Here's the Scoop...
Out with the old...in with the new!
"Jurassic Park -- The Ride" is to officially close at Universal Studios Hollywood on Sept. 3.
The dinosaur-themed attraction, which opened at the California theme park in 1996, will be torn down to make way for "Jurassic World Ride," which is expected to open in 2019.
"After sending millions of guests back to the Jurassic era for menacing face-to-face encounters with such predators as Stegosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Dilophosaurus, Velociraptors and the Tyrannosaurus rex -- 'Jurassic Park -- The Ride' will become extinct in preparation for a new, next-generation experience that's even more immersive and technologically advanced," a news release said. "The new ride will pay homage to Jurassic Park and will reimagine this landmark film franchise for theme-park guests."
The Jurassic Cove restaurant and Jurassic Outfitters retail store also will close with the attraction and re-open next year.
The park is hosting a Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Celebration this weekend to mark the beginning of the blockbuster film franchise.
The fifth movie in the series -- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom -- is scheduled to arrive in theaters June 22. It co-stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.
The adventure movies focus on repeated efforts to bring back prehistoric creatures and contain them on islands, so people can visit and study them. However, the enormous animals always manage to escape containment and endanger the lives of humans.
First the Jaws ride, now this! What's Universal Studios coming to!
Be Well,
Steve
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NBC says leadership did not receive complaints about Matt Lauer
NBC has released the results of their internal investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Lauer that led to the networking firing the news anchor in November.
The investigation, led by NBCUniversal general counsel Kim Harris, which included accounts from 68 different people including current and former Today hosts, found no evidence that NBC News or Today leadership had received any complaints about Lauer and his behavior prior to November.
Lauer was fired after NBC received a complaint about Lauer taking part in inappropriate sexual behavior with a female colleague. Lauer admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the woman. Three additional women then came forward with similar complaints.
"All four women who came forward confirmed that they did not tell their direct manager or anyone else in a position of authority about their sexual encounters with Lauer. Current and former members of NBC News and Today Show leadership, as well as News HR, stated that they had never received a complaint about inappropriate workplace behavior by Lauer, and we did not find any contrary evidence," the report said.
"We were also unable to establish that any of those interviewed, including NBC News and Today Show leadership, News HR and others in positions of authority in the News Division, knew that Lauer had engaged in sexual activity with other employees," the report continued. "Every such individual credibly responded that they had no such knowledge. Most witnesses interviewed stated that they had heard or read rumors about Lauer's personal life, including tabloid stories about the troubled state of his marriage and the possibility of extramarital affairs, but those witnesses believed, with limited exceptions, that the rumored extramarital affairs were with women outside of the Company."
The report also said that it does not believe that there is a widespread problem of misconduct at NBC.
NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack sent out a note to employees about creating a better environment for workers to feel more comfortable about coming forward with complaints.
"Like many of you, I am immensely proud of NBC News, its history, and the work we do," Lack said. "But -- stepping back from the investigation -- that history also includes a time when people were not comfortable coming forward to voice complaints about repugnant behavior. That is not acceptable. We cannot change the past. What we can do is learn from it, and try to make it right. We have already begun to turn the page to establish a safer and more respectful environment. That requires strong, specific steps in a sustained manner to transform the culture."
'The Predator' returns in first teaser trailer
A young boy has inadvertently summoned the universe's most deadly hunters in the first teaser trailer for The Predator.
The clip, released Thursday, begins with an alien spacecraft landing on earth after a young boy (Jacob Tremblay), comes across Predator technology that sends out a signal.
A group of Predators is now unleashed on a small suburban town with a science teacher played by Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse) and group of ex-soldiers including Boyd Holbrook (Logan) and Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us), standing in its way.
The fight will prove challenging as Munn discovers that the Predators have become stronger by upgrading themselves with DNA from other species.
The Predator is the fourth installment in the sci-fi action series that began with 1987's Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Shane Black, who also starred in the original, is directing based on a script he co-wrote with Fred Dekker.
The film is set to arrive in theaters on Sept. 14 after it was pushed back from releasing on Aug. 3. Thomas Jane and Keegan-Michael Key also star.
LOOSE LIPS:
"I'm going to try to make that record as long as possible. There's no reason for me to run out the door. I feel very lucky."
--Kenan Thompson, on intending to keep his record as Saturday Night Live's longest running cast member as of now, to PEOPLE
??? Guess Who ???
Which comedic actor's voice will be heard in the next 'Goldbergs' episode?
Fox cancels 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' 'Last Man on Earth'
Fox canceled its comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Last Man on Earth and The Mick on Thursday.
The shows ran five, four and two seasons respectively, but will not return for the 2018-19 television season.
"Wow. Thank you all for this incredible outpouring of support. #brooklyn99 fans are the best fans in the world. It means the world to me and everyone else who works on the show," series creator Dan Goor tweeted after fans rallied in response to the cancellation news.
Earlier this week, The Last Man on Earth star Will Forte tweeted: "It is with great affection that I invite you to watch the season finale of #LastManOnEarth. And if this turns out to be the end of the road, I can't tell you how much we've appreciated your support over the years. Fingers crossed for season 5."
The network previously renewed 9-1-1, Empire, Star, The Resident, The Gifted, The Orville and The Simpsons. The fates of Lethal Weapon and The Exorcist remain unclear, however.
70 new 'Rick and Morty' episodes are in the works
Seventy new episodes of the animated comedy series Rick and Morty have been ordered for Turner's Adult Swim programming block.
Show creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland announced they are heading back to work in an Instagram video shot while the two were showering together Thursday.
"Adult Swim has made a long-term deal with the creators that will include 70 new episodes of the critically acclaimed series that follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe," a news release from the cable network said.
Featuring the voice talents of Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer and Sarah Chalke, the show wrapped its third season in October.
??? Guess Who ???
Which comedic actor's voice will be heard in the next 'Goldbergs' episode?
The voice of Spaceballs star Rick Moranis, who has been retired from live-action acting for more than 20 years, will be heard on Wednesday's edition of The Goldbergs, an ABC family sitcom set in the 1980s.
Co-written, directed and starring Mel Brooks, Spaceballs was a 1987 spoof of the Star Wars blockbusters.
"Honored to have Rick Moranis reprise his role as Dark Helmet on tomorrow's tribute to Spaceballs on #TheGoldbergs!" the show's Twitter account said Tuesday.
"My favorite episode of the entire series airs this upcoming Wednesday!" series creator Adam F. Goldberg said in his own post.
A preview clip shows teen character Adam -- played by Sean Giambrone -- locked in a light-saber duel with the masked Dark Helmet in his bedroom before the Darth Vader-like villain settles down and pitches him an idea for a second Spaceballs movie.
Moranis, 65, is also known for his work in the films Little Shop of Horrors, My Blue Heaven, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Ghostbusters and Parenthood.