Why This Is the Best Dancing With the Stars Cast Ever (Plus, Our Pick for the Season 17 Winner)

 ABC/Craig Sjodin

Welcome to the best season of Dancing With the Stars ever.

Unlike past seasons, where the best we could say is that it could always be worse, this season we're saying it couldn't get any better! Sure, if you're going to get technical, it could be better, if any big stars actually signed on to compete. Angelina Jolie, you wanna cha-cha? 

But this season has working actors who are currently relevant. And that's close enough! Which brings us to our first, possibly most controversial point: Is Amber Riley the most "famous" star the show has had?

PHOTOS: Check out the hottest Dancing With the Stars contestants ever

We're using star in the classical Hollywood sense of the word here. Someone with a bankable talent, who has (recently) worked in something (fairly) legit. Amber was a series regular on one of the most popular shows of the decade, Glee, for three seasons and was reoccurring for one more.

Sure, it's a slippery slop into obscurity when you're written off of Glee, but Amber's character, Mercedes, hasn't been, technically. She's returning for at least one more episode in the upcoming season, with the possibility of being in more left open. Plus, even if she were officially written off, her show was on within the past year. That's more than most other contestants who can say.

Anyway, it's something to think about. 

As far as nonstar stars, the bread and butter of the DWTS world, Snooki is more relevant than most reality stars that have competed on the show. She has her own series on MTV and a handful of other moneymaking enterprises. She's someone we still talk about and not because she was the latest victim of a death hoax. Or because she died.

NEWS: Dancing With the Stars' Anna Trebunskaya pregnant with first child!

As for stars of the past and the general category of "miscellaneous" persons that DWTS curates, this season banks fairly newsworthy people: Valerie Harper will be one to watch and will surely make it past at least the first elimination, with America guaranteed to root for her in light of her recent battle with brain cancer (which is now close to being in remission).

And Leah Remini, who this summer has single handedly taken on Scientology. Perhaps she can reenact her dramatic exit from the church via an interpretive dance? That's on our wish list, for sure.

And the biggest get of all: Bill Nye, the Science Guy!

Can you believe Bill Nye is going to be on Dancing With the Stars?!!!

NEWS: Valerie Harper is competing on DWTS—is it too much?

Now, for some early predictions. Please...

First Eliminated: Bill Engvall. Though the comedian probably has quite a few fans in Middle America, we're expect that his dance moves (or lack there of) will lead him to an early demise.

Most Dramatic: Elizabeth Berkley. We're basically expecting a toned-down version of Showgirls. Look alive, FCC.

Biggest Surprise: Snooki. While she may be best known for grinding on guido gorilla juiceheads in the club, Snooki has a history in cheer and dance that we think will serve her well.

Winner: Bill Nye

What? We can dream, right?!

Real Top Three:

3. Christina Milian

2. Keyshawn Johnson

Winner: Corbin Bleau

Pop star, football player, former Disney kid. It basically predicts itself.

PHOTOS: Check out the entire cast of Dancing With the Stars, Season 17

View the original article here

Shailene Woodley, Theo James & More Divergent Stars Explain Faction Life—Watch Now!

For the characters living in the dystopian world created by Divergent author Veronica Roth, the phrase "Faction Before Blood" is a way of life.

But what does it really mean to be a part of a faction? Roth, along with the stars of the highly anticipated movie adaptation, explain the idea of living a certain lifestyle that corresponds to the five factions introduced in the novel in an official and newly released clip from Summit Entertainment.

"At some point in everybody's life, you have to decide if you're gonna stick with the way you were raised or listen to your own internal compass?" Roth asks.

WATCH: Divergent trailer debuts during VMAs

The book describes five factions—Amity, Candor, Erudite, Abnegation and Dauntless—or ways of life, and as actress Shailene Woodley, who plays the main character Tris, explains, "In the Divergent world, once you leave the nest, there is no going back."

Woodley adds, "These paradigms of thinking—compassion, honesty, intelligence, selflessness and bravery—represents society."

Meanwhile, Theo James, who takes on the role of Four in the movie, further explains, "After so many years of war and pain, humanity has a reached a time where the only way they perceive themselves to survive is to create a new system of democracy, and that is splitting ourselves into five different ways of thinking—five factions."

Watch the clip to hear more and to see footage from the film!

PHOTOS: Soak up the Divergent vibe

View the original article here

Jennifer Lopez: Man Secretly Living in Star's Hamptons Pool House Charged With Stalking and Burglary

Courtesy: Zillow.com, Getty Images

When you have a house in the Hamptons, everyone wants to visit—even some people you didn't invite!

On Aug. 8, 2013, workers were called to Jennifer Lopez's home in Southampton, N.Y., in regards to a suspicious male on the property. There, per a police report obtained by E! News, John M. Dubis, a 49-year-old man from Rhode Island, was found to have taken up residence in the pool house for the last week—unbeknownst to J.Lo.

Upon arrest, Dubis was charged with two felonies (burglary and criminal contempt) and two misdemeanors (stalking and possession of burglar tools). When brought before the magistrate at the Southampton Town Court, he pleaded not guilty.

PHOTOS: Celebrity homes in the Hamptons

In lieu of posting $100,000 bail, Dubis was remanded in Suffolk County Jail. He is scheduled to return to the Southampton Justice Court at a later date and has been ordered to undergo an exam to determine whether he is fit to move forward with court proceedings regarding the criminal charges.

Fortunately, police say Lopez was not home during the time of the alleged intrusion. The American Idol judge did, however, have an order of protection against Dubis.

Lopez, 44, just purchased her Water Mill mansion in May 2013 for a reported $9.99 million. The property was listed with a "privacy guaranteed" promise.

—Reporting by Lindsay Good

PHOTOS: Stars with stalkers

View the original article here

Jon Stewart, Ashton Kutcher and, Yes, Judge Judy Among Highest-Paid TV Stars

Frazer Harrison/Brad Barket/Getty Images/WireImage

The gift of gab seems to be paying off nicely for Jon Stewart.

According to TV Guide, The Daily Show host is now pulling in more money than his late night counterparts.

Stewart is reportedly earning between $25-30 million a year, whereas Jay Leno and David Letterman are said to be making $20 million each.

NEWS: Gisele Bündchen beats out Miranda Kerr as highest-paid model

In other areas, Two and a Half Men star Ashton Kutcher continues to dominate in prime time with $750,000 per episode, while Howard Stern reigns supreme when it comes to reality TV programming, earning $15 million per year as a judge on America's Got Talent.

Over in news, Today cohost Matt Lauer rakes in an impressive $22-25 million a year, a number made even more impressive considering Rachel Maddow placed second with $7 million.

But these folks have nothing on Judy Sheindlin!

Not only does the Judge Judy star earn more than anybody in both daytime and syndication, she blows everyone else away.

So how much are we talking here?

Try $47 million a year!

PHOTOS: 2013 Fall TV preview

View the original article here

Wentworth Miller, Tilda Swinton, Lady Gaga and More Stars Rally Against Russia's Anti-Gay Laws

Matt Sayles/AP Photo

Wentworth Miller publicly came out as a gay man to show his opposition to Russia's anti-gay laws.

But the Prison Break star isn't the only celeb lending his support to the country's LGBT community in the face of the country's controversial law banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations around minors," which prohibits the public discussion of gay rights. Tilda Swinton, Andy Cohen, Lady Gaga and more stars are also making their voices heard.

Last month, Swinton publicly protested the law by holding up a rainbow flag in Moscow. HuffPost Gay Voices blogger Scott Wooledge retweeted a photo depicting this, noting the actress' courage while pointing out that tourists showing opposition in the same way could face up to 15 days in jail.

PHOTOS: Same-sex celebrity couples

Twitter

Gaga, a longtime supporter of gay rights, tweeted about the "criminal" Russian government, writing: "Oppression will be met with revolution. Russian LGBTs you are not alone. We will fight for your freedom."

Cohen announced last week that he would not return to his usual post as cohost of Miss Universe this year due to the pageant being held in Russia. The Watch What Happens Live host stated the country's "discriminatory policies make it unsafe for the gays who live there and gays coming to work or visit."

Other stars are urging a boycott against the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, during which Russia's sports minister has said that the government plans to enforce the anti-gay law.

Former Star Trek actor George Takei blogged that Russia's "cynical and deplorable actions against the LGBT community have given license to hate groups within its borders to act with violence and impunity against a group, based solely on whom they were born to love." He also appeared on MSNBC's The Last Word and stated, "We must get [the Olympics] out of Russia—it is an intolerable solution."

PHOTOS: Hollywood Gets Political

Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images, Monica Schipper/Getty Images

British actor Stephen Fry penned an appeal to the IOC stating that "an absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential. Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lilyhammer, anywhere you like. At all costs [Vladimir] Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world."

The British actor denounced the Russian president, saying Putin "is making scapegoats of gay people, just as Hitler did Jews."

PHOTOS: See more stars who are openly gay

View the original article here

Spider-Man stars have great chemistry

'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' stars Andrew Garfield and Dane DeHaan have great chemistry.

Director Marc Webb felt it was important that the actor who plays Harry Osborn - best friend to Spider-Man's alter-ego Peter Parker - be able to connect with Garfield on and off screen and he was extremely pleased when they hit it off in real life.

He said: ''Like casting Emma Stone [as Spider-Man's love interest Gwen Stacy], you want to find a chemistry that works between the actors and I think there was a very cool, interesting dynamic that developed between Dane and Andrew. Harry and Peter need to have an ease about them. Our conceit is that they were friends from when they were much younger and in order for that to work, you need a sense that there's a history there and there's a real great depth to their relationship.''

The filmmaker also praised franchise newcomer DeHaan - who will play the role made famous by James Franco in Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' trilogy - and thinks fans will be extremely impressed with his performance.

He told SuperheroHype.com: ''Dane's a really funny guy; he's a very funny actor and I think people will start to appreciate that. It's also exciting for me to find people who aren't overexposed, like Andrew with the first movie. Dane, I think is somebody that the world is starting to discover just how wonderful an actor he is, how great his look is, how dimensional his performances are.''

'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' is set for release in April 2014.

View the original article here

Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison Gets Married

Bryan Steffy/WireImage

Rick Harrison has found something you can't put a price tag on.

The Pawn Stars star tied the knot with girlfriend Deanna Burditt last night in Laguna Beach, Calif., People reports.

Harrison's costar and longtime pal Austin "Chumlee" Russell served as ringbearer and Danny Koker, who stars on Pawn Stars spinoff Counting Cars, officiated the sunset ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.

Burditt walked down the aisle in a gown by Inbal Dror, flown in from London.

READ: Olivia Black jokes about being dropped from Pawn Stars due to porno past

Harrison runs the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas with his father, Richard "Old Man" Harrison; his son, Cory; and Chumlee.

He announced his engagement to Burditt in February 2012, telling People, "I'm the happiest guy alive. I'm living the dream." He popped the question on Valentine's Day over dinner at Aureole restaurant at Mandalay Bay in Vegas, the site of their first date.

Though they ultimately hired a wedding planner, Harrison told the Las Vegas Sun at the time: "She's left me to do all the planning, and all I can say is that there's a lot more to weddings that I ever thought. What started with just 40 family and friends is now well over 100."

This is the third marriage for both Harrison, 46, and his 37-year-old bride. He has three sons and she has three daughters.

PHOTOS: Celebrity weddings

View the original article here