WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Zooey Deschanel Spotted Making Out With Rumored New Boyfriend

    Zooey Deschanel all but confirmed rumors about her relationship with producer Jacob Pechenik with PDA over the weekend. The New Girl star was seen with Pechenik going on an early morning hike, followed by brunch at the Sweetsalt restaurant in Toluca Cake, Calif. on Saturday. Before driving off after the brunch, photographers caught the duo in an embrace, sharing a sweet kiss on the lips.

    Earlier this month, eyewitnesses also spotted the Emmy-nominated actress getting cozy with Pechenik, who is producing her next film Rock the Kasbah, at Café Aroma in Studio City, Calif. This first sparked the rumors of a budding romantic relationship between the two.

    E! News reported that the eyewitness thought the twosome was “definitely acting like a couple.”

    The source continued to say that “She was smiling and laughing at the things he was saying” and “when they got up to leave, he put his arm around her and they walked out together.”

    Their public display of affection by the beach a few days later was also caught on cam, where they were spotted holding hands and kissing.

    Deschanel and Pechenik apparently clicked on the set of the comedy film Rock the Kasbah which Pechenik is producing with Steve Bing and Bill Block. Its cast includes Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Scott Caan and Bill Murray along with Deschanel. The comedy film is scheduled to be released in April 2015.

    Deschanel was married to former Death Cab for Cutie vocalist and guitarist Ben Gibbard in 2009 until their divorce in 2012. Following their divorce, she dated screenwriter Jamie Linden –who wrote We are Marshall starring Matthew McConaughey– until they announced their break-up earlier this summer.

    Deschanel is also half of the musical duo She and Him where she does vocals, piano and ukulele. She and her guitarist M. Ward recently left indie label Merge Records, with whom they were with since 2006, and had signed up with major label Columbia Records. They are reportedly working on their 5th album, Classics, which will be released later this year.

  • David Duchovny & Téa Leoni Divorce; Did Cheating Destroy Their Marriage?

    Actor-director David Duchovny and actress Téa Leoni officially ended their 17 years of marriage in divorce. Recent reports confirm that the couple had been separated for a few months before they brought their divorce papers to court in June. Duchovny filed the papers which cite “an irretrievable breakdown” as the reason for the split.

    The celebrity couple has been going through rocky times for a long while, and has been officially separated twice. Their first separation in 2008 was attributed to Duchovny’s highly publicized sex addiction for which he received therapy. They got back together after a couple of months but separated again in 2011. Other reports claimed that they both have been party to cheating and dishonesty. Californication star Duchovny has been linked with X-Files costar Gillian Anderson and Deep Impact lead actress Leoni reportedly left her kids to follow Billy Bob Thornton and his band on tour some time ago.

    Duchovny, 54 and Leoni, 48, first met through a pre-interview dinner organized by The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. They got married in May 1997 after an eight week courtship. They have two children, a daughter, Madelaine West, 15, and a son, Kyd Miller , who is now 12.

    The couple has apparently settled on the terms of the divorce themselves. According to reports, they share joint legal custody of their children, although Leoni will have primary physical custody. The ex-couple and their children currently live in Manhattan.

    Duchovny is expected to give $8,333 a month in child support, as well as pay for other expenses like camp and private school fees and college tuition. Leoni, who returns to CBS’ Madame Secretary this fall, will also receive $40,000 monthly in spousal support.

    The LA Times tried to contact both the actor and the actress’s representatives for comments. Their request for a direct comment, however, was not granted.

  • Bret Michaels Headlines Benefit Concert For Tornado Victims In Pilger, Nebraska

    Many believe that music has healing powers, and this is what rockstar Bret Michaels wanted to prove. On Sunday he headlined a benefit concert for those affected by the twin tornadoes that hit the town of Pilger in Nebraska in June. The town has been struggling to rebuild itself for two months, and many considered Michaels’ concert a welcome respite as well as a way to have fun while contributing to relief efforts.

    “It’s great that he is doing that for us, I mean I am grateful for it. I mean I wasn’t going to miss it, I knew that,” said Billy Mitchell, a long-time resident of Pilger, to WOWT 6 News.

    People reportedly lined up outside the DeVent Center in Norfolk, Nebraska hours before the show, which was sold out by the end of the night. Donations were coursed through Michaels’ foundation, Life Rocks, with $45,000 raised just by the concert.

    “We want people to feel great.  I want to make this a celebration of the spirit of really what Nebraska is,” said Michaels. He sang hits such as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Something To Believe In” to a crowd that rallied in support of the town of Pilger.

    “If I could play the music and live out my dream, I feel blessed, I feel thankful and to be able to give back a little or a lot, whatever we could give back into that community that is a great day,” Michaels said to WOWT 6 News.

    The story of Pilger resident Kandi Murphree was one that made the rounds in the media. Her story illustrates the extent of the damage that the tornadoes made on Pilger and the people who lived there. The tornadoes claimed the life of her five-year-old daughter, Calista Dixon, and left Murphree in a coma for two months. She recently awoke to find that she had lost Calista and no longer had a home. However, efforts like Michaels’ to help Pilger are giving her the strength to move on with her son and daughter.

    “I’m dealing with it now, and we’re going to be 100 percent,” said Murphree.

  • Julianne Hough Becomes A Judge On DWTS, Brother Supportive

    Someone got a huge promotion on the hit TV series Dancing With The Stars. Julianne Hough is returning to the new season of the show, not as a pro dancer but on the judging panel. Hough, 26, will be joining judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli as an official member of their panel in Season 19, which premieres on September 15.

    One question on people’s minds with the news of Hough’s change in role is whether there’s any hint of sibling rivalry between her and her brother Derek Hough, 29, who is also a pro dancer on the show. She revealed that he had texted her the message, “Hey, congrats babe! Saw that it’s all out now.”

    Hough told People Magazine that her brother wasn’t ruffled by the fact that he was going to be judged by a family member on the show.

    “It’s all supportive. It’s all in good fun. At the end of the day, we’re all pretty lucky we get to do the show. It’s not a have-to or a super competitive thing where it’s life or death. This is fun,” she added.

    The move to a different role on the show will allow Hough to be with her Dancing With The Stars family while pursuing her other passions, which include acting and singing. “I’ve always aspired to be an all-around entertainer, whether I’m acting, dancing or singing, and I’m thrilled for this opportunity that will allow me to continue all of those pursuits. Derek and I just finished our Move Live on Tour, which reminded me how much I miss the interaction with the dance fans that have been so supportive of me in my career. I am warming up the paddles and the sass, and I’m ready to have fun in this new role,” she said.

  • Star Wars Episode 7: Which Villian Should We Expect Next?

    Which evil villain should we expect to see in Star Wars Episode VII?

    Star Wars Episode VII production is still a long way from being done, but rumors about the antagonists for the upcoming trilogy have been plentiful.

    There are those still hoping Darth Vader will reappear for Episode VII. However, true Star Wars buffs feel this is highly unlikely, except for a potential flashback.

    Latino Review recently reported that we can expect the new trilogy to feature a new set of villains. Their sources claim that all of the new villains however, answer to one puppet master — Emperor Palpatine.

    The report goes on to say that we can expect a new cast member to play the role of the evil Sith emperor this time as actor Ian McDiarmid won’t put on the robe anymore.

    Others take this to mean that an appearance by The Emperor in the new film would either be really brief or that the rumor is completely false. McDiarmid was originally cast as The Emperor in Return of the Jedi, and also returned to play a younger Palpatine in the prequel trilogy. He was also inserted into The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition. Given his previous involvement, it would be unusual for him not to return for a scene or two for the new Star Wars trilogy.

    We can only wait and see at this point, but already fans have mixed reaction to Emperor Palpatine’s return. On one hand, it would lend a sense of symmetry to this new Star Wars trilogy.  On the other, the same old villain may not bring as much excitement to look forward to.

    Star Wars Episode VII is scheduled for release in December 2015. It is produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm, and Bad Robot Productions. The cast includes stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong’o, and Gwendoline Christie. Actors Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker will also be reprising their roles from previous films.

  • Tony Stewart Grieving Death Of Kevin Ward, Investigation Continues

    Race car driver Tony Stewart is reportedly grieving for the death of fellow racer Kevin Ward Jr., the young man he hit with his sprint car as Ward walked onto the track after a wreck. The accident happened on August 9 at a sprint-car race event in Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York.

    Since the accident, Stewart has missed three NASCAR races, with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) giving the statement that his grief over Ward’s death is proving too much for him to race. Although the Ontario County (New York) Sheriff’s Department, which is investigating the case, stated earlier that no facts have surfaced that could give probable cause for criminal charges, the investigation has yet to conclude whether Stewart was at fault or it was an accident.

    Meanwhile, Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition at SHR, is overseeing the team for Stewart’s No. 14 entry at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, along with SHR’s No. 4 of Kevin Harvick, the No. 10 of Danica Patrick and the No. 41 of Kurt Busch. Zipadelli is holding the team together and not sure when Stewart will be back behind the wheel.

    “We do the best we can with what we’ve got right now. We’ll keep praying, keep our fingers crossed that we get the boss back sooner rather than later,” Zipadelli said.

    Driver Jeff Burton filled in for Stewart in the first two races after the accident, and Regan Smith drove during the race at Watkins Glen over the last weekend. According to Zipadelli, Burton has been a big help to the team as they’ve been dealing with the consequences of Stewart’s accident in the last few weeks.

    “This team needed that, somebody that would be there for them and work through these tough times,” said Zipadelli of Burton.

  • Neil Patrick Harris Takes On ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Nominated By Ben Affleck

    Neil Patrick Harris gamely accepted the ALS ice bucket challenge he received from actor-director Ben Affleck. Affleck’s nomination made him feel “flattered”, the How I Met Your Mother star said. Affleck’s challenge was one of the three Harris received, the two others coming from Jayma Mays and Cookie Monster.

    Harris joked in an interview with the Daily News that he purposely took the challenge sans a shirt for Affleck. “Any time an Affleck goes on camera and says he wants to see you specifically with your shirt off, you can’t really ignore that one.”

    Harris’ partner David Burtka was tasked to pour out the ice bucket on the actor in the front steps of their New York City apartment. The couple’s adorable three-year-old twins, Gideon Scott and Harper Grace looked on.

    In turn, Harris passed on the ALS challenge to Neighbors star David Franco, Christina Hendricks from Mad Men and his ‘nemisis’ Nathan Fillion from Castle.

    Neil Patrick Harris takes on ALS ice bucket challenge

    The New Mexico native is notably lean and skinny in his ALS video, having just wrapped up his run in the Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. His award-winning role as the transgender singer Hedwig required him to lose weight to have a more feminine figure.  The role won him a Tony Award as Best Lead Actor in a Musical.

    In the same interview with Daily Mail, Harris also shares that he currently enjoys playing “art ambassador” for the ongoing The Art of the Pixel, an art competition that asks students to create works to be displayed on LG’s OLED and Ultra HD TVs.

    “I’ve been a big fan of art and arts education for awhile,” he said, “So when they reached out to me, I thought it was a great fit.”

    Harris was one of the four people Affleck nominated for the ALS ice bucket challenge after he himself accepted the challenge from Tyler Perry. Affleck also nominated pals Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon along with wife Jennifer Garner. Harris and Affleck recently worked together in the film Gone Girl, a mystery thriller based on the novel of the same title.

  • Mila Kunis Spotted On Her Way To Pre-Natal Yoga Class, Plans On Having Natural Birth

    With her baby set to arriving in a few weeks, actress Mila Kunis is preparing for the birth of her first child by keeping fit and attending pre-natal yoga classes. On Saturday, Kunis was spotted at a Los Angeles yoga studio wearing yoga pants, a black top and white flip-flops. She left the studio after her session of pre-natal yoga to grab a bite with a friend, looking rosy and relaxed behind aviator shades.

    The That ‘70s Show actress was seen sipping a healthy iced tea to accompany her lunch and talking animatedly with her friend. With the birth happening by the end of summer, it’s likely that the pair was talking about the baby girl Kunis will be having with fiancé Ashton Kutcher, as she has admitted to being excited about it.

    Kunis told Marie Claire that she loves being pregnant and that she enjoys seeing her body change during the pregnancy’s course. She marveled about the change in her breasts, saying, “They’ve tripled in size. I was a 34A; now I’m a 36C. I’m so excited! I’m telling everyone I know, ‘Go ahead, touch them!’”

    Kunis has also revealed that she is planning to have a natural birth for her baby daughter. She told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in May that she and Kutcher had watched documentaries on midwifery as well as spoken to her obstetrician about it. They reportedly discovered that the hospital in which she was planning to give birth does have “a midwife, you know, doula type of thing.”

    “So I’m gonna do it as all-natural as I possibly can unless there’s an emergency or something,” Kunis said.

    Kutcher has been extremely supportive of his fiancée and plans to be present during the delivery, Kunis said. On Friday, he took Kunis on a romantic breakfast date at West Hollywood café La Conversation.

  • Star Trek Secrets Revealed By William Shatner In ‘Chaos On The Bridge’ Documentary

    William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge is a one-hour documentary that brings to light the tumultuous beginnings of one of the most successful franchises in TV history.

    Written and directed by William Shatner, Chaos on the Bridge offers an enlightening look at the first two seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The documentary premieres on Monday on HBO Canada.

    Twenty years after TV audiences said goodbye to the show, Trekkies will get an insider’s take on how Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first envisioned the show as well as how his battles with his own personal demons affected the series.

    Shatner, the original Captain James Tiberius Kirk, conducts candid interviews with The Next Generation cast members like Sir Patrick “Jean-Luc Picard” Stewart, Denise Crosby, Jonathan Frakes, and John de Lancie. The cast members reveal a situation of confusion as they remember the egos, the infighting, the fan backlash, the bluffs and threats and how Roddenberry and the show’s producers tried to weather it all.  The documantary further reveals that the cast didn’t seem sure they should even make a new Star Trek series at all.

    “The first and second seasons of The Next Generation are almost unwatchable,” says Ronald D. Moore, a former writer on Star Trek. Moore would go on to create the Battlestar Galactica reboot.

    The documentary also promises to be full of unvarnished insights and recollections from the likes of Paramount television’s then-president John Pike, series writers Maurice Hurley and D.C. Fontana, producers and spin-off shepherds Rick Berman and Brannon Braga and many other behind-the-scenes crew.

    The interviews and insights all point to the genius of Roddenberry’s creative vision which brought the series to life. However, the credit for the success that allowed Star Trek to gain a new series and new movies goes to his successors, who took over the show as a result of Roddenberry’s ailing health and death in 1991.  It was only when they shifted the show’s focus towards making it more about the characters and conflict, that the series soared to unprecedented heights.

  • Meg Ryan & John Mellencamp: What Caused Their Break Up?

    Actor Meg Ryan has split from her rocker boyfriend, John Mellencamp, after three years of dating. The couple reportedly called it quits earlier this month, said a friend of Mellencamp’s to Closer Weekly. Sources close to the couple claim that it was the long distance between them that contributed to the end of the relationship.

    Ryan, 52, is based in New York, while Mellencamp, 62, lives in Indiana. While one source claims that it was the distance that “ultimately was the cause,” another friend close to Mellencamp revealed that another cause for the breakup could be the fact that he didn’t like the attention that came with dating Ryan, a Hollywood actress. “I bet he’ll stay away from dating another famous person for a while,” said the source to Closer Weekly.

    Ryan’s ex-boyfriend has been candid before about his distaste for city life and his desire to stay in Indiana. He told Rolling Stone in 2013 that he was too sensitive to live in the city and see things such as trash on the streets. He said he would never leave Indiana. “I’m going to die here,” he said. His determination to stay in Indiana may not have left much room in the relationship for Ryan’s bustling life in New York.

    The couple began dating in 2010 after Mellencamp split from his wife of 18 years, Elaine Irwin. Ryan and Mellencamp kept a low profile as a couple during their relationship, but were previously seen together on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard and running errands in SoHo in New York. People Magazine reported that they were last seen together in May.

    E! News reported that Ryan and Mellencamp are focused on their respective projects now that their relationship has ended. Ryan is directing a film called Ithaca, a World War II drama that stars her former Sleepless In Seattle co-star Tom Hanks. Meanwhile, Mellencamp is releasing his 22nd album Plain Spoken in November.

  • Jennifer Lopez Tells Chelsea Handler She Would Marry Again, For A Fourth Time

    In an appearance on Chelsea Lately last Thursday, Jennifer Lopez revealed that she was open to getting married for the fourth time in her life if she met the right guy. The singer, who recently celebrated her 45th birthday, was asked by host Chelsea Handler about her “romantic gameplan” and if marriage was in the future for her.

    “I would get married again. Why not?” replied Lopez. “I like being in a relationship, I do. I’m not one to whore around and stuff like that, that’s not my thing.”

    Her lovelife is one of the most-watched in Hollywood, with Lopez having been married thrice before and dating high-profile celebrities in between. She was married to Ojani Noa from 1997 to 1998, to dancer Cris Judd from 2001 to 2003, and 10 years to Marc Anthony, with whom she had her now six-year-old twins Emme and Max. Meanwhile, her list of celebrity boyfriends includes music mogul P. Diddy, actor Ben Affleck and dancer Casper Smart, whom she dated from 2011 until a few months ago.

    Handler also approached Lopez about the topic of dating younger guys, since her last boyfriend was Smart, who is 27 years old. The singer said, “I dated one younger guy. My last boyfriend.” When asked if she had no preference for younger men, Lopez replied, “I just go on a connection with a person. I don’t really plan things out, they just happen. I need to plan better.”

    She then brushed the topic aside, saying, “You know what, I don’t want to put that out in the universe. It’s easy, whatever. It’s gonna happen. I don’t know. Let’s not talk about it.”

    The topic came about while Lopez was asked by Handler about her new movie, The Boy Next Door, which is set to be released in January 2015. In the R-rated film, Lopez plays a woman who has an affair with a teenager played by actor Ryan Guzman.

  • Chris Brown’s Party Gets Shot Up, Suge Knight Wounded

    Early Sunday morning, a party that singer Chris Brown was throwing at the 1OAK Club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood was disrupted when a shooting occurred, injuring three people. Among the wounded was hip-hop mogul Marion “Suge” Knight, 49, founder of Death Row Records.

    Brown, 25, was throwing the party to celebrate the MTV Video Music Awards. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Jeff Gordon, told CNN that shots had been fired in the club at 1:30 AM, and that the victims, two men and one woman, would recover from their wounds.

    Witnesses claim that the shots were targeted at Brown, who was apparently unhurt by the incident. He was reportedly seen angrily climbing up onto a bar moments after the shots were fired, while bouncers were screaming at the clubbers to get down. The party was attended by a multitude of celebrities, including singer Justin Bieber, rapper The Game, model Tyson Beckford and Apl de Ap of the Black Eyed Peas.

    At 5:45 AM, Brown tweeted about the incident, saying, “It’s disappointing that we as a society can#t have fun or enjoy ourselves without any altercations sometimes. Miss me with the bullsh*t!!!”

    Brown is still on probation for beating Rihanna, who was his girlfriend at the time, on the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards.

    Meanwhile, Knight and the two other victims were brought to Cedars Sinai Hospital to be treated for their injuries. Knight was reportedly shot twice, injuring his stomach and arm, and walked out of the club after the incident, where he was spotted by a police officer and picked up by an ambulance.

    The gunmen who performed the shooting were reportedly apprehended as police searched the nightclub for clues, evacuated the venue and detained some people for questioning.

  • Casey Kasem’s Wife Wants Him Buried In Norway

    Officials in Norway are deciding on whether to grant the request of Casey Kasem’s wife to bury his body in Oslo in the face of protests from his children. Kasem’s children from his first wife are contesting Jean Kasem’s claim that he wanted to be buried in Norway, saying that the prominent radio DJ and television host had always wanted to be buried in California, where he lived for 53 years of his life.

    A Norwegian government official told NBC News that they had recently received a letter from Kasem’s children and friends asking them not to grant the request. Oslo’s Managing Director of Funeral Service Wenche Elizabeth Madsen Eriksson said that the letter has prompted them to consult attorneys about the matter. She said that the letter claims that Kasem had wanted to be buried in Forest Lawn in Glendale and that Jean did not allow Kasem’s children to visit him for a year before his death. They reportedly claimed that Jean had no Norwegian ancestry and that she wasn’t planning to move to the country.

    Eriksson confirmed that Kasem’s remains had arrived in Oslo. “Even if the reason [Jean Kasem] gave us wasn’t right, we don’t necessarily have to reject it. Casey Kasem can still be buried in Norway. But we must consider the whole situation.”

    The burial controversy follows reports that Kasem was moved by his wife from Berkley East Convalescent Hospital several times to Las Vegas and Seattle against doctor’s orders. In June, Kasem’s daughter Kerri was appointed with conservatorship of her father by a court and she was able to move him to Washington’s St. Anthony Hospital, where he died on June 15. However, Jean reportedly claimed his remains and sent them to a funeral home for autopsy, where they stayed for a month before she moved them to Montreal, Canada before Kasem’s children could request for their own autopsy.

    “[Jean is] hiding the body away from the authorities, family and friends,” said a representative of Kerri’s.

  • Jennifer Aniston Takes On ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Nominated By Justin Theroux

    As one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, actress Jennifer Aniston can be a strong advocate for many types of campaigns and causes. She recently showed her support for the awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

    On Saturday, Aniston’s fiancé, actor Justin Theroux, performed the ALS ice bucket challenge and included her name as one of his nominees to take the challenge next. The ALS ice bucket challenge is a social media campaign that recently went viral, and entails people getting a bucket of ice and water poured over their heads within 24 hours of receiving the challenge or forfeiting the action by donating to ALS research. Like Theroux tagging Aniston, people must tag friends to do the challenge.

    What Is ALS?

    Theroux’s video of his ALS ice bucket challenge starts with The Leftovers actor talking to an unidentified friend about the setup of the challenge before he faces the camera and introduces himself. Aniston’s groom-to-be then states that he is accepting the ALS ice bucket challenge, which was given to him by Damon Lindelof, showrunner of TV series Lost, and Jason Bateman, film and TV actor.

    Theroux goes on to list his nominations for taking the ALS ice bucket challenge. He includes members of the Labyrinth Theater Company in New York, one of which is actor Sam Rockwell, and adds Mulholland Drive director David Lynch.

    “And because she’s not here to see me do this, Ms. Jennifer Aniston,” he concludes before the bucket of ice water is poured over his head. In the video, Theroux can be seen gasping for breath and unable to talk due to the cold, while his friends can be heard laughing in the background. Aniston must now either take a video of herself performing the challenge or make a donation to ALS research.

    Justin Theroux does ALS ice bucket challenge after nominating Jennifer Aniston

    The video was posted by Jimmy Kimmel on YouTube, which helped circulate the video in support of the campaign.

    Watch Jennifer Aniston take on the ALS ice bucket challenge

  • Westboro Baptist Church Really Doesn’t Like Robin Williams

    On Thursday, extremist religious group Westboro Baptist Church capped off a barrage of hateful tweets directed at Robin Williams after his death with a threat to picket his funeral. The group is notorious for picketing the funerals of dead American soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan with hateful messages such as “God Blew Up The Troops” and “Thank God For Dead Soldiers”. It revealed that it planned to do the same at the beloved actor’s funeral.

    Westboro Baptist Church recently tweeted , “God hates Robin Williams. Westboro Baptist Church hopes to preach outside his funeral.” The group has accused the actor of “mocking God & promoting sin” and “pushing flagrant debauchery, and hedonism” throughout his long career as a comedian and dramatic performer.

    Williams reportedly committed suicide on August 11 and died because of “asphyxia due to hanging,” according to authorities. While reports circulated that Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider was planning a small and intimate funeral in San Francisco for her husband that would be attended by family and friends, the Westboro Baptist Church expressed their intention to picket the event.

    The hateful tweets from Westboro Baptist Church elicited different types of reactions from friends and fans of the late actor, including a rant from the Australian talk show host and comedian Adam Hills. “If you really believe in standing up to those threatening the Christian way of life, Westboro Baptist Church, how about putting your money where your mouth is, taking a direct flight to Iraq and picketing the people threatening to behead Christians if they don’t convert?” he said. He then offered to pay for every member of the Westboro Baptist Church to fly to Iraq to take up his challenge. The group responded to Hill’s message by tweeting, “Iraq here we come.”

    Other friends of Williams expressed support for him with messages of love. The non-profit group Planting Peace raised more than $50,000 as of August 19 for the benefit of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was one of Williams’ favorite charities. “We felt like launching a fundraiser for a charity Robin loved would be the perfect way to honor him and counteract the message of hate and intolerance that the Westboro Baptist Church continues to convey,” said Aaron Jackson, co-founder of Planting Peace.

    Meanwhile, astronaut Buzz Aldrin posted a message on his Facebook page sharing his personal struggle with depression, from which Williams had also suffered. “As individuals and as a nation we need to be compassionate and supportive of all who suffer and give them the resources to face life,” he wrote.

    The Mrs. Doubtfire actor’s memorial service was held on Tuesday in San Francisco, but members of the Westboro Baptist Church failed to follow through on their promise to picket it.

    Westboro Baptist Church: GOD HATES FAGS

  • Emma Stone Will Debut On Broadway In ‘Cabaret’ Revival

    Emma Stone Will Debut On Broadway In ‘Cabaret’ Revival

    Screen star Emma Stone will debut on Broadway’s revival of the classic musical Cabaret as Michelle Williams ends her run. Stone will take over Wiliams role as Sally Bowles, the troubled 19-year-old cabaret performer.

    The Roundabout Theatre Company officially released the news Wednesday, welcoming Stone into the cast for a limited run. The 25-year-old’s prior work include The Amazing Spiderman 2, Crazy, Stupid, Love and Easy A.

    USA Today reported that Williams’ final curtain call as Bowles will be on November 9. Stone will take over two days after November 11 and will remain in the cast through February 11.  The show is scheduled to run until March 29 with Alan Cumming staying put in his role as the chilling Emcee who oversees all the cabaret action.

    Cabaret is a Kander and Ebb musical first produced on Broadway in 1966. It was based on the 1951 Broadway play I Am a Camera which, in turn, was based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood. It was very well received and later inspired numerous other productions in New York and London. It was also adapted into film in 1972 which cast Liza Minnelli as Bowles.

    The current show is a revival of the revival which ran for more than 2,000 performances from 1998 to 2004. That run won the Tony Award in 1998 for best musical revival.

    The story is set in Berlin before the Second World War, just as the Nazis are rising to power. It is a peek in and around the Kit Kat Klub, the life of showgirl Sally Bowles and her relationship with American writer, Cliff Bradshaw.  The plot also highlights a doomed romance between a German boarding house owner and an elderly Jewish fruit vendor.

    In addition to Minnelli and Williams, the part of Bowles has also been played by Judi Dench, Gina Gershon, Jill Haworth, Melina Kanakaredes, Jane Leeves, Natasha Richardson, Alyson Reed and Lea Thompson, among others.

  • Teresa Giudice Is Begging Bravo To Keep Cameras Out Of Courtroom

    Adding to attempts to secure her privacy and keep a low profile before her September 23 sentencing date, The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice has begged producers of the show at Bravo to refrain from filming her in the courthouse. Giudice and her husband Joe have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud, to which the couple pled guilty after reportedly striking a deal with federal prosecutors. The Giudices are to be sentenced on September 23, 2014.

    RadarOnline reported that Giudice has asked Bravo executives not to send cameras to the courthouse for her sentencing, but Bravo is ignoring her plea in order to catch this juicy bit of Giudice’s life. The network is reportedly going to use the footage for the reunion episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

    Teresa Giudice and her husband admit to fraud

    A source said, “Teresa doesn’t want cameras from Bravo to be at her sentencing, and has told producers of the show her thoughts. Bravo doesn’t care what Teresa wants or thinks, and they are done protecting her.” Because ratings of the show have been dismal as of late, the network hopes that footage of Giudice will boost their numbers due to the drama that’s sure to happen at the sentencing, according to the source.

    Bravo is reportedly frustrated with the reality TV star for her bad-mouthing, diva behavior and the fact that she has decided to keep a low profile. “They tried to tell Teresa that she was contractually obligated to show but her legal crisis manager, Wendy Feldman, shut that down. Teresa’s contract is actually very loose, and doesn’t clearly dictate what media she must do,” said a source to RadarOnline.

    Giudice is one of the more popular members of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and earns up to $250,000 per season.

  • Mariah Carey: Marriage To Nick Cannon Seems Doomed

    Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are on “trial separation” and are possibly on their way to a final split according to reports. Sources claim that the pop diva has been in serious closed-door discussions with her divorce lawyers. Cannon, on the other hand, is not actively seeking counsel.

    “But Nick’s being more passive. He’s less inclined to pull the trigger, perhaps because of the kids. He’ll definitely wait for Mariah to file for divorce, but he won’t go down without a fight. He wants a chunk of her $500 million fortune.”

    The source added: “Nick’s sensible and realizes that the twins would have a more stable existence if Mariah had full custody. But he wants generous visitation rights.”

    The couple caused a stir when they married in 2008 after a two-month whirlwind courtship. She was then 39 and he was 27. Carey gave birth to their children, fraternal twins Monroe and Moroccan Scott, in 2011.

    They used to be very public about their affections for each other, with Cannon posting numerous over-the-top tweets of endearment. Their followers, however, have noticed they have gone cold on social media in the past months.

    Reports of jealousy and suspicion further confirm that the couple are heading separate ways. Carey was apparently so suspect of Cannon’s nightclub hosting gigs that she hired a security guard “…to keep him away from the girls”

    Insiders claim it won’t be long before they officially announce their break up. “When they spend time together these days, it’s just bickering. Mariah seemed to give up on the marriage earlier this year. And now he’s checked out too.”

    The couple had been living apart for most of this year, using home improvements as their cover. They are renovating their $10 million loft in Tribeca and have put their Bel Air mansion up for sale.

    The America’s Got Talent host is apparently staying at his grandparents’ house in the meantime.

    He was spotted Monday night at Tao Downtown and was seemingly all smiles despite the rumors. He was there to celebrate a birthday party for Sujit Kundu, the founder of DJ management firm SKAM artist.

    Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Top 10 Marriage Facts

  • Haley Joel Osment Set To Open Portland Film Festival With ‘Sex Ed’

    If you’re wondering whatever happened to The Sixth Sense wonder child Haley Joel Osment, you’ll finally get your answer at the upcoming Portland Film Festival. The film Sex Ed stars Osment and is opening the festival on August 26, Tuesday.

    After his success starring in movies such as Forrest Gump, AI and Pay It Forward as a child, Osment’s film career petered out. His performance in Sex Ed signals a comeback that people who have seen the movie are starting to believe will actually happen. “It’s genuine, funny, and not the least bit precious about its material, which involves inner-city students and an indisputably adult Haley Joel Osment as their plucky sex ed teacher. This is exactly the sort of movie you want to stumble across on the festival circuit,” wrote Ben Coleman of The Portland Mercury.

    Sex Ed will open the Portland Film Festival at the Crystal Ballroom. Osment will make an appearance at the premiere with director Isaac Feder and several other cast members. In the film Osment plays a college graduate who wants to teach algebra but finds himself roped into becoming a sex education teacher while still being a virgin.

    This is the second year of the Portland Film Festival, which started last year and was considered to be a success. Independent filmmakers Joshua Leake and Jay Cornelius started the festival in order to screen new films during an event that is “by filmmakers and for filmmakers.” Independent films and documentaries are featured at the event.

    The Portland Film Festival closes on September 1 with a film directed by another celebrity, Jason Momoa of Conan The Barbarian (2011) and Game Of Thrones fame. His film, Road To Paloma, stars Wes Studi and Lisa Bonet. Momoa will also be conducting a workshop on using DSLR cameras with his director of photography, Brian Mendoza.

  • Katie Holmes Does Not Blame Tom Cruise For Slowdown In Her Career

    Actress Katie Holmes achieved the height of her popularity at a young age with the success of TV series Dawson’s Creek, but her career saw a definite lull in the period she was married to Tom Cruise. Holmes, however, recently told Dujour Magazine that her lack of movie roles at the time was not caused by her relationship with the huge star. She simply chalks it up to the way the movie business works.

    With the birth of her daughter, Suri, in 2006, Holmes’ film and TV career saw a slowdown. This year, though, her career has been resurrected with a slew of projects in the pipeline, not to mention her new film The Giver. “It’s the life of an actor. We don’t really have a lot of choice in the matter. You have dry spells, and then you have times when there is a lot of opportunity,” she said. She recounted how her father, when she was a young actor, had advised her not to let these changes affect how she lived her life.

    Holmes also spoke about how she has become more comfortable with acting over time. “Early on, I could never get out of my head… I was afraid that I was going to get fired,” she revealed. “But the more projects you do, the older you get, the more life experience you get, you start to understand storytelling better. So you’re a little bit more confident going in. You’re not afraid of getting fired: You just want to contribute.”

    In her latest project, The Giver, Holmes plays the mother of the lead character, Jonah. Her character is a respected member of a society that restricts freedom of choice. Although Holmes has kept silent since her divorce on the subject of her ex-husband and his allegiance to the Church of Scientology, some are reportedly seeing the parallels between the fictional world in The Giver and the real-life religion in which the actress used to take part.

    Katie Holmes’ latest movie project – ‘The Giver’

  • Gaza Strip: Israel And Hamas Trade Rocket Fire Amid Truce Break Down

    The latest round of cease-fire talks between the Israelis and the Palestinian militants ended brusquely on Tuesday after a round of Hamas rockets rained in Southern Israel.

    According to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cease-fire negotiators to go home after a total of 10 rockets launched from Gaza had fallen on Tuesday. This is in violation of an existing truce that Cairo was hoping to extend through the cease-fire talks.

    Israeli F-16s responded by firing up to six of their own missiles in the Sheikh Radwan, the neighborhood of the Gaza City home of Mohammed Yassin Dalu, late Tuesday. Dalu is reportedly the head of the Hamas rocket division.

    The Palestinians said Israel believed that Muhammad Deif, the commander in chief of Hamas’s military, was inside the home and was the bombing’s primary target. It is not clear whether Mr. Deif had been in the house at the time. Neither Hamas nor Israel has provided evidence of his survival or demise. Instead, Hamas accounts claim that one of Deif’s wives and their infant son died in the attack. Three other residents were also killed.

    Reports state that this is probably the fifth Israeli attempt to assassinate Deif.  He has been No.1 on Israel’s most wanted list for over twenty years. The fact that he eluded Israel by living underground for decades, and that he survived previous assassination attempts, has made him a symbol of Hamas’s staying power.

    In the 24 hours since the truce fell apart, Palestinian militants in Gaza fired more than 150 rockets at Israel. Israel had also fired at dozens of sites in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry said 22 people were killed by Israel.

    “We remain very concerned about developments in Gaza,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Wednesday, as reported by Washington Post. “We call for an immediate end to rocket fire and hostilities and a return to cease-fire talks.”

    Harf continued to say that Secretary of State John Kerry talked to Netanyahu to discuss Gaza and efforts toward a cease-fire but that she could not provide further details. She repeated that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself.