January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Sarah Michelle Gellar, who came to fame playing the fearless titular heroine on Buffy The Vampire Slayer for seven seasons hasn’t forgotten Buffy Summers. 

In fact, the 43-year-old actress wished the character a happy 40th birthday on Tuesday.

“I just realized that today is Buffy Summers 40 bday,” Gellar said on Instagram. “I can’t even believe that.”

The actress, who is married and has two children with Freddie Prinze Jr. added of her alter-ego, “She taught that the hardest thing in the world is to live in it. So in her honor let’s all be brave. Live.”

Referencing the COVID-19 lockdowns, Gellar said, “This may not be the way we are used to living our lives, but let’s find the beauty. So we can all live long and safely. For good measure, she added the hashtags “#happybirthdaybuffy”” and “#buffy40.”

Incidentally, the lockdown is what got her two kids — daughter Charlotte, 11, and son Rocky, 8 — “like so into” the show, which ran from 1997 to 2003.

Gellar admitted on the Kelly Clarkson Show this past fall, “I had never thought to show it to them,” noting they kept requesting to watch her earlier exploits.

She also joked that “my son finally thinks I’m cool.”

Incidentally, ABC Audio asked Gellar last year what she’d think of a reboot of the series. She said, “We left it open that any girl in the world ‘who had the power, should have the power, can have the power, will have the power.’ And I think that does leave it open to continue a story because that’s how it works right?”

However, she added, “Don’t *reboot* Buffy — if you want to continue the story of Buffy’s legacy, of The Slayers, of all of those – we’ve left that open for you.”  

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Jeopardy! Productions/Sony Pictures Television(LOS ANGELES) — Alex Trebek may have died in November, but he still ranked number one in the ratings in January.

The beloved game show host’s last Jeopardy! episodes to run, which wrapped up the week of January 10, were the No. 1-rated shows in all of syndication, according to Nielsen numbers quoted by The Wrap. 

Trebek had many episodes “in the can” before he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Trebek’s final episode, which aired on January 8, drew 14 million viewers — making it the most-watched installment of the long-running quiz show in 419 days — when James Holzhauer’s winning streak finally came to an end.

All-time Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings is currently hosting the show in Trebek’s stead. When his six week stint is up, the player-turned consulting producer for the show will be followed by the show’s longtime executive producer, Mike Richards, who will step in front of the camera as host for two weeks’ worth of the pre-recorded shows.

Following Richards will be four celebrity guest hosts, including journalist Katie Couric, Big Bang Theory vet and real-life neuroscientist Mayim Bialik, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and 60 Minutes mainstay Bill Whitaker. 

A permanent successor for Trebek has yet to be announced.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Photo by BG004/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images(LOS ANGELES) — In an attempt to terminate his chances of getting the respiratory virus, Arnold Schwarzenegger received the COVID-19 vaccine today.

The former Governor of California tweeted a video of himself getting the jab through the passenger side window of a black SUV, at Dodger Stadium in L.A., the parking lot of which has been converted to a vaccine distribution center. 

“Put that needle down!” a masked, Kindergarten Cop-quoting Schwarzenegger joked to the nurse who injected him.

“I just got my vaccine,” he then says after thanking the health care worker.

“I recommend it to anyone and everyone,” he said, before quoting himself from Terminator 2: “Come with me if you want to live.”

“Today was a good day. I have never been happier to wait in a line,” Arnold tweeted.

At 73, Arnold is in the high risk group for the virus; the vaccine is currently only available to Los Angelinos who are 65 and older.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Masterson in court today – Lucy Nicholson – Pool/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Danny Masterson, former star of That ’70s Show and The Ranch, pleaded not guilty to multiple rape charges today, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Masterson was arrested and charged in June with three counts of “rape by force or fear.” The three incidents allegedly took place between 2001 and 2003, Los Angeles authorities maintain.

After he pleaded, the actor was released on $3.3 million bail, and will be seen in court again on March 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  

As previously reported, the That ‘70s Show actor is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001. He is also accused of raping a 28-year-old woman in April 2003 and a 23-year-old woman sometime between October and December of that year.

If convicted, Masterson faces a possible maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.

Following the charges last June, Masterson’s attorney Tom Mesereau released a statement, saying, “Mr. Masterson is innocent, and we’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify.”

The statement continued, “Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife [actress Bijou Phillips] are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out. The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.”

Masterson was fired from the Netflix comedy The Ranch after the allegations were made against him in 2017.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Liam Daniel/Netflix (NEW YORK) — Just as its hit The Queen’s Gambit spiked sales for chess boards, Netflix’s latest success, Bridgerton, is boosting searches for “embroidery,” “corsets,” and other period items.

The steamy show, set in the 1800s, is even spiking fans’ searches for the flower wisteria — seen onscreen in and around the show’s sumptuous titular estate — by some 300%.

According to the Mirror, the website Hobbycraft reports a spike of more than 1,000% in embroidery kits, evidence that already bored, locked-down fans are taking up a new hobby to emulate the show’s delicate period frock.

It’s becoming such a common search topic it’s being dubbed “The Bridgerton Effect.”

According to the paper, searches for corsets like those seen on star Phoebe Dynevor and the show’s other leading ladies, have jumped 39%; searches for lace tops rose by 37%, and even period-appropriate headbands jumped 25%.

Fans are also leading searches for antique chairs, tea sets, and other Bridgerton-esque bric-a-brac.

The show from TV hit-maker Shonda Rhimes launched in December, and quickly became one of the most-watched original series to debut on the streaming service.

Based on Julia Quinn’s beloved book series, the Shondaland-produced show is set in London in the 1800s, and centers on Dynevor’s character, Daphne Bridgerton, and her arranged marriage to the Duke of Hastings, played by heartthrob Regé-Jean Page. 

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.