Kaley Cuoco recalls the 'Big Bang Theory' cast's tearful reaction to cancelation news
If it were up to Kaley Cuoco, she'd continue playing Penny on "Big Bang Theory" for a couple more decades. The show is slated to end in 2019 and as Kaley told "Extra" on Sunday, Sept. 23, she was grief stricken when she found out. "It's broken my heart," Kaley admitted (via Page Six). "I am so sad that it's ending. For the record, I would have done 20 more years." When her castmates heard about the decision to end the series, Kaley said some actors hoped the whole thing was a prank. "I was bad, but everyone was crying," she said. "I think we were all hoping for a giant 'bazinga!'" Looking ahead, she added that she hopes to work with the show's creator, Chuck Lorre, again in the future. It's unclear what exactly triggered the move to wrap up the show, which premiered back in 2007. But sources have told Entertainment Weekly it was tied to Jim Parsons' interest in pursuing other projects. He has not commented on the rumors.
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Ellen Pompeo on the possibility of leaving 'Grey's Anatomy:' 'I'm definitely looking for a change'
While Kaley Cuoco would have stayed on "Big Bang Theory" for 20 more years, Ellen Pompeo may be looking to end her 13-year tenure on "Grey's Anatomy." Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actress — one of four stars who have been on the series since its 2005 premiere — dropped some heavy hints she's thinking about wrapping things up with "Grey's." "I'm clearly not prepared right now to make any formal announcement about what my future is on the show," she said when asked if she'd stick around after the end of Season 16, "… but I am really feeling like we have told the majority of the stories that we can tell. It's about time that I mix it up. I'm definitely looking for a change." Celebitchy points out Ellen, who's now making about $20 million a year on "Grey's," told Us Weekly in May that she and Shonda Rhimes were thinking about ending the show and planned to make the call as to when and how that would happen together. "I still am fighting every day for the quality of the show to be good and for the actors to be happy. I still care very much about the show," Ellen told EW. Shonda, meanwhile, told the magazine that she's struggled to close out the long-running series the right way. "I have written the end of the show at least six times, but we just don't end," she said. "Every time I thought, 'This is how the show should end,' we've gone past those moments, so I've stopped trying. I have no idea now."
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Kate Hudson, Danny Fujikawa celebrate their stork news with a baby shower
Kate Hudson's boyfriend, Danny Fujikawa, and their friends celebrated Kate's baby-to-be on Sunday, Sept. 23, with a backyard shower featuring pink balloon garlands, gorgeous white table setups and plenty of smiles from the guest of honor. UsWeekly reports the star shared snippets from the party on her Instagram Story, including a cute moment when Danny cradled Kate's belly and shots of gifts from Gucci. The little girl the couple expects to welcome any day now will be Danny's first, while Kate's already a mom to sons Ryder, 14, and Bingham, 7. Last week on "Ellen," Kate said that they hadn't settled on a name yet and planned to pick the right one "when the day comes."
RELATED: More stars expecting babies in 2018
Cardi B is reportedly in talks to perform at the Super Bowl; will she get a solo set?
After taking time off to be with her daughter, Kulture, Cardi B is gearing up for a busy new year that could include a Super Bowl Half Time Show performance. According to TMZ, Cardi is currently negotiating with the NFL to perform "Girls Like You" with Maroon 5, who are rumored to be the 2019 Half Time Show pick. She's reportedly received a slew of offers to perform around that time and is said to be pushing for a solo set, which could appease football fans who feel Maroon 5 is a particularly white choice at a time when race issues are figuring heavily into football. TMZ adds that other fans — including Waka Flaka Flame — want to see an African-American performer with connections to Atlanta chosen for the show, since the game will be held there. Cardi's husband, Offset, grew up outside Atlanta along with the rest of Migos.
Kim Kardashian claps back at troll with some perfectly placed sarcasm
Kim Kardashian West has no interest in engaging trolls and their negativity. Over the weekend, Kim was asked on twitter how she reacted to Kylie Jenner's pregnancy news. "I was so happy knowing i was having a baby too," Kim told the fan, seemingly referring to the fact that their daughters, Stormi and Chicago, would be able to grow up together (via UsWeekly). When a commenter suggested the "Selfish" author was being, well, selfish, Kim brushed off the reply by playing along. "You always find ways to make things about yourself," the troll wrote. "Always!" Kim replied, adding, "Consistency is key 🔑."
Hailey Baldwin gushes about 'the most blissful few days' in Europe with Justin Bieber
With her wedding just around the corner (we think), Hailey Baldwin is feeling some major gratitude as she travels around Europe with her fiancé, Justin Bieber. Over the past few days, the couple have visited London for Fashion Week, Amalfi and Revello in Italy and Zurich. In a series of posts on her Instagram Story, Hailey, shared photos of the scenery before her, writing "thank you God for all the beautiful things you create." The model also gushed about having had "the most blissful few days," according to the Daily Mail. The jury is still out on whether Justin and Hailey have actually tied the knot or simply picked up their marriage license, but the latest information from TMZ suggests they're waiting to celebrate with a formal wedding until after they work out a prenup. An insider tells the outlet they have both retained lawyers to work out the details and won't wed until they've both signed off on an agreement.
Serena Williams and Meghan Markle 'relying on each other' more amid major media scrutiny
Shortly after her controversial loss at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams gave Australia's "The Sunday Project" an interview in which she acknowledged that the intense media pressure both she and her close friend, Duchess Meghan, are under these days has brought them closer together. "We were actually just texting each other this morning," the tennis star said, according to Cosmopolitan. When the reporter noted Serena and Meghan are currently under more media scrutiny than perhaps any other two women in the world at this moment, Serena couldn't argue. "Right?" she said. "I would definitely agree …. We have known each other for a long time, but we really are relying on each other a lot recently." Friends since 2010, the pair have supported one another at some of their most public moments in the past year, from Wimbledon to the royal wedding. While those moments came with their own challenges, Serena spoke in glowing terms of Meghan and Prince Harry's ceremony. "To have such a monumental moment in England, nonetheless of all the places, I felt like we were literally watching history," Serena said. "I feel like in a few years we are going to look back at that moment and it's going to be so historic. It's going to be something that people never forget. The whole service was really wonderful, and most of all I just wanted to see my friend be happy. And I think that's what happened."
Cher throws shade at Madonna on 'Ellen'
Turns out Cher still has issues with Madonna. The singers surprised fans when they turned up in what looked like a friendly photo together at the 2017 Women's March after decades of tension. But when when Stephen "tWitch" Boss asked Cher to "name three celebrities [she'd] want to duet with" as part of a game on "Ellen," Cher made it quite clear how she feels about the original Material Girl. "Oh! Adele, Pink and … uh, um — not Madonna," Cher said, according to E! News. "Well, all right, Ms. Negative!" quipped Ellen DeGeneres. "Did I cheat?" Cher asked, feigning ignorance. "Yeah!" said Ellen. "He said 'who you'd want to,' not who you wouldn't want to." Cher's reply? "I took a little license." Back in the '90s, Cher said in an interview with CBS that she's put off by Madonna's attitude. "There are lots of things that I respect about her," she said at the time. "I think that she knows how to work the business like nobody I've ever seen before." But in spite of Madonna's business acumen, "There's something about her that I don't like. She's … mean. I don't like that." She went on to say she'd had Madonna and Sean Penn over to her house in the past and the singer "was just was so rude to everybody," adding that "she acts like a spoiled brat all the time" in spite of her "acclaim." In 2013, she seemed to have softened on Madonna, though. In a Reddit AMA, Cher mused: "I think Madge might be one of the most amazing artists I've known. I don't like everything she does, for sure, but she is always riding the crest of the wave. She always saw trends WAY before anyone else and had great videos." She also called her a word that rhymes with "itch."
Taraji P. Henson launches foundation to destigmatize mental health issues in the African-American community
Last week, Taraji P. Henson celebrated the launch of her Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is "to eradicate the stigma around mental health issues in the African-American community," according to its website. As she told E! News during the launch event, Taraji named the organization after her father, who overcame the stigma around discussing mental health issues and was able to speak openly about the PTSD he suffered after serving in the Vietnam War. "There's nothing to be ashamed of," she said. "Are you ashamed of a broken ankle? Are you ashamed of having to get a root canal?" Taraji went on to explain how difficult addressing mental health issues can be for members of the African-American community, in particular. "Passed down through the generations, you have to be strong. It's weak if you speak upon a mental illness, or it's demonized. That's not healthy," she said. Taraji, who said she sees a psychiatrist twice a month, hopes she can use her platform as an actress to help raise awareness about mental health. "I'm not perfect just because I'm a celebrity," she said. "I have issues and problems, and money doesn't make them go away magically." Taraji's foundation work comes on the heels of other celebrity-led efforts to destigmatize mental health issues, including Prince William, Duchess Kate, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's Heads Together campaign and Michelle Williams' recent announcement she was checking into a treatment center for help with her depression.
Demi Lovato's mom didn't know for days whether the singer would survive after overdosing
As Demi Lovato continues her treatment program in the wake of her overdose this summer, her mother, Dianna De La Garza, is still coming to terms with the fact that she almost lost her daughter. "It's still a really difficult thing to talk about," she admitted in a new interview with Newsmax TV (via InTouchWeekly). "I literally start to shake a little bit when I start to remember what happened that day … I was actually looking at my phone and all these texts started coming in." In the texts, concerned friends and family told Dianna they were praying for Demi and so sorry to have heard the news, she recalled. "I was in shock," she said. "I thought, what is going on? … My heart just dropped. I didn't know what I was looking at." When Demi's assistant called to tell her Demi had overdosed and was "conscious, but she's not talking," Dianna realized the severity of the situation. After being revived with a drug that reverses the effects of opiates, Demi remained hospitalized in critical condition for days, according to the singer's mom. "We just didn't know for two days if she was going to make it or not," Dianna said. "I was very concerned, and I was trying to be strong for her and for her sisters and for my family back home … I just feel like the reason she's alive today is because of the millions of prayers that went up that day."