You guys probably know by now that I’m an old-school fanatic for The West Wing. I can’t stand the first season, but seasons 2-7 are some of the best television episodes you could ever see. It’s rare for me to be so involved with the characters, to the point where even a decade removed from the show, I still wonder what CJ Cregg and Josh Lyman are Donna are up to. Well, President Jed Bartlet – aka Martin Sheen – still thinks about it too. And he would down for a reboot, since everyone is reboot crazy these days.

President Jed Bartlet has spoken, so what’s next? Just a few short weeks after Rob Lowe said he wants to get “The West Wing” crew back together, Martin Sheen told Page Six he would also love to be a part of a reboot of the Aaron Sorkin political drama.

“Well, of course, I would, but I would be too old for the office now,” he told us on Tuesday while discussing his role in “Anne of Green Gables: Fire and Dew.” “I wouldn’t know how they’d fit me in, but of course I would be delighted. It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

Sorkin, who created the show and worked on its first four seasons before exiting the series in 2003, told Hollywood Reporter he envisions “This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown in the Oval Office if the show were to ever be rebooted.

“I have to ask, I’m sorry, who is he?” Sheen told us, quickly adding that he rarely watches anything outside of MSNBC and sports. “I’m watching Notre Dame now every Saturday afternoon. I’m kind of a dumpling, I’m afraid.”

[From Page Six]

I don’t think they should do a “reboot” of The West Wing, like with a whole new cast. I think that could do a continuation show, within the same West Wing universe, just ten years later. Here’s my pitch to TV executives: the timing of “a decade later” would mean that President Matt Santos served two full terms in office, and then he had to watch as the literal WORST Republican candidate assumes the presidency. This Republican is a complete cartoon, an orange buffoon, a racist, a misogynist, a white supremacist who stokes racial and sexist animosity wherever he goes. America is on the brink of a complete fascist takeover. So ex-presidents Matt Santos and Jed Bartlet get together for a drink – this is the pilot episode – and talk about what should happen in the Democratic primaries for the presidential election. They hatch a plan for how they’ll both strategically speak out against the neo-fascist Republican, and how they’ll throw their support in the Democratic primary behind an immensely qualified governor played by… Angela Bassett. They call Josh and Donna and CJ (but not Tobey, for obvious reasons) and figure it out. I WOULD WATCH THAT.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Dear Gossips,

It was announced yesterday that Michael B Jordan is the new ambassador for Coach menswear. Like Selena Gomez on the women’s side of the business, MBJ will be the face of the brand’s clothing and fragrance lines and participate in “special design projects”.

Selena has done very w…

Drew Barrymore was a guest on Norm MacDonald’s show on Netflix. (He has a new talk show, which explains why we’re getting his garbage take on issues. Remember how Chelsea Handler had a Netflix talk show that got canceled? I don’t like Chelsea but she was a better choice than Norm.) I didn’t want to give MacDonald any views, but I had some time to kill and watched it. Norm gushed about Drew’s beauty and charisma and was quite creepy overall. Norm talked more than he let Drew talk, it was like a bad podcast and they swore a lot. Drew was as animated as we’ve come to expect from her. I’m not a fan of Drew’s and find her annoying in large doses, but there’s something very genuine about her. You can see this episode on Netflix, but I don’t really recommend it as again it’s cringey and random. The best quotes are below anyway.

They were talking about chatroulette, the random webcam thing and Drew brought up d-ck pics
“I’m here to tell all men. Keep it in your f-ing pants. It’s almost like something jumping out at you. You’re like ‘ah!’ It’s like someone throwing a bucket of water on your face.”

She claims her daughter looks like ET
“I send all these pictures to Steven Spielberg of my daughter because she looks like ET. I can’t believe my karmatic destiny that I would birth ET. Her eyes are giant and on the side. It’s not a joke. My daughter is like the beautiful, feminine version of ET.”

Norm brought up Drew flashing Letterman and said he should flash Oprah
“She doesn’t want to see it either. I’m going to speak on behalf of Oprah.”

Norm asks: “Do you miss cocaine?”
“No. It’s been a very long time. Nothing would make me have a panic attack and seem like a bigger nightmare. I’ve never done hallucinogenics. I drink and I enjoy my life and I get out of my own head. It’s not that like, I’m this militant person of clarity and presence. That just literally seems like my worse nightmare right now…

Later they came around to talking about drugs again
“I’ve never done heroin so I don’t know what that’s like. I’m an upper person.”

[From The Norm MacDonald Show on Netflix]

After that Norm said he was reminded of a quote by Picasso and took the opportunity to gush over Drew again. “‘I do not do drugs, I am drugs,’ and this is the effect you have on people.” Like I said he was creepy through this entire interview. Drew then waxed poetic about being nice to people. “Isn’t every encounter an opportunity to uplift each other? I do march in the army of optimism.” She also talked about her childhood, getting emancipated and dropping out of school and studying and reading on her own. She really likes the poet Bukowski, whom I never could get into. I thought he was like a poet you read in high school and realized was just a drunk a-hole.

As for her quotes about drinking and drugs, it’s interesting to me that she half equates sobriety with being a “militant person of clarity and presence.” You don’t need to drink or do drugs to get out of your head.

Also, you know how Drew Barrymore was spotted out with her ex, Justin Long? Well someone gave quotes to E! confirming that they’re still friends and have been spending time together.

Photos are screenshots and one is a production shot courtesy of Netflix

Embed from Getty Images

When Millie Bobby Brown was interviewed by W Magazine a few months ago, she talked about how she met Drake last year, when she was 13 years old, and how they became friends and they text and talk all the time. Then on the Emmy Awards red carpet, she was asked about her friendship with Drake again. She said, “I love him. I met him in Australia and he’s honestly so fantastic… [he’s a] great friend and a great role model…We just texted each other the other day and he was like ‘I miss you so much,’ and I was like ‘I miss you more,’ he’s great.” She also said in both interviews that Drake gives her a lot of advice, and that the advice is mostly “about boys.”

I find the whole thing creepy. Drake is 31 years old and he has no business texting a 14-year-old girl, even if it is completely above-board friendship. It’s wrong. I’m not going to apologize for side-eyeing Drake. I’ve never blamed Millie for this – she’s just a kid, which is exactly the reason why her parents should have shut this down months ago and Drake should have shut it down too – he’s the adult, he could say “you seem like such a cool girl, I’m going to go through your manager to send you tickets to my next concert.” That’s it. Millie standing there at the Emmys and saying “I love him” and “we text all the time” is uncomfortable.

Adding to the discomfort is that now Millie thinks it’s her responsibility to… defend her inappropriate friendship with Drake. That’s not how any of this is supposed to work. She wrote this on Instagram yesterday:

“Why u gotta make a lovey friendship ur headline? U guys are weird… for real. I’m lucky to have people in the business extend their time to help me further my career and offer their wisdom and guidance. I’m very blessed to have amazing people in my life. U don’t get to choose that for me. It’s nice to have people who understand what I do. Now get back to talking about real problems in this world other than my friendships… jeez.”

[Via E!]

It’s perfectly possible that Drake is merely offering advice about her career and providing some long-term perspective, personally and professionally. In fact, I believe that nothing untoward has happened, that it’s just texts and calls and Millie going to his concerts. But it can *just* be that and still be inappropriate. Maybe I’m old-school, but I just believe fundamentally that a 31-year-old man has no business texting a 14-year-old for ANY reason. Shut it down, Drake.

Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.

LeBron James will play for the LA Lakers this season. Quite honestly, LeBron will probably end his career with the Lakers. What’s interesting is that LeBron has so many other interests and businesses and goals to his life – it’s not just about basketball, although he’s arguably the best basketball player since Michael Jordan. Unlike MJ, LeBron gives a sh-t about stuff other than money and sports. LeBron is unapologetically political and unapologetically Hollywood too. The Hollywood Reporter profiled “Hollywood Bron” and all of the stuff he’s going to do in the coming years. He’s had a production company for several years now, and he’ll be producing a wide variety of films and TV shows and documentaries and docu-series. He’s also going to star in a new version of Space Jam! You can read the full THR piece here. Some highlights:

He never wishes for anonymity: “Anonymous? No. That’s weird. I’m not an anonymous guy. You gotta understand, I’m an only child. I like people.”

His upcoming projects: On Sept. 13, NBC and The CW both announced scripted series with him. HBO already has several on tap, including Student Athlete, about college players going unpaid while their universities make millions, and a Muhammad Ali documentary directed by Antoine Fuqua. Meanwhile, Netflix is in production on a reboot of the British crime drama Top Boy (with Drake) and the limited series Madam C.J. Walker, starring Octavia Spencer as the real-life daughter of slaves who became the first black female millionaire.

Space Jam: THR can reveal that Ryan Coogler will produce Warner Bros.’ new Space Jam, the long-gestating follow-up to the beloved 1996 Michael Jordan-Bugs Bunny hit. James will play his first starring role in it. “[Coogler] gave this generation’s kids something I didn’t have when I was a kid,” says James, “and that’s a superhero movie with an African-American cast.”

Whether it bothers him that Trump called him dumb: James just laughs. “No, because I’m not. That’s like somebody saying I can’t play ball. That doesn’t bother me at all. What bothers me is that he has time to even do that. He has the most powerful job in the world. Like, you really got this much time that you can comment on me?”

On Serena Williams: Having a daughter, explains James, is one reason he can relate to Serena Williams’ Sept. 8 agitation during the U.S. Open women’s final. “What we all have to understand is what she is fighting for is bigger than just that match. She is fighting for equality — always having to win more, more, more, just to feel equal. Being an African-American woman playing in a predominantly white sport, she’s dealing with so much more. I have no idea what was going on in her head, but I feel that struggle.”

On Space Jam being a childhood dream: “I always wanted to be a superhero. Batman was my favorite. But I knew I could never be Bruce Wayne. You’ve got to understand, for me that was in no way possible; I never felt like I could be the president of a multibillion-dollar company.”

His goal in Hollywood: “The goal is to continue to do what we’ve been doing, and if we make a billion-dollar company at the end of it, we will pat each other on the back, hug each other, pop some great wine … but that is not the goal. It’s never been the goal. I’m going to continue to play basketball at a high level, continue to give back to my community and make great content for people to fall in love with.”

[From THR]

There’s a big section in the piece about LeBron being the father of daughters and how he’s trying to become even more aware of how the world treats African-American women. At first my immediate reaction was “oh no, not another ‘as the father of daughters’ comment,” but then I stopped myself. We’ve become warped by male douchebags using their wives and daughters as human shields when they’re justifiably criticized for doing something predatory or misogynistic. But LeBron isn’t doing that – he hasn’t done anything bad, and he’s not using his daughters as shields for criticism. He’s actually talking about how his empathy and understanding of women’s issues was influenced by fatherhood, and it’s beautiful.

Anyway, I love Hollywood Bron and I hope he becomes a movie star.

.@KingJames: “I always wanted to be a superhero. Batman was my favorite. But I knew I could never be Bruce Wayne. You’ve got to understand, for me that was in no way possible; I never felt like I could be the president of a multibillion-dollar company” https://t.co/aUjS5OB2Mq pic.twitter.com/yZWT4u5Nnd

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 20, 2018

Photos courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

Chris Pratt gets pap’d at church more often than Jennifer Garner. He’s been very open about how he’s somewhat born-again, or that he came back to the church in his early adulthood. He’s let it be known that he’s politically conservative, a hunter, a guns-rights person, and he’s all about Jesus. What’s interesting – I suppose – is that he’s gradually let that picture be filled in over time. It didn’t feel like he started out in Hollywood with that off-camera persona. Anyway, Chris is promoting… something, and he chatted with the Associated Press about God, his faith and how he’s totally fine in Hollywood and no one judges him.

He feels “called” to talk about his Christianity: “That kind of message, it might not be for everybody. But there is a group of people for whom that message is designed. And nothing fills my soul more than to think that maybe some kid watching that would say, ‘Hey, I’ve been thinking about praying. Let me try that out.’ That’s the only way I feel like I can repay what has essentially been a giant gift in my life.”

He doesn’t think it’s risky to talk about his faith in Hollywood: “I think that there’s this narrative that exists out there that Hollywood is anti-Christian or anti-religious, but it’s just not the case. They are kind of not anti-anything. They are kind of pro whatever is authentic to you. And I like that. Because it’s authentic for me to be pro-Christian, pro-Jesus. That’s my thing. I like it. I’ve never had anyone try to shame me, to my face. Maybe they go say it behind my back. But if that’s the case, go ahead. You can say whatever you want about me — to my face or behind my back. I’m not going to change.”

[From People]

I tend to believe that Pratt would be judged harshly if his faith (and conversations about his faith) came from a point of deflection. Like, everybody finds Jesus when they’ve been caught doing some immoral or illegal sh-t. But Pratt doesn’t use his faith as a shield or a deflection, so everyone just shrugs. That’s how it should be too – Pratt has every right to believe what he wants to believe, to go to church, to talk about his faith, whether he’s in Hollywood or outside of Hollywood. And everyone else has the right to not care about it when he does try to prosthelytize on the red carpet or at awards shows. As for this idea that Hollywood is “anti-Christian” – it’s really not. If anything, we’ve seen time and time again that Pratt is Hollywood’s ideal: a white Christian dude who will spread “family values” in films and in interviews.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

In what world is Brett Kavanaugh still considered THE BEST option for the Supreme Court? I’m really asking. I talk a lot of sh-t about the patriarchy and the evils of doughy white misogynists and Deplorable wingnuts, but even *I* think it would be relatively easy for the White House to simply withdraw Kavanaugh’s nomination and start over with someone new, someone who doesn’t have as many glaring issues. Of course whoever Trump nominates is going to be problematic and misogynistic. But is it just me or is the GOP not even bothering to hide how rampantly problematic they are at this point? They’re just straight up telling the country: “we only care about rich white dudes, the rest of you can suck it.” So what’s new with Kavanaugh’s nomination? Take your pick from these stories:

Kavanaugh liked his female law clerks to look like models. He liked his young law clerks to look a certain way, and it was known to the point where other professors would basically “groom” young women to be his law clerks. The Yale Dean of Law is looking into it.

Kavanaugh’s student years at Yale. He belonged to a creepy frat which would steal girls’ underwear and the frat boys would chant some creepy sh-t about consent. He was also part of a club… well, you can read about it here.

Kavanaugh’s friend has a theory! That friend is Ed Whelan and he’s president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Whelan has been friends with Kavanaugh since they were kids, and he likely would have known everyone involved in the sexual assault incident when Kavanaugh was a teenager. Whelan decided to spin a theory that Ford wasn’t sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh, but by one of Kavanaugh’s look-alike friends. He was literally mansplaining to Ford that her sexual assault was probably committed by someone else, another classmate of Kavanaugh. There’s some question about whether Kavanaugh was part of forming this conspiracy. Ford actually came out and said that she knew the friend Whelan was throwing under the bus and she wouldn’t confuse the two.

Meanwhile, Christine Blasey Ford was told earlier this week that if she wanted to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, then she needed to come on Monday and that was it. Her lawyer has been in communication with the Senate Republicans and they’re now trying to negotiate her testimony for next Thursday, and she still wants the FBI to do an investigation of her claims.

And finally, here’s one added gem: South Carolina Republican congressman Ralph Norman decided to make a “joke.” That joke: “Did y’all hear this latest late-breaking news from the Kavanaugh hearings? Ruth Bader Ginsburg came out that she was groped by Abraham Lincoln.” Har har, it’s funny because sexual assault is hilarious, amirite??

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and Backgrid.

I’m still drunk on these photos from the Duchess of Sussex’s cookbook launch event. The event was well thought out and well-received. Meghan made a speech without written notes, showing her ease and comfort with the subject matter and the overarching themes of togetherness, food, family and multiculturalism. I hope the Windsors truly understand that from a branding and business perspective, Meghan was one of the best investments they’ve ever made. I think the Queen and Prince Charles absolutely understand that, and that’s why they both welcomed Meghan with open arms so publicly. Meghan’s mere presence modernizes the royal institution, but this cookbook project is another signal that Meghan isn’t just going to sit up in an ivory tower. She’s embracing her new multicultural home country. Which is what she said in her speech:

Meghan helped make chapatis and turn koftas on a grill as she launched the Together cookbook in a tent. In a speech to guests, she said the project had been a ‘tremendous labour of love’.

‘I have just recently moved to London and I felt so immediately embraced by the women in the kitchen, by your kindness and to be in this city and be in this room and see how multi-cultural it was. On a personal level I feel so proud to live in a city with so much diversity. This whole country is represented by the people in the kitchen. It’s pretty outstanding.’

[From The Daily Mail]

This one is for all the people who think London looks like a Richard Curtis movie (no disrespect to Curtis, but… yeah). No, London looks like this cookbook launch. Women of all colors and backgrounds, some in hijabs, some with their hair uncovered. It speaks volumes that Meghan actively sought out these women when she first came to London too.

As for Doria, she was apparently going around and introducing herself to everyone by saying “Hi, I’m Meg’s mom.” Doria also embraced every woman with a big hug, and when Baroness Gail Rebuck, chair of publisher Penguin Random House, told Doria that she must feel “very proud” of Meghan, Doria replied, “Head over heels.”

And here’s a video of Prince Harry jacking some samosas when he thought no one was looking:

I could be wrong but I reckon we’ve caught Prince Harry red handed stealing some samosas from the Meghan’s ‘Together’ cookbook event they were at today!! Have a watch… #HubbCommunityKitchen @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/3BWd0TYqj8

— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) September 20, 2018

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

I really did cancel Kanye West when he started all the Trump-love crap and “slavery is a choice” BS. I mean, I still covered Kanye’s comings and goings, because that’s my job, but he was on my Sh-t List. He still is. That being said, I had been missing Kanye’s messy personal drama. He has new music to promote, so he’s dusting off the old Say Some Controversial/Shady Playbook to get people interested in the music.

So who is Kanye performative-beefing with this week? Drake! Kanye and Drake have been on the edge of major beef for much of the year, even though Kanye spent several months claiming he had nothing to do with Pusha T’s excellent takedown of Drake (Pusha and Ye are tight). Plus, Kanye is concerned that Drake is In His Feelings about Kim Kardashian, Kanye’s wife, and that Drake put the callout to “Keke” on purpose to f–k with Kanye. He also tells Nick Cannon and Tyson Beckford to stop speaking about his wife and spreading negativity. All of these videos are NSFW because of language.

Kanye West sends a warning to nick cannon pic.twitter.com/7iQdEXeSMR

— DJ Akademiks (@IamAkademiks) September 20, 2018

In Kanye’s own words, he is “up out the sunken place” and has some things to say about Drake while he’s not medicated: https://t.co/UhDvDGrwTp pic.twitter.com/UnSYtfULJL

— E! News (@enews) September 20, 2018

Kanye talks Travis, Pusha T and Tyson Beckford pic.twitter.com/OrBNkx7ZQX

— BallerAlert (@balleralert) September 20, 2018

I mean, it is what it is. He’s promoting music and probably a few other things, but he’s also pissed off that… I don’t know, that dudes won’t stop gossiping about Kim?

Incidentally, Snoop Dogg (Snoop Lion, or is that over?) had some crap to say about Kanye a few days ago during DJ Suss One’s SiriusXM show. Snoop made the completely legit argument that every Trump-supporter is a racist, basically saying (and I’m paraphrasing) that if you like Trump, you’re a racist, and “f–k you and f–k him.” At the end of an obscene rant about Trump, Snoop then added: “Kanye too… don’t forget about him too. F— him too. I’m going throw him in the bag too because he right with them motherf———.”

Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid.

I read the synopsis and some of the reviews for the new Netflix show Maniac. I’m not sure what to think, honestly. Maybe it will be a huge success, maybe it will end up winning tons of awards for Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, or maybe people won’t even bother with it. It’s supposed to be a mind-bender about trauma, mental illness, technology and how people heal (or not). There are looping timelines, extensive dream sequences and Emma and Jonah play different “characters” within their central characterizations. I don’t know, will you give it a try? Meh.

Anyway, last night was the big New York premiere event. They’ve been rolling this out like a movie, complete with an international promotional tour. I think that’s because of the prestige of the project – Emma is an Oscar winner, Jonah is an Oscar nominee, Cary Fukunaga created it. So this premiere had the feel of a movie premiere. Emma eschewed her Louis Vuitton contract for one night to wear this shiny, metallic Givenchy gown. I kind of hate this on Emma? I don’t like the cutout in the midsection and I loathe the sleeves. That being said, it’s interesting to look at. She didn’t style it well though – her makeup makes her look sickly.

Jonah was there, obviously, and he’s been looking pretty good recently. Jonah and Emma have been friends for… what? More than a decade. I think it’s cool that they wanted to do this project together. And of course Edgy Justin Theroux was there (he plays a shady, experimental doctor). I still have my suspicions that he and Emma were seeing each other or are seeing each other.

Photos courtesy of WENN.