Elizabeth Wagmeister-Senior: Celebs Rumors

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentKim Kardashian scored a victory on Friday when a judge tossed Blac Chyna’s defamation claim against the reality star and business mogul, which was one of the claims in her lawsuit.Meanwhile, the jury is deliberating the remaining claims in the case where Chyna says the Kardashian-Jenner family ruined her reality TV career and cost her more than one hundred million dollars in damages and future earnings.Chyna, a model and influencer who is Rob Kardashian’s ex-fiancé and the mother to his 5-year-old daughter, co-starred with Rob Kardashian in E!’s “Rob & Chyna,” a reality show that aired for one season in 2016. The show is at the center of her lawsuit, which alleges that the series was canceled after one season because the Kardashian family falsely told producers and network executives that Chyna violently attacked Rob Kardashian in December 2016.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAfter back-to-back programming for the past year, Bachelor Nation is getting a little breather, but that doesn’t mean the drama is slowing down.The next season from the mega franchise will be “The Bachelorette” Season 19,” which is currently in production and will premiere on July 11. But in the world of “The Bachelor,” news comes year-round.As part of Variety‘s story in this week’s magazine for the annual Reality Impact Report about “The Bachelor’s” 20-year anniversary, one of the franchise’s top executives is sharing exclusive details of what’s currently in the works behind-the-scenes at the dating shows.“Bachelor in Paradise” has been renewed for Season 8, but who will host? Is the long-teased senior citizens spinoff still happening? And is it possible that “Bachelor Pad” could ever make a comeback? Here, Walt Disney Television’s top unscripted executive, Rob Mills, spills all of that, and more:In 2020, a new spinoff began to percolate: A casting call for a senior citizens series was promoted on-air.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentThis past year, “The Bachelor” endured a heavy dose of controversy, the type of drama that even reality TV producers can’t make up — and certainly don’t want to deal with. And yet, the franchise has done what no other dating series has done, crossing its 20-year mark on the air.With 26 seasons of the flagship, 19 seasons of “The Bachelorette,” eight seasons of “Bachelor in Paradise” and numerous spinoffs to date, ABC’s dating franchise isn’t going anywhere.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentKim Kardashian owes Ben Winston a massage.In 2021, Winston was ready to take a vacation. His company, Fulwell 73, had just wrapped production on HBO Max’s highly anticipated “Friends” reunion and the Grammy Awards, not to mention James Corden’s “Late Late Show,” which has been airing on CBS since 2015 with five episodes per week.Earlier last year, Corden, one of Winston’s producing partners, had bumped into Kris Jenner in Palm Springs, where they both own second homes.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentKim Kardashian and Khloé Kardashian took the stand on Tuesday in the trial against their family, brought on by Blac Chyna, the ex-fiancé of their brother, Rob Kardashian.Chyna — who starred on E!’s “Rob & Chyna,” which aired for one season in 2016 — is suing the famous family for more than $140 million, claiming they ruined her reality TV career.“I will not go into a toxic work environment,” Kim Kardashian testified on Tuesday, commenting on her refusal to work with Chyna on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” per AP. “On my own show, I have the power to do that,” she added.Chyna would sometimes appear on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” which was the mega-hit flagship show that created the spinoff, “Rob & Chyna.” The spinoff didn’t make it back on-air after its first season when the couple split up, following a volatile fight where Chyna allegedly choked Rob Kardashian with a phone cord and held a gun to his head.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentThe trial is well underway, but the Kardashian-Jenners have requested a judge dismiss the ongoing case against them by Blac Chyna, the former ex-fiancé of Rob Kardashian who is suing the famous family for more than $140 million, claiming they ruined her reality TV career.In a motion seeking dismissal, filed this past week by the Kardashians’ attorney, Michael G. Rhodes, the family is asking the court to dismiss Chyna’s claims.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentKris Jenner took the stand for the second day in the $100M defamation trial brought on by Blac Chyna, the ex-fiancé of her son, Rob Kardashian. Chyna sued the Kardashian family in 2017, claiming they ruined her reality TV career.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentE! is no longer in business with the Kardashians, but the network is still leaning on the family as it launches its latest show.In an overtly self-aware moment, E! is readying to debut a new reality show about comedian Nikki Glaser, and in the promotion for her upcoming series, the network is in on the joke, giving a wink and a nod to the lucrative family franchise that they aired for 15 years.“Keeping up is so last year.”“We swapped 5 brunettes for one blonde (it was cheaper).”Those are just some of the taglines E! is using to promote Glaser’s new show, titled “Welcome Home Nikki Glaser?,” which premieres on May 1.Essentially, E! is recognizing that they’re no longer home to “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” (the family now has a new show at Hulu), and Glaser is leaning into her brand of self-deprecating and carefree comedy. “Welcome Home Nikki Glaser?” will follow the stand-up comic as she uproots her fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle to move back home to her small-town in St.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentJada Pinkett Smith’s talk show, “Red Table Talk,” returned on Wednesday, and though there was a brief message for viewers alluding to the topic on everyone’s mind, the series sidestepped the elephant in the room: Will Smith’s Oscars slap.The episode began with a silent black screen and an introductory message, signed from Pinkett Smith, who thanked viewers for joining.“Considering all that has happened in the last few weeks, the Smith family has been focusing on deep healing,” the message read. “Some of the discoveries around our healing will be shared at the table when the time calls.” The message continued, “Until then…The table will continue offering itself to powerful, inspiring and healing testimonies like that of our incredible impressive first guest.” The first guest was Janelle Monáe.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentHulu says “The Kardashians” — the new series from the Kardashians — is its biggest series premiere in U.S. history.Hulu did not provide specific viewing numbers, as the platform does not release ratings.The streaming service also claims the new show is the most-watched Star Originals series, (so not including Disney’s Marvel or “Star Wars” streaming titles) on Disney+ and Star+ across global markets.“‘The Kardashians’ is the most-watched series premiere on Hulu in the United States, and on Disney+ and Star+ among Star Originals, across all global markets to date,” a Hulu spokesperson tells Variety exclusively.Hulu’s record-breaking numbers for “The Kardashians” is based on the premiere episode hours watched in the first three days of its release, since the show launched on April 14.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAs Britney Spears’ court battle continues, her lawyer is asking the judge to prohibit her father, Jamie Spears, from accessing files from a private investigator that was hired by the pop star’s legal team to help probe into his management of his daughter’s 13-year conservatorship, which he largely oversaw.Spears’ father has requested records from Kroll, the P.I. firm brought on by the singer’s attorneys.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentThe Kardashians appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday for Blac Chyna’s long-awaited trial against the famous family, which continues to set off fireworks with day two of jury selection, even before opening arguments have began.Blac Chyna, a model and influencer whose real name is Angela White, was previously engaged to Rob Kardashian with whom she shares a 5-year-old daughter. The pair starred in their own E! reality show together, “Rob & Chyna,” which aired for one season in 2016.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentJada Pinkett Smith’s Emmy-winning series “Red Table Talk” is returning with new episodes. But in the press release issued on Tuesday announcing the season’s upcoming lineup, no mention was made of Will Smith’s now-infamous Oscars slap and whether the matter will be addressed on the talk show, which is known for diving into personal matters surrounding the Smith family.“Red Table Talk” on Facebook Watch is hosted by Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield Norris.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentNearly 40 years ago, Hugh Hefner’s former personal butler wrote a memoir about his time working at the Playboy Mansion. The book has remained unpublished — until now.“The Dark Secrets of Playboy,” from Around the Way Publishing, will tell the story of Stefan Tetenbaum’s experiences as Hefner’s butler in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWhen the Kardashians were ready to begin their new show, everything was kept top secret. Even the producers in discussions to be hired on the show didn’t know what series they were being interviewed for.“When we were interviewing showrunners, I wouldn’t ever say what it was for,” executive producer Ben Winston tells Variety.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBy now, the entire world knows who Kim Kardashian kissed when she hosted “Saturday Night Live” — and it wasn’t her ex-husband Kanye West.However, even though the couple was in the midst of their divorce when Kardashian took the “SNL” stage in October 2021, it turns out that she actually considered having West as her musical guest that night.On the first episode of “The Kardashians” — the famous family’s new show that launched April 14 on Hulu — one of the major storylines focuses around Kardashian preparing for “Saturday Night Live.”“I’m kind of going back and forth, since Kanye’s album is out,” Kardashian says in the episode, after she tells her family that Lorne Michaels invited her to host the show. “That would be epic if he was my musical guest.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentJust over one week ago, disgraced comedian Louis C.K. won a Grammy. Well, perhaps before the Grammys, one could describe him as “disgraced.”In 2017, in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations by five women, C.K.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBritney Spears is enjoying her newfound freedom with her 13-year conservatorship being terminated, and now, the pop star says she is pregnant.Spears shared the news with her fans Monday afternoon on her Instagram, posting in part: “I lost so much weight to go on my Maui trip only to gain it back … I thought ‘Geez … what happened to my stomach ???’ My husband said ‘No you’re food pregnant silly !!!’ So I got a pregnancy test … and uhhhhh well … I am having a baby.”Spears announced her engagement to actor Sam Asghari in September 2021. In recent posts, she has referred to Asghari as her “husband,” but has not officially said whether the couple is married yet.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBritney Spears is objecting to her mother’s request to pay $663,202.84 in attorney’s fees, in conjunction with her conservatorship.The objection marks the latest move in the pop star’s ongoing and drawn-out legal battle. The singer’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, filed new court documents ahead of a Wednesday hearing — where no decision was made — asking a judge to deny Lynne Spears’ petition for her famous daughter to foot her hefty legal bills.“Britney Spears has for decades been her family’s sole breadwinner, supporting her entire family,” Rosengart stated in a filing on Tuesday with the Los Angeles Superior Court.“Lynne Spears and her counsel seek payment of legal fees and costs — from Britney Spears — of more than $660,000,” Rosengart’s filing states, arguing that there is “no legal authority” supporting the singer’s mother’s request, since she was not an official party involved with the conservatorship.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAmanda Bynes’ conservatorship has been terminated, coming to end after nearly nine years.Bynes, who rose to fame as a child actor on Nickelodeon’s “All That” in the ’90s and then starred in a slew of hit movies in the early 2000’s, has been under a conservatorship since 2013.With the conservatorship of both her person and her estate being terminated, Bynes will now have control over her finances and is able to choose where she wants to live, how she wants to conduct her life and will have oversight over all day-to-day responsibilities.Bynes was not present at the hearing. Her attorney, David A.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAfter nearly nine years, Amanda Bynes is expected to be free from her conservatorship.A hearing on Tuesday morning will likely make termination official. On Monday, a judge issued a tentative ruling, stating that the conservatorship is “no longer required,” setting the stage for the end of the court-ordered arrangement that the former child star was placed under in 2013.“I’m excited for her.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBachelor Nation got whiplash this week from the season finale of “The Bachelor” Season 26 — which went from breakup to makeup to another breakup and another makeup to a dual breakup, all ultimately for leading man Clayton Echard to end up with contestant Susie Evans, who had actually left the show the week before the finale.If that sounds confusing, it’s because it is.Never, since the two decades its been on-air, has the dating show seen such a change-of-heart from its lead than it did this season: Echard told three women (Evans, Gabby Widney and Rachel Recchia) that he was in love with them, also admitting to sleeping with two of them.After being left alone and single in the final episode, which filmed roughly four months ago, Echard ended up walking away with Evans, despite her turning him down in the shocking finale. And in last night’s “After the Final Rose” episode, instead of a proposal, Evans confirmed she was his girlfriend, accepting Echard’s final rose — but not before he was reamed out by Widney and Recchia on live television with both women calling him selfish, manipulative and thoughtless.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead, if you have not watched Clayton Echard’s finale of “The Bachelor,” which aired March 14 and 15 on ABC.After replacing Chris Harrison as host of “The Bachelor,” Jesse Palmer has inked a deal to return as host of the franchise’s female-led series, “The Bachelorette,” which will return with its 19th season this summer.“The Bachelorette” Season 19 will make history in a franchise first with two leading ladies: Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, both finalists from Clayton Echard’s season of “The Bachelor.”On Echard’s dramatic season finale, which aired on Tuesday night, Windey and Recchia faced a dual breakup, shocking viewers who sounded off on Twitter about Echard’s decisions. Over the last few episodes, Echard told both women he was in love with them, in addition to admitting to sleeping with both of them in the fantasy suites.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead, if you have not watched Clayton Echard’s finale of “The Bachelor,” which aired March 14 and 15 on ABC.ABC has picked not one, but two stars for its next season of “The Bachelorette.”Making history in a franchise first, both Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia will co-star in “The Bachelorette” Season 19, which will air this upcoming summer, premiering on July 11.Windey and Recchia certainly deserve another shot at love, after the back-and-forth heartbreak they endured on Clayton Echard’s season of “The Bachelor,” which wrapped up with its shocking finale tonight.Both finalists on Echard’s season, Windey and Recchia were put through the ringer when Echard told them each he was in love with them and admitted to being intimate with both of them — not to mention, another women in the mix, finalist Susie Evans, who he said he actually loved more than the other two, after asking them to trust him and stick with him ’til the end. After the devastating dual breakup on “The Bachelor” finale, both women emerged as fierce supporters of each other, and won over America’s hearts, as viewers were shocked by the turn-of-events with Echard over the past few episodes.ABC has not provided details as to how exactly the next season of “The Bachelorette” will work with two leading ladies, other than saying, in a press release, that Windey and Recchia will “stand by each other’s side yet again as they set out on a journey to find love.”Jesse Palmer, who made his debut as the franchise’s new host this past season of “The Bachelor,” will return to host the new season of “The Bachelorette.”“The Bachelorette” typically airs on ABC in the spring.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead, if you have not watched part one of ABC’s “The Bachelor” finale with Clayton Echard, which aired on Monday, March 14.If you were hoping to get some clarity from watching part one of “The Bachelor’s” Season 26 finale, you were severely disappointed.Following last week’s dramatic fantasy suites episode where contestant Susie Evans left the show after leading man Clayton Echard admitted to sleeping with two other women and confessing his love to all three contenders, viewers were left wondering what would happen with his finalists, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia.Well, turns out, the love triangle has turned back into a love rhombus.The episode began with Clayton telling host Jesse Palmer that he was lost and didn’t know what to do after Susie had surprised him with her ultimatum. “I’m hurt right now.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent“The Bachelor” is always full of drama. But according to its new host, this truly will be the most dramatic season finale ever — so dramatic that even the Bachelor, himself, doesn’t know how his journey ends.“As I sit here talking to you, I still cannot believe that I don’t know how it ends,” host Jesse Palmer tells Variety, about the finale, which airs live Monday and Tuesday night.The finale shot last November in Iceland.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead, if you are not up-to-date with Clayton Echard’s season of “The Bachelor.”With only a few days left until the season finale, “The Bachelor” has a lot of explaining to do.Last week’s “fantasy suite” episode — when the couples get to spend an overnight date together for the first time with no cameras around — ended with a bang.With the final three women left vying for Clayton Echard’s heart, ABC’s leading man told each of the women that he was in love with them. Susie Evans, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia all expressed their love to Echard, who admitted he’d had sex with both Windey and Recchia.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWhen “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” ended, rumors swirled that Kourtney Kardashian was the reason the show was over. The oldest sister of the Kardashian-Jenner clan says that’s not true. But, she was ready for a new start.On reality TV and social media, Kourtney is known for “just living,” as she likes to say — in other words, her incredibly calm attitude, monotone delivery and honest demeanor has turned her into one of the most meme-able and GIF-able people on the pop culture planet.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentWhen “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” debuted, Kendall and Kylie Jenner were just kids, and it was Khloé Kardashian who was known to audiences as the youngest sister of the core trio.Over the decade-and-a-half that the Kardashian-Jenner family has ruled television, Khloé has transformed from a 20-something reality star to a successful businesswoman and mother. With a slew of spinoffs under her belt (E!’s “Revenge Body” was a fan-favorite), Khloé has parlayed her passion for inclusivity and self-love into her company Good American, a full-size range clothing brand with the tagline, “Denim designed to serve your curves.”Consistently the subject of some of the harshest comment criticism the Kardashians have faced (and there has been plenty), Khloé admits that the constant negativity is still hurtful, even after so many years of public life.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentNick Cannon’s daytime talkshow is coming to an end after one season, Variety has learned.Staffers at “The Nick Cannon Show” were informed at work Thursday morning that the show would not be renewed for a second season, and that it would be the final day of production. However, enough episodes have been pre-taped and banked, so that the show will finish out its season with original episodes airing through sometime in May.While the cancellation is sudden, the abrupt ending isn’t quite as abrupt as it may seem for the show’s crew and producers — insiders say that a five-week hiatus was already previously planned, due to Cannon’s busy schedule with responsibilities for his long-running Viacom improv show “Wild ‘N Out” and Fox’s hit primetime series “The Masked Singer,” which he hosts.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentAfter filing to end her conservatorship, Amanda Bynes has broken her silence with a message to her supporters on Instagram.The former child star, who rose to fame as a comedic starlet on Nickelodeon’s “All That,” has been under a conservatorship for nearly nine years, ever since 2013.Bynes’ mother, Lynn Organ, has been in control of her conservatorship, and supports her daughter’s petition to terminate the legal arrangement, which was filed a few weeks ago. A hearing is set for March 22. A lawyer for the family, Tamar Arminak, previously told Variety that Bynes’ mother expects the conservatorship to come to an end on or around that court date.“What’s up Instagram.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentKim Kardashian’s first job in Hollywood was in the early 2000’s as Paris Hilton’s assistant, organizing the founding mother of reality TV’s closets and occasionally stepping into the limelight as a socialite herself. Then in 2007, E! premiered “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” which ran for 20 seasons, and made Kim one of the most famous women on the planet.Today, Kim, at 41, is a mogul who juggles so many business portfolios, it’s hard to keep track — including her beauty and fragrance empires and her shapewear company SKIMS, which was recently valued at $3.2 billion. And next month, Kim’s spotlight is only going to get bigger with a new Hulu series “The Kardashians,” where she lets the cameras (back) into her life as she chronicles her roles as entrepreneur, mom to four kids, legal eagle and a divorcee, grappling over a challenging split from her ex-husband Kanye West.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentA&E is expanding its documentary series “Secrets of Playboy” with two additional episodes that will delve further into Hugh Hefner and his legacy through conversations with women who have never spoken up before.“Secrets of Playboy” examines Hefner’s Playboy empire, unearthing allegations of coercion, sexual assault, drugging and manipulation from various women over decades. Since its premiere this past January, it has become A&E’s most-watched series launch in more than five years.“Secrets of Playboy” airs Monday nights.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentModern dating is tough. With endless swiping, unanswered DMs and app fatigue, everyone can relate to the trials and tribulations of finding your match in 2022.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentIn an effort to put the spotlight on stories surrounding missing persons of color, “Access Hollywood” is teaming up with the Black and Missing Foundation for a monthly true crime segment that will bring focus to stories that are often left out of mainstream coverage.Variety has exclusively learned of “Access Hollywood’s” special coverage initiative, which is intently designed to call attention to missing persons of color. The monthly on-air segments will be hosted by correspondent Zuri Hall.The first segment will air tonight, as the entertainment news show digs into the case of Tiffany Foster, a mother of three who went missing in Georgia last year.“It is my honor and privilege to play even a small role in highlighting the cases of missing Black men, women, and children in America,” said Hall, an “Access Hollywood” correspondent.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSherri Shepherd will launch her own daytime talk show in fall 2022, Variety has learned.The new syndicated series, titled “Sherri,” will slide into the Fox O&O time slots that are currently held by “The Wendy Williams Show,” as the hit gossip queen, Wendy Williams, continues to be in recovery for health-related issues.“Sherri” hails from Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury, the same company behind “Wendy Williams.” Many production staffers from Williams’ talk show, including her executive producer, will move over to Shepherd’s show in the fall.Currently, “The Wendy Williams Show” is still in production and airing live shows with rotating guest hosts — including Shepherd, who has been a fan-favorite and highly-rated guest host throughout this season. Williams’ show will continue with guest hosts until in finishes its current season, though an end date has not been determined.