Here's the Scoop...

I'm not going to get into the Roseanne Barr Twitter controversy. I'll cover it in my new book entitled, How to End Your Career in 140 Characters or Less.

Did you hear about what Julia Roberts is giving to her friend and frequent co-star Gorgeous George Clooney?

Julia Roberts will present her frequent collaborator George Clooney with the AFI Life Achievement Award, the American Film Institute said Wednesday.

Clooney, a double Oscar winner, will be honored June 7 at the 46th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The event is scheduled to air on TNT June 21.

Roberts, 50, and Clooney, 57, have shared the screen in Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12 and Money Monster. He directed her in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and produced her film August: Osage County.

Clooney's other movies include Suburbicon, Gravity, Syriana, Michael Clayton, Up in the Air, Good Night, and Good Luck, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Batman and Robin, and One Fine Day. He also was a cast member of the television medical drama ER.

Be Well,
Steve

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'This is Us' already filmed scenes for the series finale
This is Us has already filmed part of its series finale.

Series creator Dan Fogelman discussed the show's future Tuesday at a For Your Consideration Emmy event with Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore and other This is Us stars.

"Our writers and I ... know where it ends. We have a path for each season of the show," Fogelman said, according to CNN. "We've always had a plan. We didn't want to get stuck."

"I've already shot pieces of the final scene of the series," he added.

This is Us was renewed through Season 3 in January 2017 ahead of its Season 1 finale, and completed a second season on NBC in March. Fogelman said he doesn't expect the show to "ever overstay its welcome."

"We have a story to tell and we want to do this the right way," he said.

Ventimiglia, who plays Jack Pearson, captured a selfie with Moore, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Sullivan at the event. Sterling K. Brown joined his co-stars via satellite video.

"Love this group with my whole heart (as evidenced by my goooooofy smile). Thanks to all who shared the evening with us last night. #thisisusfyc," Moore, who portrays Rebecca Pearson, tweeted Wednesday.

This is Us follows Jack, Rebecca and their three children (Metz, Hartley and Brown) in multiple timelines. The series will premiere a third season in the fall.


Jamie Foxx cast as comic book anti-hero Spawn
Jamie Foxx will portray comic book anti-hero Spawn in a new film written and directed by the character's creator, Todd McFarlane.

McFarlane is also producing the the feature with Jason Blum of Blumhouse productions, Variety reported.

Spawn, who first appeared in his own series published by Image Comics in 1992, is a former member of a CIA black ops team. After he is murdered, Spawn makes a deal to become a Hellspawn warrior who possesses increased strength, speed and the ability to teleport, shape-shift and heal.

Actor Michael Jai White first portrayed the character in a 1997 film from New Line Cinema. An HBO animated series also debuted in 1997 that ran for three seasons.

"A few years back I flew out to Arizona to meet the man behind one of the most incredible comic book characters in the universe... Todd McFarlane. He was taken aback when I told him with the enthusiasm of a young child that more than anything I wanted to put my name in the hat to embody his beloved character Spawn," Foxx said in a statement. "I told him no one would work harder than me if given the opportunity... well... the opportunity is here!! I'm humbled and ready to transform... and to top things off the young Jason Blum is lending his brilliance to the project! Time to be great!!!! #Spawn."

McFarlane said during an interview with Deadline that his Spawn film with not be an origin story, that he plans on making a trilogy and that the character will be a man of few words.

"If you want to see something creepy and powerful where you go, just what the hell was that? I'm not going to explain how Spawn does what he does; he is just going to do it. We'll eventually do some of the background if we make a trilogy, but that's not this first movie. The first movie is just saying, do you believe? And if you believe than that's good because I'm hoping to take you for a long ride with this franchise," McFarlane said.


LOOSE LIPS:
"I know Val Kilmer saw me naked. I just had to get that off my chest."
--Eminem, on Kilmer catching him while he changed in his trailer during the VMAs in the late 2000s, on Twitter



??? Guess Who ???
Which Oscar-winning actor is producing a Ulysses S. Grant docu-series?


Morgan Freeman demands retraction, apology from CNN for sexual harassment story
Morgan Freeman has demanded a retraction and apology from CNN on Tuesday after the network published a story with several allegations of sexual harassment against the actor.

Morgan Freeman's attorney, Robert Schwartz, told Vanity Fair that he sent a 10-page letter to CNN that provides the network with "objective evidence, including videotapes and on-the-record denials by the claimed 'victims,' that the alleged incident that gave rise to the story never happened."

"And in choosing to ignore all of the evidence that we presented, CNN has confirmed our concerns about its reporters, its lack of oversight, and its gross misconduct in unjustifiably attacking Mr. Freeman," the statement continued.

The CNN story was co-written by reporter Chloe Melas, who claimed Freeman made an inappropriate comment that was sexual in nature when she was covering a press junket for the film, Going in Style. Melas' story includes the incident and says it was what inspired her to find other women who may have been victimized by the actor.

Schwartz goes on to say that Melas had an agenda against Freeman and "lacked the requisite impartiality and objectivity to fairly cover the story she was chasing."

"Under those circumstances, CNN should not have allowed her to write it," Schwartz said.

Schwartz's letter pointed out that one of the alleged victims, Tyra Martin, an entertainment reporter in Chicago who has interviewed Freeman several times, said she "never was" a victim.

"CNN totally misrepresented the video and took my remarks out of context," she told TMZ.

CNN defended its reporting and blasted Schwartz.

"The unfounded accusations made by Mr. Freeman's lawyer are disappointing and are difficult to reconcile with Mr. Freeman's own public statements in the aftermath of the story," the network said. "CNN stands by its reporting and will respond forcefully to any attempt by Mr. Freeman or his representatives to intimidate us from covering this important public issue."


Backstreet Boys, Carrie Underwood to sing at the CMT Awards
Backstreet Boys, Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean have joined the lineup of performers for the CMT Awards show in Nashville on June 6.

Little Big Town is hosting the event at the Bridgestone Arena, which will be broadcast live on CMT.

"CMT also revealed today that country music's loudest night is about to get even louder with two star-studded collaborations; country icon Dierks Bentley featuring Video of the Year nominees Brothers Osborne, as well as CMT Performance of the Year nominee Darius Rucker featuring Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Charles Kelley," a news release from the cable channel said Tuesday.

Also set to take the stage are previously announced artists Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt.

Kelly Clarkson -- who hosted the Billboard Music Awards gala this month -- will premiere her rendition of "American Woman" at the CMT Awards.


??? Guess Who ???
Which Oscar-winning actor is producing a Ulysses S. Grant docu-series?

Leonardo DiCaprio is producing a docu-series called Grant for the History channel.

The six-part program is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow's biography of the same name.

Chernow also is a producer on the project, which follows Army Gen. Ulysses S. Grant through some of the most high-profile events of 1800s America.

"Grant is one of the most brilliant, yet flawed figures in U.S. history and Chernow's extraordinary biography has transformed our understanding of him at the deepest level," Eli Lehrer, the channel's executive vice president of programming, said in a news release. "This documentary will look at the Civil War and Reconstruction through the intriguing lens of Grant and we look forward to bringing Chernow's fascinating portrait of this president to life."

DiCaprio is an environmental activist who has starred in the films The Revenant, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Departed, The Aviator, Gangs of New York and Titanic. He also is the founder of Appian Way Productions and Jennifer Davisson serves as president of production.