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Chenoweth's health; James Franco's change; Sam Smith
Entertainment news: Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2014-08-13

This article shared 6683 times since Wed Aug 13, 2014
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Kristin Chenoweth has hinted at some serious health problems via Twitter, US Weekly noted. The Emmy and Tony winner, 46, shared some issues that she is going through, posting, "Unable to move. Numbness and tingling in arm. Going to cedars dr tomorrow. Ah anyone who prays please do!" Chenoweth has dealt with health scares in the past, including being diagnosed with both asthma and Meniere's disease.

James Franco has shared the first look at himself as Michael Glatze in Michael, an upcoming film about the gay activist who rejects his homosexuality to become an anti-gay Christian pastor, according to The Wrap. Franco took to Instagram to share the image from the production, which has him sporting bleached-blond hair. Zachary Quinto co-stars as Glatze's boyfriend in the film, while Emma Roberts plays the woman the Young Gay America magazine editor eventually marries.

Out English singer Sam Smith is allegedly in talks to do the theme song for the next James Bond movie, scheduled to hit theaters in fall 2015, according to NewNowNext.com . Adele was rumored to be making a repeat performance after the success of Skyfall, but she passed, opening the door for Smith. The currently unnamed film will once again feature Daniel Craig as 007, as well as other returning cast members such as Ralph Fiennes as M, openly gay actor Ben Whishaw as Q, Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny and Rory Kinnear as MI6 Chief of Staff Bill Tanner.

Patti LaBelle is joining the cast of American Horror Story: Freak Show, playing "a townsperson who begins to unravel the murderous secrets of Twisty, the clown killer" and the mother of Gabourey Sidibe's character, according to NewNowNext.com . LaBelle is just the latest newcomer to the series, joining fellow AHS newbies Michael Chiklis and Wes Bentley ( American Beauty ). Freak Show will be set in Jupiter, Florida, in 1950, with Jessica Lange playing the German owner one of the last circus sideshows in the United States. The season premiere is slated to air in October.

Barbra Streisand has joined Instagram, according to ABC News. "Hello Instagram… isn't my Samantha [her Coton de Tulear dog] just precious?" she wrote to go along with her first post, which has the superstar reclining with her pet. The legendary performer told the Independent about her dog, "She's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. She speaks English. She understands English, I swear to God."

Laura Plimpton, who was the sister of Martha Stewart, has died at 59, according to The Weston Forum. The cause of death was a complication from a brain aneurysm. Laura Dorothy Kostyra, the youngest of six children, was born on March 4, 1955 in Jersey City, New Jersey; eventually, she moved to Westport, Connecticut, where she began to work in catering with Stewart, now 73.

Lifetime is preparing another biopic of a female star whose life was tragically cut short: Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, according to Deadline. Tentatively titled Marilyn, the film was penned by The Kennedys writer Stephen Kronish and based on the J. Randy Taraborrelli book The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. At Lifetime, Marilyn joins last year's The Anna Nicole Story and two other biopics of female entertainers who faced an untimely death that are in production—films about Aaliyah and Whitney Houston.

Groundbreaking comic Robin Williams, 63, was found dead of an apparent suicide, according to the Marin County ( Calif. ) sheriff's office. The comic, who was fighting depression, was heralded as one of the best comics of all time by friends, colleagues and fans. Williams was a star of standup, stage, TV and movies, and he was unafraid to take on a wide range of characters, including performing as a gay man in 1996's The Birdcage, opposite Nathan Lane, as the owner of a South Beach bar featuring female impersonators. In one of his best-known roles, he also played a cross-dressing nanny in 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire.

Also about Robin Williams, he had four films slated for release in 2014 and 2015, according to E! Online. He reprises his role as Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and stars in the indie comedy Merry Friggin' Christmas with Candice Bergen and Joel McHale. Also, he voices Dennis the Dog in Absolutely Anything and plays a man married to a woman who discovers he's gay in Dito Montiel's movie Boulevard. Boulevard has yet to find a distributor.

Actress Lauren Bacall, the husky-voiced Hollywood icon known for her sultry sensuality, died Aug. 12 at age 89. Robbert de Klerk, co-managing partner of the Humphrey Bogart Estate, said Bacall died in New York, CNN reported. Bacall ( born Betty Joan Perske ) started experiencing international fame in 1944 with her first film, To Have and Have Not, which she made with future husband Humphrey Bogart. Bacall won two Tony Awards ( for her roles in the Broadway musicals Applause and Woman of the Year ) and an honorary Oscar; also, she was nominated for three Emmy Awards.

Emmy winner Sherri Shepard will take over the role of wicked stepmother Madame in the Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Playbill reported. She joins actress Keke Palmer, who will step into the title role in early September. Shepard, who departed The View Aug. 8 after co-hosting for eight years, will begin performances as Madame Sept. 9.

Sylvester Stallone said that hunky actor Jason Statham almost died on the set of The Expendables 3 if it weren't for his diving skills, Digital Spy reported. The British actor narrowly avoided disaster when a stunt went wrong on the set of the action film, forcing him to escape from a car that plunged into the sea. Statham was previously a member of Britain's National Diving Squad.

Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg have described how they came together for the Helen Mirren film The Hundred Foot Journey, according to Digital Spy. Spielberg said, "We've always kept in touch and love talking movies and life together. Oprah's very important book club embraced Richard C. Morais's book and when Juliet Blake optioned the rights to make the film, she brought it to Oprah and myself." Winfrey and Spielberg have co-produced the film and reunite professionally for the first time since working together on The Color Purple three decades ago.

On the OWN show Oprah: Where Are They Now?, 33-year-old New York native Justin Jedlica talked about having more than 150 plastic surgeries and has been dubbed "the Human Ken Doll," according to The Huffington Post. Jedlica said he got his first of five nose jobs shortly after his 18th birthday, costing him nearly all of his savings at $3,500. He now designs his own implants, and wants to put own his own line of the items. Jedlica—whose businessman husband now contributes to payment of the operations—added that the biggest misconception about him is that he is narcissistic.

Rapper Angel Haze took to Twitter to debunk rumors that she and Ireland Baldwin had split, according to Page Six. The rapper tweeted two vague pictures of her bed and indicated the 18-year-old blonde model ( the daughter of Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin ) was with her. Haze later retweeted a sultry photo of Baldwin in a pink bikini next to a pool. "I'm coming home now," Haze responded, much like Kanye West did to Kim Kardashian's racy bathing-suit selfie last October.

Simon Cowell is coming back to U.S. TV—and reuniting with Ryan Seacrest, according to The Hollywood Reporter. AXS TV, the music-focused network created by Mark Cuban and Seacrest, has inked an agreement with Cowell's Syco Entertainment and others to broadcast season 11 of The X Factor U.K. in the United States. AXS TV will broadcast the 34-episode series starting Aug. 31. Cowell will be a judge on the show, along with Mel B, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and music manager Louis Walsh.

More than a year since MTV first said it was developing a TV series based on Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven's Scream film franchise, the network has announced a director and primary cast, according to Out.com . Gay director Jamie Travis will helm the project; he has, among other things, directed five episodes of the first season of MTV's Faking It. Among the cast are Willa Fitzgerald, Carlson Young and model Amadeus Serafini.

Meryl Steep will have a very experienced musician appearing by her side in her upcoming film Ricki and the Flash, Billboard noted. Rick Springfield, the musician behind hits like "Jessie's Girl," has been cast in Tom Rothman's TriStar Productions film, which is in pre-production and will begin shooting in October. Written by Diablo Cody and to be directed by Jonathan Demme, Ricki and the Flash centers on a rock 'n' roll-loving woman ( Streep ) who chased her musical dreams at the price of her family.

Singer Morrissey went on a rant on True to You that covered a variety of subjects, Billboard reported. He started off by praising some fan-made videos for his song "World Peace Is None Of Your Business," but then launched into a tirade. Among other things he said that "meat consumption is climate change," called on the United Nations to imprison George W. Bush and Tony Blair, and urged readers to stop watching Fox News and the BBC.

Beyonce will play a major role in this year's MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Aug. 24, according to US Weekly. The "Irreplaceable" singer is set to be honored with the 2014 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and is also slated to perform. Past recipients of the award include Madonna, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jackson himself. In addition, Beyonce is up or eight other awards, including Video of the Year, Best Female Video and Best Choreography.

Michael Sam has played his first NFL game. According to ESPN.com, the league's first openly gay player got an extended look at defensive end in the St. Louis Rams' preseason opener—a 26-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Sam said his introduction to the NFL was "awesome," recalling thinking during the national anthem, "Wow, this is the big stage." He registered one tackle and one quarterback hit, later saying with some confidence, "You know, I can play in this league."

Speaking of Sam, he has a fan in Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, according to Pink News. The actor recently told OUT magazine that he is a big U.S. football fan. When asked what he thought of Sam coming out as gay, Radcliffe told the magazine, "I think it's fucking awesome. It's fantastic that he's got a team. It's horrendous that he slipped to 249 after being the SEC defensive player of the year." Radcliffe has long been a supporter of gay rights, being honoured by LGBT helpline The Trevor Project in 2011.

Rutina Wesley, who played lesbian vampire Tara on the HBO series True Blood, has landed a major role alongside Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy and Morris Chestnut in Screen Gems' thriller The Perfect Guy, The Wrap reported. After Leah ( Lathan ) meets the seemingly perfect guy, Carter ( Ealy ), she's soon exposed to a dark side that lies underneath the surface. Wesley will co-star as Alicia, Leah's best friend who still loves living the single life.

Actress Emma Stone ( The Amazing Spider-Man ) is in negotiations to star opposite Alan Cumming in Cabaret on the New York stage, and would take the lead role of Sally Bowles, according to TV3.ie. If she lands the role, the Easy A actress will take over from Michelle Williams when the My Week With Marilyn star's stint ends in November. Stone was previously in discussions for the production in April 2013, but was unable to accept the part because of her movie commitments.

Grammy and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson is set to release her third studio album, JHUD, on Sept. 23 via RCA Records. JHUD features Hudson's single "It's Your World," featuring fellow Chicago native and Grammy winner R. Kelly. Previously released tracks "Walk It Out," featuring and produced by Timbaland, and "I Can't Describe ( The Way I Feel )," featuring T.I. and produced by Pharrell, are also on the album.

Casting choices for Lifetime's Aaliyah biopic are once again under attack, according to The Wrap. After it was announced that Canadian singer/dancer Chattrisse Dolabaille will play Missy Elliott, the social media buzzed with criticism saying Dolabaille is too light and thin to portray the rapper/music producer. Wendy Willliams was an executive producer on the movie.

Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt has said that a threesome with Robert Downey Jr. ( Iron Man ) and Chris Evans ( Captain America ) would be "super hot," according to Pink News. A Buzzfeed reporter attempted to explain the concept of fan fiction to Pratt, referencing people who write erotic gay-themed tribute stories. She said, "It's just people that think you guys are super hot and should be hooking up with each other." Pratt replied, "Like, me, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr.? I'll have to say I agree."

Scorpio Rising Films has launched a successful online campaign regarding its newest project, Myrna, according to a press release. The television series will be the first television show centered around a transgender woman, played by award-winning transgender actress Marlo Bernier; however, the show is advertised as "not just about a 'boy who is a girl'—it's about the human connection and about how we all strive to live life as who we really are." Other cast members include Jennifer Fontaine, Alexandra Billings, Thomas Colby and Paul McKinney. The project has exceeded its $25,000 goal; however, additional donations can be made at www.fanbacked.com/c/myrna-original-dramedy-television-series/ .

The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) released a video ad featuring Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Colbie Caillat for the group's Americans for Marriage Equality campaign, according to a press release. In the video, Caillat states, "Whether you are LGBT or straight, you should be able to marry the person you love. … We have to raise our voice together and demand it now, because only together can we protect love." This is the fourth video released for the relaunch of HRC's Americans for Marriage Equality Video campaign, following releases from Susan Sarandon, Demi Lovato and Tony Hawk. The video can be viewed online at americansformarriageequality.org .

Openly gay actor Sir Ian McKellen stepped in for his best friend, actor Patrick Stewart, by playing Cupid for a director named Brett Lotriet Best, who required some help to propose to his Star Trek fan boyfriend, Khalid Shawwa, The Daily Mail reported. On a YouTube video, Best holds up signs that read "There is a question I wanted to ask, but I had to be sure. ... So I searched the galaxy for Patrick Stewart and finally asked his best friend for help!" McKellen emerged on screen and was seen holding up a board with the boyfriend's nickname that reads "Mookie—will you marry me?" Best confirmed on Twitter that Shawwa said "yes."

George RR Martin has addressed the lack of gay characters in his Game of Thrones book series, according to Pink News. ( The TV series, however, has had several LGB-related storylines. ) Martin said at Edinburgh's international book festival that "limitations" prevent him from including homosexuality, because all his chapters are written from the perspective of central characters, none of whom are gay. He also said, "Frankly, it is the way I prefer to write fiction because that is the way all of us experience life. You're seeing me from your viewpoint, you're not seeing what someone over here is seeing." He did add, however, that things might change—but that he won't throw in same-sex love scenes "just for the sake of doing it."


This article shared 6683 times since Wed Aug 13, 2014
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