Here's the Scoop...

Today's issue features a lot of hot topics. From the equal pay in Hollywood and diversity in TV and film to literacy and the Kardashians' work ethic... sorry I don't know how that last one ended up in there.

All kidding aside, Hollywood's hot topics are here!

Be Well,
Steve

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Aziz Ansari on diversity in TV, film: 'I wonder if we're trying hard enough'
Actor Aziz Ansari is speaking out against the lack of diversity still plaguing the entertainment industry.

In an essay published in the New York Times Tuesday, the Master of None star critiqued Hollywood for labeling an "everyman" as a straight white male. He also detailed his personal experiences with being contacted for roles mainly based on his appearance as an actor of Indian decent.

"Even though I've sold out Madison Square Garden as a standup comedian and have appeared in several films and a TV series, when my phone rings, the roles I'm offered are often defined by ethnicity and often require accents," he said.

Ansari continued to describe instances -- modern and historical -- where non-Indians were "browned up" for Indian roles. "These days, Indian people, real Indian people, pop up way more in film and television, but fake Indians are still around more than you think," he said, citing 1988's Short Circuit 2 as well as The Martian and The Social Network.

"I still wonder if we're trying hard enough," Ansari mused regarding the television and film industries' treatment of diversity. In 2013, "only 16.7 percent of lead film roles went to minorities," he said. "Broadcast TV was worse, with only 6.4 percent of lead roles going to nonwhites in the 2012-2013 season. In cable, minorities did better, getting 19.3 percent of the roles."

Later Tuesday, the famed comedian and Parks and Recreation actor appeared opposite Stephen Colbert on The Late Show to promote Master of None and talk diversity. Colbert asked if having him on his show counts towards diversity on television.

"Yeah, it's really diverse right now. Like 50 percent diverse right now...this is like an all time high for CBS," he joked.


Scarlett Johansson earning equal pay for 'Avengers'
Scarlett Johansson is breaking the gender barrier in Hollywood.

In its cover story this week about pay disparity in the movie industry, Variety writes that it learned that Scarlett Johansson is making roughly the same amount as her Avengers male co-stars.

Without revealing how much she's making per movie, Variety writes that Johannson, who plays the Black Widow and Natasha Romanoff in The Avengers series, makes about the same as Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, and Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor.

Only Robert Downey, Jr., who first played the title role in 2008's Iron Man and negotiated hard after the success of that movie, makes more, reported Variety.

The revelation of Johannson's equal pay follows a flurry of news stories following publication of an essay by actress Jennifer Lawrence in October entitled "Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co-Stars?" in which she asked why she hadn't made near as much as her male co-stars for the 2013 movie American Hustle.

Disney, which owns Marvel Studios and produces The Avengers, claims it is taking steps to correct the "gender power imbalance" in Hollywood.

Johansson has acted in five movies in the Avengers series, playing Natasha Romanoff and the Black Widow in Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War, due out in 2016.

It's unclear how much Johannson was paid for any one movie, but Forbes magazine, in an August 2015 article, listed Johannson as the second-highest-paid female actress in Hollywood, having earned $35 million in a 12-month period.

Johansson is also starring in the upcoming movie Sing, an animated musical about a koala bear who works as the owner of a once-grand theater. It's set to be released in December of 2016.


LOOSE LIPS:
"I was getting in bed and he came in the room a couple of times ... and he said, 'Goodnight, my love,' and then he came back again. He came out with his iPad, and he looked like he had something to do. And that was like, 'I think he's getting better.' And then he said, 'Goodnight, goodnight.' That was the last."
- Susan Williams, on late husband Robin Williams' last words to her, to Good Morning America


??? Guess Who ???
Which media mogul praised the Kardashians' work ethic?


Taylor Swift donates 25,000 Scholastic books to New York schools
Taylor Swift has donated a total of 25,000 new, age-appropriate books to 25 New York City schools.

The gift was made through the Scholastic Possible Fund as a result of Swift's support of the company's "Open a World of Possible" initiative, which was designed to promote independent reading among children.

"Scholastic is honored to join with Taylor Swift who continues to show a passion for literacy and a commitment to spreading the message of how influential books can be in a child's life," Greg Worrell, president of Scholastic Education, said in a statement Wednesday. "Through this donation, we aim to encourage independent reading, which inspires a love of learning and to 'Open a World of Possible' for more New York City students by making sure they have access to the very best children's books."

"We are really looking forward to receiving these books and incorporating them into our school's library so that all students in our building can have access to them," added Nova Xiomara, principal of P.S. 132, Juan Pablo Duarte School, in Manhattan.


??? Guess Who ???
Which media mogul praised the Kardashians' work ethic?

Oprah Winfrey doesn't believe the Kardashians are simply "famous for being famous."

The 61-year-old media giant discussed the celebrity family in an interview with The Kyle & Jackie O Show on KIIS 1065 this week. Winfrey spoke to the Kardashians for Oprah's Next Chapter in 2012, and had nothing but praise for their work ethic.

"[People] think that, 'Oh, the television camera's just following you and that's just easy,'" she said of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. "To really create a reality series that looks like something is actually happening, it means you have to be on all the time."

"I went there to film them as a family, and I couldn't believe how hard they work," she recalled. "We were there for seven hours and they were going to tape another seven hours after we left. No matter who you are, that is work."

Winfrey's comments came just days after Rebel Wilson told Kyle and Jackie O the Kardashians "are not famous for talent." The English actress implied Kim Kardashian and her family haven't worked hard compared to herself and other celebrities.

In addition to E! series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the family stays busy with their ever-expanding brand. Kim Kardashian and her sisters design fashion lines, own clothing stores and also profit from endorsements and appearances.

The Kardashian-Jenners -- matriarch Kris Jenner and daughters Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner -- have starred on Keeping Up since 2007, and will return for an 11th season Nov. 15.

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