Richard Simmons' spokesperson that although the exercise guru is "sad" that a knee injury has sidelined him professionally, he is hardly a recluse, The New York Daily News reported. Longtime spokesman Thomas Estey was responding to reports that Simmons, 66, has been a shut-in for almost a year due to paralyzing depression over his health and the death of his adored Dalmatian, Hattie. Estey said Simmons needs surgery to fix his knee, but he's been hesitant because he already had the same surgery on his other knee and found it difficult.
On Anderson Cooper 360, the "RidicuList" segment is a time to poke fun at absurd news stories of the week. Recently, the show's staff made it all about a scented candle on Cooper's desk, TIME.com noted. He claims he had no idea they felt that way until he was reading their list of grievances off of the teleprompter, which says the candle smells like "Mario Batali's Crocs" and "a garden gnome's underwear drawer." "This is completely news to me," Cooper said, arguing that he only started lighting the candle because somebody told him that he "smelled" or "my jeans smelled, because I don't wash them," Mediaite reported.
Hot in Cleveland—which celebrated its 100th episode last month—will end after its sixth season, which is currently in production, according to The Wrap. TV Land President Larry W. Jones said, "It's been an honor to work with Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and the incomparable Betty White as well as our executive producers Suzanne Martin, Todd Milliner, Sean Hayes and the rest of our exceptional writers, production team and crew." Hot in Cleveland is licensed in 210 countries.
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) announced that showrunner Shonda Rhimes will be honored at the organization's 2015 Los Angeles Gala Dinner on Saturday, March 14, 2015, according to a press release. A Golden Globe award winner, Rhimes—who runs the TV shows Scandal, Grey's Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder—was named as one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.
Actor Zachary Quinto is responding to criticism about his recent comments in Out, suggesting that gay men have gotten "lazy" about AIDS, and worrying that PrEP will encourage them to be irresponsible, NewNowNext.com reported. Quinto insists his comments were "almost entirely misconstrued." In an interview for the Out 100, Quinto said that younger gay men don't remember the "edge of horror" AIDS used to have. Quinto came out as gay in 2010, the year after he played Prior Walter in the Signature Theater's off-Broadway production of Angels in America.
A roster of stars took to the stage at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre Nov. 17 to remember Elaine Stritch as they bid farewell to the stage legend, who died in July at age 89, Deadline reported. Among those who attended and performed were Tommy Tune, Blythe Danner, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Kinky Boots producer Daryl Roth, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, Michael Feinstein, Alec Baldwin, Cherry Jones, columnist Liz Smith and Christine Ebersole.
Some two dozen celebrities—including Melanie Griffith, Amanda Seyfried, Laverne Cox, Peter Dinklage, Rosie Perez, Mark Consuelos, Michael Ealy and Sebastian Stan—threw themselves onstage recently with little rehearsal and little sleep, according to Page Six. They appeared in the 14th annual benefit "The 24-Hour Plays on Broadway," which asked the actors as well as several writers and directors to come up with six original short plays over the course of a day. Proceeds help the Urban Arts Partnership.
Now it seems that Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey will make a cameo in Magic Mike XXL, the sequel to the male-stripper film Magic Mike, Page Six stated. McConaughey was a fan favorite in the first film as strip-club owner Dallas; however, it had been announced that he wouldn't be in the sequel. On Nov. 17, he was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Former television actress Kristy McNichol has discussed why she left show business, TV Guide reported. During a recent reunion for the hit '70s series Love Boat, McNichol, who also starred on the '80s sitcom Empty Nest but vanished from the spotlight in part because she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, told People she also left because she wanted to "see what else was out there." In 2012, the 52-year-old actress publicly came out in hopes of helping others who have been bullied because of their sexual orientation.
Kim Kardashian posed completely nude on the cover of Paper magazine's winter 2014 issue, baring her famous derriere, US Weekly noted. Underneath the reality star's well-oiled behind, the magazine reads: "Break the Internet: Kim Kardashian." In another cover, where Kanye West's wife is more clothed, the 34-year-old mom poses in a black sequined gown with a champagne glass perfectly balanced on her butt, recreating French photographer's Jean-Paul Goude's iconic "Champagne Incident" shot.
Sharon Osbourne revealed on The Talk that The Osbournes, the iconic MTV reality show starring her family, will be returning to the small screen, according to E! Online. Sharon, husband Ozzy Osbourne, son Jack Osbourne and daughter Kelly Osbourne will all return to the series, which may start filming in early 2015. However, the show will not be returning to MTV.
The New York Times reported that a federal investigation revealed that a Manhattan clinic treating Joan Rivers in August did not notice that her vital signs were deteriorating for at least 15 minutes before she went into cardiac arrest, leading to her death several days later. The investigation found that the anesthesiologist at the clinic, Yorkville Endoscopy, later changed the medical record to say that Rivers received 120 milligrams of Propofol ( from an initial entry of 300 mg ), an anesthetic with a small window between sedation and respiratory arrest. Investigators also reported that Dr. Lawrence Cohen, then medical director of the clinic, took cellphone pictures of Rivers and Gwen Korovin—her ear, nose and throat doctor—while Rivers was lying on the operating table unconscious from anesthesia.
The producers of the Tony-nominated musical Rock of Ages announced Nov. 18 that the production will play its final performance at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre Jan. 18, 2015, after 22 previews and 2,328 regular performances, according to Playbill. The production—which stars American Idol alum Constantine Maroulis—will end its run as the 27th longest-running show in Broadway history. The musical made its New York debut in October 2008 at off-Broadway's New World Stages.
One Direction's Louis Tomlinson went off on a reporter because of a gay-related item she wrote, according to NewNowNext. When a photo of the singer wearing a T-shirt with Apple's original rainbow logo surfaced, The Independent's Jenn Selby wrote, "Louis Tomlinson supports gay Apple CEO Tim Cook—days after Harry Styles' comments on gender and sexuality." On Twitter, Tomlinson posted, "@JennSelby The fact that you work for such a 'credible' paper and you would talk such rubbish is laughable. I am in fact straight."
Logo TV announced that international pop singer Jessie J is slated to perform her hit "Burning Up" on that network's 2014 "New Now Next" Awards, premiering on Logo TV on Sunday, Dec. 7, and MTV on Friday, Dec. 12, according to a press release. Joe Jonas will serve as the celebrity DJ, and there will be special appearances from Jennifer Hudson; Orange Is the New Black" stars Laverne Cox, Danielle Brooks, Lorraine Toussaint and Lea DeLaria; Mary Lambert; Fifth Harmony; Perez Hilton; and Bianca Del Rio.
After having to make three shots to sink a ball at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China, pro golfer Patrick Reed chastised himself by saying, "Nice fuckin' three-putt, you fuckin' faggot," NewNowNext noted. The comment was caught on camera, and the PGA Tour issued a statement saying its regulations prohibit the use of obscene language on the green: "The PGA Tour will deal with this matter internally in accordance with its regulations." Reed later apologized on Twitter, stating, "My passion to play well got the best of me and my word choice was unacceptable."
The CW has ordered new seasons of America's Next Top Model, Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion to air during 2015, Deadline noted. Dean Cain will host 13 new half-hour episodes of Masters of Illusion, featuring escapes, sleights-of-hand, and large-scale illusions performed in front of a studio audience. The 22nd cycle of America's Next Top Model will again feature male and female contestants vying for the title.
Queen ( which out musician Adam Lambert currently fronts ) was named Band of the Year at the 10th annual Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards, according to ChicagoPride.com . "We won!! So excited to win band of the year w @QueenWillRock at the #ClassicRockAwards!!" Lambert tweeted. Lambert will join Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor for a series of European dates after touring North America and Australia.
Eighties group Culture Club has had to announced the cancellation of its tour in North America and the United Kingdom, scheduled for November and December, according to a press release. After a much-criticized appearance on The View, it turned out that a polyp was discovered in lead singer Boy George's throat. The throat specialist has ordered George to not sing, as it may necessitate an operation.
Baseball great Joe DiMaggio's heartbreak over the breakup of his marriage to the ultimate sex symbol will get a rare public airing when "Marilyn Monroe's Lost Archives" goes up for bid at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills next month, People reported. The 300 items also include love letters from Monroe's third and final husband, playwright Arthur Miller. Other letters in the collection come from such friends as Clark Gable, Cary Grant and Jane Russell, the latter imploring Monroe in 10 neatly handwritten pages to give her marriage to DiMaggio another chance.
CBS has pulled the plug on the Will Arnett sophomore comedy The Millers, Deadline reported. While it logged decent numbers behind The Big Bang Theory last season, The Millers has been underwhelming in its new Monday time slot. Despite a high-profile new cast addition in Sean Hayes, The Millers was dealt a scheduling setback when CBS opted to launch its second season on Mondays and air it there for a couple of months instead of keep it in the protected post-Big Bang slot.
Hit-making music producer Dr. Luke has asked a judge to dismiss allegations that he sexually abused pop singer Kesha from a civil lawsuit, Page Six noted. Attorneys for Lukasz Gottwald, known professionally as Dr. Luke, argued in a court filing that Kesha's rape claim is barred by the statute of limitations. Kesha's attorney, Mark Geragos, has said Gottwald threatened his client that he would harm her if she ever discussed the alleged rape.
Lea T made history when Redken announced that she would front the haircare brand, reportedly making her the first transgender model to become the face of a global cosmetics brand, The Huffington Post noted. Lea T was reportedly discovered in 2010 by Givenchy artistic director Riccardo Tisci—having since been called the world's first transgender supermodel by Oprah. "I love working with Redken because they appreciate all kinds of beauty," Lea T reportedly stated. "They believe in the individuality of the person, and I think that's really important."
Talk-show host Wendy Williams discussed the recent controversy surrounding her comments about the reality star and former Olympian Jenner with HuffPost Live. "I don't know what Bruce is going through but I'm happy for him because there's got to be nothing worse in a person's life then to not be able to live in their own truth," she told HuffPost Live. "Whether you're gay, whether you're transgender—whatever. Whatever it is."
The Café Carlyle, located within New York City's Carlyle Hotel, will feature Broadway and recording stars as well as a rock-and-roll icon during its winter 2015 season, Playbill noted. Herb Alpert, Lani Hall, Bettye LaVette and Alexa Ray Joel will return to the cabaret lounge, while recording and Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson and Blondie band member Debbie Harry will make their debuts at the historic performance venue. Jackson, who has appeared on Broadway in Xanadu and Finian's Rainbow, will perform Jan. 13-24, while Harry will entertain March 24-April 4.
Legendary music-industry executive Clive Davis recently described his transformation from Harvard Law School student to president of Columbia Records at a lecture at that school, The Harvard Crimson reported. Among other things, Davis—who signed other artists like Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys—said he told Houston that her biggest asset was the "genius" of her voice and not necessarily her songwriting ability. Davis' talk came days after the release of Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances, a live album that celebrates some of Houston's biggest hits, which Davis helped produce.
There are new faces among the production team set for the 87th Academy Awards, Deadline noted. Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced 13 key members of the team, including Greg Berlanti as head writer. This is the openly gay Berlanti's first Oscars telecast; his TV writing credits include The Flash, Arrow, Everwood and Dawson's Creek, and the feature films Wrath of the Titans and Green Lantern.
Former supermodel and America's Next Top Model judge Janice Dickinson has added her name to those claiming comedian Bill Cosby sexually assaulted them, The Wrap reported. Dickinson appeared on Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday to make her claim of sexual assault, which she says took place in 1982. Dickinson said Cosby gave her wine and a pill, which caused her to pass out; however, she claims that she has a recollection of being sexually assaulted by Cosby. Several other women have now claimed that Cosby drug and assaulted them as well.
Bob Geldof has unveiled Band Aid 30's latest version of the single "Do They Know It's Christmas Time?" with an accompanying video, according to Gigwise. The new version, re-recorded to tackle the Ebola crisis in West Africa, was recorded in London and features Coldplay's Chris Martin, Bono, One Direction, Ellie Goulding, Bastille, Sam Smith, Queen's Roger Taylor and many more. The track stays fairly close to previous versions, although a few lyrics have been altered.
On Dec. 12 in Philadelphia, drag queen Brittany Lynn will attempt to break several world records at an event at The Trocadero called "Night of 100 Qweens," according to PhillyMag.com . She's assembled 104 drag queens to hit the stage at The Troc in the attempt to surpass the Guinness World Records title holder in "Largest Drag Queen Show" ( with the current record being 39 ), and two other non-Guinness records: "Most Drag Queens Performing at the Same Time" and "World's Largest Drag Queen Selfie."
Add Dr. Phil McGraw to the growing list of people who just aren't buying Here Comes Honey Boo Boo matriarch "Mama June" Shannon's version of events, AJC.com reported. The TLC show has been axed amid allegations Shannon was spending time with a convicted child molester; however, she's been eagerly pursuing additional air time to tell her side of things. McGraw told TMZ, "She was not forthcoming. I did not believe what she had to say. I told her I did not believe what she had to say. She just simply is unwilling to tell the truth."
It was critically slammed by professionals and on social media, but the TV movie Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B certainly delivered for Lifetime, Deadline noted. The two-hour biopic of the burgeoning superstar who died in a 2001 plane crash at age 22 drew 3.2 million viewers Nov. 15. Among original Lifetime movies, it came in second only to Flowers in the Attic, which had 6.1 million viewers.
