Angela Weiss / AFP(LEBANON) — Yes, the real Russell Crowe has stood up, after a “very generous” donation appeared on an online fundraising page for a beloved Beirut restaurant called LeChef, which suffered damage from last week’s deadly explosion. A journalist called Richard Hall was one of the fundraisers’ organizers, and he tweeted that “someone called Russell Crowe made a very generous donation …
Ryan Reynolds launches streaming service offering just one movie
Mint Mobile(LOS ANGELES) — With Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, and a host of other companies offering huge stockpiles of content, Ryan Reynolds has just launched his own — which offers just one film. “Every tech company needs a streaming service,” the actor and entrepreneur tweeted. “So… introducing Mint Mobile +. The world’s most affordable streaming service!” A promotional …
COVID-19 brings the drive-in to New York City
Rooftop Films(NEW YORK) — For residents of New York City, the summer usually means carefree days in Central Park and countless outdoor concerts and movie screenings — but not in 2020. With COVID-19 keeping movie theaters closed and restricting the number of people who can gather at an event, the non-profit Rooftop Films has found …
“A great human being”: Gloria Estefan, Naya Rivera’s ‘Glee’ mom, remembers the late actress
FOX Image Collection via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Last month, Glee star Naya Rivera tragically drowned in California’s Lake Piru; her four-year-old son was found safe in a boat. Gloria Estefan played the mother of Rivera’s Glee character, Santana, in two episodes of the hit Fox series and tells ABC Audio that while Rivera’s loss is “brutal,” she’s left behind “a wonderful legacy.” “When …
CBS renews ‘Tough As Nails’; host Phil Keoghan says the show’s authenticity is the key to its success
Monty Brinton/CBS 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.(LOS ANGELES) — CBS has announced it has renewed the reality competition series Tough as Nails for a second season, a month after it debuted. The Phil Keoghan-hosted show salutes everyday heroes, from fishermen to firefighters, by having them compete in a series of real-world physical, mental and …
Andrew Lloyd Webber announces he’ll take experimental COVID-19 vaccine
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic(LONDON) — Acclaimed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, like many in the entertainment industry, is looking forward to the day when theaters can reopen safely. He also has made it known that he will do anything to save live theater. The Tony Award winner announced Wednesday that he’s volunteered to help in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. …
Viral Trump impersonator Sarah Cooper lands Netflix special
Credit: Mindy Tucker(LOS ANGELES) — Author/comedian Sarah Cooper, who has become a viral sensation with her impersonations of President Donald Trump on TikTok, has landed her own Netflix special, titled Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine, the streamer announced on Wednesday. The special, directed by Orange Is the New Black alum Natasha Lyonne and executive produced by Saturday Night Live vet Maya Rudolph, will feature a “vignettes dealing …
Will Simon Cowell return to ‘America’s Got Talent’?
NBC(LOS ANGELES) — Kelly Clarkson has taken over for Simon Cowell on America’s Got Talent as he nurses a back injury but she may not be there for long. Entertainment Tonight spoke with AGT judges Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel, and based on their feedback, it seems Cowell may be back sooner rather than …
AMC Theaters announces plans to start reopening US chains
iStock/KLH49(LOS ANGELES) — AMC Theaters is taking steps to reopen after shuttering its chain worldwide months ago due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In an email release to the company’s “A List” members on Wednesday, the theater chain announced that movies will once again light up their screens starting August 20. Should all go well, the company hopes …
Jake Paul breaks silence following FBI raid of his Calabasas home
Eric Espada/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Jake Paul is finally speaking out about why the FBI raided his home last week. In a since-deleted YouTube video, the 23-year-old internet star slammed the “absurd” rumors he’s heard regarding the incident. “Just to clarify things and set the record straight, the FBI raid is entirely related to the Arizona looting …