Month: September 2020

Giuliana Rancic and Vivica A. Fox announced Sunday they would not be hosting the E! channel’s Emmy Awards pre-show special because they tested positive for COVID-19.

Rancic, 46, said in a video statement Sunday: “Hey, everyone. As I go into my 20th year on the E! red carpet, I have to say I do not take missing an award show lightly, but unfortunately this year is just so different. As part of E! and NBCUniversal’s very strict testing guidelines, especially before an event like this, I did find out that I tested positive for COVID-19. Now as much as I didn’t want to hear that, I’m very thankful I heard it before I traveled and possibly could have exposed other people. So, for that, I’m thankful.” Rancic went on to say her husband Bill and their son Duke also tested positive, but everyone is “doing well and taking care each other.”

Fox, 56, also missed the show, saying in a statement:  “I am terribly sorry I cannot be with my E! family tonight! Unfortunately, I have tested positive for the coronavirus. So, in an abundance of caution, I am isolating myself at home.”

Giuliana Rancic, Vivica A. Fox both absent from Emmys pre-show due to COVID-19

Via www.today.com

Giuliana Rancic and Vivica A. Fox were originally scheduled to host the pre-show “Live From the…

09/20/2020 8:35 PM

 

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Comedy Central said in a news release that “South Park” is returning on September 30 for a hour-long special, tackling Covid-19. Titled “The Pandemic Special,” the episode will see Stan’s father Randy Marsh capitalizing on a growing market for pot for his recreational pot business “Tegridy Farms” as he “comes to terms with his role in the COVID-19 outbreak.”  A preview clip from the episode shows the kids back at school with barriers around their desks and face shield-wearing police replacing their teachers.

The long-running animated comedy series, from creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, wrapped up its 23rd season last year.. A premiere date for the 24th season of the series has not yet been announced.

Comedy Central will debut the pandemic-themed episode at 8 p.m. ET. The episode will be available to stream on South Park Studios, CC.com and the Comedy Central App after it airs on the West Coast. It will also be available to stream on HBO Max 24 hours after it premieres.

South Park Announces Hour-Long Pandemic Special

Via consequenceofsound.net

The Season 24 opener seems to be driven by the show’s agents of chaos, Randy and Cartman. South…

09/15/2020 4:40 PM

 

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Jerry Harris, the star of the Netflix docuseries Cheer, has been arrested on a federal charge for allegedly producing child pornography. Harris, 21, was formally charged in Chicago on Thursday.  A statement from federal officials alleges Harris was arrested “for allegedly enticing an underage boy to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of himself.”

The statement continues that Harris, “contacted the underage boy on a social media application and repeatedly enticed him to produce sexually explicit videos and photographs of himself and send them to Harris, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The minor victim informed Harris during their initial online encounter that he was 13 years old, the complaint states.”

The news comes just days after two underage twin brothers filed a lawsuit against Harris for allegedly sexually abusing them and demanding nude photographs from them. That suit states the plaintiffs are both competitive cheerleaders who first met Harris in 2018, when they were 13.

Harris rose to fame on Cheer, a docuseries that follows Texas’ Navarro College competitive cheerleading team. Harris, a star on the team, was known for his positive demeanor and the way he inspired teammates.

 

‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris arrested on charge of production of child pornography

Via rss.cnn.com

Jeremiah “Jerry” Harris, one of the students featured in Netflix’s breakout docuseries “Cheer,”…

09/17/2020 2:29 PM

 

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The top spokesman at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Michael Caputo, will take a two-month leave of absence, the agency said on Wednesday. The move came two days after the New York Times reported that Caputo, a former adviser to President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, said on Facebook that government scientists were engaging in “sedition” in their handling of the pandemic.

Caputo said without evidence that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was harboring a “resistance unit” determined to undermine Trump, according to the report. He also said that armed left-wing squads were preparing for insurrection following the election. HHS said in a statement that Caputo had decided to go on a leave of absence “to focus on his health and the well-being of his family.” Caputo said he decided to take the leave to undergo screenings for a “lymphatic issue” discovered last week.

HHS official Michael Caputo to take medical leave after promoting conspiracies

Via www.upi.com

Michael Caputo, assistant secretary for public affairs for the Department of Health and Human…

09/16/2020 7:38 PM

 

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Real-life married actors Ben Lewis and Blake Lee have been tapped to star in Lifetime’s first-ever romantic holiday movie featuring a same-sex couple. The cable channel announced earlier this month that “The Christmas Setup,” written by Michael J. Murray, would be a holiday-themed, LGBTQ-focused film.  

According to the network, the film follows a New York lawyer, Hugo, who travels to Milwaukee during the holidays and runs into Patrick, “a high school friend and secret crush of Hugo’s who has recently returned after a successful stint in Silicon Valley. As they enjoy the local holiday festivities together, Hugo and Patrick’s attraction to each other is undeniable…But as Hugo receives word of a big promotion requiring a move to London, he must decide what is most important to him.”

Lewis was cast as Hugo, and his husband Lee will play his romantic interest. In real life, the two were married in Jan. 2016.  Fran Drescher is also joining the cast as Hugo’s mother.

Lifetime casts real-life married gay couple in its first LGBTQ holiday movie

Via www.nbcnews.com

“The Christmas Set Up” features former “Arrow” star Ben Lewis and former…

09/15/2020 1:54 PM

 

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com