<![CDATA[Entertainment – NBC Chicago]]> https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/ Copyright 2024 https://media.nbcchicago.com/2019/09/Chicago_On_Light@3x.png?fit=486%2C102&quality=85&strip=all NBC Chicago https://www.nbcchicago.com en_US Mon, 26 Feb 2024 03:15:46 -0600 Mon, 26 Feb 2024 03:15:46 -0600 NBC Owned Television Stations Romeo Beckham and girlfriend Mia Regan break up after nearly 5 years together https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/romeo-beckham-and-girlfriend-mia-regan-break-up-after-nearly-5-years-together/3365643/ 3365643 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1247290053.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Romeo Beckham and his girlfriend, model Mia Regan, have split after more than four years together.

The couple, who have been together since they were 16 years old, described the split as amiable in statements shared to their respective Instagram stories.

Beckham, the second eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, confirmed on Feb. 25 that the couple had “parted ways after 5 years of love.” He also affectionately used Regan’s nickname, “Mooch.”

“We still have a lot of love and respect for each other, and still hold a strong friendship and always will,” Beckham, 21, wrote over a picture of the two together.

Instagram

Regan, 21, also shared a cute picture of the former couple, calling Beckham, “Ro.”

“We aren’t together romantically but we do share lots & lots of love for one another… after 5 years we friendzoned each other,” she wrote.

Regan is a model represented by Storm Management. She’s been in campaigns for H&M, Loewe, Prada and other brands. She also created a denim capsule collection in collaboration with Victoria Beckham’s fashion line.

Regan and Romeo Beckham celebrated their four-year anniversary in May 2023.

The couple made their first public appearance together as teenagers in 2021 for a joint outing at Wimbledon. They made their red carpet debut a few months later at the Fashion Awards in London.

The moment doubled as Regan’s first red carpet, but she found support for her nerves through her boyfriend’s mom — Victoria Beckham.

“Even just talking about what I’m wearing with her, what nails and make-up I’m going to go for, it’s nice to have that figure,” Regan told Vogue at the time.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

]]>
Mon, Feb 26 2024 01:36:14 AM
Cillian Murphy ‘smashed his head open' while filming ‘Oppenheimer': ‘I was a bit shocked' https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/cillian-murphy-smashed-his-head-open-while-filming-oppenheimer-i-was-a-bit-shocked/3365512/ 3365512 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2037670976.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Cillian Murphy had a bit of an accident one night before filming “Oppenheimer,” and a gift from Emily Blunt is partially to blame.

While appearing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Feb. 23, “The Devil Wear Prada” star recalled giving Murphy a luxury Hästens pillow because she felt he needed sleep even “more than food” during production.

“So I gave him this pillow but it turned out — do you mind if I tell them?” Blunt said, turning to Murphy, to which he responded, “I mean you’re gonna.”

“So, he was really luxuriating in this pillow one night, and he woke up in the middle of the night — this is what he told me the next day — and he went to fluff himself back down in the pillow,” she began.

But while he tried to find the “cool side” of the pillow, he “misjudged where it was” and “smashed his head open on the bedside table,” Blunt said, through laughter. “They had to glue his head shut.”

Murphy explained that he “was a bit shocked” after it happened.

“I mean I was having a great sleep, and I had this amazing pillow and then I just, you know, it was a strange bed, a strange table, it was ‘bang,'” he said.

Instead of seeking medical attention, he contacted the film’s makeup designer, Luisa Abel, at around 3 a.m., and she “glued his head shut.”

“She covered it all up and you don’t even see it in the movie,” he said.

Murphy, Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. appeared on the show to promote “Oppenheimer” ahead of the Screen Actors Guild Awards Feb. 24.

At the ceremony Saturday, Murphy took home the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, while his co-star, Downey, won outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role for playing Lewis Strauss.

Blunt was nominated for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role, but lost to Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who took home the hardware for her performance in “The Holdovers.”

“Oppenheimer” won the last SAG Award of the night, outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. 

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

]]>
Sun, Feb 25 2024 08:39:14 PM
Travis Kelce parties to Taylor Swift's ‘Love Story' with Chiefs teammates in Las Vegas https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/travis-kelce-sings-taylor-swift-song-las-vegas/3365451/ 3365451 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2013536287.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s love story continues even when they are oceans apart.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who landed in Sin City after visiting his girlfriend as she tours in Australia, was seen at a club in the Wynn Las Vegas singing to one of Swift’s early hits.

In a clip posted by the luxury Vegas casino and resort, Kelce and several of his teammates are seen singing along to Swift’s “Love Story” at the XS nightclub. DJ and music producer Marshmello can also be seen in the background of the festivities.

In another video posted by Wynn, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Kelce and other Chiefs players are seen on stage spreading champagne, dancing and jamming with Marshmello.

“A BIG thank you to @Chiefs for keeping the celebration going with us!” The post’s caption read.

The Chiefs previously celebrated with Marshmello at the Wynn right after their Super Bowl LVIII victory at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Swift joined her boyfriend on that celebration, and posted a TikTok with her parents joining them at the club.

“Accidentally going clubbing with your parents is something everyone should try at least once in their life,” she captioned the video post.

To make it in time for the big game, Swift hopped on a jet after doing a series of Eras Tour concerts in Tokyo, Japan.

Then, to return the favor, Kelce visited Swift in Australia this past week, where the couple was seen visiting the Sydney Zoo, according to E!

Swift will finish up her stop in Australia with a concert on Monday before beginning a week of shows in Singapore starting March 2.

Will Travis Kelce join her? We’ll just have to wait and see.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

]]>
Sun, Feb 25 2024 07:03:07 PM
‘Star Trek' and ‘Captain Marvel' actor Kenneth Mitchell dead at 49 https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/star-trek-and-captain-marvel-actor-kenneth-mitchell-dead-at-49/3365390/ 3365390 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1011223936.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,203 Originally appeared on E! Online

The “Star Trek” and acting communities have lost a beloved member.

Kenneth Mitchell, and actor known for roles in “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Captain Marvel” and the husband of “Center Stage” actress Susan May Pratt, has died. He was 49.

The actor passed away Feb. 24 in Los Angeles after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. In addition to his wife, Mitchell is survived by their daughter Lilah, 16, and son Kallum, 11, plus his parents, brother and other family members, according to an obituary posted on his Instagram Feb. 25.

“Ken was diligent and hardworking in everything he did, but as a father these traits found their fullest expression,” it read. “He was extremely dedicated to being a positive and playful force in the lives of his children. Regardless of his later disabilities, Ken discovered a higher calling to be more fully himself for his kids. Ken will be forever proud of who his children have become.”

Celebrity Deaths: 2024’s Fallen Stars

The obituary also included an essay written by Mitchell himself, titled “Connect.”

“When I die, when I leave this life, I want to become a tree, a Ginko, White pine, Jacaranda, Lemon, Cedar, Oak, Myrtle or Maple,” he wrote. “I want to be buried under the roots, so I can be soaked up, all my matter, my energy, my love, my laughter, my tears and I want to reach up through the branches and touch the night sky. I want to twinkle with the stars and when the earth turns, I want to feel the sun on the face of my leaves.”

Mitchell, a Toronto native, made his onscreen acting debut in the early aughts, appearing in Showtime’s “Leap Year.” He later played Eric Green on the series “Jericho” and Sam Lucas on “Ghost Whisperer.” In 2019, he starred on the CW’s “Nancy Drew” and in “Captain Marvel.”

Meanwhile, he had begun appearing on “Star Trek: Discovery,” playing four roles between 2017 and 2021: Klingons Kol, Kol’s dad Kol-Sha and Tenavik, and later, as he began to suffer the effects of ALS, Aurellio, a human character who used a hoverchair, or wheelchair-like device. Mitchell also portrayed several other roles on the animated series “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” Throughout his time on the franchise, he occasionally made appearances at “Star Trek” fan conventions.

Mitchell last appeared onscreen in a recurring role on the FX series “The Old Man,” which stars Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow.

Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS, a neurological disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis, in 2018 and had used a wheelchair since 2019.

“For five and a half years, Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS,” his obituary stated. “And in truest Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment. He lived by the principles that each day is a gift and that we never walk alone. His life is a shining example of how full one can be when you live with love, compassion, humor, inclusion and community. Ken was an inspirational work of art to all the hearts he touched.”

Among those were his friends and colleagues.

“Rest in peace, Ken. Was just thinking of you,” Ethan Peck, who plays Spock on Star Trek: Discovery, commented on the obituary, using an emoji of the Vulcans’ “Live Long and Prosper” hand gesture.

And Jonathan Frakes, who directed several episodes in the series and played William Riker on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” wrote, “One of the best RIP.”

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

]]>
Sun, Feb 25 2024 05:53:49 PM
Fans react to ‘Where is Wendy Williams' Lifetime doc https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/fans-react-to-where-is-wendy-williams-lifetime-doc/3365317/ 3365317 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/Wendy_Williams_Getty_1920x1080_2311636035651.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Across social media, fans are sharing their reactions to the“Where Is Wendy Williams?” Lifetime documentary.

The first part of the doc aired on Feb. 24, which followed Wendy Williams after her daytime talkshow “The Wendy Williams Show” ended in June 2022.

Part one featured candid moments about the state of her health, including her addressing her struggles with alcohol and drug abuse as well as how lymphedema has effected her mobility.

It also featured those close to her, including tense moments with her manager, Will Selby, her publicist, Shawn Zanotti, and her only child, Kevin Hunter Jr.

Fans took the opportunity to share their unfiltered thoughts about the documentary on social media, with one fan calling the project “exploitative” given that Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023.

“I hope that Wendy Williams gets the help she needs and maybe this show will help with that but something about this isn’t sitting right with me,” one user wrote on the social media site X. “She can’t consent to being on camera like this. It feels exploitative.”

Another fan wrote in a tweet, “That Wendy Williams documentary is SAD.”

“I’m not sure who greenlit #WhereIsWendyWilliams.. in my opinion it wasn’t a good idea,” one fan added.

Another viewer agreed, writing on X, “I’ve seen enough clips of #WhereIsWendyWilliams to know that this should NEVERRRRRRR have aired. It’s disgusting that they’ve captured this lady’s most vulnerable moments like this.”

Williams has a court-appointed legal guardian to oversee her money and health conditions. Just days before the premiere of the documentary, her court-appointed guardian filed a sealed lawsuit against Lifetime’s parent company, A&E Television Networks, but the network confirmed the doc would air as scheduled.

Fans had varied reactions to the people surrounding Williams in the documentary, with several viewers taking to X to call out her seemingly cruel behavior towards her team.

“Dementia or not, it is unacceptable to treat people this way. Period,” one user wrote. “Being unkind to assistants is simply terrible.”

However, some fans defended Williams’ behavior due to the state of her health, with one viewer writing, “How are people saying ‘dementia or not, she needs to show respect.’ Like do you know what dementia is?”

Viewers also shared their concern for the former talk show host, questioning her team’s motives on social media.

One fan shared a video of an interaction between Williams and her publicist talking about a trip to California, writing, “She is surrounded by ENABLERS and she is indenial and deluded into thinking she is still in control.”

Another moment in part one of the documentary that caused an uproar on social media was related to Williams’ finances, with one fan writing on X, “The name of the this should be ‘Where is Wendy William’s MONEY.’”

In 2022, NBC News reported that Williams’ bank, Wells Fargo, had frozen her accounts while awaiting a guardianship ruling.

Some viewers called out Williams’ son, who was questioned for charges to his mom’s account for tens of thousands of dollars. Hunter said in the doc that he never spent his mom’s money without her consent.

“This #WendyWilliams doc is all over the place. Her son is paying 80k in rent? $100k on Uber eats?” a viewer wrote on X. “This anonymous court appointed guardian that’s running her dry, Wells Fargo withholding her $, AND this sketchy a– lying ‘manager’..I’m giving EVERYONE the side eye at this point.”

One fan defended Williams and her son, writing, “Wendy Williams worked her a– off to provide for her child and to secure his future… Children usually inherit their parents’ property. There’s nothing ‘suspicious’ about him using her money.”

Even amid the controversy of the series, fans still praised Williams for her legacy in pop culture and media and sent her well wishes.

“I hope #WendyWilliams is celebrated for the career that she built,” one fan wrote. “Let’s honor the force that she is and was, and not fret about where she is now. So many stand on her shoulders.”

Wendy Williams always used her platform to help put me in a position to win,” actor Tami Roman wrote. “This documentary saddens me. Wendy you will forever be loved & respected by me & I haven’t stopped praying for you… the Queen of Media!”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from Today:

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

]]>
Sun, Feb 25 2024 03:43:48 PM
You can't miss Emma Stone's reaction after losing 2024 SAG Award https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/you-cant-miss-emma-stones-reaction-after-losing-2024-sag-award/3365314/ 3365314 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2028799870.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,214 Originally appeared on E! Online

When Lily Gladstone won her first SAG Award, her competitor Emma Stone was her biggest cheerleader.

During Netflix’s live stream of the 2024 ceremony Feb. 24, the actress was shown jumping out of her seat and clapping furiously after presenter Jessica Chastain announced that Gladstone would be receiving the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her role in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Stone was nominated in the same category for her performance in “Poor Things.”

“My friends, fellow actors. I feel the good and what you have done, what you do,” Gladstone said in her acceptance speech, later adding, “We bring empathy into a world that so much needs it.”

The 37-year-old continued, “Keep telling stories to everybody in this room, to everybody watching abroad. Those of you who are not actors but have a voice, have a story that needs to be heard. Thank you for all of the compassionate souls in this room and all of the storytellers here tonight. Keep speaking your truths and keep speaking up for each other.”

2024 SAG Awards: Candid Moments

In addition to Stone, Gladstone had competed in the category against “Maestro’s” Carey Mulligan and “Barbie‘s” Margot Robbie, who both clapped graciously for her, as well as “Nyad’s” Annette Bening, who did not attend the SAG Awards (see a complete list of winners).

And while Stone went home from the event empty-handed, she has won other honors for her performance in “Poor Things” this award season: The 35-year-old received a Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Musical or Comedy in January and was given a BAFTA Film Award for Best Leading Actress Feb. 18. The actress had also previously won a SAG Award for her role in the 2016 film La La Land, for which she also received her first Oscar.

Both Stone and Gladstone are nominated for an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at the upcoming 2024 Academy Awards, which take place on March 10.

]]>
Sun, Feb 25 2024 03:11:05 PM
McDonald's is transforming into ‘WcDonald's' starting Monday, and some folks are thrilled https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/mcdonalds-is-transforming-into-wcdonalds-starting-monday-and-some-anime-enthusiasts-are-thrilled/3365315/ 3365315 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/Blur-anime-mcdonalds02-25-2024-16-03-48.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all If you stop at McDonald’s for a bite to eat in the coming weeks, the packaging might look vastly different.

Beginning Monday, participating McDonald’s locations around the world will be getting a mini-makeover inspired by anime lovers. The manga-inspired takeover, cheekily called “WcDonalds” — with upside-golden arches — alludes to how the chain is seen in some of anime’s most iconic movies and shows, according to a release from the Chicago-based burger giant.

“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan, said in the release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

The temporary transformation will last through March 18.

While some folks might be skeptical, a number of anime enthusiasts are ecstatic, as evidenced on social media.

One user on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, said, “Idk ab y’all, but I’m so excited for this WcDonalds anime.”

Another said the anime packaging was “on point.”

For a third user, the transformation appeared to bring them back to childhood.

“McDonald’s embracing anime and manga brings a tear to my 90s child eyes,” the user commented.

As part of the transformation, McDonald’s teamed up with Japanese magna artist/illustrator Acky Bright, to create and design custom WcDonald’s packaging on menu items. For a limited time, customers will receive manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters, sketched by Acky himself, the release said.

McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

Along with the change in packaging will come a few new menu items.

One is “Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce,” which is meant to be paired with WcNuggets (also known as Chicken McNuggets), the release said.

At one McDonald’s location, an “immersive dining experience” will be held, the release said, inspired by the “isekai anime subgenre.”

According to officials, the “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” will be held March 9 and 10 in Los Angeles. The dining experience will be “multi-sensory,” and “a genre-bending fusion of entertainment and food,” the release added.

]]>
Sun, Feb 25 2024 03:08:48 PM
A hot pink Barbie flip phone is launching this summer https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/a-hot-pink-barbie-flip-phone-is-launching-this-summer/3365167/ 3365167 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/107377926-1708861808648-IMG_0148_1.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,176
  • HMD, short for Human Mobile Devices, says it is launching a Barbie flip phone this summer, in a partnership with toy maker Mattel.
  • It won’t be connected to the internet, making it a throwback to the “dumb phones” of yesteryear before smartphones became popular.
  • The device looks like a standard flip phone with buttons rather than a touch screen, and comes in a hot pink color, resembling the iconic pink flip phone accessory that comes with many Barbie dolls.
  • Not yet tired of the Barbie movie?

    Soon, you’ll be able to get a flip phone from the blockbuster toy franchise.

    The company behind Nokia-branded smartphones, HMD, short for Human Mobile Devices, says it is launching a Barbie flip phone this summer, in partnership with toy maker Mattel.

    Mattel is the company behind the Barbie fashion doll collection. It has produced and sold the popular kids’ toys and accessories since 1959.

    The device, which is slated for launch this summer, “promises to embody the vintage chic of the original girl empowerment brand with a dash of pink and of course, sparkle,” according to a HMD press release.

    It won’t be connected to the internet, making it a throwback to the “dumb phones” of yesteryear before smartphones became popular.

    So-called dumb phones have become more popular, especially with Gen Z consumers, who are trying to limit their digital activity and move away from toxic content found on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.

    Lars Silberbauer, HMD’s chief marketing officer, said it was “time to swap reel life for real life and take a breather from all the interruptions of notifications.”

    The device looks like a standard flip phone with buttons rather than a touch screen, and comes in a hot pink color, resembling the iconic pink flip phone accessory that comes with many Barbie dolls.

    It is the first device being sold by HMD under its new brand name, Human Mobile Devices — or HMD for short. This is a step away from Nokia which is the brand HMD typically has used to sell its dumb phones and smartphones. 

    Under a revamp, HMD plans to still sell Nokia phones. But it will partner with other brands to sell phones that only represent their brand, rather than HMD, with the company acting as a kind of white label hardware maker behind the scenes.

    HMD was spun out of Microsoft after the U.S. tech giant decided to sell the Nokia phone brand, which it first purchased in 2014, to a group of former Nokia executives. HMD Global was established in 2016.

    Barbie mania became a phenomenon in 2023 due to a blockbuster movie featuring the likes of Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and Will Ferrell. The film pulled in over $1.4 billion at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of 2023.

    ]]>
    Sun, Feb 25 2024 06:00:01 AM
    Sylvester Stallone announces he's ‘permanently' leaving California and moving to Florida https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/sylvester-stallone-leaves-california-permanently-move-florida/3365142/ 3365142 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1854488468.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,231 Actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone has announced he and his wife, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, will be relocating to Florida and leaving “permanently” the state of California.

    Stallone made the shocking announcement during Wednesday’s season 2 premiere of “The Family Stallone” reality show, which streams on Paramount+.

    “After long, hard consideration, your mother and I have decided, time to move on and leave the state of California permanently, and we’re going to go to Florida,” Stallone told daughters Scarlet, 21, Sistine, 25, and Sophia, 27, as he sat at a dancing table.

    “We’re gonna sell this house,” the “Rocky” star added. “We already have the place, it’s a done deal,” he said as his daughters reacted surprised and confused.

    According to People.com, the Stallone family decided it was time for a change after they became “an empty nest” when Sophia and Sistine moved together to New York City and Scarlet enrolled at the University of Miami in Florida.

    “I raised all three of our daughters in California,” Jennifer Flavin Stallone said in the first season 2 episode according to People.com. “Everything’s a memory to me, memories of them not being there anymore… so I needed a big change and Sly went along with it,” she said.

    Following the announcement, Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, posted a welcome message on social media to the Stallones.

    “Welcome to the Free State of Florida,” DeSantis said on Twitter.

    In 2020, Stallone purchased a massive 13,241 square feet waterfront mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, for $35.38 million.

    Other celebrities that call Palm Beach home are Jon Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart and former President Donald Trump.

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Sun, Feb 25 2024 01:08:09 AM
    Shane Gillis performs Trump impression on ‘SNL' during hilarious Trump sneakers sketch https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/shane-gillis-snl-trump-impression/3365131/ 3365131 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2020850783.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Shane Gillis did not hold back the comedy punches during his hosting stint on “Saturday Night Live.”

    Gillis, who has done a Trump impression in his own material in the past, joined a small group of people who have acted as the former president at Studio 8H.

    In a hilarious sketch set as a movie trailer for “White Men Can Trump” brought to you by “Newsmax Studios,” Gillis begins as a normal guy named Gordon Preyer who “can’t catch a break.” But then, he is gifted a pair of Trump’s newly unveiled $399 Trump-branded sneakers by the former president himself, and everything changes.

    Gillis’ character puts the sneakers on and heads to the basketball court, where he tries to make a shot, but misses badly.

    However, Gillis’ character suddenly transforms into the former president, allowing him to embrace the theory that “winning is a state of mind.”

    “I didn’t miss, it went in,” Gillis as Trump tells the others on the court.

    Gillis as Preyer goes on to explain the shoes “powers” to a friend later in the sketch.

    “They give me the power to say I’m good at basketball,” Gillis as Preyer said. “And then double-down on that until people actually start to believe it.”

    In another scene, Preyer goes to bed next to his wife and says, “Wow, that was the most fantastic love making we’ve ever had.”

    His wife says “not really” before Gillis as Trump interrupts and says “two hours, that was a two hour love sesh. You had a big ‘oh’ in there. A very big ‘oh.'”

    And in another scene, Gillis’ character stands on a scale, which reads 254.6 pounds, but Gillis’ Trump says the machine should read 170 pounds, which it then complies with.

    Gillis’ character, now described as a “brand new man,” is eventually visited by another Trump, played by “SNL” cast member James Austin Johnson.

    “Nice shoes. Well, you know, in many ways, the real magic has been inside of you all along,” Johnson as Trump tells Gillis’ Trump.

    To which Gillis’ Trump replies:

    “Wrong. It comes from the shoes. And you are coming off very stupid, and frankly, quite rude walking in here like this.”

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Sun, Feb 25 2024 12:04:13 AM
    Pedro Pascal admits he's ‘a little drunk' and ‘making a fool of myself' during SAG Awards speech https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/pedro-pascal-drunk-sag-awards-speech/3365061/ 3365061 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2028794465-e1708826675978.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=200,300 The party started a little early for Pedro Pascal Saturday night.

    Walking on stage in a white shirt with the top few buttons undone, “The Last of Us” actor, who had just won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at the 2024 SAG Awards, admitted he did not expect to win and that he was “a little drunk.”

    “This is a wrong for a number of reasons,” Pascal said when he took the stage. “I’m a little drunk. I thought I could get drunk.”

    Pascal said, alluding to “Succession,” which has dominated the TV awards season and had three actors nominated in the same category.

    Pascal then got emotional as he thanked HBO, the network that airs “The Last of Us.”

    “Jeez, Louise. I’m making a fool of myself,” Pascal then said. “But thank you so much for this!”

    Later in the speech, the actor thanked all the other nominees, and said that he “can’t remember” any of their names right now.

    Pascal thanked a few more people before leaving the stage, saying, “I’m going to have a panic attack and I’m going to leave.”

    After his speech, the actor had a chance to do an interview with Netflix’s Tan France backstage, which aired during the Awards show.

    “The Mandalorian” actor was asked about his speech, and he said, “I don’t remember, but I was very surprised.”

    The SAG award was Pascal’s first win for his role in “The Last of Us,” but he was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his leading role in the hit post-apocalyptic show.

    At the Golden Globes, Pascal lost to fellow nominee, “Succession” star Kieran Culkin, who said jokingly during his speech that Pascal could “suck it.”

    Pascal, who presented an award during this year’s Emmys, returned the favor by taking a swing at his frenemy.

    “Before we get into the nominees for best supporting actor in a drama series, I’d like to take just a second and make this about me,” Pascal said. “A lot of people have been asking about my arm; it’s actually my shoulder.”

    He continued: “And I think tonight is a perfect time to tell everyone that Kieran Culkin beat the s— out of me.”

    Backstage, Pascal was asked about Culkin, who was also nominated for the same SAG award.

    “I’m going to make out with Kieran, that will be my revenge,” Pascal said.

    ]]>
    Sat, Feb 24 2024 08:20:09 PM
    Everybody wants to see this ‘Devil Wears Prada' reunion https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/everybody-wants-to-see-this-devil-wears-prada-reunion/3365078/ 3365078 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2028793889.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    We just got a groundbreaking Devil Wears Prada reunion. That’s all.

    Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt reunited at the 2024 SAG Awards on Feb. 24, nearly 18 years after their iconic movie debuted. For the occasion, the former costars made us scream their names by presenting Male Actor in a Comedy Series together on stage—with Hathaway and Blunt even turning the tables on Miranda Priestly herself.

    Blunt—who is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for playing Kitty in “Oppenheimer”—even joked Streep and her character are “like twins.”

    In fact, the 74-year-old channeled the “Dragon Lady” herself in an elegant Prada look, while Hathaway wore a cerulean blue Atelier Versace SS15 Couture look, in true Andy Sachs (and Mia Thermopolis!) fashion.

    And although the actresses have reunited over the years in pairs, getting a “Devil Wears Prada” moment with all three stars is basically rarer than getting an unpublished “Harry Potter” manuscript.

    See the 2024 SAG Awards Winners

    But clearly, the runway roots run deep for Hathaway.

    “This is so embarrassing,” she told Blunt during a joint interview with Variety in December, “because I remember every second of the first time I met you.”

    “I’m so much more into you than you are into me. It’s fine,” she continued, recalling how they met for coffee and a walk around her neighborhood before filming. “I remember instantly just thinking, ‘What a movie star.’ You were shedding stardust.”

    The feeling was mutual, Blunt admitted.

    “You were so good to me even though you were a colossal movie star at that time,” she gushed. “You treated me like a complete equal to you always.”

    ]]>
    Sat, Feb 24 2024 08:59:09 PM
    Richard Sherman arrested on suspicion of DUI in Seattle area early Saturday morning https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/nfl/richard-sherman-dui-arrest-washington-state/3364995/ 3364995 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1883326175.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Former NFL player Richard Sherman was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to police records obtained by NBC News.

    In a probable cause statement, Trooper Jordan Hazzard-Thomas, who helped respond to the traffic stop, reported talking to Sherman and noticing “the odor of intoxicants” and that Sherman’s eyes appeared to be “bloodshot and watery.”

    Emails seeking comment on Sherman’s arrest were sent Saturday to a representative listed on his social media sites and to an attorney who has represented him in the past. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Sherman was expected to have a court hearing Monday.

    Sherman, a three-time All-Pro cornerback, had an 11-year career in the NFL and helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title during the 2013 season.

    One of the top defensive standouts of his generation, he was named in 2020 to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s.

    Sherman spent seven seasons in Seattle before going to San Francisco for three. He also played for Tampa Bay, and during his college years at Stanford University.

    More recently he worked as a football analyst.

    Sherman in 2022 pleaded guilty in Seattle to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a drunken driving and domestic disturbance the year before. He also admitted to a criminal infraction of speeding in a roadway construction zone.

    ]]>
    Sat, Feb 24 2024 06:17:07 PM
    See the best red carpet looks from the 2024 SAG Awards https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024-sag-awards-red-carpet-fashion/3364935/ 3364935 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/image-1-16.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all The 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards has rolled out its glamorous red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

    It is the perfect awards night weather in Los Angeles and your favorite stars are out and about flashing their fashion choices as they walk the 2024 SAG Awards red carpet.

    This is the first time the ceremony will be streamed live on Netflix to celebrate and recognize outstanding performances in the movie and prime-time television.

    As the celebrities continue to roll in, we will keep updating, so be sure to refresh often.

    ]]>
    Sat, Feb 24 2024 05:38:05 PM
    SAG Awards 2024 winners: See the complete list https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/sag-awards-2024-winners-see-the-complete-list/3364982/ 3364982 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1469866247.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    So, who will The Actor statue go to at the 2024 SAG Awards?

    No need to panic, we’ve got you covered. ICYMI, the Feb. 24 event — which steamed live Netflix — honored the best in TV and film.

    Several films and shows scored numerous nominations, including “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” and “Succession.”

    SAG Awards 2024: Stars React to Their Nominations

    Other winners the star-studded evening? “Devil Wears Prada” fans, Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt reunited on stage 18 years after the film had us wondering if that top is turquoise, lapis or actually cerulean.

    Plus, EGOT winner Barbra Streisand gave an inspiring speech after she received the Life Achievement Award, which was presented by Jennifer Aniston.

    “Ever since I was a young girl sitting in the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, I dreamed of being one of those actresses I saw on the screen,” the 81-year-old said in a statement. “The movies were a portal to a world I could only imagine.”

    “Even though I was an unlikely candidate, somehow my dream came true,” Streisand continued. “This award is especially meaningful to me because it comes from my fellow actors, whom I so admire.”

    As for what other stars walk away with an Actor statue? We’ll update the list below as the awards are handed out:

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

    Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
    Jon Hamm, Fargo
    David Oyelowo, Lawmen: Bass Reeves
    Tony Shalhoub, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie
    WINNER: Steven Yeun, Beef

    Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

    Uzo Aduba, Painkiller
    Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things
    Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
    Bel Powley, A Small Light
    WINNER: Ali Wong, Beef

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

    Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
    Willem Dafoe, Poor Things
    Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
    WINNER: Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
    Ryan Gosling, Barbie

    Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

    Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
    Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
    Penélope Cruz, Ferrari
    Jodie Foster, Nyad
    WINNER: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Colman Domingo, Rustin
    Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
    WINNER: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
    Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

    Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

    Annette Bening, Nyad
    WINNER: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Carey Mulligan, Maestro
    Margot Robbie, Barbie
    Emma Stone, Poor Things

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

    Brian Cox, Succession
    Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
    Kieran Culkin, Succession
    Matthew MacFadyen, Succession
    WINNER: Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us

    Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

    Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
    WINNER: Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
    Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
    Keri Russell, The Diplomat
    Sarah Snook, Succession

    Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

    Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
    Bill Hader, Barry
    Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
    Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
    WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

    Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

    Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
    Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
    Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
    WINNER: Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
    Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

    Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

    The Crown
    The Gilded Age
    The Last of Us
    The Morning Show
    WINNER: Succession

    Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

    Abbott Elementary
    Barry
    WINNER: The Bear
    Only Murders in the Building
    Ted Lasso

    Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

    American Fiction
    Barbie
    The Color Purple
    Killers of the Flower Moon
    WINNER: Oppenheimer

    SAG Life Achievement Award
    Recipient: Barbra Streisand

    Outstanding Action Performance By a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

    Barbie
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
    John Wick Chapter 4
    WINNER: Mission: Impossible, Dead Reckoning, Part I

    Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

    Ashoka
    Barry
    Beef
    WINNER: The Last of Us
    The Mandalorian

    ]]>
    Sat, Feb 24 2024 06:35:14 PM
    What Priscilla Presley has said about her 10-year age gap with Elvis https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/what-priscilla-presley-has-said-about-her-10-year-age-gap-with-elvis/3364769/ 3364769 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-517258800.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,201 Sofia Coppola’s new biographical drama “Priscilla” delves into Priscilla Presley’s relationship with singer Elvis Presley — including how the two met when he was 24 and Priscilla was just 14 years old.

    While Coppola has said she didn’t intend for the late King of Rock ‘n’ Roll to be the “villain” in the film, now that the film is available on Max, HBO‘s streaming service, viewers on social media have been questioning their 10-year age difference.

     “The film doesn’t keep him on a pedestal. I thought it was interesting to learn that he was so frustrated, that he wanted to be a serious actor,” Coppola told reporters at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. “I could empathize with that struggle. I tried to approach it with sensitivity and not be judgmental. I never wanted him to be a villain.”

    She added that the film, based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, “Elvis and Me,” is “all her story.”

    At the time of their meeting, Elvis Presley, then 24, was serving in the Army in Germany, where Priscilla Presley’s stepfather was stationed.

    Their story has been the subject of countless analyses over the years, with Coppola’s work the latest in a long list of retellings. Cailee Spaeny stars in the title role and Jacob Elordi plays Elvis Presley.

    The real Priscilla Presley, now 78, said at a press conference for the film in September that it was “difficult” for her to watch.

    “It’s very difficult to sit and watch a film about you, about your life, about your love,” Priscilla Presley said at the time. “Sofia did an amazing job. She did her homework, we spoke a couple of times and I really put everything out for her that I could.”

    Las Vegas, Nev. Entertainer, Elvis Presley sits cheek to cheek wit his bride, the former Priscilla Ann Beaulieu
    Las Vegas, Nev. Entertainer, Elvis Presley sits cheek to cheek wit his bride, the former Priscilla Ann Beaulieu, following their wedding May 1, 1967.

    She also insisted that the late King of Rock ’n’ Roll did not take advantage of her as a young woman.

    “It was very difficult for my parents to understand that Elvis would be so interested in me and why,” she said, according to Variety. “And I really do think because I was more of a listener. Elvis would pour his heart out to me in every way in Germany: his fears, his hopes, the loss of his mother — which he never, ever got over. And I was the person who really, really sat there to listen and to comfort him. That was really our connection. Even though I was 14, I was actually a little bit older in life — not in numbers. That was the attraction. People think, ‘Oh, it was sex.’ No, it wasn’t. I never had sex with him. He was very kind, very soft, very loving, but he also respected the fact I was only 14 years old. We were more in line in thought, and that was our relationship.”

    When did Priscilla Presley meet Elvis Presley? Priscilla and Elvis Presley met in 1959, she wrote in “Elvis and Me.”

    She said her stepfather, who was in the Air Force, was transferred to a base there, where Elvis Presley was serving in the Army.

    At the time, Elvis Presley had been drafted into the service in 1957 and served overseas in Germany from Oct. 1, 1958, to March 2, 1960, according to the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

    He’d rocketed to stardom only one year before being drafted with his January 1956 hit “Heartbreak Hotel” and subsequent album “Love Me Tender,” which was released that same year in November.

    How old was Priscilla when she met Elvis?

    In her book, Priscilla Presley wrote that she met Elvis Presley at a party when she was 14 years old.

    She said she had been at the Eagles Club, where American servicemen and their families often dined, after school one day with her brother when a man named Currie Grant approached her and asked if she liked Elvis Presley.

    In the book, she recalls laughing and asking “Who doesn’t?”

    “I’m a good friend of his,” she said Grant told her. “My wife and I go to his house quite often. How would you like to join us one evening?”

    Two weeks later — and after her stepfather had met and checked out Grant’s credentials — she found herself in a navy and white sailor dress meeting the King of Rock ’N’ Roll.

    She wrote that Elvis Presley had asked if she was a junior or senior in high school before she revealed she was just in ninth grade.

    “Ninth grade,” she recalled him laughing. “Why, you’re just a baby.”

    Elvis Presley, at the time, was 24. His beloved mother, Gladys Presley, had died soon before their meeting.

    How did Elvis court Priscilla while she was in high school?

    Priscilla Presley, in her book, said that the singer-superstar had been very respectful. On their second meeting, she said he asked her to meet him in his room, which she’d been “flustered” by.

    “There’s nothing to be frightened of, honey,” she recalled him telling her. “I swear I’ll never do anything to harm you … I’ll treat you just like a sister.”

    She went on to say that they’d cuddled and talked for hours. At the end of the evening, they shared a kiss.

    “He kissed me goodbye, my first real kiss,” she wrote. “I had never experienced such a mixture of affection and desire.”

    Priscilla Presley went on to say that her parents insisted upon meeting Elvis Presley. He won them over with his “Southern charm.”

    She said that when the singer had been pressed as to why he wanted to date their teenage daughter, he’d told her parents the following: “Well, sir, I happen to be very fond of her. She’s a lot more mature than her age and I enjoy her company. It hasn’t been easy for me, being away from home and all. It gets kinda lonely. I guess you might say I need someone to talk to. You don’t have to worry about her, Captain. I’ll take good care of her.”

    Five months later, after continuing to date while in Germany, Elvis Presley returned to the United States. The night before his departure, Priscilla Presley wrote that she “begged” the singer to “consummate our love.”

    “It would have been so easy for him. I was young, vulnerable, desperately in love, and he could have taken complete advantage of me,” she wrote. “But he quietly said, “No. Someday we will, Priscilla, but not now. You’re just too young.”

    Did Priscilla follow Elvis back to the United States?

    Eventually, a young Priscilla Presley made her way back to Memphis, Tennessee, at the request of Elvis Presley. She was initially supposed to live with the singer’s grandparents but ended up spending most of her time at Graceland until she just moved in.

    What was the nature of Priscilla and Elvis Presley’s relationship when she was a teen?

    In her book, Priscilla Presley expressly said that she and Elvis Presley had a sexual relationship but did not have penetrative sex until marriage when she was 21 years old.

    “We had a strong connection, much of it sexual. The two of us created some exciting and wild times,” she wrote, careful to emphasize at one point that she did not think the musician was “perverted or in any way harmful.”

    At the Venice Film Festival press conference in September, she said that their bond had been based on trust, per Variety.

    “I didn’t know why he put so much trust in me, but he did. And I never, ever, ever told anyone that I was seeing him, and that was another issue that he loved, is the fact that I never gave him up in any way. I never told anyone at school that I was seeing him,” she said.

    “So, we built a relationship and then our relationship went on until I left. And it wasn’t because I didn’t love him — he was the love of my life. It was the lifestyle that was so difficult for me, and I think any woman can relate to that,” she said. “But it didn’t mar our relationship, we still remained very close. And of course, we had our daughter, and I made sure that he saw her all the time. It was like we never left each other.”

    Elvis Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, from a heart attack.

    Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s only child, Lisa Marie Presley, died in 2023 at the age of 54.

    This article first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 11:50:09 PM
    Harry Styles is now officially an uncle after sister Gemma gives birth https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/harry-styles-is-now-officially-an-uncle-after-sister-gemma-gives-birth/3364766/ 3364766 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1397943830.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,212 Originally appeared on E! Online

    A sign of the times? Harry Styles just got promoted to uncle.

    After all, his older sister Gemma Styles announced she gave birth to a daughter with partner of nine years Michal Mlynowski.

    “Took some time off to ensure the safe arrival of our baby girl, who is adored by her whole family,” Gemma Styles shared in a Feb. 23 Instagram post, which included a photo of her daughter and Mlynowski. “I know that this news can be difficult for many people and I’m sending you lots of love.”

    The news certainly didn’t drag down fans, who were quick to offer their congratulations. “Her daughter is the most luckiest person to have Harry as her uncle,” one fan wrote. “Congratulations Gemma!!!” Added another, “HARRY BEING UNCLE IS MY ENDGAME.”

    And while Harry Styles has not publicly shared his excitement, it’s safe to say he adores his niece as much as he adores his big sis. He’ll likely be just as protective over her, too. After all, he once stopped a concert to let his sister know he was watching.

    Photos: 30 Things to Know About Harry Styles

    “I’m sorry if I seem distracted,” he once told the crowd during a One Direction show in 2015. “My sister’s here on a date and I’m trying to keep an eye on it.”

    It goes both ways, though. For her part, Gemma Styles is always there to support her baby brother, especially throughout his “Love On Tour.”

    “Good GRIEF this show is fun—so proud of you @harrystyles,” Gemma Styles wrote in an Instagram post last June after attending one of her brother’s Wembley Stadium shows. “What a privilege to see you experience this much joy doing what you love.”

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 11:38:05 PM
    Amy Schumer says ‘puffier' face criticism helped lead to a new life-changing diagnosis https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/amy-schumer-cushing-syndrome-puffier-face/3364723/ 3364723 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2001186501.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Amy Schumer has shared that she has been diagnosed with Cushing syndrome, a condition where the “body has too much of the hormone cortisol for a long time,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Cushing syndrome has several side effects, including having a “rounded face,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Schumer revealed the diagnosis in Friday’s edition of Jessica Yellin’s “News Not Noise” newsletter, according to People, and said she recently discovered it while promoting season two of her Hulu show “Life & Beth.”

    “While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show, I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up,” Schumer said. “So finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I’m healthy was the greatest news imaginable.”

    Schumer first revealed that she had been diagnosed with endometriosis, which the Mayo Clinic describes as an often painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, earlier this month after online critics started saying online that the comedian had a “puffier” face in her recent public appearances.

    Endometriosis can cause weight gain, and some medications to treat it can also cause weight gain.

    Yet, in an interesting twist, Schumer told Yellin that the “puffier” face criticism helped her realize something was wrong, and led to her diagnosis.

    “It has been a crazy couple [of] weeks for me and my family,” Schumer said for the newsletter. “Aside from fears about my health, I also had to be on camera having the internet chime in. But thank God for that. Because that’s how I realized something was wrong.”

    In Schumer’s initial health reveal this month, she acknowledged that the critics were right about her face being “puffier” due to some “hormonal and medical things” going on, but that she was “okay.”

    “But I feel strong and beautiful and so proud of this tv show I created. Wrote. Starred in and directed. Maybe just maybe we can focus on that for a little,” Schumer wrote in an Instagram post.

    Schumer also acknowledged the difference men and women’s health has been studied over the years, and that no woman owes an explanation for their physical appearance.

    “Historically women’s bodies have barely been studied medically compared to men,” Schumer wrote. “I also believe a woman doesn’t need any excuse for her physical appearance and owes no explanation. But I wanted to take the opportunity to advocate for self love and acceptance of the skin you’re in.”

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 10:18:11 PM
    What ‘Love Is Blind' star Chelsea said to Megan Fox after controversial comparison https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/what-love-is-blind-star-chelsea-said-to-megan-fox-after-controversial-comparison/3364681/ 3364681 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1781299737.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    What happens in the “Love Is Blind” pods does not stay in the “Love Is Blind” pods.

    That’s why Chelsea Blackwell slid into Megan Fox‘s DMs after a comment she made about looking like the “Transformers” star during the sixth season of the show went viral, with some fans dragging her for the comparison and others arguing there is, in fact, a resemblance between the two.

    “I reached out to Megan,” Blackwell exclusively told E! News’ Francesca Amiker, “and I just apologized to her, like ‘I’m so sorry I included you in this mess.'”

    After all, the “Love Is Blind” contestant felt she had a good idea of what Fox probably thought about her claiming they were lookalikes, quipping, “She’s like, ‘Who is this chick who said my name? Like, get my name out of your mouth.'”

    And while the 31-year-old didn’t reveal if Fox responded, she did give some back story on how the “Jennifer’s Body” actress got mentioned during her now-infamous date with Jimmy Presnell, who wound up proposing to Blackwell in episode four.

    Our Favorite Reality TV Dads

    “It was such a silly comment that was made,” she explained. “This was a five-hour date and it just kind of came out. And just before that, [Jimmy] was telling me he looks like Christian McCaffrey.”

    In response to his off-camera doppelganger claim, Blackwell told him at the time, “I get one person, and it’s just because I have dark hair and blue eyes.”

    She then added that she doesn’t agree with the comparison so he shouldn’t “get excited,” before confessing that she looks like Machine Gun Kelly‘s “wife or girlfriend.”

    And while some fans were quick to tear her down over the conversation, Blackwell hasn’t let the criticism get to her.

    “It’s so silly that people are so, so mad,” she noted to E!. “I’m just kind of like, ‘Listen, I gotta ride this out.'”

    Insisting that she’s in a good place despite the controversy, Blackwell added, “I am so much stronger than I ever thought I could be. I don’t know how I’m handling everything.”

    E! News reached out to Fox’s rep for comment on the viral comparisons but hasn’t heard back.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 07:35:18 PM
    Wendy Williams thanks supporters for ‘love and kind words' in newly released statement https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/wendy-williams-thanks-supporters-statement-dementia-diagnosis/3364644/ 3364644 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1466594064.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Wendy Williams has put out a statement thanking people for all the love and support she has received following the news that she has been diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

    “I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).  Let me say, wow!” Williams said in the statement. “Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion. I hope that others with FTD may benefit from my story.”

    “I want to also thank the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration for their kind words of support and their extraordinary efforts to raise awareness of FTD,” Williams’ statement continued. “I continue to need personal space and peace to thrive.  Please just know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.”

    Williams’ first public comments since her diagnosis became public came shortly after it was revealed that the upcoming Lifetime documentary “Where is Wendy Williams?” will air as scheduled after a New York court rejected an attempt to block the broadcast.

    The order signed Friday by a New York appellate judge says blocking the documentary from airing would be an “impermissible prior restraint on speech that violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”

    The ruling clears Lifetime’s two-night broadcast plan for “Where is Wendy Williams?”, which includes footage of the former talk show host and interviews. Friday’s order comes a day after Williams’ care team issued a statement saying the former host has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

    A lawyer who serves as Williams’ guardian sued to block the broadcast on Thursday, although most details about the case are under seal. An attorney for the guardian did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday.

    “Lifetime appeared in court today, and the documentary ‘Where is Wendy Williams?’ will air this weekend as planned,” the network said in a statement.

    In 2022, Williams’ self-titled daytime talk show ended because of her ongoing health issues. Sherri Shepherd, who filled in for Williams as a guest host, received her own show.

    Williams said in 2018 that she had been diagnosed years before with Graves’ disease, which leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones and can cause wide-ranging symptoms that can affect overall health. Thursday’s statement from Williams’ care team said Williams’ dementia diagnosis happened in 2023.

    People magazine reported in a cover story on Williams this week that some family members say they don’t know where she is and cannot call her themselves, but she can call them.

    The article said the Lifetime documentary crew, which set out in 2022 to chronicle Williams’ comeback, stopped filming in April 2023 when, her manager “and jeweler” Will Selby says in footage for the film, she entered a facility to treat “cognitive issues.” Her son says in the documentary that doctors had connected her cognitive issues to alcohol use, People reported.

    Friday’s ruling was first reported by the entertainment industry news website Deadline.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 06:56:05 PM
    Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds made this rule early in their romance https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/blake-lively-and-ryan-reynolds-made-this-rule-early-in-their-romance/3365159/ 3365159 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1373923421.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ love story started with a different kind of proposal.

    The “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” alum revealed that when she and the “Deadpool” actor first started dating in 2011, they decided on an important vow that would make their relationship work.

    “When Ryan and I got together, we made a rule not to work at the same time,” she told friend Amber Tamblyn on her Substack show Further Ado Feb. 22. “So that we could always prioritize our personal life.”

    And while it’s clear the ultimatum has worked out for Lively and Reynolds—who got married in 2012—she noted that the rule has been challenging to stick to.

    “That takes working really hard when we’re not,” she continued. “Just like financial planning and sustaining that; it takes balance.”

    The policy of not overlapping work was especially important to Lively, because at the time they started dating, she was working “nonstop” on Gossip Girl.

    Photos: Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds: Romance Rewind

    “I’m used to working hard and going and going and going and going and not stopping,” she added. “Especially, Gossip Girl was six years of my life, and we were sometimes shooting three episodes at once.”

    But two years after the hit show ended, the pair was able to turn their attention toward growing their family, welcoming daughters James, 9, Inez, 7, Betty, 4, and a fourth child whose birth was revealed in February 2023.

    “There’s nothing on earth more grounding than having a baby,” Reynolds told E! News in 2016. “It’s the best thing that could ever happen to someone.”

    And when it comes to keeping the spark alive after all these years, perhaps Lively and Reynolds live by another rule: The chance to troll each other at every opportunity, whether that’s the Super Bowl or sharing extremely candid photos on Instagram.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 06:21:01 PM
    Seth Meyers is in his comfort era as ‘Late Night' turns 10 https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/seth-meyers-is-in-his-comfort-era-as-late-night-turns-10/3364326/ 3364326 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/AP24050580984123.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,207 Time flies when you’re hosting a late-night show four times a week. But Seth Meyers admits it took a while to feel comfortable as host of “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” which is marking its 10th anniversary.

    “It’s a journey everyone takes when you get a show like this,” he said recently in an interview over Zoom.

    It took about six months to establish “a baseline of confidence.” Over time, he also decided to skip the late-night tradition of standing for an opening monologue in favor of sitting at his desk the whole show.

    “Once people stopped seeing my legs, we turned a corner,” he jokes. He also wears more casual clothing instead of suits.

    In the last decade, Meyers has launched signature segments, including “A Closer Look,” the in-depth comedic take on current events. He also embarks on day-drinking excursions with celebrities like Rihanna and Dua Lipa and gives his writers the opportunity to explain a joke they wrote that didn’t land.

    “It’s fun to talk about jokes that go badly because, any writer will tell you, you work just as hard on the jokes that bomb,” he says.

    There’s also the digital series “Corrections,” where Meyers responds to YouTube comments pointing out his mistakes. It’s written exclusively by Meyers and taped on Thursday nights in front of crew members, with a Negroni on the desk.

    Meyers will celebrate the show’s milestone on Monday’s episode, with fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Amy Poehler. In a conversation with The Associated Press edited for brevity and clarity, Meyers reflects on his favorite moments — and his goal to reach 25 years working in the NBC building at 30 Rockefeller Center.

    AP: Some favorite moments on your show were the wild stories of your son’s (very quick) births. Are you happy you shared?

    MEYERS: Both times my boys were born, it was really special to go in and speak off the cuff about it, knowing that it would be this really nice historical record to one day show them. Ash, who I would have thought had the craziest story, was born first. He was born on a Sunday, and I took Monday off. And then Axel’s birth was so good that I remember on Sunday saying to my wife, “I think I got to go to set.” She was like, “Yeah, I get it.”

    AP: Why did you decide to stop wearing a suit on the air and to dress more casually?

    MEYERS: It seemed silly to wear a suit with no audience there (during the pandemic), so I was in casual clothes. Then when the audience came back, I just felt more in my own skin. Dressing more like myself allows me to be more like myself. And I don’t know if it’s permanent, but it is a nice feeling. The other day I put on a suit for something else and it was just, “Blech!” I like that I don’t ever feel that way.

    AP: “A Closer Look” came about during the Trump administration. And here we are in another presidential election year, with Trump running for reelection. What are your thoughts creatively?

    MEYERS: We just have to respond to what’s happening in the world. “A Closer Look,” for us, has always been cathartic to write, and we hope it’s cathartic to watch. We’re just happy to have built this segment on our show that can sort of take all news. It certainly does feel like deja vu in a way. It is what it is.

    AP: You often mention your writers by name during the show and bring them on. Why?

    MEYERS: I probably still identify more with the writers than anything else, and I love being a part of a writing staff. Over the pandemic, when it was just the crew, you could blame a joke on a writer and get a laugh because they knew them. … You’re showing people behind the curtain a bit.

    AP: You also have a very conversational style to interviewing, with no cue cards. Does that lend itself to the kinds of guests you ideally want on the show?

    MEYERS: There’s a tier of guests that all of us would take, and I’m sure you and I could both name those names. And then you have a chance to be selective in a way that you think reflects what your show’s DNA is. We’re always looking for those guests that are a little bit more offbeat or maybe just fit with my vibe better. The longer you do the show to build the rapport with people, you get really excited when, for example, James Spader’s coming back, who is one of my favorite guests. You only have to ask him one question and he talks all day. Dakota Johnson was also a recent guest who has a vibe that is all her own. Interviewing her does not feel like interviewing anybody else, and that makes it really fun.

    AP: Will you be doing this job in 10 years?

    MEYERS: I don’t know. I’ve tried in my career never to think that far ahead. I would like to do it for a few more years. I can’t imagine anything being more enjoyable than that. I’m coming up on 25 years at 30 Rock, and I’m pretty sure I will get a watch. Or maybe a nice pen. I’ll tell you this, if I don’t make it to 25, there should be an investigation because that might just mean they don’t want to spend that much money.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 01:25:14 PM
    A 26-year-old with terminal cancer had ‘meet Gordon Ramsay' on her bucket list. They just had dinner together  https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/this-26-year-old-with-terminal-cancer-had-meet-gordon-ramsay-on-her-bucket-list-they-just-had-dinner-together/3364149/ 3364149 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1792689732.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Gordon Ramsay just helped check off a box on a cancer patient’s bucket list.

    After being diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer at the beginning of 2023, Madison Baloy posted a video to TikTok on Jan. 19 about all the things she wanted to see and do.

    “This is my bucket list, I am in a hurry to finish it,” she said in the video.

    Among hiking the Appalachian Trail and dancing in a DJ booth at a music festival, the 26-year-old said she wanted to meet Ramsay as one of her 18 goals.

    Less than a month later and with the help of the internet, the “Hell’s Kitchen” chef made it happen.

    In a video responding to the initial post, Ramsay shared that he would love to meet Baloy, but “not just any ‘hello, goodbye'” interaction.

    “First of all, I’d like to fly you down to Miami, have dinner with you and your friends in Hell’s Kitchen and then the following night, Friday night, you’ll be our special guest at the opening of our new restaurant, Lucky Cat in South Beach,” Ramsay said in a voiceover set to clips of the two meeting and dancing.

    He captioned the video, “I hope you had the best time @madison in Miami ! It was such an honour for you to be my VVIP last night at #LuckyCat ! Thx to everyone on TikTok too for helping making sure these dreams come true.”

    In the comments, Baloy called the evening the “most special night of my life,” thanking Ramsay and his family.

    On her own TikTok account, Baloy shared her own video dancing and laughing with Ramsay in the kitchen, writing that the trip was the “biggest honor and coolest night of my entire life.”

    “Thank you for teaching me to dance, it’s the first time ever in a kitchen,” Ramsay commented with a red heart emoji.

    On Instagram, Baloy shared shots of her posing with Ramsay and eating at the new Lucky Cat restaurant.

    “The best night of my life! @gordongram thank you endlessly for giving me the biggest yes, Chef,” she captioned the post with a white heart emoji. 

    This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 10:47:10 AM
    Untangling the 50-part ‘Who TF Did I Marry' TikTok https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/untangling-the-50-part-who-tf-did-i-marry-tiktok/3364214/ 3364214 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/TF.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Originally appeared on E! Online

    What would you do if you discovered everything your spouse told you was a lie?

    Well, TikToker ReesaTeesa has captivated fans with her 50-part story chronicling her relationship with a man she says had lied about his entire life.

    “I’m going to tell the story of how I met, dated, married and divorced a real pathological liar,” she began the lengthy video series. “I’m going to be truthful, even if it makes me look bad.”

    Ultimately, she recounted the events, which she said took place between March 2020 and December 2021, in 52 nearly 10-minute videos as part of a series called “Who TF Did I Marry?!?”

    “Whether you agree with me and my decisions or not,” she told NBC News in an interview published Feb. 22. “I wanted it to create conversation about the things that we ignore because we want what we want or we’re in a hurry.”

    “I’ve started giving myself grace as I’m reading messages from other women who’ve gone through the same thing,” Reesa noted. “Because for the longest time after the story was released, it did feel like I was the only one who fell for this.”

    2024 Celebrity Breakups

    Keep reading for a breakdown of the series that has TikTok seated with popcorn.

    Who is ReesaTeesa?

    Reesa — who requested NBC News not use her full name for safety reasons — began sharing her expansive story about her ex on the social media platform Feb. 14. After the videos went viral, Reesa reflected on her decision to post the story online and doesn’t regret it.

    “I already knew this story was not going to always make me look good at all,” she told NBC News. “But I also felt like the story was bigger than me in a way. In other words, it was worth some embarrassment. But it was cathartic and it was also very emotional, and very hard at times.”

    E! News reached out to Reesa and did not hear back.

    How did ReesaTeesa meet her ex-husband?

    Reesa’s ex-husband did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

    Reesa said she met her ex-husband, whom she referred to using the pseudonym Legion in the videos, in March 2020 on Facebook’s dating site.

    She explained that he quickly wowed her by coming to her rescue when she was stranded at a gas station after her tire blew on the way to their first date. “He showed up at the gas station, and he changed my tire,” she admitted, “which I just thought was the sexiest thing in the world.”

    And when they reached the restaurant, Legion shared what he was looking for in a relationship.

    “He was like, ‘I want marriage, family, a house,'” Reesa recalled. “‘As a man, I’m ready to get married, but I want it to be for real because the first time it really hurt me when she cheated on me.'”

    What did Reesa think she knew about her ex-husband?

    Reesa said that when they began dating, Legion told her he’d worked for Apple in California before moving to Atlanta to become vice president of production at a condiment company. He also told her he had gone to college in San Diego and played arena football professionally, which left him with substantial funds in an off-shore account.

    And when it came to his family life, Reesa said Legion claimed to have several siblings — including two brothers, two sisters and two half-brothers — and shared he’d been married once previously.

    The couple’s relationship turned serious not long after their first date and they chose to quarantine together at the start of the pandemic. That May, Reesa says she learned she was pregnant but sadly miscarried the following month.

    Reesa and Legion went on to tie the knot in January 2021. However, not long after their marriage, she said she began to worry something was off due to his behavior during their house-hunting journey. She said her husband often came up with excuses while putting in offers they would eventually pull, ranging from inspections taking too long or waiting for approval for money transfers.

    When did Reesa learn what she says is the truth about her ex?

    Throughout the course of their relationship, Reesa acknowledged that she picked up on some of his lies. For instance, in June 2020, she said a house that she believed they had closed on had been taken off the market and was actually purchased by another couple.

    “There is no house. He’s going to have to get out of this lie somehow,” she explained in part five. “Keep in mind, I was pregnant. I had a decision to make. You’re about to have a baby with this man. He’s paying all the household bills. Let him get out of the lie.”

    After catching him in what she says were multiple lies, including discovering he was using a false social security number while applying for their marriage license in December, Reesa shared she began sleuthing into his past.

    She said that after obtaining his real social security number for a background check for her new job, she learned he had lied about several aspects of his life — including that he wasn’t an executive but instead was a forklift operator. She also discovered he had been convicted of criminal trespassing and impersonating a police officer.

    After getting into contact with his family, Reesa explained she discovered he didn’t have several siblings as he’d claimed and that he was estranged from his two brothers over his lying. While doing more digging, she says, she also discovered that he was married twice.

    When did Reesa’s marriage end?

    In addition to lying about many aspects of his life, Reesa alleged he cheated on her and that she discovered his infidelity in June 2021 after seeing text evidence of his affair. She says she quickly kicked him out of the house and filed for divorce, which was obtained by NBC News.

    Reesa says he continued to contact her for months and that August, she moved out of her house. She finally received her divorce decree in December.

    Reflecting on her decision to post her story years later, Reesa said she hopes she can prevent someone else from making the same mistakes she had made.

    “I can honestly tell you, being single sucks, in my opinion,” she said in her final video. “But being married to the wrong person is a type of hell no one should have to go through.”

    (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 11:37:04 AM
    Machine Gun Kelly reveals the truth behind his blackout tattoo https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/machine-gun-kelly-reveals-the-truth-behind-his-blackout-tattoo/3363888/ 3363888 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-2031536087.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Machine Gun Kelly is reflecting on a difficult chapter in his life.

    The “maybe” singer, who recently debuted his new blackout tattoo, shared the story behind his ink in a lyric from his new track “Don’t Let Me Go.”

    “Just like I wish they would understand me one time,” the Grammy nominee—real name Colson Baker—rapped. “I had a breakdown and tatted my entire body except one line.”

    The 33-year-old originally shared the blackout tattoo on Instagram Feb. 20, writing, “for spiritual purposes only.” He also noted in a Feb. 19 Instagram Story that the designed required “44 needles” to achieve and, as he wrote on his tattoo artist’s post, it was full of “joy” and “pain.”

    In addition to the his breakdown, the lyrics in “Don’t Let Me Go” also see MGK reflecting on fiancée Megan Fox‘s miscarriage.

    “How can I live with the fact,” he asks, “That my hand wasn’t on her stomach when we lost the baby?”

    Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly: Romance Rewind

    This would have been the first child for the couple, who got engaged in 2022. He shares daughter Casie Colson Baker, 14, with ex Emma Cannon, while Fox co-parents sons Noah, 10, Bodhi, 9, and Journey, 7, with ex-husband Brian Austin Green.

    Fox first opened up about her heartbreaking loss in her book of poetry, “Pretty Boys Are Poisonous,” published in November. In the collection of poems the 37-year-old wrote, “I want to hold your hand / hear your laugh,” before concluding, “but now / I have to say / goodbye.”

    Two years ago, after performing “Twin Flame” at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, MGK addressed Fox’s miscarriage, tweeting a dedication to the “Jennifer’s Body” actress—who he referred to as his “wife”—and also added, “This is for our unborn child.”

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 11:14:18 PM
    ‘Love Is Blind' star Jimmy responds to off-screen girlfriend claims https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/love-is-blind-star-jimmy-responds-to-off-screen-girlfriend-claims/3363848/ 3363848 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2023/10/GettyImages-1251902836.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Jimmy Presnell isn’t turning a blind eye to recent allegations.

    The “Love Is Blind” season six star spoke out after a TikTok user named Ryann Stringfellow made a video accusing an unnamed contestant of dating her off-screen during the show’s filming, which had fans pointing fingers in his direction.

    Reposting Stringfellow’s video to respond to the rumors, Presnell insisted in a Feb. 22 TikTok video, “I don’t know this woman. I never met this woman. It’s not true.”

    The reality star went on to call her video an “incredible marketing ploy” to profit off his name.

    “She doesn’t say it’s me,” Presnell continued, “but she’s definitely insinuating it’s your boy.”

    And while the 28-year-old considered not commenting on the claims at all, he admitted he felt the need to respond after he had “so many people send this to me.”

    “I think she’s running at about 16 million [views] right now, which is absolutely insane to me,” he explained, “and bizarre that it’s getting that much traction, so I wanted to come on here and tell everybody it’s not true.”

    Celebrities Who Didn’t Appear on Reality TV Shows

    Resnell—who chose to propose to contestant Chelsea Blackwell in episode four of the season—posted his response three days after Stringfellow shared the video alleging she was dating a season six contestant while the show was being shot.

    “Imagine my surprise when I turn on the new season of Love Is Blind this morning and see my f——- boyfriend,” Stringfellow said in the Feb. 16 TikTok. “Are you shocked? Because I sure as hell am.”

    While Stringfellow never revealed the identity of the contestant in question, she did hint in her video that the mystery reality star was talking to a woman “who had a child,” leading many to believe she was referring to Jess Vestal, a single mother who Resner dated in the pods before breaking it off to propose to Blackwell.

    “How can I compete with that?” Stringfellow asked in the clip, before adding, “She’s stunning.”

    And that wasn’t the end of Stringfellow and Resner’s back-and-forth. She later dueted Resner’s response video, coyly reacting to his denial while casually eating chips and guac.

    Under the Feb. 19 clip, Stringfellow wrote simply, “Two sides to every story…right?”

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 09:53:13 PM
    Tom Hanks' son Chet Hanks lands role in Mindy Kaling's upcoming Netflix show https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/tom-hanks-son-chet-hanks-lands-role-in-mindy-kalings-upcoming-netflix-show/3363786/ 3363786 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1924249500.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,207 Chet Hanks is hoping for nothing but net with his next career move.

    Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson‘s oldest son will be flexing the acting muscle one again: He’s been cast in Mindy Kaling‘s upcoming Netflix basketball show, according to multiple outlets.

    The new show centers on character Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson), who takes over as president of the Los Angeles Waves following her brother’s resignation, which is “one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business,” per Variety.

    Chet Hanks will star in the unnamed show—which also costars Brenda Song—as the Waves’ point guard Travis Bugg, “who moonlights as an unsuccessful rapper” and is “a huge distraction on the court and an even bigger problem for Isla off the court,” according to the publication.

    E! News has reached out to Netflix for comment but hasn’t heard back. 

    This won’t be the first TV role for the 33-year-old—who released the song “White Boy Summer” in 2021 under the his rapper name Chet Hanx—as he previously appeared in shows including “Shameless,” “Empire” and “Atlanta.”

    And while he’s been reaching for the skies in his career, Chet Hanks has been candid about the difficulties growing up as a member of the famed Hanks family alongside siblings Colin, 45, Elizabeth, 41, and Truman, 28, confessing that having famous parents was a “double-edged sword.”

    “There’s a lot of advantages but sometimes it can be pretty weird,” he said in a 2022 YouTube video. “I got to do a lot of cool s— that a lot of people don’t get the opportunity to do. I got to travel the world, stay in nice hotels, fly on private planes and I’m very blessed for that.”

    But “on top of fame already being toxic,” Chet Hanks—who has sparked backlash with his past social media content—noted that he hadn’t actually done anything to deserve recognition growing up. Instead, he said, he “was just the son of somebody famous.”

    Still, much like his older brother Colin Hanks, Chet Hanks decided to go into the entertainment industry, a choice his Oscar-winning dad has defended.

    “It’s what all of our kids grew up in,” Tom Hanks told Reuters last year. “The thing that doesn’t change no matter what happens, no matter what your last name is, is whether it works or not.”

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 07:41:06 PM
    Trial of ‘Rust' armorer begins in fatal shooting on set involving Alec Baldwin https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/rust-armorer-trial-alec-baldwin/3363742/ 3363742 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/AP24053690446363.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,207 Prosecutors delivered an opening statement Thursday at the first trial in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film “Rust,” describing a movie weapons supervisor as sloppy and negligent in handling guns and ammunition while skipping basic safety protocols.

    Before Baldwin’s case progresses, the weapons supervisor is being tried on charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, during a rehearsal on a movie ranch outside Santa Fe.

    Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to the charges and says she’s not directly to blame for Hutchins’ death.

    Prosecutors said they plan to present evidence that Gutierrez-Reed unwittingly brought live ammunition onto a film set where it was expressly prohibited. They say the armorer missed multiple opportunities to ensure safety, eventually loading a live round into the gun that killed Hutchins and failing twice to properly check whether rounds were live or dummies.

    “We will show you, ladies and gentlemen, that by failing to make those vital safety checks, the defendant acted negligently and without due caution,” special prosecutor Jason Lewis told a jury. “And the decisions that she made that day ultimately contributed to Ms. Hutchins death.”

    In court filings and his opening statement Thursday, lead defense counsel Jason Bowles pointed to findings by workplace safety regulators of broad problems that extended beyond the armorer’s control. He said his client was being rushed and had to perform two jobs and that her requests for more resources went unanswered from her manager.

    “What they’ve tried to do, and what you’re seeing in this courtroom today, is trying to blame it all on Hannah, a 24-year-old. Why? Because she’s an easy target, she’s the least powerful person on that set,” he told jurors.

    Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in a separate case.

    Prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Lewis initially dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in April, saying they were informed the gun might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned. A more recent analysis of the gun concluded the “trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.”

    Jurors from the Santa Fe area were sworn in Wednesday at the end of a daylong selection process that involved questions about exposure to media coverage and social media chatter about the case. Four jurors will initially serve as alternates to a panel of 12.

    Gutierrez-Reed, the stepdaughter of renowned sharpshooter and weapons consultant Thell Reed, was 24 at the time of Hutchins’ death.

    She faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The evidence tampering charge stems from accusations she handed a small bag of possible narcotics to another crew member after the shooting to avoid detection by law enforcement.

    Her attorneys say that charge is an attempt by prosecutors to smear Gutierrez-Reed’s character. The bag was thrown away without testing the contents, defense attorneys said.

    The trial is scheduled to run through March 6, with more than 40 potential witnesses.

    Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on “Rust,” doesn’t appear on pretrial witness lists, and could invoke protections against self-incrimination if pressed. His trial date has not been set.

    Baldwin has said he pulled back the gun’s hammer — not the trigger — and the weapon fired. He was indicted by a grand jury in January.

    Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys say she’s been unfairly scapegoated. They contend live rounds arrived on set from an Albuquerque-based supplier of dummy rounds, and that the supplier was never investigated.

    Additionally, Gutierrez-Reed is accused in another case of carrying a gun into a bar in downtown Santa Fe in violation of state law. Her attorneys say that charge has been used to try to pressure Gutierrez-Reed into a false confession about the handling of live ammunition on the “Rust” set.

    Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for storage, maintenance and handling of firearms and ammunition on set and for training members of the cast who would be handling firearms, according to state workplace safety regulators.

    Live rounds are typically distinguished from dummy rounds by a small hole in the dummy’s brass cartridge, indicating there is no explosive inside — or by shaking the round to hear the clatter of a BB that is inserted inside. A missing or dimpled primer at the bottom of the cartridge is another trait of dummy rounds.

    The company Rust Movie Productions paid a $100,000 fine to the state following a scathing narrative of safety failures in violation of standard industry protocols.

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 06:50:04 PM
    Why McDonald's is flipping its ‘M' to become ‘WcDonald's' https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/why-mcdonalds-is-flipping-its-m-to-become-wcdonalds/3363711/ 3363711 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1765795106.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 McDonald’s has decided to cosplay as its animated alter ego.

    Starting Feb. 26, the fast-food chain will be getting a manga-inspired makeover, embracing the upside-down golden arches featured in some of anime’s most iconic movies and shows, where it is cheekily known as “WcDonald’s.”

    McDonald’s is collaborating with some of the biggest names in anime to pluck the manga version of the chain out of the screen and into real life.

    Starting Feb. 26, WcDonald’s will be launching in more than 30 global markets with a new sauce, manga-inspired packaging, episodic shorts and more.

    “Welcome to WcDonald’s. May I take your order?”

    What is WcDonald’s?

    WcDonald’s is a fictional version of McDonald’s that has appeared in over 100 different anime films and shows. The concept, with its flipped first letter, originates from a 1983 episode of “Cat’s Eye,” a manga and anime franchise.

    In the time since, many beloved anime characters have been shown eating, ordering or simply walking past a WcDonald’s location, and its fictional menu includes burgers, french fries, nuggets and even hot dogs. The alternate universe chain has appeared in well-known anime like “Sally the Witch,” “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie,” “InuYasha”  and so many more.

    “Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA’s chief marketing and customer experience officer in a press release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

    Here’s what to expect at WcDonald’s:

    Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce

    Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets. Courtesy: McDonald’s

    As part of this new, animated world, McDonald’s is dropping a new Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce which will be available for a limited time. The sauce combines ginger, garlic, soy and little heat from chili flakes.

    WcDonald’s suggests pairing the sauce with a 10-piece “WcNuggets” (aka Chicken McNuggets) or any other menu item that calls for dipping.

    WcDonald’s manga packaging and fan art initiative

    Characters designed by Acky Bright.

    The chain has teamed up with Acky Bright, a Japanese manga artist and illustrator who has worked with DC Comics, Warner Brothers and more, to design custom WcDonald’s packaging. For a limited time, customers can score Bright’s manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters.

    Customers can also scan a code on the packaging to access weekly digital manga drops that star a full cast of WcDonald’s Customers and Crew, including Hashirune, a WcDonald’s regular, Mr. Bev, the Crew jokester, and many more.

    “I had a great time partnering with McDonald’s to help make WcDonald’s a reality for manga fans who have a genuine love for the brand,” said Bright in a press release. “From the details of the diverse Crew characters to the manga plot itself, I loved being able to use my artwork to bring to life the dynamic, vibrant world of WcDonald’s for people around the world.”

    The first-ever official WcDonald’s anime

    McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

    Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

    • The Race to WcDonald’s: Dropping Feb. 26, this short covers a rivalry strong enough to withstand the test of time as our two heroes embark on an epic race to WcDonald’s.
    • Love from Across the Booth: Dropping March 4, the two protagonists discover that WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets aren’t the only perfect pairing.
    • WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000: Dropping March 11, this short covers a team of WcDonald’s pilots who must protect the last WcNugget against an ominous force.
    • The Wisdom of the Sauce: Dropping March 18, this short is about three women who are transported to a distant land to unravel a mystery surrounding WcDonald’s elusive sauce before it’s gone forever.

    Immersive dining at the first real WcDonald’s 

    The WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience, which will be the first real-life WcDonald’s, will be open from March 9 — 10. Located in Los Angeles, California, it will be a multi-sensory dining experience in which guests can enter the WcDonald’s universe through 360 projection mapping and tabletop projections inspired by the four WcDonald’s anime episodic shorts while snacking on WcDonald’s menu items. 

    Interested folks can reserve a spot exclusively on OpenTable starting Feb. 28 by searching “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” on the OpenTable app or website.

    This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 06:38:09 PM
    ‘Grey's Anatomy' alum Justin Chambers gives rare glimpse into private world with 4 daughters https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/greys-anatomy-alum-justin-chambers-gives-rare-glimpse-into-private-world-with-4-daughters/3363955/ 3363955 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1392683010.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Justin Chambers has been scrubbing in as a father for almost 30 years.

    While the “Grey’s Anatomy” alum is generally quiet when it comes to his private life, he gave a heartwarming look at what it’s like being a dad to four girls: Isabella, 29, Maya and Kaila, 26 and Eva, 24, who he shares with wife Keisha Chambers.

    “They’re great,” Chambers told People in an interview published Feb. 22. “They’re very independent, levelheaded, kind. I’m very blessed, very grateful.”

    In fact, the 53-year-old—who also shares son Jackson, 22, with his wife of over thirty years—noted his oldest daughter has got an especially exciting year ahead of her.

    “One’s going to hit 30 soon. That’s a big milestone,” he continued. “I’m proud of her. She’s very socially conscious and she’s just a very loving girl who is very involved with world issues and just kind.”

    And what’s it like for him being surrounded by five women at home? His answer will make all girl dads proud.

    Grey’s Anatomy’s Most Shocking Moments

    “They’re a little better read than I am. They’re little college graduates,” he added. “And they’re more academic. And sometimes I’m like, ‘Wow.’ I’m really impressed with how intelligent and interested they are in things. But most importantly, I’m just happy that they’re kind.”

    Ultimately, his children were one of the reasons Justin left “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2020 after 16 seasons, telling Page Six at the time he was looking forward to “life, family, love and friendship.”

    “There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years,” he shared in a statement. “For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.”

    And while he has yet to reunite with his costars onscreen with a cameo role, he and his former Grey’s castmates did get back together at the 2023 Emmy Awards, where they thanked their “incredible fanbase” for supporting them over the years.

    ]]>
    Fri, Feb 23 2024 03:53:16 AM
    Wendy Williams has frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. Here's what that means https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/wendy-williams-diagnosed-aphasia-frontotemporal-dementia-meaning-symptoms/3363536/ 3363536 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1027960602_f67c84.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder that makes it difficult for a person to understand and express language, her team announced in a statement Thursday.

    The 59-year-old was diagnosed with the disorders last year “after undergoing a battery of medical tests,” according to the statement.

    William’s condition mirrors the same diagnosis given to actor Bruce Willis in 2022. The actor was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia late last year after initially receiving an aphasia diagnosis.

    Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, refers to a group of diseases that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, the Mayo Clinic said. The disease often includes primary progressive aphasia, which means it’s causing problems with language skills.

    What causes frontotemporal dementia?

    The Mayo Clinic says several different diseases can cause frontotemporal degeneration but the two most prominent have to do with a group of brain disorders involving the protein Tau and a protein called TDP43.

    FTD usually occurs in people in their 40s, 50s and early 60s. It can affect a person’s personality, causing a loss of inhibition or inappropriate behavior. It is sometimes mistaken for depression or bipolar disorder and can take years to diagnose.

    In about a third of all cases, frontotemporal degeneration is inherited, the Mayo Clinic said. However, most people with FTD have no family history of it or other types of dementia.

    Frontotemporal Dementia symptoms and diagnosis

    According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the diagnosis of FTD starts with neurological exams, brain scans such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or glucose positron emission scans.

    Some of the first symptoms of FTD may include weight gain due to overeating, unusual or antisocial behavior, unusual verbal, physical, or sexual behavior as well as loss of speech or language.

    In later stages, FTD patients can develop movement complications such as difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, unsteadiness, rigidity, slowness or twitches.

    What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and FTD?

    One of the biggest differences between Alzheimer’s disease and FTD is that patients diagnosed with FTD generally exhibit personality disorders in the early stage, while memory decline often doesn’t arise until the later stage.

    In addition, Alzheimer’s disease generally affects most areas of the brain, while FTD primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are the areas generally associated with personality and behavior.

    How fast does FTD progress?

    FTD can be a long illness, lasting two to 10 years. People with FTD will need caregiving or nursing support as their symptoms get worse.

    “The disease will spread throughout the brain,” said Johns Hopkins University cognitive scientist Brenda Rapp. “The rate at which it does that is extremely unpredictable. So it’s very hard to know … how quickly someone will deteriorate.”

    The financial burden on families can be immense. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates it costs $10,000 a year, on average, for the out-of-pocket health and long-term care for a person with dementia.

    Is there a cure for FTD?

    The Alzheimer’s Association says there are currently no specific treatments for any of the FTD subtypes.

    There are, however, different medications that can reduce agitation, irritability, and/or depression. These treatments should be used to help improve quality of life but have not been proven to stop the disease.

    “FTD inevitably gets worse over time and the speed of decline differs from person to person,” the association said. “Individuals with frontotemporal dementia show muscle weakness and coordination problems, leaving them needing a wheelchair — or bedbound.”

    Some patients receive antidepressants or drugs for Parkinson’s, which has some overlapping symptoms with FTD. Genetic counseling and testing are also available in individuals with family histories of frontotemporal degeneration.

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 04:35:22 PM
    Wendy Williams diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia: What to know about her health https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/wendy-williams-diagnosed-with-frontotemporal-dementia-and-aphasia-what-to-know-about-her-health/3363288/ 3363288 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1181706364.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 As rumors about Wendy Williams‘ health continue to swirl, her care team revealed that she’s been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. A press release from Feb. 22, 2024 confirmed that “after undergoing a battery of medical tests,” Williams was diagnosed with both conditions in 2023.

    Frontotemporal dementia, also known as FTD, is a progressive condition that effects cognitive function and tends to result in changes in behavior, speech and disposition. Primary progressive aphasia is a subtype of FTD impacting communication, including speech, writing and the ability to understand language.

    The statement explained that Williams’ conditions have “presented significant hurdles” in the star’s’ life, acknowledging the ongoing speculation about Williams’ health.

    “Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy’s ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions,” the release stated. It added that the decision to share this news was difficult, but in doing so, Williams and her team are hoping to raise awareness about aphasia and FTD.

    This announcement comes just two days before Williams’ return to television. Two years after canceling her hit talk show, the former “The Wendy WilliamsShow” host and her family will address the speculation regarding Williams’ health and cognitive abilities in a new Lifetime documentary, “Where Is Wendy Williams?”coming out Feb. 24, 2024.

    Wendy Williams
    Wendy Williams in the new Lifetime documentary, “Where is Wendy Williams?” (YouTube)

    Since canceling her daytime talk show, Williams, 59, has kept relatively quiet about her wellbeing despite mounting rumors. But come Saturday, viewers will get updates on her health and how she got here. Until then, here’s what else to know about Williams’ health:

    Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023

    Williams was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2023, according to the Feb. 22 statement. “Receiving a diagnosis has enabled Wendy to receive the medical care she requires,” the statement added.

    Primary progressive aphasia is a type of FTD that usually results in no longer being able to speak, read, write or understand what people are saying, according to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

    FTD is caused by shrinking in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control personality, behavior and language. Depending on which parts of the brain are affected, someone might experience personality changes, such as behaving erratically, inappropriately, or becoming distant, according to Mayo Clinic.

    FTD is sometimes misdiagnosed as a mental health condition or Alzheimer’s disease, but it typically occurs at a younger age, between 40 and 65, than other types of dementia.

    “Most people, when they think of the word dementia, they think problems with memory and Alzheimer’s disease, but FTD doesn’t really show up as problems with memory. … It affects how people behave, how they interact with others and how they speak,” Dr. Sami Barmada, director of Michigan Brain Bank and associate professor of neurology at University of Michigan Medicine, previously told TODAY.com about Bruce Willis, who was diagnosed with the same conditions.

    The same year that Williams was diagnosed with aphasia and FTD, the crew of “Where Is Wendy Williams?” had to stop filming because she entered a treatment facility for “cognitive issues,” People reported.

    There were questions around her cognitive state

    Prior to Williams revealing her FTD diagnosis, many people were speculating that the star was having cognitive issues.

    “Her care team is sharing this very personal update with her cherished fans, friends, and supporters to correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health,” the statement explained.

    “Unfortunately, many individuals diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, particularly when they begin to exhibit behavioral changes but have not yet received a diagnosis.”

    Williams currently has a court-appointed legal guardian who oversees her money and her health to avoid the potential for her to be exploited due to her cognitive issues, according to People.

    Williams’ sister, Wanda Finnie, also told People in a story published Feb. 21, 2024, that the star is now in a wellness facility that specializes in treating cognitive issues.

    Williams revealed she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2018

    In February 2018, the talk show host announced she’d be taking a three-week break from “The Wendy Williams Show” because she had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease. About a week before, she’d canceled several shows due to experiencing flu-like symptoms. At the time, a rep for her show told TODAY.com in a statement that she’d had Graves’ disease for “many years.”

    “Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that stimulates the receptors on the thyroid gland to make more thyroid hormones,” Dr. Deena Gupta-Adimoolam, a specialist in endocrinology and primary care prevention, tells TODAY.com. This overproduction of thyroid hormones, or hyperthyroidism, can lead to an increased heart rate, sweating, weight loss, anxiety, hair loss, difficulty sleeping and bulging eyes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Williams noted that her fans had pointed out changes in her eyes when she revealed her diagnosis. “Graves’ disease squeezes the muscles behind the eyeballs,” she explained, adding that it’s caused her eyeballs to twitch.

    Williams returned to her show, but she had to take time off in 2019 and again in 2020 to cope with her illness.

    “If hyperthyroidism is untreated, it can be life-threatening,” Adimoolam says. While there are treatments, such as medication, surgery and therapy, Graves’ disease looks different for every person, she adds. Even with treatment, it might remain debilitating for some.

    Williams fainted on live TV in 2017

    In October 2017, Williams passed out during the Halloween episode of her talk show. Dressed as the Statue of Liberty, she was talking to the camera and then started to shake and struggle to speak before falling on the ground. The show cut to a commercial, and when it returned, she told viewers, “That was not a stunt. I overheated in my costume. I passed out.”

    The next day, she explained that prior to fainting, she felt “hot and a little dizzy.” She said the paramedics later told her she was low on electrolytes.

    “It was scary,” she recalled. “It was really scary. It was so scary, all I could think of in the middle of the scare was, ‘Don’t pull the podium over on you, because that’ll make it worse.’”

    Williams has struggled with alcohol and cocaine use

    In 2013, Williams told NPR she used be a “real fiend” when it came to drugs. “I was addicted to cocaine,” she said. “Crack cocaine — cooking it, getting it up in the Bronx. … Thank God I never got stopped by the cops to shame my family and myself and lose my job.”

    In 2019, Williams revealed she was living in a sober house. “You know I’ve had a struggle with cocaine in my past, and I never went to a place to get the treatment,” Williams said during an episode of her show.

    The trailer for her documentary and the recent People cover story also reference her alcohol use. In the trailer, someone close to her asked her if she drank an entire bottle of vodka in one day. In the cover story, her son said when she was staying with him in Miami around 2022, “I helped her heal by, one, eliminating all alcohol, (and two,) keeping her occupied (by) going to the beach, working out.”

    People also reported that the documentary crew stopped filming in April 2023 because she checked into a facility in part due to her alcohol use.

    There are questions around her cognitive state

    When the documentary crew stopped filming in 2023, it was due to “cognitive issues” connected to her alcohol use, her manager Will Selby said in the documentary, as reported by People.

    Williams also currently has a court-appointed legal guardian who oversees her money and her health to avoid the potential for her to be exploited due to her cognitive issues, according to the outlet.

    Williams’ sister, Wanda Finnie, also told People that the star is now in a wellness facility that specializes in treating cognitive issues.

    She fractured her shoulder in 2018

    In 2019, Variety reported that Williams fractured her shoulder in December of 2018, delaying her return to the show following the holidays. Williams was originally scheduled to return to the show on Jan. 7 but had to delay her return by a week to focus on recovery.

    She revealed she has lymphedema in 2022

    During a segment with TMZ Live, Williams held up a swollen foot and she explained she has lymphedema. The condition is caused by an accumulation of fluid that builds up when the lymphatic system doesn’t properly drain fluid from various parts of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. “I can only feel maybe 5% of my feet. Do you understand?” she asked. “Normally I would be in a wheelchair.”

    Wendy Williams
    Wendy Williams (Calvin Gayle/Lifetime)

    What is Wendy Williams doing today?

    Williams is staying in a wellness facility, her sister and niece told People. They said that because of her court-appointed guardian, they cannot contact Williams, but Williams can reach out to them.

    “I spoke with her yesterday, and I speak with her very regularly when she reaches out to me. She is, from what I understand, in a wellness, healing type of environment,” Wanda Finnie said.

    “She is in a healing place emotionally,” Finnie added. “She’s not the person that you see in (the documentary).”

    How to watch “Where is Wendy Williams?” documentary

    The 2024 documentary “Where is Wendy Williams?” will air on Lifetime at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Feb. 24 and 25. You can stream it with any service that has live cable, and it will be available to stream the next day at MyLifetime.com.

    This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 11:20:45 AM
    How to watch the 2024 SAG Awards and E!'s Live From E! red carpet https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/how-to-watch-the-2024-sag-awards-and-es-live-from-e-red-carpet/3364901/ 3364901 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1993552813.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Who better to honor actors than, well, actors?

    The 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards are just days away, meaning Hollywood’s biggest film and TV stars will soon come together to celebrate the year’s best performances, from the silver screen to the small screen.

    It should come as no surprise that Barbie and Oppenheimer lead the film categories with four nods each. Plus, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. each received individual noms. (See the full list of 2024 nominees here.)

    When it comes to the best in TV, the fourth and final season of “Succession” earned the drama series and its stars—like Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Matthew MacFayden and Brian Cox—half a dozen nods.

    Fans can also expect a very special appearance by one of Hollywood’s most celebrated legends during this year’s SAG Awards ceremony. Barbra Streisand will also be honored with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, which is given annually to an actor who exemplifies the “finest ideals of the acting profession.”

    As for who will present Streisand with the prestigious honor? None other than SAG Award winner Jennifer Aniston.

    Best SAG Awards Red Carpet Looks of All-Time

    Keep reading to find out how you can watch the 2024 SAG Awards, plus all the details on E! News’ red carpet experience.

    When are the 2024 SAG Awards?

    The 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards will take place on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

    How can I watch the 2024 SAG Awards?

    The 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony will air live Saturday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Netflix.

    What time are the 2024 SAG Awards?

    The two-hour 2024 Screen Actors Guild ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

    Who is hosting the 2024 SAG Awards?

    While there is no official host for the ceremony, two-time SAG Award winner Idris Elba will open the show. Additional presenters will include iconic stars such as Jessica Chastain, Billie Eilish, America Ferrera, Taraji P. Henson, Naomi Watts, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae, Glen Powell and SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, plus many more.

    Who is nominated at the 2024 SAG Awards?

    The casts of “Abbott Elementary,” “Barry,” “The Bear,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “Ted Lasso” are all up for Comedy TV Ensemble while the nominees for Drama TV Ensemble include “The Crown,” “The Gilded Age,” “The Last of Us,” “The Morning Show” and “Succession.”

    In addition to blockbusters “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” other notable film nominees include Danielle Brooks of “The Color Purple,” Lily Gladstone of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Paul Giamatti of “The Holdovers” and “Poor Things” star Emma Stone. (See all the full list of nominations here.)

    When does E!’s 2024 SAG red carpet begin?

    Live From E!: SAG Awards kicks off on E! at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT co-hosted by Laverne Cox, Loni Love and Keltie Knight. The two-hour experience will feature interviews with this year’s top nominees and an in-depth look at the night’s most talked-about styles. Plus, E!’s Glambot returns to capture Hollywood’s finest fashion moments in slow motion as all the stars arrive.

    E!’s social coverage of the SAG Awards will take place throughout the day on E! News’ Instagram, X/Twitter and Facebook. And fashion lovers can catch every must-see outfit on @einsider on Instagram.

    SAG Awards 2023: Red Carpet Fashion

    And don’t miss E! News on Monday, Feb. 26, at 11 p.m. for a full recap of every must-see moment and winner.

    ]]>
    Sat, Feb 24 2024 01:24:22 PM
    People are just realizing how good Pizza Hut's hold music is https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/the-scene/people-are-just-realizing-how-good-pizza-huts-hold-music-is/3363131/ 3363131 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2019/09/183586429.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Listening to hold music is a universally unenjoyable experience — that is, unless it takes place on Pizza Hut’s line.

    On Feb. 9, TikToker @noraeinhellll posted a video calling Pizza Hut to “hear the wing song again,” and it went viral, garnering more than 2.4 million views — and once you hear the song, you’ll understand why.

    “When you put me on hold, I heard genuinely one of the best songs I’ve ever heard ever. It was like some guy singing about wings,” the TikToker tells a Pizza Hut worker over the phone in the clip. “Would it be really weird if I asked you guys to put me on hold so I can hear it? I will hang up when I’m done.”

    The employee agrees, adding that they hope the song is played for them.

    “It’s just like this man singing about wings really passionately with the piano,” explains the TikToker.

    After being put on hold, we all hear the music in question — and it does not disappoint.

    “Chicken wings, chicken wings, are the best thing that’s not pizza,” a singer croons to the tinkling chords of a piano. “That’s right, Pizza Hut has chicken wings.”

    The singer talks a bit about Pizza Hut’s range of wing flavors before returning to the song in a big, hilarious way.

    “They can be as seasoned as you’d like, on top of a perfectly crispy chicken wing,” the singer says, belting the ending of their sentence, then breaking into the bridge of the ditty: “Going to Pizza Hut, yeah yay, going to Pizza Hut, no, going to Pizza Hut.”

    The singer closes with more information about the chain’s wings, while the TikToker listens with giggled rapture.

    “Is that not the best thing you’ve ever heard?” they say, pleased as punch at the end of the clip.

    Reaction online to the downtempo ballad about sauce-coated poultry has been largely positive, with people far and wide sharing their love for the unexpectedly entertaining hold music.

    “chicken ✨️WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGS✨️,” commented one user on TikTok.

    “the ‘wing’ screech was my favorite part,” added another, to whom @noraeinhellll replied, “Mine too.”

    “HELLO???😭 this is SO funny,” commented another TikToker, with another adding, “This is ICONIC. Put that man on every jingle.”

    “Omg it was even better than I thought it would be,” commented someone else. “This has to be Craig Robinson! if not they have the same vibe.”

    Many people believed the voice belongs to actor and comedian Craig Robinson, who has starred in several commercials for Pizza Hut, including one for the Super Bowl in 2021 — and they were correct.

    “We’re thrilled to hear that our hold music is striking a chord — it’s just another cheesy way to connect through the love of pizza every day!” a Pizza Hut spokesperson tells TODAY.com. “And that iconic voice serenading is none other than the fabulous Craig Robinson who we have been lucky enough to partner with.”

    So, I decided to call my local Pizza Hut with the hope of hearing the touching tune for myself.

    When I requested from my local Pizza Hut employee to be put on hold to hear the music, the worker (understandably) laughed at me, then heeded my request. Unfortunately, my Pizza Hut’s hold sound contained no music; it was just a voice talking about the chain.

    This could be explained by a commenter under the TikTok who claims to be a former employee of the chain. They theorized that since “each franchise group has different hold music,” it’s truly a crapshoot whether you’ll be treated to some sweet lounge singer-esque hold music.

    But this isn’t the first time the Hut’s hold music has been documented on TikTok. In 2021, TikToker @ceecee_58 posted about it. “Check this out,” the user says, laughing as the tune plays on the phone. “I’m on hold with Pizza Hut, and I love it.”

    This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 09:40:16 AM
    Where to find the best drink deals on National Margarita Day 2024 https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/the-scene/2024-national-margarita-day-deals/3362288/ 3362288 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-168272204.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 It isn’t Cinco de Mayo and it isn’t Taco Tuesday but you still have a reason to go out and enjoy a margarita (responsibly!).

    On Thursday, February 22, restaurants and bars nationwide will be celebrating National Margarita Day with some seriously spicy discounts.

    Whether you like your margarita frozen, on the rocks, with a salt rim or sugar, this is where to find the best deals on America’s most popular cocktail.

    Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant

    Abuelo’s is adding a Rasberry Hibiscus Margarita to their menu. Choose from their signature El Jefe, Raspberry Hibiscus, Skinny Margarita, or Platinum Hand-Shaken Margarita, which will be $7.95 all day.

    Bahama Breeze Island Grille

    On 2/22, the classic margaritas at Bahama Breeze will be just $2.22 all day.

    Chevy’s Fresh Mex

    Sip on strawberry, mango, and original margaritas when you order their $10 margarita flight.

    The offer is only available at the following locations: South San Francisco, Vallejo, Sacramento, Fairfield, Elk Grove, Emeryville, Roseville, Santa Rosa and Union City (all in California); Arlington, Virginia; Greenbelt, Maryland; Orlando/Millenia, Florida; Miami, O’Fallon, Illinois; and Olivette, Missouri.

    Chili’s

    The chain is offering commemorative cups and specials. There are 10 margaritas on the menu, including the Tequila Trifecta for $5, Straw-Eddy marg for $6 and the Spice-A-Rita for $10.

    Chuy’s

    Chuy’s is offering drink specials for dine-in customers on Thursday. Customers can upgrade their house margaritas to a grande for $2 and will receive a giveaway cup. Add an extra pour of tequila or orange liqueur for $1 all day.

    Dave & Buster’s

    Get ready for fun and get yourself a $5 margarita at Dave & Buster’s locations nationwide from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

    El Torito

    Margarita flights are $10 on National Margarita Day (normally $14). Flavors include blackberry, mango, and signature.

    Fuzzy’s

    Fuzzy’s is offering one chill deal with $5 house margaritas all day long.

    Twin Peaks

    Twin Peaks is offering several deals to celebrate the holiday. House Margaritas will be $5 all day. Other deals include $6 Peaks Margaritas, $8 Watermelon Margarita, $7 Margarita “On the Rocks” and $8 Casamigos Pool Party Margarita.


    Prefer to stay in? Enjoy some margaritas at home with a pre-mixed cocktail.

    Astral Margarita

    The Astral Margarita is the latest ready-to-drink cocktail by Diageo. It’s made with twice-distilled tequila blanco and premium triple sec liqueur combined with classic citrus and agave flavors with just a hint of vanilla.

    It’s available in a 350ml bottle for $13.99, which serves four cocktails, or the 750ml bottle at $25.99, which serves eight.

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 05:25:09 AM
    Coalition of A-list Hollywood directors purchase historic theater in Los Angeles https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/steven-spielberg-christopher-nolan-coalition-directors-purchase-westwood-village-theater/3362729/ 3362729 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1368886648.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Some of Hollywood’s most prominent filmmakers have purchased a 93-year-old iconic theater known as a cultural landmark for moviegoers in Los Angeles.

    Jason Reitman along with more than 30 directors including Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan and Bradley Cooper acquired Westwood’s Village Theater, the group announced Wednesday. The coalition wants to preserve the theater, which has become a mainstay for movie premieres since the venue opened in 1931.

    The terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

    Reitman said he felt compelled to pull together other filmmakers after the theater went up for sale last year. As a Los Angeles native, he wants to extend the rich history of the Village Theater, which is known for its 170-foot (52-meter) white Spanish tower and a large auditorium that can seat 1,300. It’s also nearby the University of California, Los Angeles.

    “I immediately made an offer and hoped my fellow directors would join me on this adventure,” Reitman said in a statement. He noted that some of his films, including “Up in the Air,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “Juno” premiered at the theater.

    “We take this stewardship very seriously and hope to offer a true community for anyone who loves the movies,” he added.

    The directors will showcase artifacts from their personal collections at the theater, including props, wardrobe and film prints.

    Chris Columbus, who directed the “Home Alone” and “Harry Potter” films, expects to share his extensive collection of 16mm film prints. He called the theater a “cinematic miracle.”

    Spielberg said he wants to help restore the theater to its “glory years as a film-going cultural institution.”

    Nolan added: “Cinema has always been the place where filmmakers and movie goers meet, and I’m thrilled to be collaborating with so many of my favorite directors on a space that will show what the future of film exhibition can be.”

    The other new owners include: J.J. Abrams, Judd Apatow, Damien Chazelle, Ryan Coogler, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Dayton, Guillermo del Toro, Valerie Faris, Hannah Fidell, Alejandro González Iñárritu, James Gunn, Sian Heder, Rian Johnson, Gil Kenan, Karyn Kusama, Justin Lin, Phil Lord, David Lowery, Christopher McQuarrie, Chris Miller, Alexander Payne, Todd Phillips, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Jay Roach, Seth Rogen, Emma Seligman, Brad Silberling, Emma Thomas, Denis Villeneuve, Lulu Wang and Chloé Zhao.

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 09:06:15 PM
    World's tallest man reunites with the world's shortest woman in California https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/worlds-tallest-man-meets-the-worlds-shortest-woman-in-california/3362879/ 3362879 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/image-11-3.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all Two people who hold very particular records for their height met on Monday in Irvine, the Guinness World Record reported.

    They are Sultan Kosen, 41, and Jyoti Amge, 30, who according to the Guinness Book of Records are the tallest living man and the shortest living woman in the world on record.

    Sultan Kosen, from Turkey, is 8 feet 3 inches tall, and Jyoti Amge of India is 2 feet 7 inches.

    In a photo captured on Feb. 19 in California, Jyoti is standing next to Sultan’s shoe, which is nearly the same height as the woman.

    The last time the two record holders met was six years ago in Egypt. They both have a difference of more than 6 feet in height.

    Sultan’s height is caused by a condition called “pituitary gigantism, which results in oversized hands, exceptionally thick bones, and painful joints,” according to the Guinness Record. Additionally, Sultan holds the record for the largest hands of a living man, which measure 11.22 in (28.5 cm).

    Jyoti’s short stature is due to a “form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, and will never grow beyond a certain height,” according to the official publication of the Guinness Record.

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 08:39:17 PM
    You'll be crazy in love with how Beyoncé just made history — again https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/beyonce-billboard-hot-country-songs-texas-hold-em/3362565/ 3362565 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/BEYONCE.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Originally appeared on E! Online

    It’s a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown for Beyoncé.

    After all, the 32-time Grammy winner became the first-ever Black female artist to top Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart for her new single “Texas Hold ‘Em” on Feb. 20.

    Her recent accolade comes less than two weeks after she announced her country era with her newest album, Act II, during the 2024 Super Bowl, which will be released March 29. The 42-year-old also dropped “16 Carriages,” which debuted at No. 9 on the Hot Country Song charts.

    “Texas Hold ‘Em” — which dethroned Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” after 20 weeks at No. 1 — drew 19.2 million official streams and 4.8 million in all-format airplay audience and sold 39,000 in the U.S. through Feb. 15, according to Luminate.

    The only other solo woman with no accompanying artists to launch at the top of the chart was Taylor Swift with “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” in 2021.

    Beyoncé, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland Have Destiny’s Child Reunion at Mea Culpa Premiere

    And while the Beyhive couldn’t help but throw their cowboy hats in the air, Beyoncé’s genre shift hasn’t been without debate. Some fans hope that the “XO” singer’s star power will highlight cowboy culture and country music’s deep roots in African American culture, which has been dominated by white artists. And mom Tina Knowles made sure to point out how the Grammy winner grew up celebrating the culture in Texas.

    “We also always understood that it was not just about it belonging to White culture only,” Tina wrote on Instagram Feb. 17. “In Texas there is a huge black cowboy culture. Why do you think that my kids have integrated it into their fashion and art since the beginning.”

    As she put it: “It definitely was a part of our culture growing up.”

    Beyoncé’s country music recognition is just the most recent example of the singer’s record-breaking career. In 2021, she became the most decorated singer ever and the most-winning female artist in history at the Grammy Awards. And in 2023, she upped the ante by breaking the record for the most Grammys ever won by a single artist at the event.

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 06:02:12 PM
    Greta Gerwig breaks silence on Oscars snub for directing ‘Barbie' https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/greta-gerwig-breaks-silence-on-oscars-snub-for-directing-barbie/3363170/ 3363170 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2023/07/107273752-1689784898925-gettyimages-1529442106-AA_13072023_1271365.jpeg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Life is fantastic for Greta Gerwig, even without that statue.

    The “Barbie” director spoke out for the first time since the Academy did not nominate her for the Best Directing award at the 2024 Oscars. (Instead, the organization recognized Justine Triet for “Anatomy of a Fall,” Martin Scorsese for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer,” Yorgos Lanthimos for “Poor Things” and Jonathan Glazer for “The Zone of Interest.”

    Gerwig’s inner circle quickly noticed the omission, as she told TIME for an article published Feb. 21, “A friend’s mom said to me, ‘I can’t believe you didn’t get nominated.'”

    But the “Little Women” alum is choosing to focus on the positive, including “Barbie’s” nomination for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for her and husband Noah Baumbach.

    “I said, ‘But I did. I got an Oscar nomination,'” Gerwig recalled telling her acquaintance. “She was like, ‘Oh, that’s wonderful for you!’ I was like, ‘I know!'”

    However, the 40-year-old acknowledged there could have been more love for “Barbie,” considering star Margot Robbie also failed to get a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

    2024 Oscars: All the First-Time Nominees

    “Of course I wanted it for Margot,” Gerwig noted. “But I’m just happy we all get to be there together.”

    It’s a sentiment that Robbie also expressed when reflecting on her Oscars snub, sharing at a SAG screening on Jan. 30, “There’s no way to feel sad when you know you’re this blessed.”

    “Obviously I think Greta should be nominated as a director,” the actress continued, “because what she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing, what she pulled off, it really is.”

    ]]>
    Thu, Feb 22 2024 10:25:32 AM
     Ewen MacIntosh, star of UK's version of ‘The Office,' dies at 50 https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/ewen-macintosh-star-of-uks-version-of-the-office-dies-at-50/3362482/ 3362482 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-588306694.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Friends and colleagues are mourning the loss of Ewen MacIntosh.

    The actor and comedian, best known for playing “Big Keith” in “The Office” U.K., has died. He was 50.

    MacIntosh’s management company JustRight Management announced his passing on X, writing in the early hours of Feb. 21, “With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved comedy genius Ewen MacIntosh. His family thank all who supported him, especially Willow Green Care Home.”

    The statement also noted that there would be a private cremation ceremony for friends and family followed by a “celebratory memorial” later this year.

    E! News has reached out to MacIntosh’s rep for additional comment, but has not heard back. No further details have been shared about his cause of death at this time.

    “The Office” creator Ricky Gervais also shared a tribute to his former costar on X, noting the news was “extremely sad” and describing the late actor as the “very funny and very lovely Ewen Macintosh […] an absolute original.”

    Photos: Celebrity Deaths: 2024’s Fallen Stars

    In addition to “The Office,” MacIntosh worked on a number of additional British comedy series including “Miranda” and “Little Britain.” Per the BBC, his most recent acting credit was for Britain’s 2017’s rom-com “Finding Fatimah.”

    Miranda Hart—who starred in the series “Miranda,” which aired in Britain between 2009 and 2015—shared a sweet tribute to MacIntosh, who had guest starred on the sitcom.

    “Thank you Ewen for making me laugh,” she wrote over an image of the comedian in a Feb. 21 Instagram post, adding in her caption, “We were the same age and crossed paths many times as we did our best to be funny and make a living out of it. It wasn’t always likely but we did it and I am glad we got to do a scene together. Thank you xx.”

    Ed Scott, a music executive, also paid tribute to his late friend and the legacy MacIntosh left behind.

    “I am completely devastated by the loss of my very good friend,” he tweeted. “He may have had a famous face known by millions as Keith from The Office but the person inside is what I will most remember.”

    He continued of MacIntosh, “Ewen was so full of empathy, kindness, and integrity and above all a really good man. Sending love to his parents Sara and Ewen Sr, his brother Colin and his family, as well as his many friends and fans.”

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 05:15:12 PM
    Olympian Scott Hamilton shares he's not undergoing treatment for 3rd brain tumor https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/olympian-scott-hamilton-shares-hes-not-undergoing-treatment-for-3rd-brain-tumor/3362546/ 3362546 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-507328968.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Scott Hamilton is giving fans an update about his health.

    The Olympic figure skater, who won a gold medal at the 1984 games, shared that a pituitary tumor in his brain has returned for a third time—and he won’t be seeking treatment.

    “When they gave me the diagnosis, they said, ‘It’s back,'” the 65-year-old told People in an interview published Feb. 21. “And so they brought in this guy, a really young, talented surgeon, and he said, ‘We could do the surgery again. It’d be complicated, but we’ve got really talented people here that we could bring in, and I know we could pull it off if that’s an option for you.'”

    However, the World Figure Skating Championship winner—who had the surgery in 2004 and 2010—already knew that he didn’t want to go through it again.

    “All I felt was just, don’t worry about this. Just go home and get strong,” he said. “They go, ‘Well, what do you want to do?’ And I said, ‘I think I’m going to go home and get strong.'”

    The Most Memorable Moments in Olympics History

    And while the tumor did shrink after his initial diagnosis in 2016, it started to grow again prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “In my spirit, in my inner being,” Hamilton—who was also treated for testicular cancer in 1997—said, “I realized, I’m totally at peace with not even looking at it again unless I become symptomatic.”

    Today, he has access to targeted radiation, which can help shrink the tumor without surgery or chemotherapy.

    Still, despite the hardships he’s choosing to focus on the positive.

    “I never would’ve thought to dream that an Olympic gold medal experience would’ve allowed me to give so much back to my sport,” he continued, “and help create a platform to give careers to so many of the greatest skaters in the history of the sport.”

    And by his side through it all are his wife of 21 years Tracie Robinson, as well as his children, Jean Paul, Aidan, Evelyne and Maxx. As he gushed, “To have my children and just how amazing they are, and my wife and how amazing she is? I never would’ve thought to dream any of it.”

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 05:33:10 PM
    Dunkin' launches caffeinated energy drink amid Panera's Charged Lemonade controversy https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/the-scene/dunkin-launches-caffeinated-energy-drink-amid-paneras-charged-lemonade-controversy/3362337/ 3362337 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/240221-dunkin-getty.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Dunkin’ has unveiled a new energy drink on its menu as rival Panera Bread deals with multiple lawsuits related to its own heavily caffeinated beverage.

    The company released its new SPARKD’ Energy drink line on Feb. 21 in Peach Sunshine and Berry Burst flavors, according to a press release.

    Dunkin’ is jumping on the energy drink trend with a beverage that contains 192 milligrams of caffeine and 37 grams of sugar in its largest size, according to the company’s website.

    Panera’s rival Charged Lemonade contains 236 milligrams of caffeine for a similar size. TikTok creator Sarah Baus noted in a viral video in December 2023 that one Charged Lemonade has the caffeine equivalent of about four cups of espresso.

    For context, the Food and Drug Administration says healthy adults can safely consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day.

    The Panera drink has been the subject of multiple lawsuits dating back to last year.

    Most recently, a 28-year-old Rhode Island woman alleged that the highly caffeinated lemonade caused her to have “permanent cardiac injuries.” She said in the complaint that she now requires daily medication and has heart problems after drinking 2 ½ Charged Lemonades in April 2023.

    Her lawsuit marked at least the third legal complaint in recent months against Panera over its Charged Lemonade.

    A lawsuit filed in October alleges that University of Pennsylvania student Sarah Katz, 21, died after drinking Charged Lemonade. Katz had a heart condition called long QT syndrome type 1 and avoided energy drinks at the recommendation of her doctors, according to the filing.

    In the wake of the initial lawsuit, Panera Bread said all of its stores throughout North America added more detailed disclosures about the beverage to its stores, website and app.

    The language states that Charged Lemonade should be consumed in moderation and is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women.

    second death was blamed on the caffeinated beverage in a lawsuit filed in December by the family of a Florida man. Dennis Brown, 46, who had unspecified chromosomal deficiency disorder, drank three Charged Lemonades from a local Panera on Oct. 9 and then suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on his way home, the suit says.

    Panera said that it expressed “our deep sympathy for Mr. Brown’s family” and that it stood by the safety of its products.

    This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 02:30:13 PM
    TIME's 2024 Women of the Year list features 12 world leaders in various fields https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/2024-time-women-of-the-year/3362043/ 3362043 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/image-29-1.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all Extraordinary leaders make the world a better place to live in.

    TIME released its 2024 Women of the Year list, which features 12 trailblazers in various fields. These women are being celebrated for their commitments to their passions, in areas that include the environment, human rights, peace, equality and much more.

    Here, we take a look at these 12 women featured on TIME’s 2024 Women of the Year list and their impacts on society:

    Greta Gerwig

    Gerwig, 40, is an actress, writer and director, most recently admired for being the head filmmaker for the fantasy-comedy “Barbie.” Gerwig, who was on the TIME 100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2018, has a knack for creating storylines that are inclusive and portray diverse representations of women in cinema. She is known for her “humane, emotional, playful” filmmaking. The 2024 Women of the Year issue features a worldwide cover highlighting Gerwig along with an in-depth interview.

    Taraji P. Henson

    Henson, 53, is an actress known for her electric personality and extensive career in television. She was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016 and has been candid about her feelings towards inequality in the industry as a Black woman, which includes “lowball offers” for roles in Hollywood.

    Coco Gauff

    Gauff, 19, is a professional tennis player who is captivating the hearts of fans around the world one match at a time. The 2023 U.S. Open champion has actively used her platform to promote numerous social justice initiatives, such as Black Lives Matter, gender equity and climate change activism.

    Leena Nair

    Nair, 54, the global CEO of Chanel, wants to pioneer leadership that is a bit different. She wants to celebrate “compassion, empathy and kindness” by believing in “collective voice, in diverse perspectives.” Nair is known for her contribution in human resources and her remarkable expertise in transforming global organizations.

    Claudia Goldin

    Goldin, 77, is an economic historian and labor economist known for becoming the third woman ever to win the Nobel Prize in economics — and the first to win it on her own. She is dedicated to studying women and work, finding ways to help women balance career and family, the ongoing gender wage gap and the influence of the birth control bill on women.

    Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh

    Admi is the co-founder and leader of the Israeli movement Women Wage Peace and Hajajreh is the director of the Palestinian organization Women of the Sun. The two have an alliance, representing two different peace organizations but work together to look for ways to end the “cycle of bloodshed” taking over their communities. While neither advocate for a particular political solution, both organizations believe that a peaceful resolution is vital.

    Ada Limón

    Limón, 47, was named the 24th poet Laureate of the U.S. by the Librarian of Congress and the first Latina to earn this honor. Limón is set to embark on a tour across the country to unveil poetry in seven national parks as part of her program called You Are Here. Limón’s main drive for this project is “the solitary experience of writing” that comes her way when she puts pen to paper.

    Andra Day

    Day, 39, is an R&B and soul singer known for her efforts in pivoting invitations to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” into an opportunity to perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The “Rise Up” singer performed the Black national anthem at Super Bow LVIII. Day has been experimenting with a new album since 2017 and hopes to sing about her experiences this time around.

    Nadia Murad

    Murad, 30, is a Yazdi human rights activist from Germany. She was kidnapped in her hometown of Kocho in 2014 and held there for three months. Nadia’s Initiative was created to “help women and children victimized by genocides, mass atrocities, and human trafficking to heal and rebuild their lives and communities.” The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner was a lead plaintiff in December in a lawsuit filed to advocate for approximately 400 Yazidi Americans.

    Jacqui Patterson

    Patterson is the founder and executive director of The Chisholm Legacy Project: A Resource Hub for Black Frontline Climate Justice Leadership. She believes environmental issues, poverty, racial discrimination and gender inequality all coincide. “The communities that don’t have other nonprofit organizations working within them are the communities most at climate risk,” Patterson said.

    Marlena Fejzo

    Jejzo, 56, is a geneticist who studies hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a condition that leads to excessive nausea and vomiting in up to 3% of pregnancies. After suffering from HG in her pregnancy and dealing with a doctor who downplayed the situation, Fejzo knew she wanted to help others dealing with the disease but “didn’t have the energy to fight.” Fejzo serves on the board of Hyperemesis Education & Research Foundation and is the chief scientific officer at a women’s health company called Harmonia Healthcare, which plans to open an HG-focused treatment center in the Northeast.

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 02:05:06 PM
    California woman becomes fashion model in her 70s: ‘It's almost a miracle' https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/berkeley-woman-fashion-model-70s/3362541/ 3362541 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/Carolyn-Doelling.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,179 For most people, retirement is a time to slide into some hobbies, take a trip here and there, and maybe spend some quality time in the armchair. When Carolyn Doelling retired at age 70, she became a fashion model. 

    The now 77-year-old Berkeley woman fashioned a busy modeling career not long ago, jetting between the Bay Area and New York to pose for magazines, clothing campaigns and lifestyle shoots with companies like Estée Lauder, CVS and Athleta. 

    “It’s almost a miracle,” Doelling said sitting in the kitchen of her Berkeley home. “It’s amazing because I never had any aspirations to be a model.” 

    In her 70s, Doelling addressed her personal doldrums about advancing age by revamping herself into a model, becoming the face for boutique brands and lifestyle articles, even chronicling her other recently discovered passion: kickboxing.  

    Inside her living room, which included a grand piano, sat a coffee table covered in magazines and clippings showing Doelling dressed in colorful outfits, cavorting in rustic markets and photo studios.  

    Before she retired from a career in corporate marketing and customer service about seven years ago, Doelling didn’t even like having her picture taken. As she hit her 70s, she began to ponder life and felt a personal crisis of age and identity. 

    “When I retired, I realized that I was being overlooked and underestimated,” she said. “People had kind of kicked me to the curb as a 70 year old.” 

    Doelling retaliated by setting a goal to up her own style game and add more color and variety to her wardrobe. As she incorporated fashion into her ethos, she indeed began to feel more noticed.   

    The life-changing moment came during a visit to the McMullen Boutique in downtown Oakland. Owner Sherri McMullen asked Doelling about her aspirations. Doelling said she was concerned women her age were giving up. McMullen asked if she’d be willing to pose for some photos, which ultimately became the beginning of Doelling’s transformation. 

    “We took photos for Instagram and other social media, and people loved it,” Doelling recalled. “It was a different look, a different idea. It was not the 23 year old, size 000.”   

    It’s possible the seeds of Doelling’s personal revolution were sown in her childhood growing up in rural North Carolina. Her great-grandfather was a slave; her uncle’s, sharecroppers. She grew up in Jim Crow South with segregation in full tilt — though to her it felt merely like the Black community was just tightly knit, encircled within its own resources. She earned $5 a day picking tobacco from sunup to sundown. 

    Two things from her childhood emerged as lifelong themes: independence and fashion. 

    “We were all encouraged as young people to do and be — and civil rights was such a big part of our lives,” she said.

    She also remembered seeing people decked out in suits and dresses to march in civil rights rallies. 

    “I think back on how consistent it was to have dressing up or fashion and style be a part of our lives,” she said.

    Doelling eventually got married, moved to the Bay Area and raised two kids, who landed in successful careers of their own. But she saw her own opportunities shrink with age. Once she began to earn accolades for her modeling, she realized she now had a platform to speak out about those issues. Her career became less about posing for photos and more about striking a pose for other senior women. 

    “I feel like I’m also making an argument to designers and other people who are in position to choose who it is who represents their product,” she said.

    Among her demanding dual-coast schedule, Doelling particularly enjoys modeling for local Bay Area boutique designers like McMullen and another personal favorite, Taylor Jay, who owns two clothing shops in the East Bay and fabricates her clothing in Oakland. 

    “She is a ball of fire. She is such an inspiration to so many women,” said Jay. “She just shows you that style and grace has no limit.” 

    When Doelling is on set for a photo shoot, she notices few other women are over the age of 40, and no one is over 70. Those experiences are the fuel for her personal campaign to see senior women recognized, which has included penning an article for AARP titled “I refuse to be invisible.” 

    “My wish is that – and I know it’s happening – that other women will see and go, ‘You know, I can do that, too,’” Doelling said.

    Through all her recent accomplishments, Doelling hasn’t let her foot off the gas. She dreams of seeing her image scroll on a giant monitor in New York’s Times Square or strutting down a fashion show runway in Paris or New York. At 77, she is just beginning. 

    “It’s a wonderful way to retire,” she laughed.  

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 01:16:20 PM
    Mark Wahlberg reacts to not being included in Ben Affleck's Super Bowl Dunkin' ad https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/mark-wahlberg-reacts-to-not-being-included-in-ben-afflecks-super-bowl-dunkin-ad/3362073/ 3362073 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/wahlberg.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Ben Affleck recruited fellow Boston native and best friend Matt Damon, as well as Tom Brady, to star in his Dunkin’ Super Bowl ad, which had ties to the Massachusetts city.

    However, there was another major Bostonian who would have liked to be included: Mark Wahlberg.

    The actor was asked his thoughts on Affleck’s commercial for the big game, telling “Entertainment Tonight, “It’s pretty damn funny.”

    “You know what? I didn’t get the call. Maybe the next time,” he said, saying he “will actually, of course” be speaking to Affleck about the ad.

    “There’s always a next time. I could be in the sequel. They need the lefty? Just call me,” he told the outlet. “Always on the bench waiting.”

    The Dunkin’ ad shows Affleck, Damon and the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback joining forces to form the boyband “The DunKings.” Dressed in matching pink-and-orange tracksuits, they show up at Jennifer Lopez’s recording studio with Affleck singing his song for his wife in hopes she puts it on her new album.

    “What up! For your consideration, here comes the Boston Massacre. The DunKings!” Affleck says in his Boston accent with Damon and Brady in tow. The crew then start performing their song “Don’t Dunk Away At My Heart,” with J.Lo cringing.

    “Sometimes it’s really hard to be your friend,” Damon quips. The actor had previously shared that he improvised that line.

    “I actually said that to (Affleck) when we were filming,” Damon told Stephen Colbert during a Feb. 13 visit to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” “And he just left it in.”

    The commercial also includes Jack Harlow, Fat Joe and Charli D’amelio.

    Affleck, who is famously photographed with his large Dunkin’ drink by paparazzi, began collaborating with the coffee chain last year. Among their ads together includes a spot where he was mistaken for Damon. Last Super Bowl, he also served as a drive-thru worker at a Dunkin’ location in Boston, as well as appeared with Ice Spice for a commercial that aired during the MTV Video Music Awards.

    This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 12:01:05 PM
    See Machine Gun Kelly's transformation after covering his tattoos with solid black ink https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/see-machine-gun-kellys-transformation-after-covering-his-tattoos-with-solid-black-ink/3361763/ 3361763 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1339925181.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Machine Gun Kelly revealed that he covered the tattoos on his chest and arms in pure black ink. See his dramatic new look.

    Machine Gun Kelly gave us tickets to his latest tattoo transformation. 

    The “My Ex’s Best Friend” rapper—whose real name is Colson Baker—debuted an extreme new look after covering up most of the tattoos on his chest and arms with pure black ink.

    In a photo shared to his Instagram Feb. 20, MGK posed shirtless in black pants to show off the transformation, which features his usually colorful sleeve and chest tats filled in with black ink apart from a few stripes. Alongside the snapshot, the Taurus actor wrote, “For spiritual purposes only.”

    And while Machine Gun Kelly’s torso still bears his original tattoos—including one that says “locals only” and another depicting a man with a sign that reads “I want change”—the change required a lot of work. In fact, the 33-year-old—who shares one daughter Casie Colson Baker, 14, with ex Emma Cannon—revealed in a Feb. 19 Instagram Story that the design required “44 needles.”

    Ultimately, Machine Gun Kelly—who announced his engagement to Megan Fox in January 2022—was a pro throughout the whole process.

    “Made some art with @machinegunkelly,” the “bloody valentine” singer’s tattoo artist R O X X wrote on Instagram. “Never met a tougher one.”

    Admitting it wasn’t all smooth sailing, Machine Gun Kelly replied, “Thanks for the joy and the pain.”

    But not all of Machine Gun Kelly’s tattoos have turned out exactly how he wanted. Back in 2022, the rapper admitted to having a bit of an ink misshap with his music collaborator Travis Barker after the pair got matching tattoos highlighting the original name of an album they made together. 

    “We were so hyped,” Machine Gun Kelly explained during a March 2022 episode of “The Ellen Degeneres Show.” “We had just done a song and we were like, ‘There’s a tattoo artist here. Let’s just get the [album] name tattooed on us.'”

    A few months later, MGK decided he wanted to rename the album “Mainstream Sellout,” but wasn’t sure how to break the news, adding, “I couldn’t bring myself to tell Travis because I knew he had the tattoo.”

    Luckily, the Blink-182 drummer found the whole situation “hilarious.”

    “He was just laughing,” MGK remembered, “and I was like, ‘Oh, this is a great moment.'”

    This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

    ]]>
    Wed, Feb 21 2024 02:57:08 AM
    Malia Obama embraces new stage name during Hollywood directing career debut https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/malia-obama-embraces-new-stage-name-during-hollywood-directing-career-debut/3361671/ 3361671 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1943340919.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Originally appeared on E! Online

    Malia Obama is voting for a fresh start.

    As her Hollywood career takes off, Barack and Michelle Obama‘s oldest daughter has dropped her last name in favor of her middle name, officially going by Malia Ann for her newest film project “The Heart.”

    Fans did a double take after Malia Obama’s pen name was revealed in the Sundance Institute’s “Meet the Artist” spotlight video, which introduced her as filmmaker Malia Ann, seemingly in an effort to distance herself from her powerful parents, who have also launched careers in entertainment with Higher Ground Productions.

    Although the former president and first lady are now movie moguls, the two did not attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this month, when Malia Obama, 25, made her red carpet debut at the premiere of The Heart.

    Malia Obama described her project as “an odd little story, somewhat of fable, abut a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will,” as she put it in her Sundance spotlight.

    Photos: Malia Obama and Sasha Obama Over the Years

    While the film—which was produced by Donald Glover‘s company Gilga—was Malia Obama’s first time directing, she already has writing credits under her belt as a staff writer on his Amazon Prime show “Swarm.”

    “She’s a very professional person,” Swarm’s co-creator Janine Nabers said of the Harvard grad in a January 2023 Vanity Fair interview. “She’s an incredible writer and artist.”

    Glover also echoed the sentiments, singing Malia Obama’s praises and noting her famous parents didn’t play a role in how she was treated on set.

    “I feel like she’s just somebody who’s gonna have really good things coming soon,” he told Vanity Fair in March 2022. “Her writing style is great. We can’t be easy on her just because she’s the [former] President’s daughter.”

    Of course, Malia Obama is not the first child of a celebrity to take a stage name in Hollywood in order to distance themselves from their families. Nicolas Cage changed his last name from Coppola, while Angelina Jolie dropped her surname, Voight.

    ]]>
    Tue, Feb 20 2024 10:37:09 PM
    Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner officially finalize their divorce https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/kevin-costner-and-christine-baumgartner-officially-finalize-their-divorce/3361689/ 3361689 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/GettyImages-1388131837.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 A judge has declared that Kevin Costner and his wife of nearly two decades, Christine Baumgartner, are now legally divorced, according to court records filed Tuesday.

    The couple’s marriage ended, and both became single, on Friday, nine months after she filed for divorce, a judgment entered in Santa Barbara County court showed.

    In the first months after their split, Costner And Baumgartner fought in court over child custody and support payments and appeared to be headed for a contentious trial. But they reached a settlement agreement in September that allowed them to avoid it.

    The two will have joint custody of their sons, ages 16 and 15, and daughter, age 13. A judge in September ordered Costner to pay about $63,000 per month in child support, after she had sought about $175,000 per month.

    Costner, 69, and Baumgartner, 48, a model and handbag designer, began dating in 1998 and married at his Colorado ranch in 2004.

    It was the second marriage for Costner, the Oscar and Emmy winning star of TV’s “ Yellowstone ” and films including “Dances With Wolves,” “The Bodyguard” and “Bull Durham.”

    He also has four adult children from previous relationships.

    ]]>
    Tue, Feb 20 2024 08:08:34 PM
    The Hoosier Gym, home of the Hickory Huskers, still resonates with basketball fans https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/hoosier-gym-home-of-hickory-huskers-still-resonates-with-basketball-fans/3361529/ 3361529 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/AP24051572095627.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 The court is the same one where Jimmy Chitwood played. The locker room is exactly as it was when Norman Dale coached. The wall separating the bleachers from the floor is still there.

    Things change. The Hoosier Gym doesn’t.

    About 35 miles east of Indianapolis is the little town of Knightstown, which most people probably aren’t too familiar with. Basketball fans, however, are likely very aware of the place that brings more people into the town than anything else — a small brick building that the Hickory Huskers of the movie “Hoosiers” called home. It’s still there, still iconic nearly four decades after the film’s release, hosting more than 50,000 visitors and dozens of high school games each year.

    “When you get that many people coming here every year,” said Larry Loveall, one of the volunteers that keeps the gym running, “you know you’re doing something right.”

    The movie — ranked as the No. 1 sports film of all-time by The Associated Press in 2020 — was released in 1986. Gene Hackman starred as coach Dale, a man who was given a second chance at coaching after his first one ended for striking one of his players years earlier. Hackman famously thought the movie would end his career; he didn’t think it would be a success.

    He was very, very wrong. The tale of the Huskers, a small-town team that in the movie version took on the big-city South Bend Central in the 1952 Indiana state championship game and won in a David vs. Goliath story with Chitwood — a sharpshooter who initially didn’t want to play for the team — hitting the buzzer-beater to win the state title, still resonates. It’s an underdog story, a Cinderella story, one loosely based on the real-life story of small-school Milan winning Indiana’s 1954 state championship.

    “It’s about basketball, obviously,” said Brad Long, who plays Buddy Walker in the film. “But it’s about redemption and anytime you have a movie where the underdog does well and overachieves, it makes people feel good about themselves. That formula always works.”

    It still does.

    The movie plays on a loop in the lobby of the building, which was Knightstown High’s home gym until 1966. The court, which is meticulously maintained, has been down since 1936 and there isn’t a single dead spot to thwart dribblers. Down the steep staircase at the far end is the Hickory locker room; people have wanted to repaint it over the years but have smartly resisted — because the faded white walls and scuffed-up gray floor is how it looked in the movie, and so it shall remain.

    There have been some upgrades, of course. The backboards are glass, not wood like they were in the film. There are digital scoreboards. Electric heat was added to the locker room. The playing surface was slightly widened to make it conform to current standards.

    That’s about it.

    “I’ve been maintaining this gym since 1998,” Loveall said. “It’s our pride and joy.”

    The gym is in Knightstown, though the movie isn’t about the town. The school — enrollment of nearly 400, not quite the 64 that Hickory famously had in the movie — goes by the nickname Panthers, not Huskers. The Panthers don’t play their home games in The Hoosier Gym, and there has been a time or two where the gym and the school have disagreed on where some items like a long-abandoned victory bell belong; it’s displayed at the gym, in a room filled with Knightstown memorabilia and not artifacts from the movie.

    The place remains open largely because fans keep visiting. It has been the site of everything from political rallies to fundraising dinners. The court can be rented for $100 an hour — and groups come from all over to play or just get shots up.

    “It’s always an honor to be back,” actor Maris Valainis, who plays Chitwood in the movie, said when the team was assembled in Knightstown for a 35th anniversary gathering a couple years ago.

    Of the many lines in the movie that resonate, one — “Welcome to Indiana basketball,” the line uttered by Dale as he fixes his tie before stepping onto the court for his first game as coach — might stand out a bit more than most others.

    Thing is, the court isn’t just about Indiana basketball anymore.

    High school teams from across the country come to play there now, and from that was born a new tradition. They leave a jersey behind, all signed by players. They hang in the locker room and other parts of the building, more than 300 of them now in a collection that’s constantly growing. Some leave little notes behind on the jerseys as well; Cale Leitch of Talawanda High in Ohio hit a shot at the buzzer to give his team a 48-46 win there last year and scrawled “Game winner” under his name and number.

    “I envisioned it,” Leitch told the Southwest Ohio Sports Daily after his winning shot.

    There have been more famous visitors as well. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were there once as their NBA careers were starting, posing at midcourt with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Chris Mullin has gotten shots up there, while Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. played there as high schoolers.

    The movie even got talked about at NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. Commissioner Adam Silver and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama were on stage together at the tech summit discussing how artificial intelligence can change the way people view the game. Part of their presentation included a clip from “Hoosiers,” a movie that Wembanyama had just been introduced to.

    “It’s based in Indiana,” Silver told Wembanyama. “Parts of it were filmed right down the street here.”

    Maybe fittingly, there’s still the whole David vs. Goliath thing going on, just like in the movie.

    New Castle — like Knightstown, part of Henry County — boasts the biggest high school basketball arena in the country, the 8,400-seat New Castle Fieldhouse. The Hoosier Gym might hold 400, tops.

    “They’ll always tell us that they’ve got the world’s largest high school gym,” Loveall said. “And I said, ‘Isn’t that amazing, in the same county we’ve got the world’s largest — and the world’s most famous.’”

    ]]>
    Tue, Feb 20 2024 06:52:13 PM
    Beatles to get a Fab Four of biopics, with a movie each for Paul, John, George and Ringo https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/beatles-four-biopics-paul-john-george-ringo-sam-mendes/3361273/ 3361273 post https://media.nbcchicago.com/2024/02/BEATLES-BIOPICS.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 The Beatles are getting the big-screen biopic treatment in not just one film, but a Fab Four of movies that will give each band member their own spotlight — all of which are to be directed by Sam Mendes.

    For the first time, the Beatles, long among the stingiest rights granters, are giving full life and music rights to a movie project. Sony Pictures announced Monday a deal that may dwarf all music biopics that have come before it, with the stories of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr spread out over a quartet of films.

    The films, conceived by Mendes, are expected to roll out theatrically in innovative fashion, with the movies potentially coexisting or intersecting in theaters. Precise release plans will be announced at a later date. Sony is targeting 2027 for their release.

    McCartney, Starr and the families of Lennon and Harrison have all signed off on the project through the band’s Apple Corps. Ltd. Sony Music Publishing controls the rights to the majority of Beatles songs.

    “I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” Mendes said in a statement.

    Each film will be from the perspective of a Beatle.

    “We intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time,” said producer Pippa Harris. “To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege.”

    The Beatles’ most famous forays into film were in their early years. Between 1964 and 1970, they appeared in five movies, including “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964) and the animated “Yellow Submarine” (1968). They’ve, of course, been the subject of many documentaries, most recently Peter Jackson’s 2021 “The Beatles: Get Back.”

    In 2023, the Beatles reunited with the aid of artificial intelligence in the newly released song “Now and Then.” The recording was made possible by technology used by Jackson on “Get Back,” and featured a music video made by the New Zealand director.

    Attempts to dramatize the Beatles’ story have been more sporadic and less impactful. A 1979 biopic, made when Lennon was still alive, called “The Birth of the Beatles” was produced with Beatles original drummer Pete Best as an adviser. The 1994 indie drama “Backbeat” chronicled Lennon’s relationship with Stuart Sutcliffe before the Beatles were famous. “Nowhere Boy” (2009) starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a teenage Lennon.

    But in the last decade, music biopics have become big business. Box-office hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Rocketman” and “Elvis” have sent Hollywood executives chasing the next jukebox blockbuster. Over Presidents Day weekend, “Bob Marley: One Love,” produced with the Marley estate, was the No. 1 movie in theaters. A Michael Jackson biopic is in production.

    “Theatrical movie events today must be culturally seismic. Sam’s daring, large-scale idea is that and then some,” said Tom Rothman, chair and chief executive of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group.

    The combination of Mendes’ team “with the music and the stories of four young men who changed the world, will rock audiences all over the globe,” Rothman said. “We are deeply grateful to all parties and look forward ourselves to breaking some rules with Sam’s uniquely artistic vision.”

    ]]>
    Tue, Feb 20 2024 03:24:06 PM