Here's the Scoop...
Another one bites the dust! Why do staple shows keep getting canceled? Now the TNT series Major Crimes is ending its run after six seasons.
Major Crimes star Mary McDonnell says the show's cancellation didn't come as a surprise.
The 65-year-old actress, who plays Sharon Raydor on the TNT series, reacted in an Instagram post Tuesday following news the popular police procedural will come to a close after a sixth and final season.
"Firstly, we all move on to the next TOGETHER. Secondly, as many of you have stated, this was not a surprise. The writing was clearly on the wall," McDonnell wrote.
"Trying to make sense of TNT's choices is an activity that James Duff and Mike Robin and all of us have been engaged in for a long time," she said of herself and executive producers James Duff and Michael M. Robin. "We tried as best we could, believe me. And we are extremely proud of the work and particularly proud of Season Six."
Duff, who will direct the series finale, also responded to the news in a Facebook post.
"I'm directing the finale of Major Crimes, so I can't really answer all the questions that are being asked today about why Major Crimes was cancelled before we ran our sixth season," the producer wrote. "But I do want you to know that it was not at all my idea, nor did I want to leave the show."
"We'll have a chance to talk about what happened in the near future," he promised viewers. "Meanwhile, we are determined to give you the best season we can. So sorry I couldn't stop this moment from happening."
TNT announced The Closer spinoff's impending end in a press release earlier in the day. Network executive Sarah Aubrey praised the cast, mentioning The Closer star Kyra Sedgwick and McDonnell's characters, Brenda Leigh Johnson and Sharon Raydor.
"Major Crimes has successfully navigated the many challenges that arise with a spinoff; the primary mission of which is staying true to its core DNA while expanding into unique territory of its own," Aubrey said.
"From Brenda Leigh Johnson to Commander Sharon Raydor, the cast and crew have done a phenomenal job of creating enduring characters -- many of whom are celebrating 200 episodes together this season," she added.
Major Crimes Season 6 will premiere Tuesday, Oct. 31.
Be Well,
Steve
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Kate Winslet reunites with James Cameron for 'Avatar' sequels
Kate Winslet will be reuniting with filmmaker James Cameron for the first time in 20 years to star in the director's upcoming slate of Avatar sequels.
"Kate and I have been looking for something to do together for 20 years, since our collaboration on Titanic, which was one of the most rewarding of my career," Cameron said in a statement.
"I can't wait to see her bring the character of Ronal to life," he continued.
Cameron is planning on releasing four sequels to 2009's Avatar starting with Avatar 2 arriving on Dec. 18, 2020 followed by Avatar 3 on Dec. 17, 2021. The series will then be taking a three-year break before returning with Avatar 4 on Dec. 20, 2024 and then Avatar 5 on Dec. 19, 2025.
Winslet joins a cast that includes returning stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang whom Cameron has said will continue to be the main villain throughout the series. Fear the Walking Dead star Cliff Curtis is also set to be featured in a lead role.
Cameron began filming the first of the four sequels last week in California, Variety reported.
Winslet will next be seen opposite Idris Elba in The Mountain Between Us which hits theaters on Friday and in Woody Allen's Amazon project Wonder Wheel which is set for release on Dec. 1.
Musicians mourn Tom Petty: 'This one hurts'
Musicians such as John Mayer, Brian Wilson and others have shared their thoughts concerning the death of rockstar Tom Petty on social media.
Petty died Monday at the age of 66 after he was found unconscious and in cardiac arrest inside his home in Malibu.
The grammy award winner, known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, was discovered by his manager Tony Dimitriades before he was taken to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. His family decided to take Petty off of life support as doctors said he had no brain activity.
"I loved Tom Petty and I covered his songs because I wanted know what it felt like to fly. 'you belong somewhere you feel free,'" Mayer wrote using lyrics from Petty's song "Wildflowers."
"I'm heartbroken to hear about Tom Petty. Tom was a hell of a songwriter and record-maker. He will be missed by everyone who loves music. L&M," shared Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson.
"RIP Tom Petty. You gave us some of the greatest songs of the modern era. This one hurts," added singer Rhett Miller of alternative country band Old 97's.
Other music stars including Sheryl Crow commented on Petty's death and how it made Monday that much worse following news of the shooting in Las Vegas.
"This is unbearable. Vegas and now a great music hero has passed. You brought us so much joy, @tompetty. We will miss you. #RIPTomPetty," Crow stated alongside a heart emoji.
"My (heart emoji) goes out to all the people affected by the horrible shooting in Las Vegas, & to family,friends & fans of Tom Petty, of which I'm one," said singer and songwriter Carole King.
"I can't believe we have lost Tom Petty on this already horrible day. My love to his wife & children and the entire Heartbreaker family," legendary musician Peter Frampton said.
Mark Ronson meanwhile penned multiple lengthy posts on Instagram regarding his thoughts on Petty.
"I wrote some words for a brilliant man I never met who could change my entire emotional makeup in 4 bars of music," Ronson said on Twitter.
LOOSE LIPS:
"I've always envisioned myself with a big family. To me, it's the most unselfish thing you could do, to be a parent. It's not about you at all. It's about what you can give to support this child."
--Queen Latifah, on becoming a mother one day, to PEOPLE
??? Guess Who ???
Which character actress is in talks to join the 'Halloween' reboot starring Jamie Lee Curtis?
Connie Britton cast as lead in Ryan Murphy's '911'
Connie Britton has been cast in the lead role of producer Ryan Murphy's upcoming series 911.
The Friday Night Lights and Nashville is believed to be playing the role of a 911 operator in the 13-episode procedural drama exploring the experiences of first responders such as police, paramedics and firefighters.
Produced by Murphy and Brad Falchuk, 911 is set to premiere on Fox in 2018.
The Hollywood Reporter noted the series will mark a reunion for Britton and Murphy, who previously worked together on FX's Horror Story: Murder House and The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.
Britton will star alongsinde Angela Bassett and Peter Krause in her first major role since exiting Nashville after five seasons.
Hugh Hefner died from cardiac arrest, was dealing with E. coli infection
Playboy founder Hugh Hefner died after going into cardiac arrest and experiencing respiratory failure, a death certificate for the magazine mogul has unveiled.
The death certificate released by the Los Angeles Department of Health and obtained by The Blast, also announced that Hefner's recent bout of E. coli and a blood infection known as Septicemia also contributed to his death.
Playboy announced Hefner's death at 91 on Sept. 27. He died inside his Playboy Mansion surrounded by his four adult children and his wife Crystal Harris, People magazine noted.
"We laid him to rest Saturday. He is in the place he was always certain he wanted to spend eternity," Harris said in a statement Monday. "He was an American hero. A pioneer. A kind and humble soul who opened up his life and home to the world. I felt how much he loved me. I loved him so much. I am so grateful."
"My father lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer and a leading voice behind some of the most significant social and cultural movements of our time in advocating free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom," added Hefner's 26-year-old son Cooper. "He defined a lifestyle and ethos that lie at the heart of the Playboy brand, one of the most recognizable and enduring in history. He will be greatly missed by many, including his wife Crystal, my sister Christie and my brothers David and Marston, and all of us at Playboy Enterprises."
A number of former Playboy models including Kendra Wilkinson and Pamela Anderson also commented on Hefner's passing recently. "I am me because of you. You taught me everything important about freedom and respect. Outside of my family you were the most important person in my life. You gave me life," Anderson wrote alongside a video on Instagram of herself crying on her bed. "Thank you for making the world a better place. A freer and sexier place."
On Tuesday, it was announced that actor Jared Leto is set to portray Hefner in an upcoming biopic from director Brett Ratner.
??? Guess Who ???
Which character actress is in talks to join the 'Halloween' reboot starring Jamie Lee Curtis?
Judy Greer is being eyed to join Jamie Lee Curtis in the upcoming reboot of Halloween.
Greer is in talks to join the film as Karen Strode, the daughter of Curtis' character Laurie Strode who first appeared in the original 1978 Halloween from John Carpenter, Deadline reported.
The project is being scripted by comedian and actor Danny McBride and his writing partner David Gordon Green who is also set to direct. Carpenter is serving as an executive producer and creative consultant.
"We just love that original Halloween. There's something so scary about how simple it was. I had seen all the Halloween films. We really were studying all the sequels and stuff, just to see where it exactly it went wrong. It definitely kind of felt that, as the series went on, Michael Myers became like Frankenstein and he was like indestructible and I think the more indestructible he was, the less scary he became. And so David and I, our ambition is to strip it down and get it back to [being] grounded in reality, which I think makes it scarier," McBride said to Entertainment Weekly about the film.
Curtis announced in September on Twitter that she would be joining the film alongside a photo of herself standing outside a house with franchise killer Mike Myers standing behind her. "Same porch. Same clothes. Same issues. 40 years later. Headed back to Haddonfield one last time for Halloween. Release date 10/19/18," the actress wrote.
Greer will next be seen in Clint Eastwood's 15:17 to Paris, Driven with Jason Sudekis,Where'd You Go, Bernadette from director Richard Linklater and upcoming Marvel sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp.