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  • Shonda Rhimes: Her Diversity Award Makes Her Angry

    Make no mistake: Shonda Rhimes is very happy to be receiving her Diversity Award. The honor comes by way of the Directors Guild of America Awards, which were held on Saturday evening in Los Angeles, CA.

    “When I heard I was getting a Diversity Award, I was really, truly, profoundly honored.”

    She said that she “began to get calls from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, etc.”, all asking for her to comment on the award. Although she and Scandal Executive Producer Betsy Beers were glad to receive the honor, Shonda Rhimes felt another emotion that others may not have anticipated.

    She was angry.

    “While I’m still really and truly profoundly honored to receive this award, but I was also a little pissed off. So was Betsy. So over many, many, many bottles of wine we discussed this.”

    Rhimes explains that the anger stems from the fact that there even has to be an award in the first place.

    “Like, there’s such a lack of people hiring women and minorities that when someone does it on a regular basis, they are given an award.”

    Diversity remains a huge problem in the movie and television industries, as many products remain noticeably absent of minorities or suffer a lack of good leading roles for women actresses.

    Rhimes has been instrumental with bringing about change with shows like “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Private Practice”, and most recently the highly popular “Scandal“.

    In fact the success of Scandal on ABC may have helped influence networks to invest in shows featuring diverse casting. FOX seems to be taking the call for diversification most seriously, with shows like the wildly successful “Sleepy Hollow” and Golden Globe winning “Brooklyn 99” standing out for having noticeably ethnically diverse casts.

    Though the Domino effect may be happening, more work needs to be done to open up all areas of entertainment to people based on their talents rather than limiting them based on race, gender, or other forms of bigotry.

    Rhimes raises an important point, but didn’t want anyone to be mistaken in thinking she’s ungracious. Rhimes is, “proud that the DGA recognizes a problem and are trying to fix it.”

    “The DGA, by the way, is the only Guild giving out this type of award in an attempt to draw attention to the problem, which I think is kind of badass.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • President Francois Hollande And First Lady Separate

    Valerie Trierweiler will not be standing by her man. The embattled President Francois Hollande has been at the center of a major scandal involving an affair with actress Julie Gayet. Now it has been reported that Hollande’s partner, Valerie Trierweiler, has left him.

    He and the First Lady were going through some “painful moments” after the story broke, and it seems that Trierweiler is unable to endure the scandal any longer. Trierweiler had in fact been hospitalized after learning about the affair.

    According to French magazine Closer, which broke the story, the president had been having an affair with Gayet for two years. The president threatened legal action, while refusing to confirm or deny the truth of the allegations. The fact that the first lady has moved out has only served to increase speculation.

    Hollande was quoted as saying to Agence France-Presse, “I wish to make it known that I have ended my shared life (partnership) with Valerie Trierweiler”.

    Trierweiler made her farewells via twitter:

    She wrote, “All my gratitude goes to the extraordinary people at the Élysées. I will never forget the devotion or emotion at the time of leaving,”

    The 59-year-old president’s ratings have gone down drastically since being elected. However, the dissatisfaction of the French people is chiefly due to Hollande’s leadership.

    French pollster Ifop with Le Journal du Dimanche asked citizens how they felt about the president after the cheating scandal and amazingly 80% did not have a difference of opinion.

    This is to say that many people chose to like or dislike him as a leader based on his actions in office rather than his personal life. This is a stark contrast to American politics where a politician’s job skills and moral image are practically one and the same.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dinesh D’Souza Indicted Over Campaign Law Violations

    Is this a case of too many stones being thrown inside a glass house?

    Conservative pundit and author Dinesh D’Souza was indicted this past Thursday after being charged with the violation of federal campaign laws. He’s expected to be arraigned by this afternoon.

    D’Souza’s troubles began when members of the FBI noticed some discrepancies during a routine review of campaign filings with the FEC after the 2012 election period.

    Allegedly, the controversial author encouraged individuals to make huge campaign donations to an unnamed individual running for office. He then compensated them for their donations. The donations, which are said to have been upwards of $20,000, far exceeded the set limit of $2,500 per donation.

    The authorities followed up on the matter immediately, which Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara credits to the “zero tolerance approach to corruption of the electoral process.”

    Bharara said that the charges were “a serious violation of federal campaign finance laws,” but according to D’Souza’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman, it was just D’Souza trying to help someone he cared about.

    In a statement, Brafman called the situation, “at most an act of misguided friendship.”

    The unnamed “friend” in this instance is thought to have been Senate candidate Wendy Long (R), who was defeated by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D).

    D’Souza and Long knew each other from when they both attended Dartmouth College. In addition, his name was present on an invitation for a fundraiser that he apparently co-hosted in support of Long.

    This “straw donor” case could land D’Souza in jail for several years if he is hit with the maximum for the charges. He faces one count of making illegal campaign contributions and one count of causing false statements to be made to the FEC.

    D’Souza, was also weathering a personal scandal in relation to claiming to be engaged to one woman while still married to his wife of 20 years.

    Again, glass houses and stones. When you make a career of throwing them as some pundits have, it’s best to not be surprised when the glass shards come tumbling down on you.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kerry Washington, Scandal Costars Talk Baby Names and “Steamy” Episodes Ahead

    The cast of ABC’s Scandal showed up in round numbers for the network’s Television Critics Association party at the 2014 Winter Press Tour.

    Actress Kerry Washington, who portrays the famous problem solver Olivia Pope, along with Scandal cohorts Columbus Short, Katie Lowes, Darby Stanchfield, Guillermo Díaz, and Mellie Grant all made appearances at the big event.

    However, most would expect such a network event to be shrouded around internal business aspects relative to the network’s current projects and upcoming productions. But, the cast dished about a number of other things – baby names in particular.

    Since Washington is expecting her first child with her husband NFL player Nnamdi Asomughas, E! News reports that the cast had a number of great things to say about the expectant mother.

    But, Columbus Short, known as Harrison to Scandal fanatics, offered some insight on what the couple plans to name their little bundle of joy – sort of.

    “She’s naming her baby Columbus, whether it’s a boy or a girl. She was just like, ‘Columbus, that name is sweet,’” he quipped. He also insists that the little one will probably inherit the head gladiator’s intellect, fashionable flair, and gift of gab.

    “I think Kerry Washington’s baby is going to come out fully able to speak at Scandal pace,” he joked. “The baby’s going to come out with just a white coat with the collar popped.”

    (image)

    Stanchfield, who portrays Abby of ‘Team Gladiator’ on the show, also weighed in with her high regards of Washington, as she’s “so, so excited” for her because she assured the actress is “going to be the most amazing mother.” She even revealed that Washington is already quite maternal and rather similar to Olivia Pope even when the cameras aren’t rolling.

    “She’s already a mom. She already mothers all of us. She’s very Olivia Pope to us, making sure we’re all taken care of and happy,” Stanchfield went on. “She’s really glowing. She’s really happy. She’s genuinely so looking forward to this moment, so it’s fun to share in it with her.”

    It also wouldn’t be an official Scandal Q&A brief if the cast didn’t at least hint about what can be expected in the upcoming episodes of the show. So, they did! “The first four episodes are literally, you’re going to need respirators. It’s crazy,” Short teased, while Stanchfield added, “The First Lady has some really good, steamy stuff coming up. And Harrison [Short], we finally get to see a lot more rollout for him, which is great.”

    (image)

    Unfortunately, that’s all the fans will get until Scandal takes over primetime television Feb. 27 at 10/9C only on ABC!

    Image via Facebook | Kerry Washington (1) (2)  Facebook | Scandal (1)

  • Kerry Washington Bares Pregnant Belly at SAG Awards

    Kerry Washington of Scandal fame wore a rather short top–baring her belly at the SAG Awards on Saturday evening. She donned a sparkling bright pink crop top designed by Prada for the event, along with a long black satin skirt. As the cameras snapped photos they caught not only how pretty the Scandal star was, but her burgeoning bump underneath her top as well.

    “I don’t have anything to hide anymore!” she said to Ross Matthews on the red carpet prior to the event–referring, of course, to her bared belly.

    Wearing her hair up in a sleek bun adorned with a black satin ribbon, Kerry Washington was indeed stunning, but no doubt had the entire place buzzing about her bare (and rather big) baby bump.

    A bit later in the evening Washington shared a photo of herself with pal Mindy Kaling via Twitter, allowing fans a glimpse of her beautiful ensemble, but not quite showing the exposed bump.

    When Kerry Washington attended the Golden Globes, just about a week ago, she kept her baby bump under wraps, wearing instead a gorgeous white Balenciaga gown. She told Ryan Seacrest that she had brought the very best date of all to the Golden Globes–referring, of course, to her unborn baby.

    Critics always have things–both pro and con–to say about the attire celebrities choose to wear at these very public events. It will certainly be interesting to learn come Monday morning if Kerry Washington’s name makes the talk show circuit. Will they cut to footage of Saturday night’s SAG Awards and show stills of Kerry wearing her glitzy pink crop top with her belly peeking out from underneath? What do you think the general consensus will be about her style of choice?

    As you can well see from the film clip above, Washington is several months into her pregnancy. Different sources are reporting an array of guesses, but it looks and sounds like she is at least six months along. Do you think pregnant mothers should revert to the fashion modes of decades past and keep their pregnant bellies covered or do you like the new style Kerry Washington sported at the SAG Awards?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Chris Christie Heads Florida Fundraisers After Traffic Fiasco

    This weekend, Chris Christie heads south – and hopes that his political future doesn’t.

    As he travels to Florida, the New Jersey governor will be making be his first out of state trip following his lane closure scandal last year. During the event, also known as “Bridgegate”, a traffic holdup on the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee resulted in closed lanes and gridlock. It was surmised that perhaps Christie’s aides may have been involved as a recently released email from former deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly said, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee”. Subsequently, it was believed this move may have been at Christie’s direction – the motive conceivably having been to penalize the town’s mayor for not endorsing him.

    He has already taken measures by distancing himself from those involved and spending a January 9th news conference disputing any direct connection to the matter over the course of two hours. However, as 20 subpoena targets were announced this Friday, the pot is getting stirred anew.

    Thus, Christie will spend a good deal of his visit attempting to restore a sense of confidence in his Republican donors by assuring them that he is handling the allegations and that he is still a feasible presidential candidate for 2016. While there, he will attend several fundraisers to assist Republican Gov. Rick Scott and simultaneously seek to assuage any fears long-time and newcomer supporters alike might have about his negative media attention. His Saturday schedule will include helping to raise money for Scott at a luncheon in Orlando, a Palm Beach event with one of the nation’s largest sugar producers, and a Fort Lauderdale fundraiser at the residence of Bill Rubin (a lobbying firm president and friend of Scott). Sunday, Christie will appear at two more Palm Peach fundraisers in addition to a meeting organized by Home Depot co-founder, Ken Langone, and comprising major financial backers.

    When asked how supporters felt about Christie’s current controversy, Langone said potential donors have told him they were impressed by Christie’s decisiveness and candor at the Trenton news conference.

    Others, like Al Hoffman (Republican donor who co-chaired campaign of President George W. Bush), claimed Christie’s public image may have been marred in the eyes of some fundraisers, but that his continued openness and apologetic approach would help. He said, “He’s apologizing all over the place, which I think is good. It will help re-establish his credibility base, which is pretty high anyway. But more of it won’t hurt.”

    At the outset of February, Christie intends to travel to Dallas and Houston for RGA finance events before heading to Chicago for fundraisers as well.

    Image via Vine

  • Nun Birth in Italy Quite the Shocker

    In “oops” news, a nun who didn’t know she was pregnant gave birth to a nine pound baby boy Wednesday, in the small, central Italian city of Rieti.

    The 31-year-old nun, originally from El Salvador, said she started having stomach pains Wednesday morning and called an ambulance. A few hours later she was in a hospital recovering from labor.

    “I did not know I was pregnant,” she stated. “I only felt a stomach pain.”

    The new mother named the baby Francesco, or Francis, which is the pope’s title and one of the most popular names in Italy. The moniker is also likely in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the country’s national patron saint.

    Those in the hospital began to take a collection of items for the nun and her son, including clothes and other donations.

    Many took to Twitter to voice their opinions about the news:

    The nun belongs to the “Little Disciples of Jesus” convent, which takes care of a home for the elderly. Her fellow nuns were “surprised” to hear of the news she had given birth.

    Simone Petrangeli, the mayor of Rieti, has asked the public and the media to respect the nun’s privacy. Rieti, a small town of only about 47,700, has gained international attention with the news of the nun’s new baby.

    Local pastor Don Fabrizio Borrello stated that the nun plans on keeping and caring for the baby.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • U.S. Attorney In New Jersey Opens Inquiry Into Christie Bridge Scandal

    Amid all of the recent scandal involving the New Jersey Governor’s aides playing traffic cops with the George Washington Bridge, Chris Christie has finally taken action today. He fired the top aide who was at the center the bridge incident, Bridget Anne Kelly.

    The others who were involved, David Wildstein and Bill Baroni, Port Authority appointees and close political associates of Christie, resigned in December.

    He obviously scrambled to fire the main political aide involved, just as the announcement came that the U.S. Attorney in N.J. was launching a full on inquiry into the activities involving the intentional traffic jam and Governor Christies’ staff members.

    The closure of several lanes on the George Washington Bridge was proven, via emails collected by NorthJersey.com, that the closure was an effort to retaliate against Fort Lee’s Mayor Mark Sokolich (D), who did not endorse Christie for reelection.

    “I am embarrassed and humiliated by the conduct of some of the people on my team,” Christie said. “I am who I am, but I am not a bully.”

    U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman has opened a probe into the lane closures, his spokesperson Rebekah Carmichael said in a statement.

    “The Port Authority Office of Inspector General has referred the matter to us, and our office is reviewing it to determine whether a federal law was implicated,” Carmichael added.

    The George Washington Bridge, is one of the busiest in the world, connecting New York City to Fort Lee. The four-day lane closure in September caused hours-long traffic jams and considerable delays to motorists, school buses and ambulances.

    This incident is likely to tarnish Christie’s image and national standing as he considers a 2016 bid for the White House.

    Christie said at his news conference on Thursday that he had been misled by his staff and knew nothing of the lane closings before they occurred. He also said he was “blind-sided” by the emails.

    In the most damning email, Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly wrote to a Port Authority executive in August, saying: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”

    The executive, David Wildstein, replied: “Got it.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Chris Christie – Did He Thwart His Presidential Plan?

    Could the Republican Presidential hopeful just shoot himself right out of the 2016 election?

    It appears he is – at the least – in some political hot water, and has been since September 2013.

    NorthJersy.com got hold of some pretty incriminating emails that indicate the George Washington Bridge was shut down by the Governor’s top aides, with the intention of creating traffic jams in order to punish the Democratic mayor of nearby town, who didn’t support Christie’s reelection.

    In an effort to release himself of responsibility, Christie released a statement Wednesday afternoon denying the traffic scheme, saying he was “outraged” at the “inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct.”

    “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” one of the aides, Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly reportedly had said in an e-mail to Port Authority employee and Christie associate David Wildstein.

    Sounds a bit sarcastic doesn’t it, for a government aid to take obvious pleasure in causing a major traffic jam, which included school buses that had difficulty getting through the mess to deliver children to their schools and homes. Wildstein counseled an associate to not feel bad about the kids’ plight.

    “They are the children of Buono voters,” Wildstein wrote, according to NorthJersey.com. He was referring to Barbara Buono, the Democratic candidate Christie defeated in November.

    With this little prank on his record, regardless of whether it was him directly or his aides, causes many to question how this may affect Christie’s political future. It will “probably destroy Christie’s chances in 2016” as New York Magazine’s Jonathan Chait argues in his recent post, Chris Christie 2016: A Bridge to Nowhere.

    This scandal shows that Christie is somewhat of a bully, with a little vindictiveness to boot, and sort of a bull in a china shop in some of his political and daily doings.

    At best, for Christie’s sake, nothing has come forward to tie him directly to this scandal; he could fire his aides, promise to investigate and might actually slide through this with just a few bumps and bruises.

    It might have happened already, with Christie’s recent statement about the whole affair:

    “What I’ve seen today for the first time is unacceptable,” he said. “I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better. This behavior is not representative of me or my Administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions.”

    “I think the whole thing will fade within a week unless proof emerges that Christie had a bigger role in it,” writes Allahpundit at the right-leaning Hot Air web site.

    Either way, Christie holds some liberal views on social issues that the GOP probably won’t accept and could just be another obstacle to his political future if he does run in 2016.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Rod Blagojevich Will Have His Day In Court

    If you thought you’d seen the last of Rod Blagojevich (and his hair) you were wrong.

    The former Illinois governor had been convicted in 2011 of a variety of corruption charges. The most controversial being his attempts to sell President Obama’s former senate seat. After having spent the last couple of years in jail, he will have a chance to strike at the heart of that particular allegation.

    Still the defense’s question is a doozy: If ethically questionable behavior is out in the open rather than behind closed doors, shouldn’t that be granted special consideration?

    Blagojevich’s attorney, Leonard Goodman argues that his client thought of his dealings as “political horse trading” and that they were absolutely legal. The quid pro quo nature of the issue and the legal question raised clearly piqued the interests of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A panel of three judges has agreed to hear the appeal. There is no guarantee that being able to argue the question will result in an overturned conviction. At best, Blagojevich can hope to have his sentence reduced. Many feel that it’s likely that this is his very last chance to avoid serving a full sentence.

    His defense claims that the jury that convicted Blagojevich didn’t get to hear the whole story. Allegedly, the things that he did were for causes and programs meant to positively benefit his constituents. In other words, what “Blago” was really up to was looking out for the little guy. It’s just that in the world of politics, you have to scratch a lot of backs to do it.

    The problem with this particular logic is that on the tapes that formed the cornerstone of evidence against him, Blagojevich can be heard saying, “”I’ve got this thing and it’s f*** golden. And I’m just not giving it up for f*** nothing.” This is in reference to Obama’s former seat.

    I’ve got this.
    It’s golden.
    I’m not giving it up for nothing.

    Those don’t sound like the words of a man who’s thinking about what he can do for someone other than himself. If the judges agree with this sentiment, then there’s a good chance it will be a decade before we see Rod Blagojevich’s name again.

    Image: Wikimedia Commons

  • Shonda Rhimes Talks “Scandal”…And The End

    Shonda Rhimes has said that she had a specific ending time for “Grey’s Anatomy”, but the show took over and now she says she can’t end it while she’s still interested in the characters she created.

    “I knew the end of Grey’s Anatomy, and then we kept going, so that I finally just had to write that and move past it,” Rhimes said. “Who knows, at this point, how long that show’s going to go? It’s going to go as long as I feel interested in what happens to those characters.”

    That’s not the case with “Scandal”, unfortunately enough for fans. Though she says she can’t reveal the specifics, she does have an ending in mind for the show.

    “It is very political,” Rhimes says. “The political landscape on the outside, in the real world, will change — possibly before “Scandal” is over. But I feel like there is a finite amount of Scandal to be told. So I know what the end of Scandal will be, and I feel really good about that. And I can see where the end point is. And I don’t think I’m going to change that. … I know how long I think it will be. But we’ll see.”

    “Scandal”–which is in its third season–just added a new cast member, much to the appreciation of fans. Khandi Alexander, of “CSI: Miami”, “Treme”, and “Newsradio” debuted her role on the show last night as Maya Lewis, mother of Kerry Washington’s character Olivia. From the very beginning, the show has gained positive reviews from African-American women who say they are happy to see a lead character of color on television. Several commenters took to NPR’s site following the interview with Rhimes to say how much they appreciate this new point of view.

    “Scandal resonated with me and many of my African American female friends from the very beginning because Olivia Pope is not a character we’ve ever seen before but that many black professional Women (on a much less dramatic level of course) can identify with. I’m glad the popularity of the show has expanded beyond our initial viewership and hope that it leads to more shows like it where females of all colors are lead characters in programs that buck the myopic view television has had of us for so long. The thought that Ms. Rimes can see where Scandal ends is something I don’t even want to think about but I’ll enjoy every crazy twist and turn until it does,” wrote Nicole S.

  • Khandi Alexander Begins “Scandal” Run Tonight

    Khandi Alexander, of “Treme”, “CSI:Miami”, and “ER” fame, also known from “NewsRadio”, if you remember that far back, has been tapped to join the cast of the immensely popular show, “Scandal“. She will start today, to play the role of Maya Lewis, who is Olivia Pope’s (Kerry Washington) mother, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    This will be a unique role, in that it will be in flashback form. It was revealed during last week’s episode that Huck (Guillermo Diaz) and Jake (Scott Foley) discovered that Maya Lewis apparently died on a civilian airliner that was shot down by Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn) before he became President.

    Goldwyn had this to say about the plot line, “The audience can imagine what that must be like to find out that your mother was murdered along with hundreds of other people. So the fact that her father was behind it is incomprehensible. It’s going to really complicate [Olivia and Rowan’s relationship] because Rowan remains a very dangerous person. It’s not like everyone can just expose him or take him out. It becomes a very volatile and dangerous situation. You can imagine how devastating it is for Olivia.”

    The choice ended ongoing speculation about who would take on the coveted role, with other guesses including such names as Phylicia Rashad, Lynn Whitfield, and Jenifer Lewis.

    Khandi Alexander is a very highly-respected actress in TV land. She won a Vision Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the “Treme” role in 2011, and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2012. Not too shabby.

    Scandal airs tonight and every Thursday at 10pm on ABC.

    Image via youtube

  • Khandi Alexander Joining “Scandal” Cast

    Khandi Alexander Joining “Scandal” Cast

    The Scandal cast is growing. Khandi Alexander of CSI Miami and Treme fame has signed on for a repeat role in the show where she will play Maya Lewis who is the mother of Kerry Washington’s character, Olivia. That’s right, Mama Pope has finally been found. Olivia’s previous beliefs surrounding her mother have been incorrect. The new discoveries will add a dramatic dimension for Olivia Pope to manage.

    Alexander’s first appearance on the show will be this Thursday, and it seems that excitement is already growing. Fans will see Alexander through a series of flashbacks during her first episode on the show. You know, in order to create the level of tension that has contributed to the show’s popularity.

    Tony Goldwyn who plays President Fitzgerald Grant spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the intense family dynamics that are being introduced into the show.

    “You can only imagine what that would be like to find out that your mother did not die in the way that you thought she died, in terms of it being a willful act. It’s surreal for Olivia. The audience can imagine what that must be like to find out that your mother was murdered along with hundreds of other people. So the fact that her father was behind it is incomprehensible. It’s going to really complicate [Olivia and Rowan’s relationship] because Rowan remains a very dangerous person. It’s not like everyone can just expose him or take him out. It becomes a very volatile and dangerous situation. You can imagine how devastating it is for Olivia.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyOzyWVF4sk

    The ABC hit airs at 10 p.m. on Thursdays.

    [Image Via YouTube]

  • Khandi Alexander Added to “Scandal” Cast

    Anyone who’s been following the third season 3 of Scandal has heard the name of yet another Pope – Maya Lewis. While she doesn’t actually bare the last name, Pope, she definitely is one. Now, everyone can put a face to the name. Hollywood Reporter confirms that “Treme” actress, Khandi Alexander has been been added to the cast of “Scandal” in a recurring role as Olivia Pope’s mother, Maya Lewis, better known as, “Mama Pope.”

    The prestigious honor comes after much consideration as fans speculated that the role would be portrayed by other notable actresses like ‘Phylicia Rashad, Lynn Whitfield, and Jenifer Lewis,’ reports Inquisitr. For those who missed Thursday’s explosive new Scandal episode, “More Cattle, Less Bull,” Huck unveiled the identity of Olivia’s mother while doing some investigative work on “Operation Remington” with Jake Ballard.

    The two discovered that Maya Lewis was a civilian passenger onboard the plane that was involved in the classified mission, Operation Remington. The plane was ordered to be shot down by Olivia’s father Rowan Pope. But, Rowan, also the head of B613 under the code name “Command,” isn’t totally at fault. However, it was revealed that even though he made the call, the blood actually wasn’t on his hands. President Fitzgerald Grant, who also happens to be Olivia’s lover, was actually responsible for the plane’s demise. Or was he?..

    Khandi Alexander currently stars as LaDonna Batiste-Williams on the HBO hit drama series, “Treme.” She is also known for her former role as Dr. Alexx Woods on CSI: Miami. Alexander won a Vision Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for “Treme” in 2011, and earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2012.

    Scandal airs on Thursdays at 10:00ET on ABC.

    Image(s) via DawgShed Discussion | Khandi Alexander     Twitter | ABC Scandal

  • Actress Kerry Washington Pregnant

    Scandal star, Kerry Washington and San Francisco 49er cornerback hubby, Nnamdi Asomugha have very exciting news. The two are expecting their first child.

    It’s been all smiles for Washington and Asomugha since their recent secret marriage only four short months ago. Now, the newlyweds have a beautiful new baby to bring even more happiness to their lives.

    The wonderful news was exclusively revealed to Us Weekly. According to a close friend, Washington is four months pregnant.

    According to E! Online, the star has been trying to hide her pregnant belly on her hit political thriller show, Scandal. It’s been pretty easy to hide the little bump with jackets and heavier clothing, but what about this weekend? Washington is hosting SNL this Saturday, so I’m sure the baby bump will make it’s debut.

    “She had planned to wait longer because the pregnancy is being well hidden on Scandal with her trademark coats, but it will be pretty obvious on Saturday Night Live this Saturday,” a source explains. “So she decided to start telling people now.”

    Check out her SNL promos below.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaLwzE0yN_U

    Photo Credit: YouTube

  • ‘Scandal’ Hits Ratings High with 10.51 Million Viewers

    “Scandal” is scorching, and it just got even hotter. The months of anticipation finally reached a erupting point on Thursday as Scandal fanatics around the country tuned in to catch the kick off of season three. Last night, the third season of the ABC political drama premiered, attracting a staggering 10.51 million viewers. USA Today reported that according to the Nielsen preliminary ratings, last night’s debut was recorded as a series high.

    In case you missed it, here’s the gist of last night’s scorcher. The Scandal season premiere opened with prolific problem-solver, Olivia Pope, now facing her own life spiraling out of control. Her affair with the president has been made public by a ‘Post Style-section reporter.” The episode picks up right where season two ended, with Pope still in the back seat of the limo with Rowan, the head of B613, who is actually her father.

    As the limo takes off, he states his disdain about the entire debacle. Daddy Pope is disappointed that Olivia would fall prey to “opening her knees,” and believing in the fairytale that a man of Fitz’s status would leave his wife to be with her. He also stated that she’d be the first Fitz would ‘throw under the bus’ to clear himself.

    The episode went on to reveal that a Secret Service Agent actually started the media frenzy stating that Fitz was having an affair with one of his most trusted advisors. However, he claims he did not leak Olivia’s name. While the reporter actually didn’t have a name at the time, it was enough ammunition to do a little digging. So, the question of the night was who would actually leak Olivia’s name?

    In a suspenseful twist, it was revealed that Fitz actually did leak Olivia’s name – with, of course, the help of one of his secret service agents. He instructed the agent to leak name drop, as a means of protecting her from his wife, Mellie. It’s only the beginning, but it definitely leaves a lot of anticipation for the duration of the season.

    The debut ratings were up approximately 57% from last fall’s season premiere. An estimated 3.6 million of the total number of viewers were comprised of adults ranging from 18-49, which equates to a 71% increase in that particular age range from last year’s premiere. Last night’s ratings were also an overall 13% increase from the previous viewing record in the season two finale.

    http://youtu.be/5osSbxiYR1k

    Image via Twitter | ABC Scandal 

  • Alex Rodriguez Prepares to Faces Appeal Head On

    MLB enthusiasts around the country can only imagine how a 211-game suspension must be weighing in on three-time American League MVP, Alex Rodriguez. Violating the league’s joint drug and collective bargaining agreements are steep penalties that are not taken lightly in major league baseball. But, no one feels the brunt of it like the man himself, which is why he intends to fight back.

    With next season, the future of his professional career, and possibly his entire legacy hanging in the wind, Rodriguez plans to go to war with MLB officials Monday morning. “It starts on Monday. We’ve got to face it head on,” said Rodriguez.

    The appeal process will take place at the Major League Baseball offices in Manhattan. Yankees’ third basemen and his team of legal eagles will start the appeal process before a three-man panel of MLB officials. The full hearing will take a total of five days, and the designated officials will be allowed 25 days to make a decision. There are three possible outcomes that can be derived from the hearing: the suspension could stand without any modifications,or it could be reduced. Then, there’s also the long shot of the entire appeal being thrown out completely.

    If Rodriguez is lucky the suspension may be reduced, but having the suspension overturned completely is almost unimaginable. However, Rodriguez has to give it his all considering what he has to lose if he doesn’t. Beside his reputation being at stake, there’s the financial loss he’ll be faced with if the appeal doesn’t rule in his favor.

    Rodriguez suffers the possibility of losing an initial $32 million this season, which equates to approximately $154,000 per game. According to New York Daily News, the four year remainder of his contract is worth an estimated $86 million, which excludes the tentative $30 million he could acquire from bonuses if his home-run numbers continue to climb. On the brink of breaking Willie Mays’ 660 home-run record, Rodriguez could either add another feat to his record, or have all of his accomplishments overshadowed with the present allegations. So, the next 30 days will be an imminent factor in the future of A-Rod’s career.

    For those who are still wondering how the home-run honcho even ended up in this debacle, here’s the gist: He became a dominant figure in the infamous Bio-Genesis baseball scandal, which went public at the top of the year. Rodriguez, along with a number of MLB players, were accused of illegally acquiring and using performance-enhancing drugs. Now, these particular stimulants weren’t just any drugs, but human growth hormones, which are also medically prescribed to promote exuberant vitality. That is exactly where the crux of the problem erupted, and why MLB officials are outraged. The reprimanded MLB players retrieved these drugs from the now-defunct Bio-Genesis of America rejuvenation clinic, and Rodriguez was among those select few.
    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Robert Pattinson Is Reportedly Dating Dylan Penn

    Robert Pattinson appears to have a new girlfriend, and has been seeing her for about two months now. He has recently been seen dating Dylan Penn, who is the daughter of Sean Penn and his ex-wife Robin Wright. Pattinson must have something with dating people that are related to famous people since he was also involved with Riley Keough, Elvis Presley’s granddaughter.

    Pattinson is most well-known for his role in the Twilight series of course, and previously had a long relationship with his co-star and on-screen love interest, Kristen Stewart. Penn, the young 22 year old model is much younger than Pattinson, at 27. They have been seen getting close recently and the pair were seen together on Wednesday, September 25, at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, according to US Weekly. A friend who was hanging out with the couple reported that “He was affectionate with her and they seemed comfortable.”

    Penn was recently seeing on the set of one of Pattinson’s new films and they seem to be getting close very quickly. Unfortunately for his ex, Kristen Stewart, she still does not seem to be over the relationship and has yet to move on with anyone else in her life. The couple just recently broke up in May of this year. Although, it seems a bit ironic for her to be that way, since her cheating on him was what caused the breakup in the first place.

    Pattinson and Stewart decided to call it quits after three years of dating, due to an intense strain and scrutiny that they faced after she had an affair with the director of her film, Snow White and The Huntsman, reports People Magazine. They attempted to patch things up after the scandal and even celebrated Stewart’s birthday together, but ultimately had to end it and Pattinson was seen removing his things from Stewart’s home in Los Angeles in May.

    In describing Pattinson’s new fling with Penn, one friend said “He’s crazy about her.” Dylan is oldest child of her celebrity parents, who divorced after 14 years in 2010.

  • Diahann Carroll Says, “We’re All Very Grateful”

    Diahann Carroll was happy to be joined by Kerry Washington on stage during the Emmys. Both women are talented African-American actresses who have starred in television shows that at some point received Emmy nominations. Kerry Washington was a 2013 nomination for the lead in the drama, Scandal. While enthusiastic to share the stage with another talented individual, Diahann Carroll had other concerns about the selection for nominations.

    “I feel we’re a little behind, we need to catch up. We’re all very grateful to the Emmys because they’ve been on our side. At the same time, we’d like it to be a little more with what’s going on in the world,” Diahann Carroll said.

    Seventy-eight-year-old Diahann was recognized for her talents when she starred in Julia where her performance earned her a nomination back in 1969.

    Diahann Carroll’s presence at the Emmys showed that she can still captivate an audience. Though Claire Danes won the Emmy for her involvement in the series Homeland, Kerry Washington was viewed as the winner for other reasons. Kerry Washington was not only envied for her nomination, but rather for being able just to stand near the legendary Diahann Carroll.

    [Image Via Wikimedia Commons]

  • Paula Deen Makes First Appearance Since Scandal

    America’s (former) favorite Southern chef is back. After being outed for making racist comments back in June and losing her job with Food Network, Paula Deen has made her first public appearance in three months. Deen made her emotional return at the Metro Cooking and Entertainment Show in Houston, Texas on Saturday.

    While Deen has been raked over the coals after she admitted to using the N-word during a deposition in a race-based lawsuit, a group of more than 1,000 fans was thrilled to see the chef at the cooking show. The audience gave Deen a standing ovation, which brought the 66-year-old Georgia native to tears. “I’ve said all along that the one place that I would want to make my first step back out was Texas,” Deen told her audience. “Y’all’s hearts are as big as your state.”

    “As you all know, unless you’ve been under a rock, I had a little rough patch this summer,” Deen said. Calling her vanishing job opportunities a “rough patch” might be putting things lightly. In addition to getting axed by Food Network and tarnishing her reputation after replying “Yes, of course” during a deposition when asked if she had used the N-word, Deen has lost numerous endorsements. Wal-Mart, Target, JCPenney and Sears are just a few major retailers that have discontinued items under Deen’s brand.

    A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit against Deen in August. Lisa Jackson, the former employee who brought forth the lawsuit, was told that she couldn’t sue Deen for racial discrimination against African-Americans because she is white. Jackson later released an apologetic statement and called Deen a “woman of compassion and kindness,” but the damage was already done.

    Some folks were obviously very happy to see Paula Deen back in the spotlight, but others aren’t too thrilled with the cook’s sudden reemergence. “You can’t afford to remain insensitive to the history of our nation, so let’s just say I’m not a fan,” said Rodney Reynolds of Houston.

    What do you think about Paula Deen getting another shot after the scandal? Add your comments below.

  • Les Miles Denies SI Report, Defends OSU

    Sports Illustrated had to expect some backlash from their investigative piece on the Oklahoma State Cowboys football program, and boy are they getting it.

    First it was famous financier and OSU booster T. Boone Pickens, then even players interviewed and included in part one of the piece are saying they were misquoted, and now former OSU head coach Les Miles is denying SI’s report and defending the school’s football program.

    Miles, the current head coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), first worked at OSU as an offensive coordinator for the football team from 1995 – 1997. After a two year stint as the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys, Miles returned to OSU as the football team’s head coach from 2001 – 2004.

    The investigation spans over 10 years, with Miles’ first year as head coach the second year allegations of payment for performance were made.

    On Wednesday, Miles spoke about the SI report on OSU on a Southeastern Conference teleconference, saying those making the allegations “weren’t there long enough to figure it out,” because they were released from the team.

    During his time as head coach, Miles was proud and takes offense with “the idea that somebody would characterize the program that was run there as anything but right and correct.”

    ”I can tell you that staff, family and friends, and anybody that sat in our meeting rooms, knew that this thing was done right,” said Miles.

    For the four seasons Miles was at OSU, he said he and his staff did nothing wrong. Miles said, ””I revered my time in Stillwater, The idea that someone would characterize the program that was run there as anything but right and correct . . did we work hard? You betcha’. Did we make tough decisions about starting lineups? You betcha’. But every guy was encouraged to get his degree and to stay the course and to fight.”

    He even told players to ”attend class and do the right things.”

    His time at Oklahoma was special to Miles. During the SEC teleconference he said, ”I enjoyed my time in Oklahoma. I can tell you that.”

    Russ Cornelius, a walk-on during Les Miles’ tenure at OSU, sent an email to columnist Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman, which is an interesting read. In the email, Cornelius explains that he never saw anything that the SI article reported on. He added that the coaches informed players that boosters and alum might try to give them money or odd jobs, told players the consequences if they took such payments, and expected the players to make the right decisions. Cornelius said, “This is where about 90 percent of the team does the right thing and makes the smart decision, and 10 percent do drugs, take cash, lie, cheat, steal, have bad attitudes during practice, and get themselves booted from the team.”

    Cornelius also added that these things probably happen at many other colleges, as well as athletics other than football. The special treatment also doesn’t stop with money, many athletes are given special treatment in academics and their social lives.

    It also seems that nine of the 12 players interviewed for the SI article “either were kicked out of school, dismissed from the program, transferred for playing time issues or just quit. Of those, several had criminal records.”

    You can watch Les Miles address the OSU scandal in the video below.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezNHACClqKw

    Image via Les Miles’ Wikipedia page.