Empire
Rachel Bilson and Kaitlin Doubleday Join The Cast Of CMT’s Nashville!
Following Thursday night’s mid-season finale of Nashville, CMT announced two new major casting acquistions for the back-half of their fifth season.
Coming on to the canvas will be Rachel Bilson, who has had plenty of soap experience on The O.C. and Hart of Dixie, and Kaitlin Doubleday, who was last seen as Rhonda on Empire!
Nashville will also be a bit of a reunion for Bilson, who worked with Chris Carmack (Will Lexington) on The O.C.
In a statement to CMT.com, executive producer and showrunner, Marshall Herskovitz related: “We welcome Rachel and Kaitlin into our incredibly talented ensemble. We fondly anticipate the second half of the season filled with surprising twists and turns that make Nashville so beloved by the fans.”
Rachel Bilson was most recently seen as Dr. Zoe Hart in The CW’s series Hart of Dixie, a fish-out-of-water story about a New York City doctor adjusting to life in a small Southern town after she inherits a local medical practice. She became an integral part of pop culture due to her series regular role on the popular television show The O.C. for four seasons.
Kaitlin Doubleday gained worldwide recognition portraying Rhonda Lyon on the megahit Empire. At age 17, she made her film debut opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can. Other notable screen credits include the cult classic Waiting, opposite Ryan Reynolds and Anna Farris, and Accepted, opposite Jonah Hill and Justin Long.
In addition, following the mid-season finale, CMT released this promo of clips from upcoming episodes. Watch it after the jump! Then let us know if you think Bilson and Doubleday will be exciting additions to the cast! Comment below.
After my initial disappointment with the CMT version, I have to say (and have said on previous posts) that the show has really picked up in the last few episodes…it’s been excellent! (I still don’t like Juliette’s newfound gospel/church story, however). Loving all the characters who seem to be back as “themselves”…there is more of that core group togetherness vibe and the emotions have been very true to life.
I like both actresses they’re adding; curious to see where they fit in…though still miss Luke!
WELL SAID….I AM NOW ENJOYING THE SHOW MORE TOO..AGREE WITH YOU ON THE JULIETTE/CHURCH STORY… LOVING ALL THE CHARACTERS AND ANXIOUS TO SEE WHERE THESE TWO NEW GALS FIT IN…..BRING BACK LUKE!
Will Chase (Luke) has a role on the new show Time After Time. Not sure if he’s recurring but he’s the husband of what seems could be an ongoing character (need to catch up on the latest episode…good show!)
But, as said, getting rid of Will Chase (Luke) was a bad move. Great character!
I liked Rachel on The O.C. That said, she’s as one-note an actress as I’ve ever seen.
I’ve never seen her on anything other than The O.C. and I liked her so, while I’d STILL rather have Will Chase (Luke) back, I’m willing to give her a chance.
Boy, they really don’t like Will, do they? He’s never featured in any of the promos. And frankly, he should have one of the most interesting story lines.
He’s no longer on the show. His last appearance was just to wrap things up.
Empire
Jussie Smollett Releases New Rap Single ‘Thank You God’ Speaking On the Injustice of His Court Case
Now that former Empire star, Jussie Smollett (Ex-Jamal Lyon) is out of jail while appealing his conviction for the 2019 Chicago hate crime hoax, in which he was at the epicenter, the singer/actor wasted no time dropping a rap single.
On his Instagram account, Smollett posted a short clip of a new rap song, which speaks about his court case and the injustices brought down upon him by the system.
The track entitled,“Thank You God,” features Smollett rapping lyrics like: “You think I’m stupid enough to kill my reputation?” He also raps, that there will come a day when he can sit down and talk with his followers. He gives a mention to “D.L.” who many believe is CNN anchor, Don Lemon, who was originally one of Smollett’s main advocates.
Jussie served 10 days of jail time of his sentence of 150 days before being released . He also has 30 months of probation ahead of him and was ordered to pay $120,106 to the city of Chicago and a $25,000 fine for his actions.
Smollett says any funds raised for “Thank You God” will be donated to the Illinois Innocence Project, Rainbow Push, Secure The Bag Safety.
Check out Jussie’s Instagram post containing the rap below/
Now let us know, what do you think about Smollett releasing this track and still defending his innocence? Comment below.
View this post on Instagram
Breaking News
‘Empire’ Star, Jussie Smollett, Sentenced to 150 Days In Jail For Fake Hate Crime Attack
Late Thursday, former Empire actor and singer, Jussie Smollett, was sentenced in Chicago more than three months after being found guilty on five felony counts to the alleged 2019 hate crime hoax that made national headlines, and got the actor fired from the former Fox primetime drama series.
In the sentencing, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days starting immediately. In addition, he received 30 months’ probation, and has to pay the city of Chicago $120,106 in restitution, plus Jussie received an additional $25,000 fine.
Cook County Judge James Linn, who levied the sentence, came down hard in his words on Smollett due his actions noting he was, “selfish, arrogant and narcissistic.” The judge added, “You wanted to make yourself more famous throwing a national pity party for yourself. You’re just a charlatan, pretending to be the victim of a hate crime.”
Linn went in on Smollett for his ‘performance’ and ‘pure perjury’ when the actor took to the witness stand in his own defense last year.
At the end of his sentencing, Smollett pulled down his mask to speak. He then let everyone in the courtroom know that he feels he is innocent, adding, “Your honor, I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this. And I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that.”
Just before he was taken into custody, Smollett yelled again that he was innocent and raised a fist in the air as he exited.
Watch the sentencing of Jussie Smollett below, then weigh-in. Did Smollett get enough of a sentence for his crime? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
Empire
Ex-‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Found Guilty On Five Counts For Hate Crime Hoax
Jussie Smollett (Ex-Jamal Lyon) from Fox’s former primetime soap opera, Empire, was found guilty on Thursday on five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct stemming from making a false report to the Chicago police department that he was the victim of a hate crime.
The actor’s account of the story dates back to 2019 and finally made its way to the Chicago court system for trial.
In the end, a jury of six men and six women deliberated for more than nine hours Wednesday and today to return the verdict after sitting through testimonies of 13 witnesses.
According to reports, Smollett did not look at his family or the judge during the reading of the verdicts on the six counts he was charged instead he looked at the jury members.
Smollett could face up to 3 years in a prison and a $25,000 fine, Judge James Linn will have discretion in imposing a concurrent or consecutive sentence for each count. That will happen at a later date.
Special prosecutor Dan Webb said at a post-verdict news conference: “Mr. Smollett would not have lost this case as he did today unless the jury found that he lied to them. The fact that he came up with a completely ridiculous story to explain his misconduct did not apparently have an impact on the jury’s verdict.”
During the trial brothers, Bola and Ola Osundairo testified that Smollett had paid them to stage the hate crime attack on him in an attempt to get media attention. The brothers testified that they fake punched Smollett, poured bleach on him, put a noose around his neck and used racist and homophobic slurs, because Jussie told them to do so in return for the money.
According to Smollett’s defense team, they will appeal the verdict.
So, what do you think about the guilty verdict for Jussie Smollett? Comment below.
Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes Plan to “Spill the Tea” on Launch of Their Podcast ‘Amy & T.J.’
Judith Light to Star Alongside Billy Crystal in Apple TV+ Limited Series ‘Before’
Winsor Harmon Hopes Audience Reaction Will Prompt B&B’s Brad Bell: “To Start Writing for Thorne Again”
Jackie Cox Talks On Latest Return to DAYS, An Offer for Dimitri, and Life as a Performer In and Out of Drag
Daytime Emmy Lead Actress Nominee Luncheon; The Tradition Continues
RATINGS: The Young and the Restless Hits Five-Month High in Total Viewers
J. Eddie Peck ‘Thanks’ Fans For His Return to The Young and the Restless
General Hospital’s Jon Lindstrom Shares Heartfelt Message to Mark His 30-Year Anniversary as Dr. Kevin Collins
Daytime Emmy Lead Actress Nominee Luncheon; The Tradition Continues
Y&R’s Hayley Erin Talks On the Revelation That Shocks Claire, Vendetta Against the Newmans, and Working with Her Co-Stars
Y&R’s Hayley Erin Talks On the Revelation That Shocks Claire, Vendetta Against the Newmans, and Working with Her Co-Stars
Lifetime’s ‘Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas’ Brings Epic Food Fight and “Slapfest Coup de Grâce”
RATINGS: The Young and the Restless Hits Five-Month High in Total Viewers
Mishael Morgan Stars in Hallmark’s ‘Christmas with a Kiss’
‘The Price is Right’ Decks the Halls with Five Holiday-Themed Primetime Episodes & Pet Rescue & Adoption Week on Daytime
-
NewsDecember 1, 2023RATINGS: The Young and the Restless Hits Five-Month High in Total Viewers
-
General HospitalNovember 25, 2023Josh Swickard, Eileen Davidson & Annika Noelle Star in Netflix’s ‘Holiday in the Vineyards’
-
NewsNovember 27, 2023The Men of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Tell All: Their On-Screen Romances and Love Scene Secrets During Their Visit to ‘The Talk’
-
General HospitalNovember 28, 2023General Hospital Pays Tribute to Tyler Christopher at End of Episode, ABC Exec Nathan Varni Shares: “You’ll Always Be In Our Hearts”
-
NewsDecember 2, 2023J. Eddie Peck ‘Thanks’ Fans For His Return to The Young and the Restless
-
PreviewsNovember 26, 2023THIS WEEK ON Y&R: Aunt Jordan Ramps Up Her ‘Attack of the Newmans’ (Preview)