Here's the Scoop...

Anisa told me that Sir Anthony Hopkins has signed on to star in Transformers: The Last Knight, the fifth film in the franchise. So the Academy Award winner, best known for portraying Dr. Hannibal Lecter, will be battling robots in disguise.

It hasn't been announced whether he'll be a voice of one of the Transformers or one of the useless, underwritten, uninteresting, unimportant human characters that are dodging endless explosions in these flicks.

Oh, Tony. How the mighty have fallen. Everybody, send Sir Anthony Hopkins a few bucks so he won't do this movie. I'm in for $20.

Be Well,
Steve

Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve

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Report: Opioid overdose caused Prince's death
Iconic musician Prince died of an opioid overdose, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Thursday, citing a source close to the investigation.

Official toxicology and autopsy reports were not released. The probe into the pop star's death at age 57 is focusing on how Prince obtained prescription opioids.

He was found dead by two staffers at his Minneapolis compound, Paisley Park, on the morning of April 21. Prescription drugs were found on his person.

"We need to see the Prince in all of us. We need to see the vulnerability," Dr. David Kessler, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration told the Los Angeles Times. "We're all vulnerable here. It's a wake-up call for how we view these drugs."

Kessler called it troublesome that many people who are initially prescribed opioids for pain eventually become addicted to the drugs. "The most important thing is not to look at this through a lens of 'This is bad behavior,'" Kessler said. "We all are susceptible to these medications."

Prince's death occurred just one day before he was scheduled to meet with a sought-after doctor in an attempt to end an opioid addiction.

Californian addiction specialist Howard Kornfeld was expected to arrive in Minnesota on April 22, but had sent his son and partner, Andrew, ahead. Andrew Kornfeld was present when Prince's staff found his body in an elevator.

In May, investigators from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a second search of Prince's home.

On April 15, Prince's jet had to make an emergency landing en route to Minneapolis from Atlanta due to an unresponsive passenger.



LOOSE LIPS:
"I like to think of myself as more than a head of hair or a set of looks. It's demeaning. Yes, in some ways you could argue I've been employed for a look I have. But there's a sexism that happens towards men."
--Kit Harington, on double standards facing men in Hollywood, to the Sunday Times


??? Guess Who ???
Which Academy Award winning actress will star in a pre-school program 'Julie's Greenroom' for Netflix?



Gwen Stefani 'absolutely not' engaged to Blake Shelton
Gwen Stefani is setting the record straight on Blake Shelton engagement rumors.

The 46-year-old singer denied she and the 39-year-old country star are engaged on Wednesday's episode of The Tommy Show following reports she and Shelton are considering marriage and having children.

"Can you imagine the amount of gossipy, weird stories people make up? To me, it makes me laugh every day," Stefani said. "I actually do Google my name just so I can see the next one that's gonna happen, because it's gotten so out of control."

"I think the best part about it is it's hilarious. The worst part about it is some people actually believe that stuff," she added. "I mean, let's just look at the last year. Let's just take it one day at a time. Everything's crazy right now. So no, absolutely not [engaged]."

Us Weekly had reported Stefani and Shelton are "getting married" on its June 13 cover. Sources told the magazine Stefani also "wants to give Blake his own kid," claiming the mom-of-three is hoping for a baby girl.

"[Gwen] is totally smitten and wants to have a baby with Blake," an insider said. "Gwen is trying to get pregnant."

"[They] talk openly about their future together. They say things like, 'When we get married...' all the time," another source added.

Stefani and Shelton confirmed their relationship in November after splitting from their respective spouses, Gavin Rossdale and Miranda Lambert. Stefani, who shares three sons with Rossdale, celebrated her eldest's 10th birthday with Shelton in May.


??? Guess Who ???
Which Academy Award winning actress will star in a pre-school program 'Julie's Greenroom' for Netflix?

Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music icon Julie Andrews will star in Julie's Greenroom, a half-hour, pre-school show from The Jim Henson Company, set to debut in early 2017.

The 13-episode, Netflix series will feature a puppet cast of kids learning about the performing arts.

Andrews created the series with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton and Judy Rothman-Rofe. She will executive produce and star as Ms. Julie, the director of the Wellspring Center for the Performing Arts where she teaches workshops in the theater and its "Greenroom."

The subscription streaming service said most episodes will include an original song and every episode will feature a guest star who engages the kids in a specific area of the performing arts. Among the guest stars lined up are Alec Baldwin, Sara Bareilles, Joshua Bell, Tituss Burgess, Carol Burnett, Chris Colfer, Robert Fairchild, Josh Groban, David Hyde Pierce, Bill Erwin, Ellie Kemper, Idina Menzel and Tiler Peck.

"This project represents the fulfilment of a long-held dream to educate children about the wonder of the arts. I am thrilled to be partnering with my daughter and long time co-author, Emma, to bring this show to life along with our co-creator, Judy Rothman-Rofe," Andrews said in a statement. "We could not be more honored to be working with the extraordinary Jim Henson Company. We are equally delighted to be premiering as a Netflix original production."

"It's been such an incredible treat to work with Julie on this project," added Andy Yeatman, director of Global Kids Content at Netflix. "This show is all about awakening children's interest in the performing arts while introducing a new era of puppets to the viewers."

"The best of the best have joined together to bring Julie's Greenroom to Netflix," remarked Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. "Our award-winning director, Tony-nominated puppeteers, Broadway composer, and accomplished guest artists, led by the incomparable Julie Andrews, together will inspire kids to explore, appreciate and celebrate all forms of performing arts."