March 4, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC(LOS ANGELES) — In an exclusive interview with Michael Strahan on ABC’s Good Morning America Thursday, embattled Bachelor host Chris Harrison addressed the comments he made defending current Bachelor contestant and front-runner Rachael Kirkconnell.

Kirkconnell’s past social media posts showed her “liking” a photo containing a Confederate flag, as well as photos of her attending an “Old South” plantation-themed party in 2018.

Harrison found himself in hot water when, in a February 9 interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay on Extra, he claimed that Kirkconnell was a victim of cancel culture.

When Lindsay said Kirkconnell’s 2018 photos at an Old South Antebellum party weren’t a “good look,” Harrison responded, “Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021? Because there’s a big difference.”

Following those comments, Harrison announced he was “stepping away” from the show.  In his interview with GMA, he walked back the comments, saying, “Antebellum parties are not O.K. Past, present, future, knowing what that represents is unacceptable.”

Harrison said he’s also apologized to Lindsay, who in recent weeks has deactivated her Instagram account due to intense harassment and bullying. Harrison urged people to stop bullying her, and added, “I am deeply sorry to Rachel Lindsay and to the Black community.”

Harrison says he’s been seeking guidance since the whole controversy unfolded from “leading scholars, teachers, faith leaders,” and has been “learning from them, listening, gaining experience, knowledge and moving forward.”

As for The Bachelor franchise and its spin-offs, Harrison says, “I plan to be back and I want to be back. And I think this franchise can be an important beacon of change.”

“This interview is not the finish line,” he added. “There is much more work to be done. And I am excited to be a part of that change.”

By Carson Blackwelder and Hayley FitzPatrick
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 4, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Warner Bros. Television(LOS ANGELES) — Could we beeee anymore excited? David Schwimmer finally dropped the bomb that the long-delayed Friends reunion is finally happening — and soon.

Speaking with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM on Wednesday, the actor, who played Ross in the beloved 90s sitcom, said that the gang is finally getting back together after a string of snags caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Oh, it’s happening,” said Schwimmer. “Actually, in a little over a month, I’m heading out to LA.”

The 54-year-old actor assured that safety measures will be in place to protect the cast and crew.

“We figured out a way to film it safely, and there’s going to be a portion of it that we film outside because of, you know, for safety protocols,” he said.

Unfortunately for Friends fans dying to know what the reunion will be all about, Scwhimmer was unable to reveal much else — but he did shoot down the rumor that Ellen DeGeneres would host it.

When asked who will helm the revival, the actor confessed, “I don’t know if I can actually [tell you.]”

“That’s a great question,” Schwimmer quickly modified. “I should have found that out.”

He did, however, deny other names that were floated as potential hosts, striking out Billy Crystal and, to Cohen’s amusement, not the radio host, either.

Friends, which ran between 1994 and 2004 starred Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc.

The reunion, set for HBO Max, will not be a continuation of the series — as previously revealed by Kudrow, who played Phoebe.  

“I will not be Phoebe,” Kudrow hinted to Variety last June. “I will not be Rachel, although I kind of am. Well, we’re all sort of little fragments of them…. not really.  But yeah.”

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

March 4, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Rick Rowell(LOS ANGELES) — NBC announced on Wednesday that Hollywood couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard will team up on TV for the first time, serving as hosts and competitors on network’s upcoming game show, Family Game Fight. 

Inspired by Bell and Shepard’s antics on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The show will see the the married couple “part ways and be ‘adopted’ into a family of four as they compete in a series of insanely fun games with a big cash prize up for grabs,” according to NBC.

Casting for Family Game Fight is now underway. You can submit your story or nominate a friend, co-worker, or family member at the website Venertainment.com.

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

March 4, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

March 3, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Randy Holmes(LOS ANGELES) — (NOTE LANGUAGE) On a recent episode of the WTF With Marc Maron podcast, Last Man Standing star Tim Allen opened up about his troubled youth, which led to a 2-year stint in federal prison on drug charges.

“I was an F-up,” the 67-year-old admitted, telling fellow stand-up vet Maron that his troubles began when he started drinking in his youth, which got worse when his father was killed in a drunk driving accident in Colorado back in 1964. 

Allen was 11 at the time.

“After my old man died, I really just played games with people and told adults what they wanted to hear and then stole their booze,” Allen explained. 

He likened his younger self to that secret troublemaker on Leave It To Beaver. “Really I was Eddie Haskell: ‘Yes, Mrs. Cleaver. No, Mrs. Cleaver,’ Allen said. “I knew exactly what adults wanted — make your bed, be polite, use a napkin — and then I’d go steal everything in the house.”

Allen was arrested at 23 in 1978, in possession of more than a pound of cocaine in his luggage at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in his native Michigan. 

The comic, who is now 23 years sober, said prison reformed him. 

“I just shut up and did what I was told. It was the first time ever I did what I was told and played the game. I learned literally how to live day by day. And I learned how to shut up. You definitely want to learn how to shut up.”

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