November 9, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Heidi Gutman(LOS ANGELES) — With former Vice President Joe Biden set to become the 46th president of the United States, celebrities have taken to social media to express their satisfaction with the election results.

Many celebrities reacted with joy and relief over the weekend while others took to the streets to demonstrate their excitement.

One such celebrity to showcase their excitement in public was actress Jennifer Lawrence, who burst out of her Boston brownstone in just her pajamas to flail up and down the street while squealing happily.  “Had no choice but to throw a party for 1,” she tweeted while sharing the hilarious video.

Another celebrity ready to party was Supermarket Sweep host Leslie Jones, who shared an Avengers: Endgame parody clip while cheering, “YASSSSSSS!! CONGRATS PRESIDENT BIDEN!!”

Many reacted to the historical implications of the 2020 election by congratulating Senator Kamala Harris for becoming not only the first female Vice President in U.S. history, but becoming the first woman of color to represent in the White House.

Veep alum Julia Louise-Dreyfus, who spent seven seasons playing a fictional female vice president on HBO, took to Instagram to celebrate that “‘Madam Vice President’  is no longer a fictional character.”

Legally Blonde star Reese Witherspoon congratulated via Instagram, “Today is a monumental day. No matter what side you are on, let’s take a moment to recognize how far women have come in this country. Thinking about all those who shattered glass ceilings and paved the way for a woman to * finally * be Vice President of the United States makes me so emotional.”

The most emotional response, however, came from Mindy Kaling, who shared a photo of the young senator and remarked, “Crying and holding my daughter, ‘look baby, she looks like us.'”

Pitch Perfect star Brittany Snow remarked on the message the recent election tells little girls, writing on Instagram, “If I have a little girl one day, it will be beautiful to tell her…. you CAN be in charge. You can lead. No one should be allowed to disregard you, decide your future or ever silence you, just because you are a female. The planet will be here for you.”  She also remarked, “Hate never wins in the end. Empathy wins.”

Others said the election sends a clear message to the world.

Scandal star Kerry Washington thanked voters for showing up to the polls on Election Day, writing, “The people have spoken! Thank you to everyone who used your vote and your voice to make history.”

Kate Hudson shared her excitement over the election results on Instagram, remarking, “I’m sure many of you are joining me in a big cry, a release. A beautiful moment in history! Thank you everyone. Character matters.”

Chrissy Teigen, who was filmed partying in a car with husband John Legend as they made their way through a celebration that took over the Santa Monica Boulevard, let her followers know just how relieved she is that the election is over by tweeting, “My god it feels like I just took off a weighted blanket, unhooked my bra and taken out my extensions all at once.” 

Sarah Paulson, Jason Momoa, Sophie Turner, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders and Jada Pinkett Smith were also among the many extending congratulatory remarks to Biden and Harris over the weekend.

By Megan Stone 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 

November 9, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

NBC/Will Heath(NEW YORK) — (NOTE LANGUAGE) 2020 isn’t over yet, but Dave Chappelle summed up the bulk of it during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live. 

The booking was something of a bookend for the sketch show, which tapped the acclaimed comic to take the stage four years ago, after President Donald Trump’s surprise election victory over Hillary Clinton.

Chappelle, 47, donned a navy blue suit and smoked a cigarette as he delivered a 16-minute set chock full of the “n-word.” In his opening, which came just hours after Joe Biden was declared the election winner and president-elect on Saturday, Dave recounted receiving a text from a friend in London about the news. 

“She said, ‘The world feels like a safer place now that America has a new president,'” he recalled. 

“I said, ‘That’s great, but America doesn’t,'” he added before reminding the audience of life before the global pandemic. 

“A mass shooting every week. Anyone remember that? Thank god for COVID. Someone had to lock these murderous whites up, keep them in the house,” he said as the audience erupted in applause and laughter. 

Chappelle also slammed “poor white people” who don’t like to wear masks.

“What is the problem? You wear a mask at the Klan rally, wear it at the Walmart too,” he said.

“Rest of the country trying to move forward and these white n****s keep holding us back,” he added. “Don’t even wanna wear your mask because it’s oppressive … try wearing the mask I’ve been wearing all these years. I can’t even tell something true unless it has a punchline behind it.”

Towards the end of his monologue, the comedian poked fun at President Donald Trump for catching the coronavirus.

“He called the coronavirus the Kung flu… I’m supposed to say that, not you! It’s wrong when you say it,'” Chappelle joked. “You know, when he got coronavirus, they said everything about it on the news. You know what they didn’t say? That it was hilarious.” 

November 9, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Will Heath/NBC(NEW YORK) — Jim Carrey and Maya Rudolph returned as President and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, respectively in the cold open to this weekend’s Saturday Night Live, for a re-enactment of the duos speeches in Wilmington, Delaware a few hours earlier.

“We did it.  Can you believe it? I actually kind of can’t.  It’s been so long since something good happened,” said Carrey’s Biden.

Carrey then repeated Biden’s promise during the real speech to “be a president for all Americans,” but added, “whether you’re from a liberal state like California or a conservative state like Oklahoma or a cracked out mess like Florida.”

Just as Harris did earlier, Rudolph rattled off all the firsts she’s achieved, including being the first female, the first Black and the first biracial vice president.

“If any of that terrifies you, I don’t give a funt,” she continued.  Referencing Harris’ Jewish husband, Douglas Emhoff, who would now be America’s first second gentleman, Rudolph joked they “check more boxes than a disqualified ballot.”

After saying they weren’t going to gloat, Rudolph’s Harris added, “Maybe a tiny bit,” before dancing to “You about to Lose Your Job.”

The sketch also imagined what a possible concession speech from President Donald Trump would sound like, with Alec Baldwin’s Trump claiming Democrats were “trying to steal the election” from him.

“Stop the count” he chanted, before he being told he was behind.  He quickly switched to “Count every vote.”

In a callback to Kate McKinnon’s Hillary Clinton singing “Hallelujah” while accompanying herself four years ago, Baldwin’s Trump strolled over to a piano to perform a slowed-down version of “Macho Man.”

“This isn’t goodbye, America.  I’m just going to say, ‘See you in court,’” he said.

November 8, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Alex Trebek, the popular TV personality best-known for hosting the game show Jeopardy! for over 30 years, has died at the age of 80 after being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in March 2019.

A statement from Jeopardy!‘s producers Sunday says Trebek “passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends.”  The show’s executive producer, Mike Richards, called Trebek “a legend of the industry” whose death is “an enormous loss.”

“Working beside him for the past year and a half as he heroically continued to host Jeopardy! was an incredible honor. His belief in the importance of the show and his willingness to push himself to perform at the highest level was the most inspiring demonstration of courage I have ever seen,” Richards also said. “His constant desire to learn, his kindness, and his professionalism will be with all of us forever,”

A native of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Trebek began his TV career in the early 1960s, reading news and covering various sports events for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He eventually moved on to hosting games shows for the network.

In 1973, Trebek moved to the U.S., where he landed a job hosting the NBC game show The Wizard of Odds, followed by the popular High Rollers a year later. Those stints were followed by the short-lived CBS game show Double Dare, the syndicated The $128,000 Question, as well as Card Sharks, Battlestars, Classic Concentration, To Tell the Truth and, ultimately, Jeopardy, which was being revived after nine years off the air.  Trebek hosted Jeopardy! from the revival’s 1984 debut until his death.

Trebek also made appearances in numerous television series, including the comedy How I Met You Mother, usually playing himself.  He was also regularly spoofed on Saturday Night Live, with former cast member Will Ferrell playing Trebek.

In March of 2019, Trebek announced he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. “Now, normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging but I’m gonna fight this,” he said at the time. “And I’m gonna keep working and with the love and support of my family and friends, and with the help of your prayers, also, I plan the beat the low-survival-rate statistics of this disease.”

He then joked, “Truth told, I have to!  Because under the terms of my contract, I have to host Jeopardy! for three more years! So help me!  Keep the faith and we’ll win. We’ll get it done. Thank you.”

Trebek told People magazine in May 2019 that as a result of chemotherapy, his tumors had shrunk by a “mind boggling” 50% or more.  After announcing in August that he’d completed chemotherapy, Trebek returned to Jeopardy! for the show’s 36th season a month later. However, shortly after the season premiere, he revealed needed to undergo another round of chemotherapy.

Still, Trebek remained upbeat, telling ABC’s Good Morning America, “I realize that there is an end in sight for me, just as there is for everyone else.”

Trebek added: “One line that I have used with our staff…is that when I do pass on, one thing they will not say at my funeral is, ‘Oh, he was taken from us too soon.’ Hey guys. I’m 79 years old. I’ve had one hell of a good life.…the thought of passing on doesn’t frighten me.”

Trebek had also suffered several other significant health issues. In January of 2018, he announced that he’d undergone surgery over the Christmas holiday to treat a subdural hematoma — a blood clot within the lining of the brain — which he suffered as a result of a fall.  He also suffered a mild heart attack in 2012 and underwent knee surgery in 2015.

Trebek is survived by Jean, his wife of more than 30 years, as well as three children.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 

November 7, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Scott Olson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — ABC News can characterize Joe Biden as the apparent winner in Pennsylvania, giving him 273 total electoral votes — a win that makes him president elect. Based on these numbers and those in other states, Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States.

ABC News was able to characterize Biden as the apparent winner of Pennsylvania after the state, as of 11:35 a.m., put Biden ahead with 49.6% of ballots cast (3,345,724) over President Trump’s 49.1% (3,311,310 votes).

Biden said in a statement Saturday, “I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris. In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America. With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”

Saturday marks 48 years to the day that Biden, then 29 years old, was elected in his first Senate race on November 7, 1972.

For first time in history, the first and second in line to the presidency will be women: Sen. Kamala Harris as vice president, followed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, tweeted, “So proud of you” with a photo of him embracing his wife, the vice president elect.  Sen. Harris’ win makes her husband the first ‘second husband’ in U.S. history.

For his part, President Trump released a defiant statement through his campaign, claiming, “this election is far from over” and blasting Biden for “rushing to falsely pose as the winner.”

Trump also promised a coming legal fight.  “Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated,” he said. “The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots.”

The president again pushed unfounded claims that “Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room — and then fight in court to block their access.”

Check ABCNews.com for continuing election coverage and updates.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.