By Jessica Wedemeyer
6:49am PDT, Aug 10, 2018
"The Facts of Life" star Charlotte Rae dead at 92
Charlotte Rae, who portrayed housemother Edna Garrett on "The Facts of Life" from 1978 to 1984, died at 92 at her home in Los Angeles on Aug. 5. Though no cause of death was given when her representatives confirmed the news, the actress revealed in April 2017 that she'd been diagnosed with bone cancer. She'd previously beaten pancreatic cancer with the help of chemotherapy.
RELATED: Celebrities who died in 2018
"Flip or Flop" renewed following current season's ratings hike
HGTV has renewed "Flip or Flop" for an upcoming 15-episode eighth season starring former couple Christina El Moussa and Tarek El Moussa, The Hollywood Reporter reported on Aug. 8. According to HGTV, viewership of Season 7 — the first season shot following the duo's 2016 breakup — has climbed 18 percent, with 15.2 million viewers tuning in to watch as the amicable exes navigate their new working relationship. Season 8, which is currently in production, will debut in the spring of 2019.
RELATED: Stars who had to work together after they split
Kathleen Turner "didn't feel very welcomed" by the cast of "Friends"
Kathleen Turner called the "Friends" cast "such a clique" during an interview with Vulture that hit the Internet on Aug. 7. "I'll be quite honest, which is my wont: I didn't feel very welcomed by the cast," said the iconic actress, who portrayed the transgender father of Matthew Perry's Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom. "I don't think my experience with them was unique," she continued. "I think it was simply that they were such a tight little group that nobody from the outside mattered." Turner guest starred on three episodes of "Friends" in 2001. "I remember I was wearing this difficult sequined gown — and my high heels were absolutely killing me," said the Oscar nominee of her time on the "Friends" set. "I found it odd that none of the actors thought to offer me a seat. Finally it was one of the older crew members that said, 'Get Miss Turner a chair.'" As for what she thought of the cast's acting abilities, "I won't comment on that," said Turner, who frequently teaches master classes on acting. "Maybe if I'd had months to work with them, I'd be in a better position to evaluate their skill. But I could only judge based on the period I worked on the show, which wasn't long." Turner did manage to say one thing positive about the "Friends" cast: "I do respect the camaraderie they had," she said. "You can see camaraderie on the screen."
RELATED: TV cliques we always wanted to be in
HGTV buys the home featured on "The Brady Bunch," plans to restore it "to its 1970s glory"
HGTV outbid Lance Bass for the three-bedroom house in North Hollywood that served as the exterior of the Brady family's home on "The Brady Bunch," Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced on Aug. 7, saying that the network "will restore the 'Brady Bunch' home to its 1970s glory as only HGTV can." The exec added that more details regarding the renovation project will come over the next few months. "We'll bring all the resources to bear to tell safe, fun stories about this beloved piece of American TV history," he said.
Grant Gustin defends new "The Flash" costume, slams body shamers
Grant Gustin took to Instagram on Aug. 8 to address the fan backlash to his new "The Flash" costume after a photo of him looking unusually thin while shooting the upcoming fifth season of the superhero series surfaced online. "So here's the thing about this bulls— photo leak. It's a cool suit," wrote the actor (pictured on the finale of Season 4). "That's a terrible photo that I was unaware was being taken, much less being posted. Some things need work and they will be worked on. We'll get there. … I love the suit that has been designed for me, and I think when everyone sees it in its entirety, you will love it too. Things have been adjusted since that leaked shot was taken, and more things will continue to be adjusted until it feels right." As for critical comments regarding the actor's thin appearance, "I've had 20+ years of kids and adults telling me or my parents I was too thin. I've had my own journey of accepting it," said Gustin. "But there's a double standard where it's ok to talk s— about a dudes body. I do my best to stay in shape and add as much size as I can through out these seasons [of 'The Flash']. I'm naturally thin, and my appetite is greatly affected by stress. Stress is something that ebbs and flows for me throughout a season. Thus, gaining weight is a challenge for me."
"Lost" producers apologize after Evangeline Lilly says she was "cornered" into shooting nude scenes
On Aug. 2, "Lost" executive producers J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse released a joint statement addressing Evangeline Lilly's recent revelation that she felt forced to shoot nude scenes for the hit ABC series: "Our response to Evie's comments this morning in the media was to immediately reach out to her to profoundly apologize for the experience she detailed while working on 'Lost,'" they said. "We have not yet connected with her, but remain deeply and sincerely sorry. No person should ever feel unsafe at work. Period." During an interview with the podcast "The Lost Boys" that hit the Internet on July 31, the actress revealed that while shooting Season 3 of "Lost," she "had a bad experience on set with being basically cornered into doing a scene partially naked." Said Lilly, who portrayed Kate Austen from 2004 to 2010, "I was mortified and I was trembling when it finished. I was crying my eyes out." She then suffered a similar experience while shooting Season 4: "Another scene came up where Kate was undressing and I fought very hard to have that scene be under my control. And I failed to control it again," she said. "So I then said, 'That's it, no more. You can write whatever you want — I won't do it. I will never take my clothes off on this show again.' And I didn't."
Macaulay Culkin turned down offer to star on "The Big Bang Theory" three times
During an Aug. 7 podcast interview with Joe Rogan, Macaulay Culkin revealed that he turned down an offer to star on "The Big Bang Theory" three times before the CBS sitcom debuted in 2007 — though he didn't say which role he'd been pitched. "They pursued me for 'The Big Bang Theory,'" he said. "And I said, 'No.' It was kind of like, the way the pitch was, it was kind of just like, 'Alright, these two astrophysicist nerds, and then a pretty girl lives with them. Yoinks!' That was the pitch." According to the former child star, the show's producers assured him that they'd have real astrophysicists on board as consultants, but that wasn't enough to convince the actor. "I said, 'Yeah, no, I'm cool, thanks.' And then they came back at me again, and I said, 'No, no, no. Again, flattered, but like, no.' Then they came back at me again, and even my manager was like twisting my arm," he continued. "I'd have hundreds of millions of dollars right now if I did that gig. … At the same time, I'd be bashing my head against the wall."
"Homeland" to end after Season 8 on Showtime
"Homeland" will end after its upcoming eighth season, Showtime execs confirmed on Aug. 6. Claire Danes, who's starred on the thriller since 2011, previously told Howard Stern that Season 8, which is scheduled to debut in June 2019, would be the series' last. The actress said she felt "really conflicted" about leaving the show behind but admitted that she'll "be ready for a reprieve from" her intense on-screen alter ego, Carrie Mathison, whom she described as "a lot."
Patrick Stewart to reprise "Star Trek" role on new series
During an Aug. 4 appearance at the official "Star Trek" convention in Las Vegas, Patrick Stewart confirmed rumors that he's returning to the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on an upcoming CBS All Access series. "I will always be very proud to have been a part of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' but when we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with 'Star Trek' had run its natural course," said the English actor, who made his debut as Captain Picard in 1987. "It is, therefore, an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Seeking out new life for him, when I thought that life was over."
"My 600-lb Life" star L.B. Bonner's cause of death released
"My 600-lb Life" star James "L.B." Bonner committed suicide, the Lexington County Coroner's Office in South Carolina confirmed to Us Weekly. The reality star died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at a park in Lexington on Aug. 2. He was 30 years old.
