Bill Murray Reveals The Women He'd Choose For 'Ghostbusters 3'

September 8, 2014, 3:11 pm

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Bill Murray won't be appearing in the upcoming "Ghostbusters III," which is likely to feature a female-centric plot. Instead, he has offered up his top picks for the job.

In a recent interview with The Toronto Star, Murray suggested Melissa McCarthy, his co-star in the upcoming film "St. Vincent," would be a good fit for a role in the next "Ghostbusters" flick. He also mentioned a few more of our favorite comediennes.

“Melissa would be a spectacular Ghostbuster. And Kristen Wiig is so funny -- God, she’s funny!" he told the Star during the Toronto Film Festival this weekend. “I like this girl Linda Cardellini ("Mad Men") a lot. And Emma Stone is funny. There are some funny girls out there.”

Murray may actually be on to something with his funny female picks. Paul Feig, the director of "Bridesmaids," which starred both Wiig and McCarthy, is currently in negotiations to helm the next chapter of the "Ghostbusters" saga, according to reports.

Speaking to HuffPost Live host Ricky Camilleri on Sept. 5, Reitman said he's fairly certain Feig will get the job.

"I know that the studio is negotiating with Paul, and I think it's probably going to work out," said Camilleri. "There were always going to be women involved in the next iteration of 'Ghostbusters.' Paul seems to be the perfect director to sort of bring that about."

In addition to Murray's lineup, here are our nominees for female "Ghostbuster" leads (in no particular order):

1. Tina Fey


2. Amy Poehler


3. Emily Blunt


4. Jenny Slate


5. Rebel Wilson


6. Maya Rudolph

Who would you pick? Share your thoughts in the comments, or tweet us @HuffPostEnt.

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New 'Scandal' Promo Answers A Huge Season 4 Question ... Sort Of

September 8, 2014, 3:20 pm

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Where did Olivia Pope go when she got on that plane at the end of Season 3? We just found out ... kind of.

The promo opens with Fitz desperately calling Olivia's house, but she's not around to answer. Why? She's on a beach, sipping red wine. Because really what else would she be doing?

So where is Olivia Pope, exactly? Only time will tell. But it sure doesn't look like she's headed back to D.C. anytime soon.

"Scandal" returns on Thurs., Sept. 25 on ABC.

Aphrodite Rising... as Beyoncé?

September 8, 2014, 3:22 pm

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Aphrodite is a largely misunderstood Greek goddess. Jealous? Shallow? Oversexed? Although these qualities make Aphrodite a marketing department's muse (her name is used to sell lipstick, lingerie, sandals, toilets, bikinis, and libido support), they're actually far from who this deity really is.

To get a modern-day sense of Aphrodite's power and majesty, take a look at Beyonce's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 24, 2014.

Not only was Queen Bey's 16-minute medley from her self-titled album flawless and edgy, but it was a testament to the power and majesty of a woman who knows her worth -- the embodiment of Aphrodite. After watching Beyoncé's performance, you may agree that Aphrodite isn't dead but merely had a costume change.

Aphrodite Who?

If ever there was a goddess who's been misunderstood, mysogynized, and commodified, it's "golden Aphrodite the Cyprian, who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal men...."

In other cultures, this goddess was known by many names: Inanna, Ishtar, Astarte, Venus. In her rule as Aphrodite, her allure was so powerful that birds and creatures of the earth and sea all fell under her spell.

Jane Meredith, author of Aphrodite's Magic: Celebrate and Heal Your Sexuality, says that she experiences Aphrodite as "a Goddess who has been completely misinterpreted by the patriarchy and sold to us the way women's sexuality is portrayed -- as both terrifying/overwhelming and also as a commodity."

Meredith says that in reality, Aphrodite is "deep compassion, utter love and joyous delight in the world." Think about the famous Botticelli painting where Aphrodite is naked in a half-shell, gazing clear-eyed at the viewer. She is liberated, unbounded. "'Here I am, unafraid and whole and utterly myself," says Meredith.

The Ultimate (Divine) Feminist

Back to Beyoncé's performance. Juxtaposed with her gyrations is a blatant, liberating, pro-feminist message. At the 10:25 mark, words from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie rise tall behind female dancers in an assembly line. Adichie's voice-over declares:

We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are. We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, "You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise you will threaten the man." Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.

This kind of self-awareness is purely, joltingly Aphrodite. HuffPost has written about Beyoncé's brand of feminism, and I would direct readers to Jannell Hobson's thoughtful analysis in Urban Times to learn more.

But this post isn't about the body politic. It's about the sweetly winning, coy-eyed goddess from the aphros ("sea foam"). I invite you to consider that Beyoncé's sexually empowered, in-your-face choreography and lyrics are a modern-day channeling of Mighty Aphrodite herself. As Beyoncé makes love to the camera, broadcasting to 8.9 million television viewers, she is proving that the goddess is alive and accessible.

Pure Aphrodite

What are we to learn from all of this? As the embodiment of the generative powers of nature, Aphrodite may be a remedy for our Western culture, a culture largely subsisting on sexual repression, shame, guilt, and addiction. Casting aside that distorted mirror, Aphrodite helps us see ourselves more clearly. And in that process we are made whole.

Goddess of love? Check. Goddess of sex? Check. Post-modern goddess of pop stars who empower audiences to celebrate their innate power and be a force of creativity in the world? Check.

To learn more about Aphrodite, check out Laurie Lovekraft's "Aphrodite Awakening" workshop and Rite of Aphrodite at the Green Man Store, North Hollywood, California, September 13-14, 2014, co-taught with Urania.

Beyonce Crashed A Wedding In Italy And Brides Everywhere Died Of Jealousy

September 8, 2014, 3:28 pm

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The greatest thing you can ever imagine happened to one lucky bride in Italy this weekend: Beyoncé crashed her wedding!

If you don't believe us, here's proof -- the happiest looking bride in the world with Queen Bey herself:

The superstar Beyoncè was back to Portofino with her fiance Jay Z yesterday, September 6. #portofino #Beyonce pic.twitter.com/GTZPWFzJng

— Portofino (@portofino) September 6, 2014

According to reports, Jay-Z and Beyoncé were vacationing in Portofino, Italy when they happened to run into a wedding at a local church. The rest is history.

BRB, we have to go die of jealousy now.

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Weddings on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Would You Date A Guy With Hair Like This?

September 9, 2014, 4:00 am

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We'd love it if you would direct your attention to these well-coiffed male models.

Jimmy Paul served as the lead hairstylist for Martin Keehn's Spring 2015 presentation. Paul was inspired by "the urban guy with an '80s pompadour" and we say mission accomplished. It sort of reminds us of "Never Gonna Give You Up" singer Rick Astley's hair... teased to the extreme.



Paul relied on four different Bumble and Bumble hairstyling products to recreate this retro look. That's four more than the amount most guys probably use at all.

First he saturated the hair with Thickening Hairspray and applied a quarter-sized amount of Styling Creme. Then he blow-dried with a round brush and followed with a curling iron. Once the curls cooled, Paul brushed through and teased the top of the hair. Classic Hairspray was spritzed throughout and Thickening Creme Contour helped to smooth flyaways.

Is this pompadour hairstyle a turn on or turn off?

Meet Your New Friendly Neighborhood Cop, Shaquille O'Neal

September 9, 2014, 10:40 am

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Criminals in Doral, Fla., be warned: Shaq is watching.

That's Shaq as in Shaquille O’Neal, the 7-foot-1 former NBA star, who applied to be a reserve police officer last Wednesday in the suburban Miami community. If all goes as planned, says a Doral spokesperson, Shaq could be on the beat as soon as he passes a background check and several physical and psychological tests.

Post by City of Doral.

"If he passes," city spokeswoman Christina Baguer told the Miami Herald, "he will then have to do everything else to be certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, just like any of our other officers, reserve or not reserve."

Shaq has long dabbled in law enforcement, reports Fox Sports, even being sworn in as a reserve officer with the Miami Police Department while playing for the Miami Heat in 2005.

In 2004, when Shaq applied to be a cop with the nearby Miami Beach Police Department, the Miami New Times obtained a copy of his application. Under special skills and equipment, Shaq reportedly referred to himself as a "master of surveillance" who came complete with a "laptop computer" and "binnochulars" [sic].

Apple Unveils New, Bigger iPhone 6 Plus

September 9, 2014, 10:42 am

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There's a new iPhone out, and this time it's not only better -- but also much bigger.

Apple announced a new pair of iPhones at an event in Cupertino, California, on Tuesday. As predicted, both of the phones have larger screens than previous Apple phones. The iPhone 6 Plus features a 5.5-inch screen, while the iPhone 6 will have a 4.7-inch screen. In comparison, the iPhone 5s has a 4-inch screen.

The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus compared to the 5s.

The release confirms the long-standing rumor that Apple would introduce a bigger phone in order to compete with Android phones, namely Samsung, in the increasingly popular "phablet" category.

Also as predicted, the larger phone will be more expensive, starting at $299 with a contract.

The iPhone 6 Plus screen features Retina HD technology -- allowing for crisper video and images than ever before. The 6 Plus is also thinner than previous iPhones at just 7.1 millimeters wide, though it is slightly thicker than the iPhone 6.

The iPhone 6 Plus.

The 6 Plus features a longer battery life than the standard model, allowing for 80 hours of audio playback and up to 14 hours of video. The iPhone 6, in contrast, allows for 50 hours of audio and 11 hours of video.

Both of the new iPhones will have upgraded processors. The iPhone 6 Plus is 84 times faster than the original iPhone, Apple said.

This is a developing story.

FBI Raids Hotel Room Over Kris Jenner Death Threats

September 9, 2014, 10:52 am

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The FBI descended on the Four Seasons Hotel in L.A. on the hunt for a woman they believed was making death threats and harassing phone calls to Kris Jenner and her family.

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Rosie O'Donnell Covers 'Variety'

September 9, 2014, 11:23 am

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Lookin' good, Rosie!

One of our favorite queer comedians is posed to make a comeback, and she's setting the stage by covering the latest issue of Variety.

On the cusp of Rosie O'Donnel's return to "The View," the former host is here to remind you that she still looks incredible... and she's here to take over.



We can't wait.

Tina Fey Explains How Dealing With Her Three-Year-Old Is Like Working With Alec Baldwin

September 9, 2014, 11:45 am

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Who knew that working with Alec Baldwin would be the perfect crash course in dealing with a willful three-year-old? Tina Fey explains to David Letterman why she's lucky to have gotten her youngest daughter into pre-school, and how working with Baldwin on "30 Rock" has paid off in an unusual way.

"Late Show With David Letterman" airs Monday-Friday at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS.

[via Above Average]

Howard Stern's Perfect Eulogy For Joan Rivers May Be The Dirtiest Thing You'll Hear At A Funeral

September 9, 2014, 12:12 pm

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Note: This article contains explicit language.

They don't call him a shock jock for nothing.

Howard Stern delivered one of the raunchiest eulogies you'll ever hear at Joan Rivers' funeral Sunday. He joked about one of Rivers' body parts that she wasn't shy about referencing in her standup. But the setting -- Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan with a host of celebrity mourners -- made it that much more memorable.

"In the morose silence Howard Stern said, 'Joan Rivers had a dry pussy,' " comedian Margaret Cho wrote in a blog post for The Huffington Post. "At first, the words just hung there, as no one knew exactly what to do. Of course I started laughing hysterically, and everyone else, remembering who we were there to honor, followed suit. Howard Stern actually choked back tears as he continued - 'Joan’s pussy was so dry it was like a sponge - so that when she got in the bathtub – whooooosh – all the water would get absorbed in there! Joan said that if Whitney Houston had as dry a pussy as Joan’s, she would still be alive today.'"

Stern wasn't the first to make fun of Rivers' privates. In a Comedy Central roast a few years back, Gilbert Gottfried cracked, "She spread her legs and I was immediately blinded by a flurry of bats."

And, of course, Rivers wasn't one to hesitate to deliver shtick about her own anatomy: "My vagina is like Newark. Men know it's there, but they don't want to visit."

According to ABC News, Stern said on his Sirius XM radio show that he hesitated when Rivers' daughter, Melissa, asked him to deliver the eulogy and feared saying the wrong thing. After finally saying yes, Stern said he consulted with Louis C.K., who told Stern that she deserved a great send-off. "Joan was like an aunt or a best friend who could make everything better," the comedian reportedly told Stern.

In the end, Stern's bawdiness connected. "It was so wrong but so right at the same time," Cho wrote in her essay. "So Joan. So great. RIP my friend."

Ashley Tisdale Marries Musician Christopher French

September 9, 2014, 12:14 pm

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Congrats go out to Ashley Tisdale!

The 29-year-old actress married musician Christopher French on Monday, Sept. 8, according to People. Tisdale took to Instagram to confirm the news, posting a wedding photo and writing, "Best day of my life! Introducing Mr and Mrs French Sept 8, 2014 Shot by @corbingurkin."



In the photo, Tisdale wears a gorgeous white gown with cap sleeves and a flower crown.

According to E! News, Tisdale's "High School Musical" co-star and best friend Vanessa Hudgens was among those in attendance.

Tisdale and French, the lead singer of Annie Automatic, began dating in December 2012 and got engaged in August 2013.

"You know, I didn't [think it'd happen that quickly]," she told Ryan Seacrest last year of her whirlwind engagement. "I think I've obviously been in long relationships in the past, but I think because of knowing what I wanted, I wouldn't have gone into a relationship, if it wasn't what I wanted. And I think from the moment that him and I met, I just knew it."

Cheers to the happy couple!

SJP's Spectacular NYC Townhouse Is Back On The Market

September 9, 2014, 12:33 pm

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Have a spare $22 million lying around? Well, we know exactly where you can spend it.

Actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have re-listed their Greenwich Village home after taking the property off the market earlier this year. The historic brownstone was reportedly listed by Sotheby's for $25 million back in 2012. This week, the house returned to the market for about $3 million less (bargain alert!). What's more, the home was listed by Douglas Elliman agents John Gomes and Frederik Eklund, of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing" fame. Could there be an upcoming reality show episode in the works, a la SJP's incredibly classy Vogue home tour? We certainly hope so.

As you might imagine, the 19th-century home is pretty impeccable. Featuring seven fireplaces, the luxe, 6,800-square-foot interior includes beautiful hardwood floors, tons of natural light and the most impressive-looking bathtub we've ever seen in a New York City abode (it's hand-carved from stone because, why not). The house also includes NEST thermostats and a built-in air cleaning and humidification system.

The couple purchased the property in 2011 and redecorated it, but reportedly did not live at this address.

Check out the photos of the gorgeous house below.

U2 Announces Free New Album 'Songs Of Innocence' At Apple Live

September 9, 2014, 12:35 pm

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Apple's live event unveiled the Apple Watch, the new iPhone 6, a digital wallet and, unexpectedly, U2's first album in five years, "Songs of Innocence."

The band debuted a new song, "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)," live and announced that the album would be automatically added to iTunes users' libraries for free starting Sept. 9. (Go check out your library. It's probably already there.) "Songs of Innocence" just had the biggest album release of all time.

"Music runs deep in Apple's DNA. It runs through the core of all of our products," Apple CEO Tim Cook said at the event. "iTunes has been at the center of that experience."



According to Rolling Stone, U2 worked on "Songs of Innocence" with producers Danger Mouse, Flood, Paul Epworth and Ryan Tedder. "We wanted to have the discipline of the Beatles or the Stones in the Sixties, when you had real songs," Bono told Rolling Stone. "There's nowhere to hide in them: clear thoughts, clear melodies."

The album features songs intended to be reminiscent of the Clash and the Ramones, and Bono told Rolling Stone that one song was written for his mother, who died when Bono was a teenager. Lykke Li also appears on one track, "The Troubles."



For now, "Songs of Innocence" is only now available on iTunes, iTunes Radio or Beats Music, but the physical record will be out Oct. 13. A deluxe edition will include acoustic versions of some songs and additional tracks: "Lucifer's Hands," "The Crystal Ballroom, "The Troubles (Alternative Version)" and "Sleep Like A Baby (Alternative Perspective Mix by Tchad Blake)."

Here's the tracklist:
1. "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)"
2. "Every Breaking Wave"
3. "California (There Is No End To Love)"
4. "Song For Someone"
5. "Iris (Hole Me Close)"
6. "Volcano"
7. "Raised by Wolves"
8. "Cedarwood Road"
9. "Sleep Like A Baby Tonight"
10. "This Is Where You Can Read Me Now"
11. "The Troubles"

Connie Britton On 'Friday Night Lights' Mantra's 'Impactful' Effect On Cancer Patients

September 9, 2014, 12:37 pm

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Turns out "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose" is more than just something "Friday Night Lights" fans recite to one another to establish a mutual love of the TV show.

According to the series' very own Tami Taylor, otherwise known as actress Connie Britton, the popular NBC show's mantra carries healing and inspirational powers for those going through hard times.

"It's certainly a powerful mantra," she told HuffPost Live's Ricky Camilleri in an interview on Tuesday. "I think it was used to great effect in the show, obviously, but I think we also saw a lot of people adopt it, including political campaigns. I've had many people who've been struggling with cancer and other illnesses tell me that it's been something that's very impactful for them -- somebody in particular who was dealing with cancer, and they had it tattooed. A lot of people have it tattooed on them."

The "Nashville" star said she too tries to live by the famous "FNL" catchphrase.

"If you think about it, and you really live by that motto, which I don't think is necessarily an easy thing to do, but I think it's a great thing to aspire to, to some degree you can't lose," she said. "Whether you lose the game or not, if you're clear and your heart is full, you're living your truest way."

Watch more of Connie Britton's heartfelt conversation with HuffPost Live here.

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live's new morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!

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The Quote That Keeps 'Screwing Up' Connie Britton's Dating Life

September 9, 2014, 12:52 pm

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There's no question that Connie Britton is a catch, but she's worried something she said recently is scaring men away.

When the actress stopped by HuffPost Live to chat about her new film "This Is Where I Leave You," "Nashville" and, of course, "Friday Night Lights," host Ricky Camilleri asked about a recent interview with Redbook magazine in which Britton said she wants her 3-year-old adopted son Yoby to have a "father figure," which prompted headlines across the Internet about her search for a man for her family.

Britton told HuffPost Live that she does want that father figure, but coverage of her quote has made it seem more important than it actually is.

"I say that in an hour-long interview, and suddenly there are all these headlines: 'Connie Britton is looking for a father figure!'" Britton said. "It's like, guys, that is screwing up my dating life."

All jokes aside, Britton said that being a single mom won't factor into her decision about which men to date.

"I'm not going to put that kind of pressure on myself or on a relationship or on anything. I made the choice to have this child, and I'm doing it on my own, and when and if the right man comes into my life, then my son will have a father figure," she said.

See the full HuffPost Live conversation with Connie Britton here.

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live's new morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!

What Ray Rice Should Mean for NFL's Female Fan Base

September 9, 2014, 1:12 pm

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If the men of the NFL won't stand up against violence toward women, then the women of the NFL need to.

According to Adweek, the Super Bowl was the most watched TV program among women this year. Sure, there was Bruno Mars. But more and more women are coming to football for, well, the football. These days, 46 percent -- nearly half -- of NFL fans are female, representing a significant shift in the sport's traditionally male-dominated audience. Fashion magazines like Vogue and Glamour run stories on football fashion and Q&As with athletes. For the second year, Marie Claire included a multi-page insert in its fall fashion issue featuring tips on what to wear to a game, how to host a football party at home, and quotes from stylish "fangirls" talking about why and how they love the sport.

Indeed, the NFL has worked very hard to cultivate this female audience through rigorous marketing efforts like female-oriented sports programming, pop-up clothing boutiques at stadiums, branded home goods offerings like wine bottle holders and cheeseboards, and partnerships with nail polish brands to create sports-themed manicures ("fanicures"). There have been campaigns and products and million dollar efforts designed to welcome female fans to the sport. That Marie Claire special? It was sponsored by NFL.com.

On the surface, this would seem to be an encouraging move: A traditionally male-oriented, often female-exclusionary sport recognizing that fans can be, and are, of either gender. And yet, in its handling of running back Ray Rice's assault against his then-fiancée, now-wife, Janay Palmer Rice, the NFL has proven that it does not care about women. As far as I'm concerned, this leaves women little choice but to return the favor. Can you believe in women's rights and enjoy football? Can you be angry about Ray Rice and the NFL's inadequate handling of him but still feel okay about watching the game? The answer, to both, is no.

The NFL wants your money. But that, it has become clear, is all you are to them: a revenue source, someone to buy more jerseys and sit in more seats. After all: It was only yesterday, after the full video of Ray Rice punching Janay Rice was released, that the Baltimore Ravens terminated his contract and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely. Goodell's first move back in May, when just part of the video was released -- the part that "only" showed Ray dragging an unconscious Janay out of the elevator -- was a two-game suspension. It wasn't clear, Goodell said at the time, what had happened in that elevator. Now, of course, it is.

I'd argue it was all along.

Football can be a beautiful sport to watch, a game of skill in which extraordinarily talented men do incredible things with their bodies. It is a game that, yes, requires and rewards a certain level of aggression. But the best players are the ones who unleash their aggression at the right times, and can do so with control and precision. On your fiancée in an empty elevator is not one of those times. That said, one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch, though I'd argue that in this case, there's more than one: Ray Rice, Roger Goodell, and the fans who continue to watch despite all evidence pointing to the fact that the NFL condones mistreatment of at least half its fans.

Goodell kept Ray Rice in the league because he thought Rice was someone people wanted to see play. If, however, it becomes clear that at least half of the league's fans emphatically do not want to see Ray Rice, or any other woman beater, play -- and, by the way, won't be buying any of your feminized game jerseys up for sale on NFL.com either -- then it's possible change will start to happen. If the men of the NFL won't stand up against violence toward women, then the women of the NFL need to. That starts with those of us who watch it.

Or, should I say, who used to.

Sara Gilbert Is Pregnant, Expecting First Child With Wife Linda Perry

September 9, 2014, 1:31 pm

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Sara Gilbert is pregnant! The Talk co-host announced that she and her wife, rock songwriter-producer Linda Perry, are expecting their first child together during the CBS show on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

This Vine Epitomizes How The NFL Treats Domestic Violence

September 9, 2014, 2:46 pm

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Domestic violence in America: a priority, until football gets in the way.

On Monday night during the Arizona Cardinals-San Diego Chargers game, ESPN anchor Chris Berman was discussing former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice's indefinite suspension from the NFL after TMZ published video that showed Rice slugging his now-wife Janay in an Atlantic City elevator.

But Berman interrupted himself mid-sentence as something else took precedence over addressing domestic violence: a blocked punt.

"It is clear to anybody playing football that the message has to go way beyond," Berman says in the Vine video above. "And some need help AND THE PUNT IS BLOCKED!"

Vine user Sam Laird hit the nail on the head in the video's caption: "Chris Berman explaining the intricacies of domestic violence but really just being a metaphor for America," he writes.

Indeed. In May, the only video from the incident that was publicly available showed Rice dragging his unconscious fiancee from the elevator -- but not what happened inside. The NFL suspended him for just two games, and the Ravens actually tweeted that Janay Rice was sorry for "her role" in what was clearly a violent assault.

Rice wasn't suspended indefinitely or let go from the team until Monday, when TMZ surfaced footage from inside the elevator that showed him knocking his wife out with a left hook -- video NFL executives may have seen before determining his earlier, considerably lighter punishment. Hours after the new footage surfaced, the Ravens finally removed their tweet.

According to the National Network To End Domestic Violence, three women are killed in domestic violence incidents in the U.S. every day, on average; the fact that a blocked punt could sideline conversation about it is both indicative and inexcusable.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Why Kevin Kline Loves Playing Charming Misanthropes

September 9, 2014, 3:52 pm

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Those who scroll aimlessly through Netflix on a nightly basis would be wise to put on 1991's "Soapdish" as soon as possible. Michael Hoffman's satire of soap operas (if you don't remember what those are, ask your parents) is still hilarious, and includes top-shelf performances from Sally Field, Robert Downey Jr., Whoopi Goldberg and, as a washed-up actor, Kevin Kline.

"I haven't seen it since it came out," Kline told HuffPost Entertainment. "At the time I remember just laughing out loud when I read the script. I thought actors and people in the business would really get this, but I didn't know if the rest of the world would. But I thought that about 'A Chorus Line,' too."

Kline's back on screens this month in "My Old Lady," an adaptation of Israel Horovitz's play of the same name. For Horovitz, 75, the comedy-drama about French real estate and family secrets marks his directorial debut.

"I find the best way to do these 'indie' films, which are done as inexpensively as possible, is to take each scene as it comes," Kline said. "I got a taste of it when I worked with Robert Altman on 'Prairie Home Companion.' It's 'make it up as you go along,' and it's a very malleable, living and organic thing. You have to have a plan and then you have to be able to fiddle with the plan. That's the way Israel worked, too, which is pretty amazing since this is his first time out."

In "My Old Lady," which debuted at the this year's Toronto International Film Festival, Kline stars as Mathias Gold, a New Yorker who inherits his father's French apartment after the older man's death. The catch? Mathilde Girard (Maggie Smith), a 92-year-old English woman living in the apartment with her daughter (Kristen Scott Thomas). Mathias' father engaged in a viager, where the home buyer agrees to pay the seller a monthly sum for the property, and can't occupy the residence until after the seller dies. Over the course of the film, Mathias and Mathilde form an uneasy alliance, and each helps the other reveal a side they had previously kept hidden from the world. Kline and Smith are predictably electric together.

"People ascribe chemistry, but we're just doing our jobs," Kline said of working with Smith, who is 79 and aged up to play Mathilde. "I've had four weeks rehearsal on 'The Big Chill' to get a sense of ensemble and a sense of comfort. I've had no rehearsals too, and you get the same ensemble effect. It starts with the script. If the script is good, it'll create that and the chemistry will follow."

Mathias suits Kline in a way similar to his turn as Jaques in "As You Like It": The character possesses a misanthropic charm, and Kline plumbs those depths for some great pathos.

"There are characters who are oppositional. If you say white, he'll say black. Just difficult and ornery. But I love those guys," Kline said. "There's something attractive about someone who dares to be who he is and risk not being the least bit ingratiating to anyone. He's not there to make friends. In fact, he's more comfortable making enemies."

"My Old Lady" is out in limited release on Friday.