Morris Chestnut to star in CBS' Watson / Love Is Blind sued again / CNN announces docuseries The Many Lives of Martha Stewart

PLUS: ESPN's Pat McAfee apologizes to Jimmy Kimmel over Aaron Rodgers' Jeffrey Epstein allegation.

Morris Chestnut to star in Watson, CBS' Sherlock Holmes-themed medical drama series
CBS has given a straight-to-series order to the medical drama inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Chestnut will play Dr. John Watson, who resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders a year after the death of his friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty. Watson was created by Craig Sweeney, a writer on CBS' Sherlock Holmes-themed 2012-2019 drama series Elementary. "Watson is described as a medical show with a strong investigative spine, featuring a modern version of one of history’s greatest detectives as he turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries," per Deadline. "The series lives in a universe where Holmes has been killed off, something Conan Doyle reportedly intended to do with The Final Problem." CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said of Watson: “We are thrilled to feature such a beloved character from the world of Sherlock Holmes at the center of this series and have it brought to life by Morris Chestnut in a fresh and unexpected take on the immortal doctor. Craig Sweeny’s bold new vision for the complex Dr. Watson deftly interweaves rich character storytelling with edge-of-your-seat medical mysteries.”

Love Is Blind Season 5 contestant Renee Poche sues over her alleged "traumatic" experience on the show
Poche has filed a countersuit after Love Is Blind production company Delirium TV filed a lawsuit against her for breach of contract — which comes with an insurmountable $4 million penalty — for speaking publicly about her experience on the Netflix show. “I believe Delirium is trying to silence the abuse that occurs behind the cameras and ruin me for telling the truth," said Poche, who is also suing Netflix. “My experience on Love is Blind was traumatic,” Poche tells Variety. “I felt like a prisoner and had no support when I let Delirium know that I didn’t feel safe. I tried to deal with these emotions over time and eventually felt like I needed to share what had happened. I felt it was only right to let others know the truth of what all of the castmates had to endure.” According to Variety's Tatiana Siegel, "on her first night, production staff seized Poche’s phone, passport and driver’s license, she claims in legal filings, and kept her locked in her hotel room, unable to leave without a cast wrangler accompanying her. Poche wound up in a so-called showmance with Carter Wall, who landed a spot on the series despite being allegedly broke, jobless, unhoused, violent and addicted to amphetamines and alcohol — a stunning feat given the thorough vetting done by Delirium TV, the show’s production company. Poche says she was forced to spend long stretches of time alone with Wall, who she describes as abusive on and off camera. Once filming wrapped, Poche ended her relationship with Wall and made a few public remarks about her Love Is Blind nightmare. As a result, Delirium initiated private arbitration against Poche for purportedly violating her nondisclosure agreement. Behind the scenes, the company is seeking $4 million from a woman who earned a total of $8,000 from her appearances on the reality series." Poche's lawsuit comes three months after ex-contestant Tran Dang sued, alleging sexual assault, false imprisonment and negligence.

ESPN's Pat McAfee apologizes to Jimmy Kimmel over Aaron Rodgers' Jeffrey Epstein allegation
On Tuesday, Rodgers, in his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, suggested that Kimmel was an associate of Epstein who is on his infamous list — prompting Kimmel to threaten to sue the New York Jets QB. While ESPN has declined comment, McAfee apologized today. Both McAfee and Kimmel work for Disney. "Whenever you’re free wheelin’ and dealin,’ in conversations, they can certainly lead to some conversations that cause international news and things like that. And whenever there’s accusations made about people, that can lead to lawsuits,” McAfee said. “Some things obviously people get very pissed off about, especially when they’re that serious allegations. So we apologize for being a part of it. I Can’t wait to hear what Aaron has to say about it. Hopefully those two will just be able to settle this, you know, not work-wise, but be able to chit-chat and move along.” ALSO: Kimmel’s legal threat raises the possibility of internecine warfare inside Disney — and a feud between two of its highest-paid talents.

BBC fires back at complaints over Doctor Who's transgender character: "The show has and will always continue to proudly celebrate diversity"
In response to the 144 complaints over Yasmin Finney‘s transgender character Rose in The Star Beast special, the BBC issued a statement on its complaints response website, saying: “As regular viewers of Doctor Who will be aware, the show has and will always continue to proudly celebrate diversity and reflect the world we live in. We are always mindful of the content within our episodes.”

CNN announces docuseries The Many Lives of Martha Stewart — made without Martha Stewart's participation
The four-part docuseries will tell Stewart's story in her own words, using archival footage and interviews, including her many appearances on CNN's Larry King Live. "The series follows her from her days as a young models and an early female stockbroker on Wall Street to her run as a popular Connecticut caterer who built a home-arts media empire, then had to serve time in prison after accusations of insider trading," per Variety. Stewart did not participate in the docuseries.

Golden Globes to reunite former Suits stars Patrick J. Adams and Gabriel Macht
Adams and Macht will appear together for the first time since Suits became a sensation on Netflix. Other presenters at Sunday's ceremony include George Lopez, Julia Garner, Justin Hartley, Michelle Yeoh, Will Ferrell, Amanda Seyfried and Angela Bassett.

T.I. and Tiny sued for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting an Air Force veteran
The anonymous plaintiff filed suit against the rapper T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris, former stars of VH1's T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, alleging they drugged her and sexually assaulted her at a party at Coolio's house in 2005. As Rolling Stone notes, "the lawsuit was filed under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, and offered a one-year “look-back” window to file lawsuits in cases of alleged sexual abuse with expired statues of limitations, so long as the allegations include an attempted cover-up. (Some cases were allowed to be filed on Tuesday since the law expired during a holiday weekend.)" In a statement, T.I. And Tiny said: “Our position is clear... We are innocent of these fake claims, we will not be shaken down, and we look forward to our day in court.”

Clare Foy says she felt bullieed by the director on her first acting gig on BBC's Being Human pilot
The Crown Emmy winner's first acting role was as a guest-star on the first episode of the 2008-2013 supernatural dramedy. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Foy accused the director of giving her the “worst note” she has ever received from a director. Foy didn't name the director, but Declan O’Dwyer is credited as the director of the Being Human pilot episode. O’Dwyer has yet to respond to Foy’s comments.

Holt McCallany says he's heard David Fincher has "thought about" reviving Mindhunter
"I’ve heard that David’s thought about it," McCallany said in an interview with Awards Daily. "I’m not saying it’s going to come back. But what I am saying is that if it comes back, I’m coming back with it. You can take that to the bank, but it’ll depend on what David wants to do. It’s been a few years now, so it’s probably unlikely, but just even that he would think about it is a hopeful sign."

Jen Shah slams claim she gave Heather Gay a black eye on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, calls Andy Cohen "butt hurt"
"BRAVO, if i punched Heather in her eye, you guys would have footage to prove it. It's clear the show can't live without me since I was brought up at the beginning, middle and end of season 4," Shah wrote in an Instagram Story posted from prison. "Andy is still butt hurt that I turned down his 1:1 interview. Why would you sit down with someone who 'gave' another cast member a black eye? Next story."

Fox News taps comedian Jimmy Failla to host a Saturday night comedy series
The former cab driver and America's Got Talent contestant will helm Fox News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla, premiering Jan. 13 and featuring a range of guests and Fox News Channel personalities, with Failla adding “comedic commentary on cultural, political and lifestyle topics that people across the world are buzzing about.”

CBS may shake up The NFL Today
According to the New York Post's Andrew Marchand, no decisions have been made. But the contracts of host James Brown and panelists Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason and Bill Cowher are expiring after this NFL season, paving the way for a show potentially hosted by returning panelist Nate Burleson.

New footage shows Ian Ziering starting Hollywood Blvd brawl with motorcycle gang
TMZ released new footage of the New Year's Eve Hollywood Blvd brawl between the Beverly Hills, 90210 star and the 605 Minibike Gang, showing Ziering getting out of his car and immediately shoving one of the bikers, setting off the brawl.

FX drops the official trailer for Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans
Calista Flockhart, Diane Lane, Naomi Watts and Chloë Sevigny star in the second installment of Ryan Murphy's Feud series. Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans also features the final role of Treat Williams' career following his death in a motorcycle accident last June. Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans premieres Jan. 31.

Pete Davidson goes back to his roots in Netflix's Turbo Fonzarelli trailer
Davidson's second hour-long standup special premieres Jan. 9.

Watch Mandy Patinkin in Hulu's Death and Other Details
The drama series formerly known as Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem premieres with two episodes on Jan. 16.

June Carter Cash documentary June unveils its Paramount+ trailer
Premiering Jan. 16, June features rare and never-before-seen footage of Carter Cash as she carries on her iconic Carter family’s legacy and becomes half of a power couple with Johnny Cash.