Katt Williams Says Cedric the Entertainer Stole ‘My Very Best Joke,’ Reveals He Demanded ‘Friday After Next’ Remove Assault Scene: ‘Rape Is Never Funny’

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Emma Stone‘s quest to compete on “Jeopardy!” got a promising update courtesy of the game show’s host Ken Jennings, who said during an interview on “Live With Kelly and Mark” that the “La La Land” Oscar winner would be welcomed on the game show “in a heartbeat.” Now it’s your move, Stone. During an appearance on Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast earlier this month, Stone went viral for revealing she is a “Jeopardy!” junkie and applies to be a contestant on the game show every year. “I apply every June,” Stone said.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Will Ferrell touched down at the Sundance Film Festival to world premiere the new documentary “Will & Harper,” which centers on the relationship between the beloved comedian and his best friend Harper Steele as they take a road trip. The two met during their days on “Saturday Night Live,” which Harper wrote for from 1995 to 2008.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Sebastian Stan is back at Sundance this year for the world premiere of A24’s “A Different Man,” co-starring Adam Pearson and Renate Reinsve. The three actors joined director Aaron Schimberg at the Variety Studio presented by Audible to discuss the film, which centers on an aspiring actor with a facial disability who undergoes a radical medical procedure to transform his appearance that proves to be his downfall.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Pauly Shore is responding to Richard Simmons after the fitness icon disavowed the upcoming biopic in which Shore is set to play him. Shore stopped by the Variety Studio presented by Audible while at the Sundance Film Festival and said his Simmons movie is “all about love,” with or without the real Simmons’ blessing. “My come from has always been love,” Shore said.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Dominic Fike appeared at the Variety Studio presented by Audible while attending the Sundance Film Festival and compared his experiences playing a character struggling with drug addiction on HBO’s “Euphoria” and his new Sundance premiere, “Little Death.” The latter title marks the feature directorial debut of music video helmer Jack Begert, who happens to be one of Fike’s friends. Fike has been open in the past about his real-life addiction struggles, so his proximity to Berget made playing a drug addiction in “Little Death” a bit easier than playing one in “Euphoria.” “I’ve done that before, like acted like a drug addict,” Fike said. “I actually am a pretty big drug addict myself, believe it or not.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Jesse Eisenberg is officially giving his Lex Luthor advice to Nicholas Hoult, and it’s blunt: “Don’t watch me!” During an interview at the Variety Studio presented by Audible while attending the Sundance Film Festival, Eisenberg suggested Hoult should forge his own path and not pay attention to Eisenberg’s own work as Lex Luthor in Zack Snyder’s DC Universe. “Whenever you play a role you feel connected to it,” Eisenberg added to Variety‘s Matt Donnelly about playing the DC villain for a short time.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Melissa Barrera weighed in on her controversial exit from the “Scream” franchise while attending the Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of her latest horror movie, “Your Monster.” “Honestly, I think I finally am becoming who I’m supposed to be in life, and the last few months have been a big awakening of that,” Barrera told the Associated Press when asked about her “Scream” exit. “I’m just so grateful for everything that’s happened.” Barrera played Sam Carpenter, the daughter of Billy Loomis (played by Skeet Ulrich in the original films), in 2022’s “Scream” and 2023’s “Scream 6,” the latter of which set a franchise box office record with $108 million at the domestic box office.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Jodie Foster said at the Variety Studio presented by Audible while at the Sundance Film Festival that the $1.4 billion success of “Barbie” helps prove that Hollywood no longer views women directors as too much of a risk. That wasn’t always the case, as Foster often saw women filmmakers being marginalized during her career ascent in Hollywood. “I’ve had the beauty of being able to be in the business since the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and so on,” Foster said to Variety’s Rebecca Rubin.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Dana Carvey has returned to the “Fly on the Wall” podcast for the first time since his son, Dex, died last fall (via Entertainment Weekly). The podcast is jointly hosted by Carvey and David Spade and features the “Saturday Night Live” alums telling behind-the-scenes stories from their time on the NBC sketch comedy series. In Carvey’s absence, the podcast aired previously recorded interviews with the likes of Dan Aykroyd, David Byrne and more with only Spade as host.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Nicole Kidman revealed on the “Radio Times Podcast” (via Business Insider) that she was once told she would never have a career in Hollywood because of her height. Long before she became a star in the U.S. and an Oscar winner for “The Hours,” Kidman was an aspiring actor in Australia and said her height was often challenged during auditions as a teen.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Taylor Swift is not the mysterious author behind the “Argylle” book that served as the inspiration for Apple’s upcoming spy thriller from director Matthew Vaughn. Conspiracy theories have circulated on social media for months alleging Swift is the author “Elly Conway,” a pseudonym for the writer whose manuscript was apparently so astonishing that it led to a reported $200 million deal for the film rights. Screenwriter Jason Fuchs adapted Conway’s book into Vaughn’s movie.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Matthew Perry received an emotional tribute during the 2023 Emmys In Memoriam segment, which also included late stars such as Len Goodman, Andre Braugher, Lance Reddick, Paul Reubens, Barbra Walters, Kirstie Alley and more. Pop singer Charlie Puth and singer-songwriter duo The War and Treaty performed during the segment, first starting with a rendition of Puth’s “See You Again” before delivering a stripped-down cover of the “Friends” theme song (“I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts). Perry died unexpectedly on Oct.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Katherine Heigl joined her former “Grey’s Anatomy” cast members Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, James Pickens Jr. and Chandra Wilson on stage during the Emmy Awards in what was one of the more high-profile reunions for the stars.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Julia Roberts was interviewed for a Vogue UK fashion spread by her “Notting Hill” director Richard Curtin, who asked the Oscar winner if she feels “responsibility to other women” when choosing her movie roles as an A-list star for well over three decades. “Do you ever think, ‘I’m representing something?” Curtis asked Roberts. “I think it would be more to the point that the things I choose not to do are representative of me,” Roberts answered, noting that “my G-rated career” is an example.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Kristen Stewart is Variety’s Sundance cover star and said while recording a “Know Their Lines” video that she “hated” making “Charlie’s Angels,” the Elizabeth Banks-directed action-comedy that flopped at the box office in fall 2019. Stewart was joined in the film by Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska. While reviews were mixed, Stewart’s performance as the rebellious Sabina earned widespread acclaim.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Barry Keoghan has successfully made the jump from Oscar-nominated actor to internet thirst trap/boyfriend thanks to the success of “Saltburn.” Emerald Fennell’s thriller has turned the 31-year-old actor into a new kind of sex symbol thanks to scenes in which he slurps Jacob Elordi’s bathwater, has sex with a grave and goes full frontal for an extended long take in which he dances to “Murder on the Dancefloor.” The actor told GQ magazine that he’s finally being seen as a man and not just a “freak child” in the aftermath of “Saltburn,” and it feels good. Sometimes you just have to let your manhood all hang out. “It’s nice, man,” Keoghan said.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Jodie Foster took a humorous jab at Gen Z during a recent interview with The Guardian, saying they’re especially annoying to work with. Gen Z, the generation directly proceeding millennials, comprises those people born after 1996 and through 2010. “They’re really annoying, especially in the workplace,” Foster told the publication.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Steven Spielberg memorably thanked Tom Cruise last year for saving the movie business with “Top Gun: Maverick,” but it appears Meryl Streep has a different selection. While attending this year’s Palm Springs Film Awards, the Oscar winner called out Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” for saving the movies and “all of our jobs” last summer. The blockbuster comedy was the highest grossing movie of 2023 with $1.4 billion in ticket sales.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Kate Hudson appeared on “The View” and reflected on the recent 20th anniversary of her iconic romantic comedy “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” The genre has lost much its box office dominance in the decades since Hudson first linked up with Matthew McConaughey to the tune of $105 million at the domestic box office and $177 million worldwide. For comparison’s sake, the just-released rom-com “Anyone But You,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, has earned a decent $38 million and counting worldwide.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Claire Foy recently appeared on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast while on the press tour for “All of Us Strangers” and was asked to reveal the worst acting note she ever got on set from a director. She didn’t hesitate to answer: “Start acting, darling!” “First job I ever did on TV, which was ‘Being Human.’ The pilot, with Russell Tovey and Andrea Riseborough.