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Top Gun: Maverick has Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell back at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School, this time to train a bunch of cocky new hotshots, including Monica Barbaro and Glenn Powell, for a seemingly impossible mission. The movie also starred Miles Teller as Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s buddy Goose, who perished in the original, as well as Top Gun vet Val Kilmer, Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly and Emmy winner Jon Hamm.
Delayed multiple times during the pandemic because producer Cruise insisted it only debut in theaters to take advantage of the film’s cutting-edge aerial action, the movie has grossed more than $1.48 billion worldwide since debuting in the U.S. on May 27.
As previously reported, Jonathan Cain recently responded to his Journey bandmate Neal Schon sending him a cease-and-desist letter over Cain’s recent performance of “Don’t Stop Believin’” at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Well, now Cain has more to say, arguing that Schon is the one “causing harm to the Journey brand.”
”Neal Schon should look in the mirror when he accuses me of causing harm to the Journey brand,” Cain says in a statement. “I have watched him damage our brand for years and am a victim of both his — and his wife’s —bizarre behavior.”
Cain then detailed all the ways he thinks Schon is the problem: “Neal sued Live Nation twice, losing both times, and damaging our ability to ever work with them again; Neal outrageously tried to take away trademarks from Steve Perry. Neal and his wife continually insult the professionalism of numerous accountants, road managers, and management firms with endless legal threats and their bullying, toxic, and incoherent emails.”
He also calls out Schon for arguing with fans who don’t agree with him, and says Schon and his wife “recklessly spend Journey’s money until there is none left for operating costs.”
Finally Cain insists, “If anyone is destroying the Journey brand, it is Neal—and Neal alone.”
Gunna followed through with his intention to give back to families in his community despite some changes to his plan. The rapper, his Great Giveaway Family Foundation and Goodr had teamed up to throw their annual giveaway at a Walmart in Atlanta, but the retail corporation canceled the event one day before it was slated to go down.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the South Fulton Police Department “had been working with Walmart to address security for the gift card giveaway” on Saturday when the department was informed that it was no longer taking place. A Facebook post directed people to the company for additional questions on the cancellation.
Gunna and Goodr’s giveaway, initially scheduled for Sunday, December 18, was intended to provide gift cards to 1,000 families who filled out preregistration forms. When the event was canceled, they decided they’d send the cards to those families since they could no longer distribute them in person.
“It was essential to Gunna, his Great Giveaway Family Foundation, and Goodr to make sure that families received the assistance promised to them no matter what,” Goodr CEO Jasmine Crowe said in a statement. “We contacted all 1,000 families this week. Working with the City Of South Fulton, every family received their gift cards and gifts.”
There were a lot of great performances at last month’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. In fact, there were so many that some couldn’t fit into HBO’s telecast of the event. Well, some of those cut performances are now seeing the light of day.
As a holiday gift to music fans, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is sharing three cut-for-time performances from the ceremony, from Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Judas Priest and Lionel Richie. Benatar and Giraldo perform her hit “All Fired Up,” while Judas Priest performs “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” and Lionel treats the crowd to “Hello.”
In addition to Giraldo, Judas Priest and Lionel, performers in the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class included Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Eminem, Carly Simon, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Harry Belafonte and Sylvia Robinson.
Nearly the entire cast of That ’70s Show —Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, Kurtwood Smith, and Deborah Jo Rupp — can be seen in Netflix’s new trailer to the hit show’s spin-off, That ’90s Show.
Everything old is new-ish again: Red and Kitty Forman, played respectively by Smith and Rupp, are still living in the Wisconsin home where they raised Grace’s Eric in the original series, though the recreated set gets a dial-up days upgrade.
Set in the summer of 1995, the pair welcome their granddaughter Leia (Callie Haverda) — the daughter of high school sweethearts Eric and Donna — and welcome a whole new set of “hooligans” into the Formans’ home.
“Don’t feed them, Kitty,” the irritable Red warns. “That’s how it started the first time!”
Kitty also opens her basement to the new misfits, the same place the show’s original characters got high — and thanks to an apparently forgotten Carter-era bag of weed, so do the new kids.
In addition to Red and Kitty, the show’s original cast members will appear throughout the series, excepting Danny Masterson, who played Steven Hyde. The actor’s career was derailed in 2017, when sex assault accusations were leveled against him at the height of the #MeToo movement.
Earlier this month, a mistrial was declared when jurors deadlocked on rape charges against Masterson by three women.
The actor, who maintained his innocence on the two-decade-old accusations, faces 45 years in jail if convicted on all charges. A retrial is scheduled for March 27.
That ’70s Show ran for seven seasons on Fox, ending in 2006. The show was spun-off into the short-lived That ’80s Show, which ran for a single season from January to May 2002.
