January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Ever since Sarah Jessica Parker announced the Sex and the City girls would be back — minus one — in the upcoming HBO Max series And Just Like That…, fans have been wondering how the revival will deal with the fact that Kim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones won’t be a part of it. 

The speculation is so heated that online betting site Bovada has started taking wagers on what became of the character, according to the show’s canon.

The site lists several possibilities, including that Samantha either “passed away,” “moved out of New York City,” “won’t be mentioned in the first episode” or is “confined to a prison or institution.”

For the record, “Passed away” seems the most likely, not only because Samantha battled cancer on the show, but also because the odds are listed at near-even, at +130 — meaning you’d get $130 for every $100 you bet.

“Moved out of NYC” pays out at +250, or $250 for every $100 bet. “Not mentioned” is listed at +450, same as “still living in New York City.” 

The chance to really win big is to bet on “confined to prison or institution,” which pays out at 7.5/1 — that’ll get you $750 for every hundred you wager.

Place your bets! 

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

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images(FLORIDA) — “It’s tough right now, that’s all I can say. It’s really tough on him.” That’s the word to ABC News from a rep for former Saved by the Bell star Dustin Diamond after he was hospitalized in Florida over the weekend. 

The rep confirms the 44-year-old was taken for tests in an undisclosed Florida hospital, but they won’t know what’s bothering him for “about a week.”

“He’s just not doing well right now,” the rep says. “He seriously has something the matter and hopefully it will be able to heal if it’s not too late.”

The rep goes on, “He’s getting testing, and when we really know exactly what it is, we’ll let people know.  But right now, there’s a lot of things that could be wrong, adding, “We’re hoping for a speedy recovery.”

The spokesperson explains, “He’s just trying to keep his spirits up. It’s not an easy thing — it’s a tough journey he’s going to go on right now, so we just want everybody to give him thoughts and prayers.”

Diamond, 44, is most famous for playing Samuel “Screech” Powers in four seasons of the flagship Saved by the Bell series as well as spin-offs such as Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style, Saved by the Bell: The College Years and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

As previously reported, Diamond didn’t join former cast mates Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen and Lark Voorhies for the Saved by the Bell revival on Peacock.

In a recent episode of the reboot, Lopez’s A.C. Slater explained Screech’s absence by saying he was currently in orbit working on the International Space Station with his robot sidekick, Kevin.

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

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Katie Yu / Netflix © 2020(LOS ANGELES) — The final chapter in the love story of Lara Jean and Peter is arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day.

To All the Boys: Always and Forever, the third installment in the popular Netflix teen romance series, will officially premiere on the streamer February 12.

In the first trailer for the film, released Wednesday, we see Lara Jean, played by Lana Condor, navigating her relationship with Peter, played by Noah Centineo, through their senior year of high school.

They’ll go to prom together and on a senior class trip to New York City, but the biggest challenge comes when deciding where they’ll go to college and facing the possibility they might be on separate paths.

To All the Boys: Always and Forever, based on the book series by Jenny Han, also stars Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Ross Butler, Madeleine Arthur, Sarayu Blue and John Corbett.

By Andrea Tucillo
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Randy Holmes(LOS ANGELES) — Ellen DeGeneres was all smiles in her anticipated return to her self-titled talk show Wednesday, which she opened by detailing her battle with COVID-19. 

“I want to start the show by talking about something positive — my COVID test,” Ellen joked to the virtual studio audience, which she thanked for all the well-wishes while she was recovering.  Her show’s first episodes of 2021 were delayed by her diagnosis, which she announced via Twitter in December.

DeGeneres recalled, “I was getting ready to tape the show and I was in hair and makeup. Then my assistant Craig walks in and says, ‘You tested positive for COVID.’ And then everyone around me ran away,” she said to laughs, adding, “I left the studio immediately and our COVID safety team informed everyone that I had been in contact with.”

“The first three days, I slept for 16 hours a day,” Ellen continued, describing her symptoms.  “And then on the fourth day, I woke up with back spasms. It just persisted and the doctor put me on pain pills and muscle relaxers.”

When those failed to provide relief, her physician put Ellen on a course of steroids, which did the trick. “That’s the only symptom I had,” she said, saying her back pain felt like she cracked a rib.

“I didn’t have a headache, I didn’t have a fever, I didn’t lose my sense of taste. I started to feel better and I am very fortunate and very, very blessed,” she declared.  “That was it for me.”

Ellen noted she’s still surprised she contracted the disease. “I wear a mask, I wash my hands. It’s a mystery to me how that would happen.”

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

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Nic Antaya/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — From quarterback to game show host — Aaron Rodgers is proving himself to be well-rounded. 

While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers star dropped the bomb that he would be getting the opportunity to guest host the iconic game show Jeopardy!.

“One of my idols growing up was Alex Trebek, and being able to be on Jeopardy! years ago, even though my wardrobe outfit wasn’t the greatest choice,” said Rodgers, who appeared on an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy! in 2015. “They’re doing some guest hosting spots, and it’s going to be released here pretty soon, but I have the opportunity to do one of those.”

Ken Jennings was the first guest host to take the reins after Trebek’s emotional final episode aired on Friday. The Emmy Award-winning host died in November at age 80 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

In a statement to ABC News, the show declined to comment stating, “No announcements have been made.”

However, executive producer Mike Richards previously said in a statement, “By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.”

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.