Here's the Scoop...

Kristen Bell is set to serve as the first-ever host of the Screen Actors Guild Awards when the event returns on Jan. 21. Hey, good for her! I like that Kristen Bell. She seems genuinely nice.

The SAG Awards have never featured a host in their 24-year history in recognizing outstanding performances in film and prime time television.

"We are delighted to have Kristen Bell as the first-ever host of the SAG Awards," executive producer Kathy Connell said in a statement. "This has been a year in which assumptions have been challenged, stereotypes have been shattered, and precedents have been broken. We decided to capture the cultural mood by casting aside one of our own traditions, and we're thrilled to have such a talented performer like Bell help us do so."

"I am honored to be part of the SAG Awards, and am a little nervous about being its first-ever host," Bell said. "I'm so glad that I'll be in the company of my fellow actors, many of whom I've worked with before, so I know they'll be warm and supportive. It's going to be an amazing night."

Bell can currently be seen in the comedy sequel A Bad Moms Christmas and in NBC's The Good Place. She is also known for voicing Anna in Disney's Frozen series and will be starring in upcoming Netflix comedy Like Father alongside Kelsey Grammer.

Nominations for the 24th annual SAG Awards will be announced on Dec. 13. The ceremony will be broadcasted on Jan. 21 on TNT and TBS.

Be Well,
Steve

Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve



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'House of Cards': Production to resume in early 2018 without Kevin Spacey
Netflix has announced that production on the sixth and final season of House of Cards will resume in early 2018 without star Kevin Spacey.

"We are excited to bring closure to fans," Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos said in a statement.

The final season will contain eight episodes and will focus on Spacey's co-star Robin Wright, who was already becoming a vocal point of the political drama.

Production on House of Cards was halted in October after Spacey faced a number of sexual harassment allegations -- including one from Star Trek Discovery actor Anthony Rapp.

Netflix and production partner Media Rights Capital then said that the postponement would continue into December.

It was expected that Spacey would be written out of the show after Netflix stated that they "will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey."


Bollywood icon Sashi Kapoor dead at 79
Iconic Indian actor Sashi Kapoor died Monday at the age of 79 after suffering from prolonged illness.

Kapoor was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai on Sunday with a chest infection before he died on Monday, Variety reported.

The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, shared his condolences on Twitter where he praised Kapoor's acting ability.

"Shashi Kapoor's versatility could be seen in his movies as well as in theatre, which he promoted with great passion," Modi said. "His brilliant acting will be remembered for generations to come. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers."

The screen star, a member of the famous Kapoor family and the youngest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, was known as a mainstream actor who produced offbeat, arthouse films through his Film-Valas production company.

Kapoor starred in a number of films starting as a child in Aag and Awaara before becoming a leading man in 1961's Dharmputra.

Other film roles included The Householder, Shakespeare-Walla, Bombay Talkie, and Aa Gale Lag Jaa before he teamed up with Amitabh Bachchan in a number of hit projects including Deewar, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul and Namak Halaal.

Films produced under his Film-Valas outfit included Junoon, Kalyug, 36 Chowringhee Lane, Vijeta and Utsav.

Kapoor married British actress Jennifer Kendal in 1978 and then established India's leading Prithvi Theatre.

Kapoor is survived by his children he had with Kendal, who died in 1984, including daughter, Sanjana, and sons Kunal and Karan.


LOOSE LIPS:
"I think that when you use the word 'plus-size,' you're putting all these women into a category. 'You don't eat well. You don't work out. You couldn't care less about your body. You're insecure. You have no confidence.' And that is none of this."
--Ashley Graham, speaking out against the word "plus-size," to CBS Sunday Morning



??? Guess Who ???
Which Game of Thrones alum says that the final season is 'unbelievable'?


Geoffrey Rush steps down as Australian Academy president amid allegations
The Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts confirmed actor Geoffrey Rush has stepped down as president amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.

Rush, 66, has been in the position since 2011.

"AACTA acknowledges the decision today of Geoffrey Rush to voluntarily step aside as president of AACTA and accepts and respects his decision to do so," the group said in a statement Saturday. "We have been deeply concerned about the situation and support a course of action that both respects Geoffrey's rights to the presumption of innocence and due process, but also acknowledges good corporate governance in these circumstances. We will not be making any further comment at this time."

Best known or his work in The King's Speech, Pirates of the Caribbean, Shakespeare in Love and Shine, Rush has denied any wrongdoing after a report was published Wednesday saying the Sydney Theatre Company received a complaint about Rush after he appeared in its production of King Lear two years ago, Variety reported.

No details regarding the alleged misconduct have been reported.

"Certain recent media reports have made untenable allegations concerning my standing in the entertainment community. It is unreasonable that my professional colleagues should be somehow associated with such allegations," Rush said through his lawyer in a statement to Deadline.com. "In the circumstances, I have decided to step aside in my ambassadorial role as president of AACTA effective immediately and until these issues have been resolved. This decision has not been made lightly. However, in the current climate of innuendo and unjustifiable reporting, I believe the decision to make a clean break to clear the air is the best for all concerned."


Production on 'Bohemian Rhapsody' movie stops due to Bryan Singer's absence
Twentieth Century Fox says it has stopped shooting Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring Rami Malek as the iconic lead singer of the rock band Queen.

"Twentieth Century Fox Film has temporarily halted production on Bohemian Rhapsody due to the unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer," the studio said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter Friday.

The entertainment industry trade newspaper said the U.S. director had been showing up late to the movie's set in England and failed to return to work after the Thanksgiving break.

A representative for the filmmaker told the BBC in a statement Singer's absence is due to "a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family."

"Bryan hopes to get back to work on the film soon after the holidays," the statement said.

Bohemian Rhapsody is scheduled to open Dec. 25, 2018.


??? Guess Who ???
Which Game of Thrones alum says that the final season is 'unbelievable'?

Jason Momoa says fans can look forward to an "unbelievable" final season.

The 38-year-old actor, who played Khal Drogo on the HBO series, said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that Season 8 will be "the greatest thing that's ever aired on TV."

"Just knowing how amazing this season is going to be..." Momoa teased. "It's going to be the greatest thing that's ever aired on TV. It's going to be unbelievable."

"It's going to [expletive] up a lot of people," he added. "And it was a bummer because I'm a huge fan and I didn't want to know what's going on. I was like, 'Damn, I didn't want to know that!'"

Momoa, whose character was killed off in Season 1, got the lowdown during a recent visit to the show's set in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He said, however, that he won't be reprising Drogo in the final season.

"I just showed up to see [producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] and I just happened to see people on set," the star insisted.

"I haven't been over there in a long time," he explained. "You just want to see your friends and you end up making headlines going, 'Drogo's back!' and I'm like, 'He's dead! He can't come back, it wouldn't work.'"

Momoa had shared photos with Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke in November. He couldn't help but gush about the 31-year-old actress, who plays Daenerys Targaryen, the queen of dragons and Drogo's widow.

"Crazy mad insane LOVE for this queen it's truly like bubbles of giggles are in our bellies when we are together," the actor wrote. "It's a shame we don't get to see each other as much as we would like but when we do i feel like a [expletive] KHAL."

Game of Thrones co-stars Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams. The show has yet to set a premiere date for its eighth and final season.