An Illinois judge on Thursday ordered “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett’s criminal case file unsealed, setting up the release of a wealth of information surrounding the controversial — and often confusing — case. Cook County judge Steven G. Watkins’ decision came months after a dizzying set of events: First, Smollett alleged he’d been the victim of […]

Alabama Public Television refused to air an episode of the PBS children’s show “Arthur” that featured a same-sex marriage. The episode, titled “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone,” aired nationally on May 13. In the episode, Arthur attends the wedding of his teacher and his partner. The state network instead showed a re-run of another […]

Radio legend Howard Stern opened up about his infamous interviews with Donald Trump in a revealing sit-down with “Good Morning America” co-anchor George Stephanopoulos. Stern is making the media rounds to promote his new book, “Howard Stern Comes Again,” which frequently delves into his interviews and relationship with the president. Stern interviewed Trump dozens of […]

For the 319 baby girls born and named Lyanna last year, “Game of Thrones” will never end. More parents are bestowing “Game of Thrones” character names on their children than ever, according to Social Security Administration data published Friday. Excluding the Jons and Jaimes, more than 4,500 children were given such names in 2018, up […]

HBO’s “Game of Thrones” lived up to the hype. This past weekend’s season premiere stands as the most-watched one-day event in the history of the cable network that began in 1978. The Nielsen company said 17.4 million people watched the Sunday opener to the show’s final season, either live on the network at 9 p.m., […]

President Donald Trump called on Fox News to keep host Jeanine Pirro on the air after she didn’t appear for her regularly scheduled Saturday night program following her anti-Muslim comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a week ago. “Bring back @JudgeJeanine Pirro,” Trump tweeted. “The Radical Left Democrats, working closely with their beloved partner, the […]

“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty in a Chicago courtroom Thursday to 16 charges stemming from an alleged hate crime hoax. Smollett’s lawyer, Tina Glandian, entered the plea on Smollett’s behalf just hours after Judge Steven Watkins was assigned the case. The next court date was scheduled for April 17. Smollett was initially charged with one count […]

Attorney Michael Avenatti announced Tuesday that he was no longer representing adult film star Stormy Daniels, cutting ties with a client who had propelled him into the national limelight. In a statement posted to Twitter, Avenatti said he had informed Daniels “in writing” last month that his firm was terminating its representation of her “for various […]

Roseanne Barr believes former first lady Michelle Obama is responsible for getting her fired from her eponymous ABC reboot. The hit reboot of “Roseanne” was famously canceled in May 2018 after Barr, 66, posted a series of allegedly racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic tweets, including one saying that former President Barack Obama aide Valerie Jarrett to someone from […]

“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted by a grand jury in Chicago on 16 felony counts after allegedly lying to police about being the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime, NBC News confirmed Friday. Smollett was charged last month with felony disorderly conduct for the alleged false report he made with Chicago […]

Prosecutors say Jussie Smollett paid two men, including a close friend who worked alongside him on the Fox drama ‘‘Empire,’’ to help him stage a fake attack he later framed as a racist and homophobic hate crime. The actor’s bond was set at $100,000 at a court hearing Thursday afternoon, during which Cook County Circuit […]