September 23, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Eric McCandless(LOS ANGELES) — With the first elimination of the season setting the tone for Tuesday’s Dancing with the Stars, the pressure — and emotions — were running high. 

Unfortunately, NBA star Charles Oakley’s DWTS journey came to an end despite dramatically improving his technique over last week’s performance.  Sending him home wasn’t an easy decision for the judges as they hemmed and hawed over choosing between sparing him or Carole Baskin — the other contestant the audience sent to the bottom two.  The decision ended with a tiebreaker as judge Derek Hough opted to give the Tiger King star another chance.

Meanwhile, One Day at a Time actress Justina Machado cemented her place in the lead by hanging tight to first place with a commanding foxtrot to Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston’s “When You Believe.”  Her breezy and romantic routine earned her high marks from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Hough — topping the scoreboard with an impressive 42/60.

However, former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe proved that she’s the act to beat this season, not only because she demonstrated her impressive dancing background — but because she didn’t allow an injured ankle to derail her dreams of holding the Mirrorball Trophy.  Injury aside, Bristowe poured her heart into a gorgeous foxtrot to Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” which resulted in her sharing first place honors with Machado with a top score of 42 out of 60.

As for the most emotional moment of the night, you can thank AJ McLean for making sure there wasn’t a dry eye on the ballroom when he professed his undying love to wife of nearly a decade, Rochelle.  “She’s the most compassionate, caring, understanding woman. An amazing wife and an amazing mom. She’s my superhero,” the Backstreet Boy gushed, tugging on heartstrings everywhere.

Another emotional moment happened when Baskin opened up about how her life was turned upside down since the premiere of Tiger King.  The Big Cat Rescue owner broke down in tears when discussing how her mental health has suffered due to the constant negative attention.

“I actually had to contact my family and say be prepared,” Baskin admitted to host Tyra Banks about breaking down on camera. “Because I try not to ever cry in front of them, ever. To break down in front of everybody, it’s — it’s really out of character for me.”

Dancing with the Stars will celebrate the wonderful world of Disney when it returns next Monday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. 

Here are the current standings:

Tied for first:
Kaitlyn Bristowe, former star of The Bachelorette, with Artem Chigvintsev — 22/30 (Combined score: 42/60)
Justina Machado, One Day at a Time star, with Sasha Farber — 21/30 (Combined score: 42/60)

Nev Schulman, host of Catfish, with Jenna Johnson — 21/30 (Combined score: 41/60)
Jesse Metcalfe, actor, with Sharna Burgess — 18/30 (Combined score: 38/60)
AJ McLean, member of Backstreet Boys, with Cheryl Burke — 19/30 (Combined score: 37/60)
Johnny Weir, Olympic figure skater, with Britt Stewart — 18/30 (Combined score: 36/60)
Anne Heche, TV and film actress, with Keo Motsepe — 18/30 (Combined score: 36/60)
Jeannie Mai, host of The Real, with Brandon Armstrong  — 18/30 (Combined score: 36/40)
Skai Jackson, Disney Channel star, with Alan Bersten — 15/30 (Combined score: 36/60)
Monica Aldama, head coach on Netflix’s CHEER, with Val Chmerkovskiy — 16/30 (Combined score: 35/60)
Vernon Davis, Super Bowl champion, with Peta Murgatroyd — 18/30 (Combined score: 35/40)
Nelly, Grammy Award-winning rapper, with Daniella Karagach — 18/30 (Combined score: 34/40)
Chrishell Stause, Netflix’s Selling Sunset star, with Gleb Savchenko — 18/30(Combined score: 30/60)

Lowest score:
Carole Baskin, Big Cat Rescue owner and star of Tiger King, with Pasha Pashkov — 16/30 (Combined score: 27/60)

September 22, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Starz(LOS ANGELES) — Starz announced on Tuesday that Power Book II: Ghost has officially been renewed for a second season. 

After its successful Sept 6. debut, Ghost became the most-watched new series in Starz history, scoring 7.5 million global views, according to the channel. 

Power Book II: Ghost marks the first spinoff series in the expanded Power universe franchise from the show’s executive producers, Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and produced through Starz’ international platform, Starzplay. Two more spinoffs will follow soon. 

“Back in 2012, 50, Mark, and I were warned that a premium series with leads of color would never work for a global audience,” Kemp said in a statement announcing the show’s renewal. “But we’ve proven everyone wrong — and thanks to Starzplay, we have fans in the UK, France, Mexico, Brazil and beyond, all plugging into the Power Universe.”

50 added, “When I had the idea to create the Power Universe I knew there were going to be many levels to its success. I am glad the fans agree. I am looking forward to releasing Raising Kanan and Force soon.”

Ghost follows Tariq St. Patrick, played by Michael Rainey Jr., as he grapples with a new world: the death of his father, with his mother, Tasha, played by Naturi Naughton, “facing charges for his murder — even though Tariq pulled the trigger.” 

Power Book II: Ghost, also starring Oscar nominee Mary J. Blige and platinum-selling artist Method Man, premieres Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Starz. 

By Rachel George
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 22, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Focus Features/Magnolia Pictures(LOS ANGELES) — As a tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who passed away Friday at age 87, Focus Features and Magnolia Pictures jointly announced Tuesday that they will re-release the biopic On the Basis of Sex and the documentary RBG, respectively

Both 2018 films about the late justice will return to select theaters this Friday, in addition to their current availability on VOD and streaming platforms.  Both film companies also will donate the net proceeds from the films’ theatrical re-release to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation in support of their Women’s Rights Project, which Ginsberg co-founded in 1972.

Focus Features’ On the Basis of Sex stars Felicity Jones as Ginsberg and Armie Hammer as her husband, Martin D. Ginsberg. It follows Ruth Bader Ginsberg early in her career as she fights against gender discrimination.  The Emmy-winning documentary RBG, from Magnolia Pictures, chronicles Ginsberg’s rise to the Supreme Court and her unexpected status as a pop culture icon.

“Justice Ginsburg spent her life upholding fairness, the law, and the rights of all Americans. These films highlight only a small portion of her legacy to screen, but her vast impact on our country goes far beyond them,” Focus Features and Magnolia Pictures say in a joint statement.  “We hope that moviegoers are re-inspired by her passion, her courage and take that back into the world.”

The film companies — along with Participant, a partner on both the films — are also launching a social media campaign in tribute to Ginsberg, where fans are asked to share posts about RBG using the hashtag #ThankYouRuth.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 22, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

HBO Max / Eddy Chen(LOS ANGELES) — The cast of The West Wing is reuniting next month for an HBO Max special to raise awareness for the nonpartisan organization When We All Vote.

Announced Tuesday, on National Voter Registration Day, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote will premiere on October 15, just two weeks before the election.

The special will feature the original cast coming together with creator Aaron Sorkin and executive producer/director Thomas Schlamme for a special theatrical stage presentation of the “Hartsfield’s Landing” episode from the political drama’s third season.  The episode in part involves the primary day vote in the fictitious town of Hartsfield’s Landing, New Hampshire, the first town in the nation to open their polls.

Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and Martin Sheen will all reprise their roles. It marks the first time in 17 years that the original cast of the Emmy-winning series will reunite.

The special will also include act breaks with messages from When We All Vote co-chair Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Lin-Manuel Miranda. There will be musical performances from composer W.G. Snuffy Walden, who will play The West Wing‘s familiar theme song, and The Avett Brothers, who will close out the show.

The West Wing ran for seven seasons on NBC and won 27 Emmys.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 22, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix(LOS ANGELES) — Gary Oldman is being sued by a screenwriter who claims that parts of the film Darkest Hour, for which Oldman won a best actor Oscar for playing Winston Churchill, were lifted from his script.

Ben Kaplan, a teacher and screenwriter who has worked on several History Channel film series, filed the suit on Los Angels Superior Court on Friday, claiming that Oldman had agreed to using his Churchill script, before abandoning the project and signing on to do Darkest Hour, according to documents obtained by Variety.

The suit argues that Darkest Hour borrowed fictional scenes and ahistorical elements from Kaplan’s script, including the false claim that Churchill came up with the idea for the British civilian armada that helped evacuate Dunkirk.

The suit also alleges that the two scripts share a similar story arc, both ending with Churchill’s “We shall fight on the beaches” speech.

Kaplan claims he started writing the script in 1999, and registered it with the Writers Guild of America in three years later, per Variety.  He allegedly teamed up with a producer in 2011, who then partnered with StudioCanal and Sierra/Affinity.  The producer also allegedly agreed to a deal with Oldman that would pay the actor a $6 million fee, before he dropped out in March 2015.

The complaint alleges “false designation of origin” under federal trademark law, as well as claims of breach of implied contract, unfair business practices and interference with contract.

NBCUniversal is also named in the suit.