‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Returns — Midseason Debut Holds Strong

With Meredith and DeLuca trapped in an elevator, Teddy’s baby confession, and some complications with Maggie and Avery, season 15 of Grey’s Anatomy will likely be romance driven. This would be okay if any of those romances actually landed — and for me — they have not.

Giacomo Gianniotti (DeLuca) is a welcome addition the cast, but he simply has not had much to do. He had a somewhat interesting storyline with Dr. Jeanine Mason (Sam Bello), but it was too short to be fully explored. I also adore Chris Carmack (Atticus Lincoln), but much like Gianniotti, he has limited chemistry with Pompeo and a sub-par storyline. As for Kelly McCreary (Maggie) and Jesse Williams (Avery), these two need to cut their losses and find fresh blood. I loved the conflict between Sarah Drew (April) and Williams, and no such conflict has equally sparked my interest. And forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but the chemistry is ALSO lacking. I vote for the return of Scott Speedman, and judging by the twitter uproar, so does all the other Grey’s Anatomy fans. Chemistry is hard to come by and thus far, only Kim Raver (Teddy) and Kevin McKidd (Owen) seem to have it.

Tabloid Gossip: Babies, Breakups, and Basic Drama

Thank you guys for all your love. Love you right back ❤💗🙏🏻

A post shared by Jenna Dewan Tatum (@jennadewan) on Tristan Thompson’s social media has had some joyously savage comments. People

Kate Hudson is pregnant. Ok! Magazine

Jennie Garth is getting divorced. E! Online

RHOA’s Kenya Moore is pregnant. Radar Online

Seth Meyer’s wife gave birth in their apartment lobby. Dlisted

Mariah Carey revealed her Bipolar II diagnosis. Vulture

Jamie Lynn Spears welcomed her second child. MSNBC

Olivia Culpo is back on the market. Celebuzz

Brooke Burke and David Charvet are dunzo. TMZ

Hank Baskett is always open for a reconciliation with Kendra Wilkinson. Us Weekly

Karrueche Tran and Victor Cruz make a hot couple. Daily Mail

Jesse Williams’ (Grey’s Anatomy) estranged wife has  A LOT of expenses. Cafe Mom

Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum are amicably divorcing. Elle

Brad Pitt has a super hot teacher friend he swears he isn’t dating. Gossip Cop

Joanna Krupa is engaged 7 months after finalizing her divorce. Page Six

Barbra Streisand Blames Her Schnoz for Avoiding Sexual Assault

I’ve been light on my posts lately, and it’s mostly because the barrage of #MeToo news has lessened my spirit, and this blog is largely aimed at lighthearted fun, or a tough take on the deserving ridiculousness of the industry. That being said, a recent interview with Barbra Streisand inspired some deep thoughts, and not the Jack Handy type.

While questioned about her own experience in the industry, Streisand made it clear she had not been subject to sexual harassment, and she blamed her looks for the sheer luck of it, saying, “I wasn’t like those pretty girls with those nice little noses. Maybe that’s why.” I must admit that I have also been fortunate enough to avoid the Hollywood wolves, and much like Streisand, I proudly never received plastic surgery for my schnoz. So could that be it? And if it is, is it worth mentioning? The short answer is no, and the mere suggestion that harassment and looks go hand-in-hand, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. In fact, Pamela Anderson recently put me off by saying that she too had avoided harassment, and it’s largely attributed to her smarts in never entering the lion’s den of dirty hotel rooms. You see — Anderson was shrewd — and others are . . . not? There’s a delicate dance here when discussing harassment, and though I don’t think Anderson intended to victim blame, it was a blunder worth noting. The polar opposite approach to explaining one’s experience (Pamela is hot but smart, and Streisand is no Pamela Anderson), is bad on both ends. Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff explained this beautifully in an article for The Hollywood Reporter, and it’s worth the read.

While it might be true that we should take every precaution in avoiding assault, to suggest that looks have anything to do with it demeans the victims. Sure we shouldn’t leave our drink on an open bar in a busy night club, and I’d love to live in a world where I’m not concerned about that drink, but that’s simply not how it works. It would also be nice to exit my abode unlocked, or to leave something expensive in my car without fear of a break in, but we live in a world with rapists, thieves, murderers, and school shooters, so we should do everything in our power to stay safe. That includes dismantling the industry of the complicit players who built their client’s trust, only to send them into Harvey Weinstein’s hotel room with their guard down. I personally walk through life thinking everyone is a villain, which might be a better explanation for how I’ve never been harassed. But is that all-consuming fear a message we want to send our children? Probably not. To put it simply, when anyone is asked why they were not subject to sexual assault, the answer should be — “I got lucky.”

 

TV Tune Tuesday: Meet Musician Aron Wright

As we learned from yesterday’s post about Freya Ridings and an earlier interview I did with the very talented Aurora, television is often the perfect venue to highlight new artists. I’ll try to do this feature every week, and this week’s pick is Aron Wright, whom I discovered on Grey’s Anatomy. His soul-melting voice can also be heard on many other shows, including The Blacklist, The Vampire Diaries, and more. According to Wright, he records his music in a 100-year-old church he converted into a studio. His credits include co-writing the song “Hallelujah” by Panic! at the Disco and penning “Walk Out On Me,” which was performed by Courtney Love on the FOX television show, Empire. The multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, bass trombone, tuba and guitar) was born in Little Rock, AR, and raised in St. Louis, MO before eventually moving to South Africa. He now lives in Nashville. Listen below.

Grey’s Anatomy Sneak Peek: Meredith v. Maggie



Grey’s Anatomy
is running on fumes in its casting department, and they desperately need an addition beyond its best players, which now only includes Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, and Jesse Williams. I’ve long insisted that their casting crew needs a complete overhaul, as most of their additions don’t work, thus resulting in more than five untimely deaths. In fact, Jesse Williams was part of a much larger merger storyline, and he was the only cast members to make it. That’s a weak result. I’d like to also note that unlike Seinfeld, which was graced with the genius casting of Marc Hirschfeld, Grey’s has yet to find a guest star that has gone on to greatness. That’s odd. When watching the syndicated reruns of Seinfeld, nearly every guest star has become massive. That includes, Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives), Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Kristen Davis (Sex and the City), Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie, 2 Broke Girls), Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Lauren Graham (Girlmore Girls), and many more. There needs to be more power players on Grey’s Anatomy, and with the loss of Patrick Dempsey, we’re also missing Alpha dogs. The fight between Owen and Riggs could have gained steam, but the storyline just fizzled beyond repair. Need I also mention Amelia has to go? Watch a clip for the upcoming episode, which is more of a high-school fight than a storyline I can sink my teeth into. I think I was seventeen years old the last time I called dibs on a guy who wasn’t interested. Past that age, if you say anything other than “Next!” you’re a small child. Maggie could have at least had sex with Riggs to justify this type of immaturity.

Tabloid Gossip: Christmas Came Early!

bella_thorne
Image Courtesy of Bella Thorne

Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott are financially squeezed. Wet Paint

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Ellen Pompeo wants you to boycott A&E. BuddyTV

Charlie Puth, Bella Thorne, and Tyler Posey are in a love triangle. TMZ

Did Gigi Hadid reject Zayn Malik’s marriage proposal? Contact Music

Kanye West cancelled his European tour dates. WGO

Jennifer Lopez and Drake want you to think they’re dating. RTW

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively brought their kids out in public. Stuff

Margot Robbie secretly tied the knot. E! Online

Sienna Miller and her ex-fiance still live together. Belfast Telegraph

Khloe Kardashian’s NBA boyfriend Tristan Thompson just had a baby. Radar Online

Amy Schumer bought back her family farm. Yahoo!

Zooey Deschanel is pregnant with baby #2. MSN

Scott Baio was attacked by the wife of a chili pepper. Page Six

Is baby #3 on the way for Gisele Bundchen? Wonderwall

Miles Teller was in a car accident with an uber driver. THR

Zoe Kravitz is smoking hot. Pop Sugar

Tabloid Gossip: Your Week of News

Melco Crown Entertainment's Co-chairman, James Packer, right, and singer Mariah Carey pose on the red carpet of the opening ceremony for the Studio City project in Macau, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. China's world-beating gambling hub is getting a taste of Hollywood glamour as its newest casino resort makes its debut on Tuesday with a glitzy grand opening that masks turmoil behind the scenes. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Melco Crown Entertainment’s Co-chairman, James Packer, right, and singer Mariah Carey pose on the red carpet of the opening ceremony for the Studio City project in Macau, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. China’s world-beating gambling hub is getting a taste of Hollywood glamour as its newest casino resort makes its debut on Tuesday with a glitzy grand opening that masks turmoil behind the scenes. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Kevin Jonas and his wife welcomed their second child. RTW

Mariah Carey is devastated by her breakup with James Packer. E! Online

Johnny Depp left his talent agency. CAA

Amber Tamblyn and David Cross welcomed their first child. Yahoo!

A Grey’s Anatomy is pregnant. Wet Paint

Kristen Stewart went public with her new girlfriend. Stuff

Kate Beckinsale’s husband filed for divorce. TMZ

Brangelina is selling off their property. People

Michael Phelps is married. CNN

Nick Young welcomed a baby months after cheating on Iggy Azalea. Rolling Out

Is Khloe Kardashian getting married? Uproxx

Amber Rose used to date a transgender man. Shade Room

‘Birth of a Nation’ director Nate Parker was hit with another sexual assault allegation. The Wrap

New ‘Walking Dead’ Trailer Features Negan: Watch Now

During casual conversation at many Los Angeles outings, the subject of my “free pass” comes up, and though Brad Pitt or Rob Lowe might be the easy choice, my selection is always the very sexy Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who first gained heartthrob status as Denny on ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ He has since had many memorable roles, the last of which was on ‘The Good Wife,’ and he can now be seen on ‘The Walking Dead’ as Negan, the villain of season 7. Just who will he kill, and does he look just as handsome while doing it? The answer to the second question is yes, and for the answer to the first, see below. You might find a clue.

Patrick Dempsey Talks Future With People Magazine


Patrick Dempsey just mastered the art of saying absolutely nothing AND everything about his personal life while promoting his upcoming film, Bridget Jones’ Baby. The former ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star opened up to People Magazine about the reconciliation with his longtime wife, Jillian, saying, “Our marriage was not something I was prepared to let go of” and “I [learned] to prioritize. Our union has to be the priority. I wasn’t prepared to give up on her and she wasn’t either. We both wanted to fight for it.” Though he did not admit the source of their issues, tabloids have long speculated that Dempsey’s penchant for racing cars took considerable time away from their union, and he has seriously dialed back on the dangerous hobby since mending his marriage.

It’s worth noting that one can talk about his or her personal life without divulging too much, and Dempsey did it beautifully. The television star is also a rare breed of actor who can master both mediums, having had a successful film career prior to his resurgence as “McDreamy.” For more, visit PEOPLE.

Shonda Rhimes Guest Edits Good Housekeeping’s Awesome Women Awards


When you think of a strong, talented woman, Shonda Rhimes immediately comes to mind. The creator of television’s top shows chose to guest edit Good Housekeeping’s first-ever Awesome Women Awards for September’s “Connected Women” issue, and according to Rhimes, she was “excited by the idea that there would be an entire issue devoted to celebrating the awesomeness of women.” For a full list of honorees, click HERE. Enjoy some select quotes from Rhimes below, including what character she most identifies with, and the evolution of Meredith’s Grey’s character.
Shonda on how believing in yourself can make you an Awesome Woman: “The only difference between a woman and an awesome woman is how a woman defines herself, frankly. And what you choose to do with your life. I think if you believe yourself to be an awesome woman you are an awesome woman and, in general, you behave as an awesome woman. If you don’t believe yourself to be one, then you don’t. It’s really about what you believe about yourself.”

 

Shonda on the secret to life—‘nobody knows anything’: “I wish every awesome woman knew that the secret to life is that nobody knows anything. And nobody is better than you are. People deal with so much insecurity and spend so much time thinking, That person is better, so I couldn’t possibly try this. Yes, you can! Everybody puts themselves in little pockets and holds themselves back, but there’s no reason to. Make your own space.”

 

On how she comes up with her character ideas from her hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal: “People always ask me where I get my ideas from, where I get my story ideas from – I don’t know. To me, these women, in my head, they are real, and I try to make them as real as possible. I try to make them people you want to be friends with, people you want to spend time with. That’s always my goal… It’s not a business; it’s not a factory. The secret sauce is that it’s just creative.”

 

On the inspiration behind Grey’s Anatomy character Dr. Meredith Grey (played by cover star Ellen Pompeo):“That’s just changed so much over many years. I think in the very beginning she was a little bit me, a little bit Betsy Beers, my producing partner – somebody very new, somebody starting out in a new job. I had no idea how to make television when I started this job. Betsy had a mother who had Alzheimer’s. We sort of had this mix of things we had been talking about. But really – she went to Dartmouth, I went to Dartmouth. There were just pieces of her that fell like that. But the rest of it is just the secret sauce.”

 

On the strong, competitive female characters on her shows and who they’re modeled after: “I keep getting asked how I write about such smart, strong women, and my response is, “What’s the alternative?” Weak, stupid women? They’re just normal people, not role models – if you’re aspiring to be like any of them, something’s a little bit wrong. You may want to dress like one or have her job, but do not aspire to be her!”

 

The reaction from fans that surprised her most: “I was very surprised when [Grey’s Anatomy character] Derek died. I think I was surprised by how strong the reaction was. And I think I was surprised because in Season 11, to have that violent of an outpouring for a character, in show that – for us, you start making a show and think, “Oh, you know, it’s Season 11.” You think that people aren’t paying as much attention. But to have it be that big of a deal to have Timemagazine write an article on how to mourn a fictional character. There was a lot of that and it was startling to me to see how much they were not coping. It felt like somebody real had died.”

 

On which of her characters are most like her: “I don’t think I could ever even say that. I think all of my characters, down to [Scandal’s] Huck who likes to hurt people, all of my characters are a piece of me to some degree because they come from my brain. There’s no way to have a character who’s not me. And I think every writer feels that way. They all spring from the same place.”