The daily gossip: January 30, 2020
1.
When you've just had your first kiss with somebody, it's generally not a great sign if they immediately pull out their cell phone and start texting somebody else. But according to Jessica Simpson, that's exactly what Justin Timberlake did after their first smooch — because he wanted to gloat to Ryan Gosling, who had made a bet with Timberlake over who would kiss Simpson first when they were all 12 years old. Timberlake's reaction was weird enough that Simpson told him, "We don't kiss again. That's done" — so the next time you win a dumb bet, make sure the stakes are actually worth cashing in on. [E! Online]
2.
In this age of near-constant dark-and-gritty reboots, every beloved pop-culture franchise you half-remember from your childhood seems destined to get re-imagined as a grim, sour bummer. The latest on the docket? A new Pee-wee Herman movie, which creator and star Paul Reubens is pitching as a "dark and unexpected" take in which Pee-wee would get "sent to a mental hospital for shock treatment for his alcoholism." And if you think there's no audience for such a grim take on a children's classic, a Pee-wee super-fan with very deep pockets has reportedly offered to put up $10 million of the movie's budget — so hey, that's at least one person in the movie theater. [The Hollywood Reporter]
3.
Last year's Terminator: Dark Fate was intended to kick off a whole new trilogy of Terminator movies, but the movie's disappointing box-office gross has put the future of the entire franchise in question. And that's just fine with returning star Linda Hamilton — reprising the role of Sarah Connor for the first time since 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day — who says she would be "quite happy to never return" to the franchise. And while she'll probably get her wish, you never know — Arnold does he keep saying he'll be back. [The Hollywood Reporter]
4.
An oddly specific warning to all would-be jewel thieves targeting Debra Messing's stash: If you want to make it an inside job, you need to marry her son first. Asked, for reasons we can't quite fathom, if she would ever lend her jewelry to her son's girlfriend, Messing said, "I'd just say no. Even if it's prom: No." She quickly clarified that the situation would be different "if he's marrying the girl" — so if you like one of Messing's rings, you'll still need to to put a ring on it. [Page Six]
5.
The Big Lebowski wasn't exactly a hit when it debuted in 1998, but in the years that followed, a loyal cadre of super-fans who worshipped The Dude turned it into the next best thing: A cult hit. So what's next? Why not a spinoff sequel that, uh, doesn't even have The Dude in it? Instead, The Jesus Rolls focuses on John Turturro's side character The Jesus, a lascivious sexual degenerate who licks his bowling ball before every frame — so yeah, this one has hit written all over it. [Deadline]
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