Brad Rutter (from Lancaster) tops a list of the biggest winners in “Jeopardy!” history. He won more than $4.3 million . . . and the only other person who comes close is Ken Jennings, who won $3.2 million.
Monday’s “Big Bang Theory” premiere attracted 12.9 million viewers. Last year’s premiere attracted 17.6 million viewers, and the show averaged 18.6 million for the season.
BILL COSBY was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison yesterday, for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He was also hit with a $25,000 fine, and declared a “sexually violent predator.” Prosecutors were asking for 5 to 10, while his lawyers were pushing for house arrest. The sentence was reduced from a maximum of 30 years, after some of the charges were combined. Bill is 81 years old. Before he was led away in handcuffs, the judge told him, “It is time for justice. Mr. Cosby, this has all circled back to you. The time has come.” Former supermodel JANICE DICKINSON, who was in the courtroom as one of Cosby’s accusers, told him, “Here’s the last laugh, pal.” Cosby actually DID laugh while talking with his lawyers after the verdict came down, but his spokesman said Cosby had been subjected to, “the most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States.” He also linked Cosby’s fate to the controversy surrounding Supreme Court nominee BRETT KAVANAUGH, claiming both men are victims of a “sex war” that’s going on right now. BUT — they’re not removing his star from the Walk of Fame. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said, “Once installed, the stars become part of the historic fabric of the Walk of Fame, a ‘designated historic cultural landmark,’ and are intended to be permanent.
The CMA Foundation has been asking country stars to talk about the teachers who made a difference in their lives. It’s part of their “Starts With M.E.” campaign. LUKE BRYAN recently posted his story online. “I had a music teacher named Miss Unger who was the best. She was an amazing piano player. We’d have to get dressed up in costumes and do musicals. It was some of my first moments on stage, delivering lines, making people laugh.” The “Starts With M.E.” program gives teachers money to buy instruments and other classroom necessities. In a different interview, Luke was asked if his kids are following in his footsteps. He said, “Not really. [Every] now and then I’ll hear one of them in my writing room, just tinkering around on the piano.
WILL SMITH turned 50 years old yesterday, and he celebrated by trying to GIVE HIMSELF A HEART ATTACK. Will bungee jumped into the Grand Canyon from a HELICOPTER. And Will did it voluntarily. There’s a video, and it does a great job showing how crazy this is. While the helicopter took off and flew into position over the Grand Canyon, Will had to be HANGING OUTSIDE it, just standing on the landing skids. Even after the jump, he spent a while being flung around the Canyon – without a helmet, clinging to the bungee. He was yelling about how “gorgeous” everything was . . . maybe in case those were his last words. A bunch of onlookers were there to watch him, including his family and ALFONSO RIBEIRO, who was hosting the live stream.
“This Is Us” has been a sensation since Day One, and now the cast is being rewarded. The five main stars got massive pay raises for Season Three, which premiered last night. Jack, Rebecca, Randall, Kate, and Kevin will make $250,000 per episode, or roughly $4.5 million per season.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD’s done a lot of interviews while promoting her “Cry Pretty” album. She was asked about the biggest misconception people have about her. “Can she really write? Does she do anything to contribute?’ Yes, she does, and she can. She’s most definitely in there.’ Cry Pretty” is her seventh straight album to debut at #1 on the “Billboard” Top Country Albums chart. That sets a record for the most in the history of that chart. She and Miranda Lambert each had six in a row.
LINDSAY LOHAN’s mother has filed for bankruptcy.
NICKY HILTON took her kids to Chuck E. Cheese and discovered, quote, “The pizza was more fabulous than I ever remembered.”
Amazon is putting the first all-female NFL broadcast team on tomorrow’s “Thursday Night Football” game – Andrea Kremer and Hannah Storm
Were you a fan of THE OFFICE? More than 500 props from “The Office” are being auctioned off.
LORETTA LYNN will receive the Artist of a Lifetime award at this year’s “CMT Artists of the Year” special. Sissy Spacek, who won an Oscar for playing Loretta in “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, will present her with the award. Previous recipients include Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, and Merle Haggard.
This is really unfortunate news. CHARLIE ROBISON announced that he’s retiring from performing due to complications from surgery that left him with a “permanent inability to sing.” Charlie’s also a terrific songwriter and musician. The older brother of musician and producer Bruce Robison, Charlie was married to Dixie Chicks member Emily Erwin from 1999 to 2008. He also served as a judge on the first season of the Nashville Star TV show, which featured Miranda Lambert as a contestant.
KELSEA BALLERINI is releasing a deluxe edition of her “Unapologetically” album on October 26th. There are four new tracks including the song, “This Feeling”, which is her collaboration with The Chainsmokers.
Serena Williams is 37 – Melissa Sue Anderson is 56 – Carlene Carter is 63 – Olivia Newton-John is 70.
