Monthly Archives

May 2021

Salma Hayek on Surviving Covid and Weinstein

Salma Hayek variety

Salma Hayek covers the new issue of Variety and reveals that she had COVID-19 so bad that she was put on oxygen and had to self-isolate for seven weeks. She also talks about the NYT essay she wrote about being harassed by Harvey Weinstein. “When I wrote it, I didn’t even know if I was really going to show it to anyone. I kept saying, ‘Who wants to hear my story? Why am I giving myself self-importance?’ ”

Bennifer is going strong — or are they? The more they’re photographed together, the more I wonder how PR-driven this all is. And then there’s stories like how Ben Affleck is back to wearing the watch Jennifer Lopez gave him 18 years ago or how they were spotted making out between sets at the gym. Who does that?!?

-Meanwhile, Alex Rodriguez is launching makeup for men.

-I’m still trying to wrap my head around the throuple-y looking photos of Rita Ora, Tessa Thompson and Taika Waititi. My first instinct was that they knew the paps were there and were playing it up, but also what an inadvisable flex when in the middle of shooting a huge film for Disney, of all places.

-Oh, I guess Tessa Thompson is just making out with everybody and living her best life.

Elliot Page’s abs have abs.

Julianna Margulies says she and George Clooney had such great chemistry on ER because they never hooked up — and then she dropped this bomb: “As he used to say, ‘You don’t shit where you eat.’ What he meant by that was the famous story about Moonlighting with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. They had sex on the pilot. And then the show got picked up — and then they hated each other. Or David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson [on X-Files]. The same thing happened. And then they hate each other and you’re stuck on a show for seven years together. That’s agony. Life’s too short.” As someone who followed all thing X-Files obsessively for years, I’m not sure this tracks (the only time they really seemed to clash — publicly anyway — was when she was demanding equal pay). Still, I’ll take the tea.

Seth Rogen says comedians shouldn’t complain about cancel culture: “If you’ve made a joke that’s aged terribly, accept it. And if you don’t think it’s aged terribly, then say that.” How refreshingly logical.

Lady Gaga spoke candidly about becoming pregnant after surviving sexual assault. The singer explained that it was important to her to share her own painful story – that included turning to self-harm – to let others know there is a path forward.

-Following an investigation, the showrunner of CBS’ Bull is leaving the show, as is actor Freddy Rodriguez.

-I did not have “Finding a profile of Johnny Knoxville to be completely engrossing” on this weeks’ bingo card, but here we are.

Justin Bieber shaved off his problematic dreadlocks and all is right with the world again.

Timothee Chalamet has been cast as a young Willy Wonka. Sigh.

Emily Blunt went viral last week when she seemed to be angry about getting a press junket question about the Fantastic Four, but when you watch the full interview she was actually lovely about it. This stuff is so dumb. There’s a reason actors are asked the same question over and over again at a junket — it’s because their editors have told them to, knowing that topic is going to generate pageviews. There were many times I’d interview someone and cringe-ask a question I didn’t want to, but that’s the game.

Paul Wesley has no f*cks left to give when he’s asked about his former Vampire Diaries costars, and I love it.

-Legends of Tomorrow is making a Beebo animated special for the holidays. Bless them!

Adam Scott says he currently staying at his former Parks & Rec costar Aziz Ansari’s apartment.

-This interview with Renée Elise Goldsberry is excellent. “I would 100% be lying to you that I was 35 years old right now if the f*cking internet did not tell every motherf*cker my age.”

Hugh Grant says Drew Barrymore was ‘so nice‘ in a letter she sent him amid his cheating scandal.

Lil Nas X had to cut his pole routine short on SNL this weekend when his pants split (“I was doing my little sexy dropdown, and boom, I feel air!”), but he got to do the full routine on the Tonight Show.

Lindsay Lohan is dipping her toe back into acting with a Netflix holiday movie, which seems like a smart, low-stakes move.

-The podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno is back! This thing used to make me snort laugh on my commute.

-I love how obsessed everyone is over that photograph in Mare of Easttown. I’m still convinced that John is the father of the baby if not also the killer, but I also adore this theory about Lori.

-Here’s our first look at Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney‘s docuseries about buying a soccer team in Wales.

-Here’s the first trailer for Edgar Wright‘s psychological thriller, Last Night in Soho, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, and Matt Smith.

Gillian Anderson Talks Taking Risks

gillian-anderson portrait vanity fair

Gillian Anderson, Nicola Coughlan and Alia Shawkat are just a few of the TV stars featured in Vanity Fair’s latest issue. All of the portraits are great, but Hugh Grant‘s is especially stunning. That man is aging like a fine wine.

-The BBC has apologized for its “deceitful” Princess Diana tell-all interview conducted by Martin Bashir in 1995 (considered a definitive bombshell for the royal family). Bashir is said to have shown fake bank statements to Diana’s brother Charles Spencer that suggested the palace staff were working against Diana and being paid to spy on her. This “deceived and induced [her brother] to arrange a meeting with Princess Diana.”

Prince Harry responded to the news, saying, “What deeply concerns me is that practices like these — and even worse — are still widespread today. Then, and now, it’s bigger than one outlet, one network, or one publication. Our mother lost her life because of this, and nothing has changed.”

-In lighter royal news, Prince William showed off a surprisingly buff arm when getting his first shot.

Angelina Jolie posed for a photo while covered with bees to raise awareness for conservation efforts.

-Did y’all know that Dermot Mulroney plays cello and has worked on movie scores, including Rogue One, Mission Impossible, Inside Out and Star Trek: Into the Darkness?

-Netflix released some Shadow & Bone bloopers.

-I also really liked this interview with Shadow and Bone author Leigh Bardugo. “Teenage girls have so much sway over culture, yet people sneer at the things that women and girls love, and are contemptuous of the creators of that content, particularly if they are women. To me, that contempt speaks to a deep fear. When you start dictating culture, money gets involved and people take notice. When I see someone deride things that women and girls find pleasure in, all I see is someone fearful that women will overtake the culture they’ve had dominion over for so long.”

KJ Apa is going to be a dad. The Riverdale star revealed on Instagram that he is expecting his first child with model Clara Berry.

This thread captures what various crew members of Person of Interest have said about working with Jim Caviezel, and it’s intense. He reportedly resisted shooting a scene in which his character saves a gay couple, and the stunt crew wouldn’t let him around sharp objects.

-Good news: Crave is going to air the Friends reunion here in Canada.

-A British reporter interviewed Ted Lasso cast members outside soccer match without realizing who they were. Delightful!

-In his Rolling Stone cover story, BTS’ V talks about his upcoming mixtape and his love of The Godfather. I just finished a book where the author thanked BTS in the acknowledgements, so I guess I’m officially the last one to join the Army.

Kate Hudson will also be in Knives Out 2. At this point, it might be easier to list who’s NOT been cast in this thing.

Chris Pratt‘s band From Parks and Recreation is releasing an album. Mouse Rat!

-People made fun of how old Ben Platt looks in the trailer for Dear Evan Hansen (where he’s playing a high schooler), and he called out “randos beings jerks about age.”

Kevin Feige now says it was a mistake to cast Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One in Doctor Strange, since she’s a white woman.

-Here’s the trailer for Only Murders In The Building, a new Hulu comedy starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.

The One Where Friends Reunited

-The first full trailer for the Friends reunion has arrived. This actually looks quite good (there seems to be at least three venue changes, including a table read) but it’ll be interesting to see if they follow Fresh Prince’s lead and have some warts-and-all conversations.

Billy Porter opened up about his HIV-positive diagnosis  (which he’s kept secret since 2007) in an interview with THR. “My purpose, my calling, my ministry is about this conversation we’re having. Because the world needs to know what HIV-positive looks like.”

A$AP Rocky confirmed that he’s in a serious relationship with Rihanna. “[She] amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones … I think when you know, you know. She’s the One.”

Demi Lovato surprised fans with an early morning announcement: they identify as non-binary.

Prince Harry will reportedly drop more ‘truth bombs‘ in his new Apple series with Oprah. I just listened to his podcast with Dax Shepard and was surprised at how candid he was, especially about how his father’s parenting style messed him up.

-Johnny Depp is at it again. He’s now asking the courts to order ACLU to show proof that Amber Heard donated her divorce settlement​ to them like she said she would.

-I’m surprised how underwhelmed I am by the Lollapalooza lineup. It’s in July, making it the first full capacity music festival we’ve seen in ages.

-Wow, I wasn’t expecting to love Ashton Kutcher and Mila KunisLA farmhouse as much as I do. Those ceilings!

-Bless Variety for breaking down all the Erika Jayne drama.

-One of Danny Masterson’s accusers delivered nearly six hours of tearful testimony at a preliminary hearing to determine if a trial will be ordered. She claimed the actor drugged and raped her at gunpoint.

Marilyn Manson faces new a lawsuit, this one from his former assistant alleging sexual assault.

-The reviews for Netflix’s Master of None Season 3 seem to indicate it’s slow and boring.

-Wouldn’t it be great if Happy Endings being on Netflix leads to a resurgence for that show?

-I liked this profile on John Krasinski, which follows the making of the much-delayed A Quiet Place Part II.

-Here’s Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in the Respect trailer.