Elizabeth Wagmeister-Senior Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentEboni K. Williams is launching a new season of her podcast with Interval Presents, the new in-house podcast network from Warner Media Group, Variety has learned exclusively.Williams — an attorney, journalist, TV host and author — recently starred on “The Real Housewives of New York City,” becoming the first-ever Black cast member to be cast on the Bravo show.“Holding Court with Eboni K.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentFor the second year in a row, “The View” is the most-watched daytime talk show across both network and syndication, Variety has learned.For the 2021-2022 television season, the ABC series ranked No. 1 in both households and total viewers, topping all other network and syndicated daytime talk shows with a 1.7 rating, tied with “Dr. Phil” in households, and an average of 2.411 million total viewers for the season, per Nielsen.In total viewers for the full season, “The View” came ahead of “Dr.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBritney Spears’ lawyer is coming to her defense in the wake of her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, suddenly speaking publicly about Spears and their two sons.Federline, the former backup dancer who was married to Spears from 2004 through 2007, gave an interview to ITV this week and said the former couple’s two teenage sons have made the decision to not see their mother. On Wednesday, Federline posted old videos on his Instagram account where Spears appears to be arguing with her young sons, then ages 11 and 12.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentHarvey Weinstein’s latest hearing in his sexual assault case was delayed Friday morning when a flood caused a lockdown at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the Los Angeles prison where the convicted rapist is currently behind bars.“Just a routine delay,” one of Weinstein’s attorneys, Mark Werksman, told members of the media who were sitting in the courtroom.“My client, on the payphone, is still in his cell,” Weinstein’s attorney said at 9:29 a.m., asking for an update from the bailiff, who was on the phone with the prison, trying to arrange transportation for Weinstein to be escorted to the courthouse for the hearing.“It is my understanding,” Judge Lisa B. Lench began, “That there was a flood at Twin Towers where Mr.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent“The View” is adding two new co-hosts: former Trump staffer, Alyssa Farah Griffin, as well as longtime contributor to the show, Ana Navarro, who Variety has learned has signed a multi-year deal as a permanent co-host, though she won’t appear every day on the show.The announcement is expected to come on today’s episode of “The View.”Both women are Republicans and will add conservative commentary to the daytime talk show, though their political brands are vastly different, despite their same party affiliation.Navarro and Farah Griffin will join moderator Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines, resulting in six co-hosts for Season 26.Navarro — a fan-favorite on “The View” who identifies as a Republican, but is a staunch critic of former President Donald Trump —  has appeared as a weekly guest host on the show, but never officially had a permanent spot at the Hot Topics table until now. Over the years, Variety has reported that she had been in discussions to join “The View,” but a full-time deal never materialized.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSunny Hostin is staying put at the most dramatic table on television.Hostin has inked a multiyear, multimillion-dollar deal to continue as co-host on “The View,” Variety has exclusively learned. The renewal deal will take Hostin through Season 28 of the ABC daytime show, which she currently co-hosts with Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and Sara Haines — all of whom will be returning next season.ABC declined to comment on Hostin’s deal.As Variety previously reported, “The View” is expected to cast former Trump staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin as a co-host next season, which begins in September, filling the conservative seat on the panel that has been vacant ever since Meghan McCain left the show in 2021.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAlyssa Farah Griffin, the former Trump White House director of strategic communications, is in final talks to join “The View” as the new conservative co-host of the daytime talk show, Variety has learned.Multiple sources tell Variety that ABC executives have chosen Farah Griffin, 33, to join “The View” for its 26th season, which kicks off in the fall. She has sat at the Hot Topics table regularly this season, auditioning for one of the most high-profile jobs on TV.Meghan McCain served as the conservative co-host of “The View” from 2017 through 2021, bringing a rating surge as she got into heated debates with the other co-hosts during the Trump era.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentHold me closer, Britney Spears?Some six years after she last released newly recorded music, Spears is back in the studio recording music with Elton John, according to reports in Page Six and TMZ — and it will be a brand-new recording of John’s 1971 song, “Tiny Dancer,” which took on a new life after it was featured in Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film, “Almost Famous.”According to the reports, Spears met with John last week in a Beverly Hills recording studio for a new version of the song, according to Page Six, and says the track is set to be released by Universal Music next month. Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt, who has worked with everyone from Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber to Pearl Jam and Ozzy Osbourne, is reported to be overseeing the session.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentFood Network continues to cook up its relationship with popular host Guy Fieri, who is gearing up to launch his sixth show with the network.Fieri’s next outing is “Guy’s Ultimate Game Night,” a culinary game show with celebrity guests competing in food-related games and trivia that brings some Hollywood flavor into the TV chef’s ever-growing repertoire.The series — which launches on Aug. 31 at 9 p.m.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentA few days after her latest legal victory in court, Britney Spears is sharing her passion and love for music with her fans, singing a powerful new version of her hit “Baby One More Time.”Spears, who was freed from her conservatorship after 13 years this past November, took to Instagram to post a brand new rendition of “Baby One More Time,” the single that catapulted her to superstardom as a teen when she released it in 1998.“I haven’t shared my voice in an extremely long time … maybe too long,” Spears wrote on Friday in her caption that accompanied a video of her belting out the song that made her famous — but this time, an a cappella version.Spears sings with power in the video, showing off her raw vocal ability that garnered much praise in the comment section. Spears’ new version includes one notable difference from the original lyrics: “Give me a fucking sign,” she hits hard in her new video, which she says she recorded earlier this week.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentDespite denying any involvement with Britney Spears’ conservatorship, the pop star’s former business manager Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group was directly involved in creating the legal arrangement, according to new court documents, filed by Spears’ attorney. The filing claims that Tri Star received at least $18 million from the conservatorship.Tri Star and its founder, Lou Taylor, served as the superstar’s business managers from 2008 through 2020.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentThis week, Chelsea Handler stepped in as guest host on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”The comedian brought her A-game, and as the news cycle would have it, Handler was tasked with handling the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the sentencing of both Ghislaine Maxwell and R. Kelly, plus the Jan.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentThis week, R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was convicted of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting people across state lines for prostitution.R.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBritney Spears’ conservatorship is terminated, but the legal battle continues for the pop star.In the latest move in the saga against her father Jamie Spears — who was her former conservator — the pop star’s attorney is blasting the elder Spears for seeking “revenge” by trying to depose his famous daughter, calling it a “low blow” and a strategy to “intimidate” the singer.“He now, with no legitimate, good-faith basis, seeks to take a sham deposition of his daughter, all in an effort to upset and intimidate her,” the star’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, wrote in a new legal filing to the Los Angeles Superior Court.The next hearing in Spears’ case is set to be held on July 13, where this matter is expected to be addressed in court. But if the conservatorship is over, why is this messy battle still ongoing? The singer is still fighting against her father, who has requested she pay his hefty legal bills, despite being suspended by the court, shortly before the conservatorship was terminated in November 2021.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentGhislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years for facilitating financier Jeffrey Epstein in sexually abusing underage girls.The British socialite and close confidante to Epstein was convicted in December on federal sex trafficking charges for luring underage girls to engage in sex acts with Epstein.On Tuesday morning, Maxwell was brought into the courtroom in ankle shackles where judge Alison J. Nathan said, “I find that the defendant’s criminal activity was extensive,” according to the New York Times.Numerous victims impact statements were made ahead of the sentencing, including from one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, Virginia Giuffre, whose lawyer read her statement to Maxwell.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAfter a civil jury found that Bill Cosby sexually abused Judy Huth in 1975 when she was a 16-year-old minor, Cosby’s team is calling the outcome an “astonishing victory,” yet pledging to appeal the $500,000 verdict.“Yesterday actor and comedian Bill Cosby was awarded an astonishing victory by jurors in a civil trial brought by Judy Huth,” reads a statement from Cosby’s spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt. “The jurors decided to grant Judy Huth with a $500,000 verdict but voted 9-3 in favor of not rewarding Ms.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSherri Shepherd is heading back to daytime.The former cohost of “The View,” actress, comedian and Emmy winner is launching her own talk show, which has officially been cleared for national syndication and will premiere on Sept. 12, Variety has learned.The new show, titled “Sherri,” has been cleared in more than 97% of the country with the Fox TV stations as its core station group.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentJesse Collins Entertainment has received a minority investment from Fulwell 73, Variety has learned.The deal expands opportunities for both companies, which will continue to produce independently, in addition to collaborating. Both companies are known for producing live event and unscripted content with high-caliber talent, and previously worked together on the Grammy Awards.Financial terms of deal between the Jesse Collins Company and Fulwell 73 were not disclosed.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWendy Williams was unlike anyone else on TV. On daytime, you’re supposed to be authentic, but you’re also taught to be polished, read the teleprompter and stay on script.Williams did none of those things. In fact, the talk show host did the exact opposite of what you’d expect a television executive to advise a host to do in 2008, the year her show was being tested for a national run.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentThere’s no doubt about it: social media has revolutionized the food business. Scrolling through endless food porn on Instagram tipped off a craze that has now fully blown up with TikTok, which has turned everyone into a 15-second chef.That also might be the problem.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentJanet Jackson is infamously press shy. The pop icon rarely speaks about her personal life.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAs if Jennifer Hudson’s week can’t get any better, the newly-minted EGOT is about to add another title to her resumé: talk show host.Hudson’s upcoming show, titled “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” has been cleared in more than 95% of the country, now officially heading into national syndication this fall. The series will debut on Sept. 12 on the Fox TV stations as its core station group.Hudson’s show hails from Warner Bros., the same studio that was behind “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which just closed its curtain after 19 years on the air.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWayfarer Studios — the independent production studio from filmmaker, author and “Jane the Virgin” actor Justin Baldoni — has received a $125M investment to boost strategic growth and further the company’s production of film, television, documentaries, podcasts and new media projects, Variety has learned exclusively.The private investment comes from Wayfarer Studios’ co-founder Steve Sarowitz, the entrepreneur, billionaire philanthropist and chairman of software company Paylocity, along with his wife, Jessica Sarowitz. Wayfarer was founded in 2019 by Baldoni and Sarowitz, who has served as an active advisor since the company’s inception.Wayfarer Studios’ mission is to bring people together and highlight connection through storytelling.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAfter 13 seasons, “The Wendy Williams Show” will officially come to an end this Friday, Variety has learned exclusively.The daytime talk show has been airing all season without its host, Wendy Williams, who will not be present for the final episode, which will include a video montage celebrating her groundbreaking television run.“The final original episode of ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ will air on Friday, June 17th with a video tribute to the iconic host. The series comes to an end after 13 successful years in syndication,” a spokesperson for the show says in a statement to Variety.Williams has been absent from her show all throughout the 2021-2022 season, due to health-related issues.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentIt’s going to be hard to beat the most exciting casting announcement of Season 19 of “The Bachelorette” — a.k.a., the fact that there are two female leads in the upcoming season — but 32 men will be vying for the hearts of two women.Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia will both co-star in “The Bachelorette” Season 19, marking a first for the long-running ABC dating franchise. And one month before their season kicks off, their suitors have been revealed.Having two Bachelorettes is a result of the messy last season of “The Bachelor” where Windey and Recchia were both broken up with leading man Clayton Echard on national television.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentFans have been calling for Kim Cattrall to make an appearance on “Emily in Paris,” ever since the “Sex and the City” sequel, “And Just Like That,” debuted without her iconic character Samantha Jones. Why, you ask? Well, “Emily in Paris” is created by Darren Star, who also created “Sex and the City.”Star isn’t directly involved with “And Just Like That,” and neither is Cattrall.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentIn its first year as an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival, Campari is celebrating the arts and creativity at the world’s most glamorous film festival.Campari has had quite a presence in the South of France fest with an exclusive Campari lounge in the Palais des Festivals and an evening beach club party that was open to the public, drawing one of the biggest crowds at Cannes.“At the heart of Campari, there’s a passion for creativity. We really believe in the power of unlocking creativity fueled by passion,” said Julka Villa, the CMO of Campari, in conversation with Variety at the Variety Studio presented by Campari at the Cannes Film Festival.“Cinema definitely the pinnacle of creativity,” Villa added.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentIn 1996, Olivier Assayas debuted his film “Irma Vep” at the Cannes Film Festival. 26 years later, the French filmmaker is back at the festival with the same project — but this time, revisited as a HBO series that stars Alicia Vikander.Vikander plays the starring role of a disillusioned actress in the upcoming television show.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentLittle has been confirmed about “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” but much has been discussed in the rumor mill regarding the sequel to Marvel’s enormous hit, “Black Panther.”Following the tragic death of star Chadwick Boseman, who passed in Aug. 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer, various members of the “Black Panther” team have spoken about honoring Boseman’s legacy in the second film.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentRiley Keough has been in the business for more than a decade. At just 32 years old, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley has made a name for herself as a performer with great range, known for “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Magic Mike,” “Zola” and Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience,” which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentIn 2017, Wendy Williams fainted on live television. The daytime gossip queen quickly got up and continued her show, but that episode signaled the beginning of health issues that plagued Williams. At the start of the fall 2021 TV season, the host went on a hiatus due to complications from Graves’ disease but, ultimately, never returned.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentMario Batali has been cleared of charges that he groped a woman at a Boston bar in 2017, as a judge ruled on Tuesday that the celebrity chef is not guilty of indecent battery and assault.Batali — the famed TV chef and restauranteur behind Eataly, who fell from grace in 2017, following a series of sexual misconduct allegations — was on criminal trial this week in Boston with a woman who was accusing him of forcible kissing and groping. Batali was facing two-and-a-half years in prison, if found guilty.The quick trial spanned two days. Batali waived his right to a trial by jury, and did not take the stand.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentPublicists Jack Ketsoyan and Pia Malihi have partnered to launch the new agency Full Scope Public Relations, Variety has learned exclusively.Full Scope Public Relations will be based in West Hollywood, Calif., where it opens its business this month.Ketsoyan, a PR vet and author, started his career with PMK, before co-founding the publicity firm EMCBowery, which recently closed its doors after 14 years. Malihi started her career at EMCBowery, under at Ketsoyan, before joining Jonesworks where she worked with talent, corporate and executive clients.“We are thrilled to be embarking on this new chapter with Full Scope Public Relations,” Ketsoyan and Malihi said in a joint statement.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWhen Kim Kardashian hosted “Saturday Night Live” last year, she joked about her ex-husband Kanye West during her monologue. Though the two were amid a divorce, it seemed as if they were on relatively good terms at the time given her light-hearted monologue.Kim quipped at the time about West, “I married the best rapper of all time. Not only that, he’s the richest Black man in America,” she said onstage.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWhile the Kardashians are at the Met Gala, a jury reached a verdict in Blac Chyna’s $100 million defamation case against the famous family — and they won.The Kardashians came out victorious with no damages awarded to Chyna. The jury found that none of the Kardashians defamed Chyna and none interfered with her E! contract, AP reports.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentHollywood has seen some strange stories over the years, but what happened last week was incredibly bizarre, even by movie business standards. Nothing, it seems, could quite prepare people for the spectacle and social media fallout that followed after Olivia Wilde was mysteriously served custody paperwork onstage at CinemaCon.Wilde — who shares two children with Jason Sudeikis, to whom she was formerly engaged — was delivering remarks to present a trailer for her upcoming film, the psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” to theater owners.