January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Craig Sjodin(LOS ANGELES) — Tom Hanks will help celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden by hosting a star-studded tribute. 

Variety reports that a primetime TV special called Celebrating America will air live across a number of networks on January 20, inauguration day. In addition to the two-time Oscar winner, the 90-minute special will feature performances by Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, and other stars, sprinkled throughout the broadcast.   

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will also appear in the special, reports Variety, and will speak on the topic of the diversity and talent of America. In general, the show will be about the strength of U.S. democracy and how Americans pull together during crises and come out the other side even stronger. Front-line and healthcare workers and teachers will be celebrated as well, according to the trade.

Variety quotes Tony Allen, CEO of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, as saying, “Our first priority is safety — so while many of us will be watching safely from our homes, we are creating real moments of connection that highlight a new inclusive American era of leadership that works for and represents all Americans.”

Celebrating America will air on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC from 8:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Jan. 20.  It will also be streamed live across platforms including Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Amazon Prime Video.

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

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) — Naya Rivera would have turned 34 on Tuesday and the cast of Glee marked the solemn occasion by honoring the late actress.

Heather Morris, who played Rivera’s on-screen girlfriend on the musical sitcom, shared a black and white photo of the two holding hands to Instagram along with the caption, “Happy Birthday my angel. I can’t write a sappy monologue because it’s just too hard…but I love you and I can’t describe how much I miss you.”

Chris Colfer, who played Kurt on the Emmy Award-winning comedy, also took to Instagram to share a behind the scenes photo of the two goofing off. “Happy birthday, babe. Miss you,” he captioned.

Darren Criss also shared a behind the scenes glance of Rivera posing by her trailer while filming the popular show.  He captioned it with a sparkle emoji.

Rivera’s ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, also issued a tribute by sharing a black and white family photo and writing, “Just as surreal as it is real that you’re gone. If that makes sense, but none of this still makes any sense…34..I could just hear you saying “Ah, I’m old AF now!” Ha…Rest easy old lady.”

Rivera was reported missing on July 9 after her son was found alone in their rented pontoon boat on Lake Piru in California.  Her body was recovered on July 13 and her death was ruled an accidental drowning.

Here’s how other friends of Rivera honored the late actress:

Amber Riley: “A little update Naya, earth is REALLY ghetto now!!! Still, I miss you so very much and I wish you were here. There hasn’t been a day where you don’t cross my mind, and when you do, I take a moment of silence to remember all the beautiful moments we got to spend together. I’m listening to Amy Winehouse, sippin wine, and eating a very fancy charcuterie in your honor today (don’t worry, I’m checking on mom). HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY ANGEL.”

Kevin McHale: “Happy birthday [bee emoji,] No one else could get us to be this messy in public.”

Harry Shum Jr.: “What I imagine you doing up there right now. Shinin’ brighter than a star. Happy birthday baby gurl. We miss you.”

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Nicola Dove © 2020 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.(LONDON) — It appears we’ll have to wait even longer to see the latest James Bond film.

No Time to Die, which will mark Daniel Crag’s final turn as the super spy, will be pushed from its current April 2 release date until sometime in the fall, sources tell Deadline.

Movie theaters in the U.K. — a key market for the film’s rollout — are facing the same struggles theaters here in the states.  They don’t know exactly when they’ll be fully back up and running say the sources.

MGM has reportedly shopped the film around to streaming services, none of whom were willing to pay even half of the $600 million asking price.  The studio considers the picture crucial to its financial sustainability, and therefore is adamant about giving it a theatrical release.

The last Bond film, 2015’s Spectre, grossed $880.6 million worldwide.  Skyfall, released in 2012 delivered the biggest haul for the franchise with $1.1 billion.

No Time to Die also stars returning 007 players Ralph Fiennes, Jeffrey Wright, and Christoph Waltz, as well as Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images(TEXAS) — After a man who bore a striking resemblance to 80-year-old actor Chuck Norris was photographed storming the U.S. Capitol alongside pro-Trump protestors last Wednesday, his agent is shooting down rumors that the action star was anywhere near the chaos.

Erik Kritzer, Norris’ rep, spoke to People to assure fans that the actor was not part of the riot.

“This is not Chuck Norris and is a wannabe look-alike,” scoffed Kritzer. “Chuck is much more handsome.”

The agent continued, “Chuck remains on his range in Texas where he has been with his family.”

The Hollywood Walk of Famer is a member of the Republican Party and famously endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election against former first lady Hillary Clinton.

Unlike four years ago, the actor did not issue an endorsement and remained quiet during the 2020 election.

Norris’ D.C. doppelgänger has not been identified, but a photo taken by Trump supporter Matthew Bledsoe went viral for taking a selfie with the redheaded lookalike and mistakenly identifying the man as Norris.

Once the photos went viral, some were quick to condemn the Return of the Dragon star while others expressed skepticism that Norris actively participated in the protest, saying the man in the photo was too young to be the 80-year-old black belt martial artist.

And, now according to Krtizer, is not as good looking as the real deal.  Ouch.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

VCG/VCG via Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Bruce Willis is speaking out after he was asked to leave a Los Angeles Rite Aid on Monday for not wearing a mask; he now admits what he did was wrong.

A witness from the store claims told Page Six that shoppers became upset when the 65-year-old Die Hard star wasn’t masked up, despite wearing a scarf around his neck, that could have easily done the trick.

Apparently Willis, who was photographed walking down an aisle without a mask, decided to leave the business without making a purchase.

Following the controversy, the 65-year-old issued a statement to People early Wednesday and admitted that he had made a mistake. 

“It was an error in judgment,” Willis acknowledged before encouraging others to be mindful of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Be safe out there everyone and let’s continue to mask up.”

Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S., has reported nearly 1 million positive cases according to data from Johns Hopkins University.  It is also has the highest death toll out of any county in the country with more than 12,300 COVID-19 deaths confirmed as of early Wednesday.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.