Grant Ellis named new ‘Bachelor’

August 13, 2024

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Grant Ellis is the newest Bachelor looking for love.

The day trader and former pro basketball player from New Jersey was announced as the new Bachelor on Monday night.

“As the Bachelor, Ellis is eager to embark on a journey filled with romance, adventure, and genuine connections,” a press release from ABC Entertainment read. “He hopes to find a partner who shares his values of loyalty, humor and a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.”

Besides being passionate about his career, Ellis, who is a self-proclaimed mama’s boy, also enjoys “cheering on the Lakers, hitting strikes at the bowling alley, or belting out tunes at karaoke nights” during his spare time, per ABC.

Bachelor fans were first introduced to Ellis on Jenn Tran‘s season of The Bachelorette.

The two connected over their mutual attraction for each other and common goals, with Ellis telling Tran during an early group date that he is “on a mission” to start a family.

“I know when I have a family one day, I want to have a super close family,” he told her.

“I’m ready,” he added. “I’m on a mission, and that’s what I want.”

Tran and Ellis also had a romantic beachside horseback riding date in New Zealand, but he ultimately went home during week 6 of season 21.

Ellis will be the star of the 29th season The Bachelor. His season follows Joey Graziadei‘s season, where Graziadei proposed to Kelsey Anderson.

A premiere date for The Bachelor season 29 has not been announced.

Kathy Bates calls ‘Matlock’ reboot her “last dance” before retirement

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Kathy Bates is set to play the titular character in CBS’ upcoming Matlock reboot, and that may be the last we see of her.

The 76-year-old actress told The New York Times in a recent interview that she’s looking to retire after the series ends, saying, “This is my last dance.”

Adds Bates, “It becomes my life. Sometimes I get jealous of having this talent, because I can’t hold it back, and I just want my life.”

However, Matlock, a reworking of the legal drama that ran from 1986 to 1995 and starred the late Andy Griffith, was too tempting for her to turn down.

“Everything I’ve prayed for, worked for, clawed my way up for, I am suddenly able to be asked to use all of it,” Bates noted. “It’s exhausting.”

Matlock, also starring Beau Bridges, Jason Ritter, Skye P. Marshall, David Del Rio and Leah Lewis, premieres Sept. 22 on CBS.

Britney Spears biopic set from ‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu

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Britney Spears‘ life is getting the musical biopic treatment.

Universal Pictures has won the rights to the pop superstar’s bestselling memoir, The Woman in Me. Wicked filmmaker Jon M. Chu is attached to direct the film, with producer Marc Platt developing.

Britney first shared news of a project in the works on her social media on Thursday.

“Excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He’s always made my favorite movies … stay tuned,” Britney wrote on the social platform X.

According to The Ankler, Universal Pictures landed the rights to The Woman in Me after a fierce bidding war. There was also interest from Shonda Rhimes, Brad Pitt‘s Plan B, Margot Robbie, Sony, Warner Brothers, Fox, Disney and Netflix. A source said the rights deal was eight figures and includes the rights to Britney’s musical catalog.

Flea recalls snowboarding “stark naked” with Woody Harrelson: “I have footage”

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Playing concerts isn’t the only thing Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea does naked.

During an episode of the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, hosted by Cheers costars Woody Harrelson and Ted Danson, the musician and Obi-Wan Kenobi actor recalls the time he and Harrelson went snowboarding together without wearing any clothes.

“I have footage of Woody Harrelson and I snowboarding stark naked down a big, snowy mountain,” Flea shares.

“It’s actually great footage!” Harrelson adds.

Apparently, Flea and Harrelson take snowboarding trips together quite frequently. Flea also tells a story of a time he and Harrelson were racing when the bassist almost hit a woman on the mountain. He says he offered her a sincere apology, though she didn’t accept.

“She takes her ski pole and sticks it in my face,” Flea recalls. “At this point I’m like, ‘Well, look, I’m f****** sorry, but get your f****** pole out of my face.'”

“Woody comes up and he just sees her pole in my face, and he comes to my defense like a good friend,” he continues. “Then she goes, ‘My husband’s gonna come down here and he’s gonna show you what for.’ And that’s when [Harrelson’s] like, ‘Bring the f****** husband!'”

We can only assume that all of this inspired the RHCP song “Snow (Hey Oh).”