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Leon Russell has died at the age of 74.

The 'Tight Rope' hitmaker - whose real name is Claude Russell Bridges - sadly passed away at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday (13.11.16).

Leon's wife, Jan Bridges, said in a statement: ''We thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this very, very difficult time. My husband passed in his sleep in our Nashville home. He was recovering from heart surgery in July and looked forward to getting back on the road in January. We appreciate everyone's love and support.''

Continue reading: Leon Russell Dies Aged 74

Oscars host Chris Rock is coming under increasing calls to boycott the awards ceremony in the aftermath of the controversial nominations last week, in which none of the 20 acting nominations went to a black or ethnic minority actor.

#OscarsSoWhite and #OscarsStillSoWhite have kept the furore going on social media since the announcement of the major acting and directing categories happened a week ago, and now a number of celebrities including Furious 7 star Tyrese Gibson are arguing that Rock ought to step down as host.

Chris Rock is under pressure to step down as Oscars host after the diversity row over nominations

Continue reading: Chris Rock Under Pressure To Step Down As Oscars Host In Diversity Row

Whoopi Goldberg has signed up to return to small screen comedy, in a new ABC pilot titled, ‘Delores and Jermaine’. Goldberg will be starring opposite Jermaine Fowler in the pilot, which will film in New York where the actress has another high profile gig, as a co-host on ‘The View’.

Whoopi Goldberg will play a grandmother in a new ABC pilot

Described as an ‘Odd Couple’ for the new generation. Goldberg will play a strict, football loving, ex cop grandmother, whose slacker grandson, played by Fowler, moves in with her. The script has been written by comedian Fowler and is said to be based on his own experiences.

Continue reading: Whoopi Goldberg Signs Up For ABC Pilot 'Delores And Jermaine', But Will She Be Staying With 'The View'?

Rosie O’Donnell is leaving daytime talk show ‘The View’ for the second time, in order to focus on her children, after splitting from Michelle Rounds. Rounds and O’Donnell married in 2012 and adopted a baby girl, Dakota, in January 2013, the couple are said to have been living apart since November.

O'Donnell is leaving 'The View' for the second time.

The split was confirmed by O’Donnell’s representative Cindi Berger, who told Page Six in a statement, "I can confirm that Rosie and her wife Michelle split in November.”

Continue reading: Rosie O'Donnell Is Leaving 'The View' (Again) After Marriage Break-Up

O’Donnell is Finally some good news from The View! Meet your new/returning panelist, Rosie O’Donnell. Well, to be fair, you’re probably familiar with the comedienne and author’s no-nonsense style and biting humor. O’Donnell co-hosted the View from 2006 to 2007 and her liberal views often clashed with her more conservative co-host, making for some of the liveliest discussion the show has seen in its history.

O'Donnell will make her long-term comeback to The View this coming fall season.

“The worst kept secret ever is Rosie is returning to the show — it’s definitely happening!” a source tells HollywoodLife.com. “ABC wants to make the big announcement of her return during the TCAs along with the other new members of the cast.”

Continue reading: It's (Almost) Official - ABC To Announce Rosie O'Donnell's Return To "The View" During Upfronts

Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy are leaving 'The View' and Rosie O'Donnell is rumored to be returning. The news comes in the wake of Barbara Walters departure earlier this year and Joy Behar and Elizabeth Hasselback's last year. 

Sherri Shepherd [2nd in from left], with 'The View' girls and President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama [Photo: Getty Images]

Sherri Shepherd will be leaving ABC's The View after seven seasons co-hosting the daytime show. The news comes in a wake of Jenny McCarthy announcing her departure and Barbara Walters departure from the show in May. Bill Geddie, the show's executive producer, is also rumoured to be leaving the show, according to TMZ. 

Continue reading: Sherri Shepherd Leaving View, Jenny McCarthy Promises She'll Be Back

Jay Z and Solange Knowles may already be waiting for the waves of the elevator story to settle down, but there are still plenty of people sounding off on it and keeping the drama alive. Case in point: Whoopi Goldberg, who stirred the pot on Tuesday by saying that any man has the right to hit a woman, if she hits first. Stepping on her soapbox on The View, Goldberg defended Jay Z by saying: “"I think Solange was quite ready for him to do whatever he was going to do. This is the thing: If anybody hits you, you have the right."

Whoopi preaches a simple philosophy.

That was enough to get viewers slightly on edge, but Goldberg didn’t stop there. She continued: "I know that many people are raised in a different way – but if a woman hits you, to me, you have the right to hit her back."

Continue reading: Three Days' Criticism Hasn't Made Whoopi Goldberg Change Her Mind On The Jay Z/Solange Story

Neil Patrick Harris has responded to rumors regarding him potentially taking over The Late Show hosting slot after David Letterman last week announced that he was stepping down from his long-term television role. Harris had emerged as one of the names touted to replace the talkshow host and has since responded to the speculation during a press conference in New York.

Neil Patrick Harris Has Addressed Rumours That He'll Be Replacing David Letterman.

The 40 year-old actor, who is best known for his Barney Stinson role in hit CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, addressed the rumours after being pressed by reporters. He is currently starring in Broadway hit Hedwig and the Angry Itch as a drag queen.

Continue reading: Is Neil Patrick Harris Replacing David Letterman On 'The Late Show'?

A television series based upon the well-loved 1990 romantic movie Ghost is said to be underway. Paramount is reportedly working on a pilot with a view to resurrecting the movie, which has recently been reincarnated as a theatre show, to bring it to television screens.

The Late Patrick Swayze's Most Famous Movie, 'Ghost,' Is To Be Brought To TV.

In the original movie, Patrick Swayze played a murdered man who comes back in ghost form to team up with a psychic (Whoopi Goldberg) to avenge his death and comfort his distraught girlfriend, Molly (Demi Moore).

Continue reading: Patrick Swayze's 'Ghost' To Be Resurrected For Paramount TV Series

Jenny McCarthey is the first person to step into one of the places made vacant by Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar on The View. Show mainstay and creator Barbara Walters said upon the announcement of her appointment, "Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view."

McCarthey will join the panel full-time soon

Following Hasselbeck and Behar's leave from the show this season, McCarthey will begin her co-hosting duties with immediate effect - having passed her on-air interview on the show when she was a guest panelist in June. She released a statement earlier today that read; “I’m beyond thrilled to be joining Barbara and the other amazing women at the table. I look forward to making hot topics a little bit hotter and showing my mom that my interrupting skills have paid off.”

Continue reading: Jenny McCarthey Fills In One Of The Spare Seats On 'The View' Panel

For those, who were hoping to kick off a career in daytime television, you better hurry up – one of the free seats on The View has been taken up by Jenny McCarthy, ABC announced earlier today. After both Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasslebeck left at the end of last season, the network has been scrambling to find worthy replacement and it looks like the comedienne fits the bill.

McCarthy launched her career in 1993 with a spread in Playboy.

McCarthy is no stranger to the daytime talk show world, having appeared on 17 separate episodes of the ABC format. Starting from September 9, she will be a full-fledged co-host alongside Whoopi Goldber, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters, who was rumoured to be gearing up for retirement in 2014, but denied any plans to withdraw, giving the paparazzi a snub in the process. After the latest lineup change was announced, McCarthy said she was “beyond thrilled” to be joining Walters and “the other amazing women at the table.”

Continue reading: The View Freshens It Up By Hiring Jenny McCarthy

Elisabeth Hasselbeck gave an emotional farewell on The View yesterday morning (Wednesday 9th July). The presenter is leaving the ABC morning talk show in order to join Fox & Friends. She will begin on the Fox talk show in September.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck at the opening night of 'Sister Act' in New York.

The View's presenters include Barbara Walters, Whoop Goldberg, Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd. Hasselbeck addressed each emotionally. She also referenced the behind-the-scenes team at The View who allowed her to work "efficiently".

Continue reading: Elisabeth Hasselbeck's Emotional Leaving Speech On 'The View'

Tribeca Film Festival is well underway, having got started on April 17^th. The event runs through to April 28^th and sees a host of established stars mix with the more independent end of the film industry. It was one of the more established heads taking pride of place though when Whoopi Goldberg took part in a Q+A ahead of the premiere of her latest film, I Got Somethin’ To Tell You.

The film focuses on the late Moms Mabley who was a stand-up comedian during a time of great oppression for not just black Americans but also women. A true pioneer on the circuit, she ushered in the Chitlin’ circuit of African-American vaudeville and was at her peak in the 1920’s and 30’s – a time when black Americans were still very much considered second class citizens in the US. Admitting she takes great influence from Mabley, Goldberg told the New York Times, “I was first introduced to her work as a kid. I knew there were records in the house that you weren’t supposed to touch. And then she would be on Ed Sullivan, and my mom would let us watch. And somehow she flew into my mouth. I don’t know how it worked, but she’s in there.”

Goldberg used Kickstarter to fund the project, but was more than happy to in order to represent such an influential character. “The storytelling,” Goldberg said when asked what Mabley’s greatest skill was. “It’s the same thing with Richard Pryor. It’s the stories. I don’t have to be bam, bam, bam, funny when I’m working. I can tell stories and there’s some funny IN them. But they move around. But the two of them in particular gave me that freedom.”

Continue reading: Whoopi Goldberg Makes Tribeca Film Festival Appearance For I Got Somethin To Tell You

ABC’s The View will be one cast member short for a while, after it was announced that Joy Behar will be leaving the programme.

The ABC staple has been a part of The View since the very beginning 16 years ago, alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Every week the panel discusses the latest news and pop culture topics on the hour-long show. She will leave the show after the conclusion of its current season in August. Following the announcement of Behar’s departure, the network released the following statement: “Joy Behar has been instrumental in the success of ‘The View’ from the very beginning. We wish her all the best in this next chapter, and are thrilled that we have her for the remainder of the season.”

This move, however, is far from the end for Behar’s career. The 70-year-old TV personality is currently the host of her own show on CurrentTV, Joy Behar: Say Anything and will continue working on it for the foreseeable future. Additionally, she revealed some of her other plans in an interview with Deadline this Thursday – Behar plans to write a play and maybe return to standup comedy, which was her original medium before transferring onto television.

Continue reading: Daytime TV Staple Joy Behar Is Leaving 'The View'

It's been a tough time for Barbara Walters recently; she suffered a nasty fall prior to President Obama's inauguration, and when hospitalized for said fall, she contracted chicken pox - something an expert told USA today was extremely rare.

Ninety percent of the people who get chickenpox get it before age 13. I have never seen a case in anyone over the age of 60," explained David Nace, a physician in the geriatric division at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "In medical literature, only a handful of cases are reported among people older than 60," he continued. "When we were in training we'd come across a condition in the hospital and ask how common is this condition? The doctors would say you'll see references to it on the first part of the board exams, the second part of the boards and the third part of the boards. Chickenpox occurring in someone in their 80s doesn't even make the boards. That's how unusual it is."

Walters was transferred from the Washington hospital she was in after she fell to a New York Hospital. She is hoping to go home soon. Her long time friend and colleague Whoopi Goldberg informed us of her plight: "You all know that she fell and cut her head 10 days ago, and then was running a temperature, but it turns out it is all the result of a delayed childhood. Barbara has the chicken pox. She'd never had it as a child. So now she's been told to rest, she's not allowed any visitors, and we're telling you, Barbara -- no scratching."

Co-anchor of The View, 83 year old Barabara Walters, has been hospitalized with a case of adult chicken pox. 

This further ill-health comes after she suffered a fall during Barack Obama's second inauguration. She has interviewed every president and first lady since Richard Nixon, but her fall resulted in a head wound and being taken to hospital as a precaution and to keep an eye on her health. Since then she has been diagnosed with chicken pox and is still recovering in hospital. 

Her co-anchor on The View, Whoopi Goldberg, let their audience know today (28th Jan). "You all know that she fell and cut her head 10 days ago, and then was running a temperature, but it turns out it is all the result of a delayed childhood," she said. "Barbara has the chicken pox. She'd never had it as a child. So now she's been told to rest, she's not allowed any visitors. And we're telling you, Barbara, no scratching." 

Continue reading: Barbara Walters In Hospital With Chicken Pox, Whoopi Goldberg's Advice - "No Scratching"

It was widely publicised that Barbara Walters had an indepth 20/20 interview lined up with controversial celebrity Lindsay Lohan, in the run up to the release of Lifetime's Elizabeth Taylor biopic Liz & Dick, which stars Lohan. However, just a few days ago Lohan's new publicists cancelled on Walters on Li-Lo's behalf. THEN, they announced that she'd be interviewing with Jay Leno instead. The cheek! 

Walters is not a happy bunny, an emotion that she aired on The View with Whoopi Goldberg on Monday (12th Nov. 2012). "If they had said to me, 'You know Barbara, she isn't up to the kinds of questions you might ask.' If they had told me that, I wouldn't feel quite as disappointed as I do today," Walters said. 

Whoopi supported the octogenarian journalist, saying "You are a very different kind of interviewer." speculating the possibility that Lohan's publicists thought, "You know what, WE are not up for you to do with interview you will be doing with Barbara - you are going to do Jay and get your [movie promotion] obligation out of the way." With which Babs agreed, reports the Washington Post.

Continue reading: Lindsay Lohan: Barbara Walters Booted In Favor Of Jay Leno For Interview

Only six weeks ago Ellen Degeneres received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and she is now being praised and rewarded again by being awarded the Mark Twain Award for Comedy, in aid of all she has done for comedy.

The Mark Twain Award is considered the US's highest achievement in comedy, with previous winners including Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin and Tina Fey. Of particular note in the minds of everyone that turned up to the Kennedy Centre to support and thank her, is her ongoing work for LGBT causes. Jane Lynch, who is known best for her hilarious and vitriolic character in Glee, said "I'm pretty darn sure I could not have the career I have, that I could not live as openly as I've lived, if it hadn't been for you," regarding Ellen coming out as a lesbian in 1997, as part of her first sitcom. "You really took one for the team". Jimmy Kimmel, a close friend of the comedienne, thanked Ellen for making vests an acceptable staple in the wardrobe of people that aren't magicians. The Huffington Post reported Sean Hayes, a gay comedian, saying "You've changed the world. We didn't have a voice until there was you."

In gracious acceptance of this prestigious award, Ellen gave a humble and humorous speech. She thanked PBS, undoubtedly a jibe against Republican candidate Mitt Romney, who has threatened to get rid of it, and  in true Ellen style, expressed her excitement about being in the Kennedy Centre: "Spaceships are launched here, right?" With her star and Twain award, Ellen is more and more firmly having her place stamped in comedic history, few deserve the accolades more.