Dave Portnoy Cheesin' Over New Pizza Festival ... With 'Top Of The Top' Restaurants
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Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is making any pizza lover's dream come true -- assembling some of the most famous pie joints for a massive festival ... and he's dubbing it the biggest of its kind.
El Pres -- who's reviewed more than 1,000 pizza places over the years -- spoke with TMZ Sports about his latest venture in the food industry ... the One Bite Pizza Festival, which is slated to go down September 23.
"I'm super psyched about it," Portnoy said. "I've always wanted to do a pizza festival, but I never gave it a ton of thought, because I didn't think it was possible."
But after brainstorming with his partner, Medium Rare -- the company behind events with guys like Shaquille O'Neal, Travis Kelce, and Rob Gronkowski -- Portnoy put together a roster of restaurants that he deems the best of its kind.
"Anybody who's a pizza fan, if you go look at the list of the pizza places that are involved in this, there has never been a better assembling of pizza places in the world ever."
"We have the top of the top of the top pizza places all participating."
Portnoy's foray into the biz started over an office convo about whether he could eat pizza every day for the rest of his life -- he made reviews of the spots he visited, made an app to help users find his top-rated restaurants, and even created his own frozen pie brand.
Now, Dave is bringing all his favorites in one place for people to chow down on some slices ... all while enjoying tunes from Teddy Swims, Barstool band Pup Punk and DJ IRIE.
The One Bite Fest goes down September 23 in Coney Island ... so fans have plenty of time to make room in their stomachs.
"There hasn't been ever in the world a bigger grouping of the best pizza places. This is it."
And now we're hungry.
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Aretha Franklin Childhood Home Sold ... Buyer Snags Deal, Mad R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!
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The house Aretha Franklin grew up in now belongs to a new family, and it looks like they're gonna have as much luck there as she did -- 'cause they got a great deal on the place.
According to property records the Detroit property officially transferred hands last Wednesday when the sale closed. We're told the buyers are not celebs, just normal folks who ended up snagging the home for quite a bit less than what it was listed for a couple months ago.
Remember, it hit the market in May for $379,900 -- that was after it was originally listed in January, and then taken off the market. Welp, the new owners negotiated their way down to a final offer of $355k.
Like we said, it's a helluva bargain ... 'cause the property itself actually has a lot to offer.
It's a 6-bed, 5-bath residence with 6,000 square feet of living space, and it's got a solid brick foundation with a lovely interior. There are fireplaces throughout the pad, and you can even fit in an extra 1-bedroom unit upstairs.
As far as Aretha's ties to this address ... she lived here in her formative years, age 5 to 18. She famously came back to visit the home in 2011, reminiscing on fond memories.
The crib could use a little bit of work, no doubt -- you'll recall, it was actually abandoned for a little while, but all in all, a great investment ... especially considering it's connection to the Queen of Soul.
Brittany Randall of Clyde Realty held the listing.
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SAG-AFTRA Strike From TV Roles to Cleaning Houses ... I'm Like Thousands of Actors Now
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Hollywood actors are stuck between a rock and a hard place amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike -- best exemplified by one particular thespian, who's now doing odd jobs to keep afloat.
Josh Hooks, who's been on shows like "Will Trent," "Swagger" and "The Game," among others ... joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" to explain how he -- like tens of thousands of other actors and writers -- is maintaining job/money-wise during the labor stalemate.
The strikes are testing the dreams of actors and writers already struggling to get by. Their stories are far more common than those of famous stars. https://t.co/FQQQ4RUmjD
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 30, 2023 @washingtonpost
One gig Josh has picked up is cleaning houses, plus several other odd jobs -- as he explains, it's a great time to be a jack of all trades. Sounds like Craigslist is his best friend these days.
There are methods JH and his fellow striking actors are implementing to get by during this hard time -- including leaning on each other for support, which he says entails cooking and sharing grub, or referring somebody to a new gig if there's work on the table to go around.
He also reflects on how frustrating his journey in showbiz has been in these recent years. First, his momentum from 2019 got derailed because of COVID ... which halted a lot of productions for a good long while. Now that he's got some mojo again ... it's the strike.
Despite this ... Josh fully backs his union in hitting the picket lines, adding that he's happy to serve as a voice for countless people who are fighting for better working conditions.
He's hoping these differences can be resolved sooner than later, but in the meantime -- he's clearly making do however he can ... just like so many others are as well.
Tough times.
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Ludacris $50K Donation to Children's Theater ... Helping Cincinnati Kids
Ludacris believes the children are our future, and he's doing his part to help them lead the way ... by making a huge donation toward the renovation of a children's theater.
Back in July, Luda performed at the Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati and pledged $50,000 to the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati to help support its $48 million restoration campaign for the Emery Theater building.
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Luda's lawyer, Darrell D. Miller, has ties to both the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and Emery Theater as a board member -- so, the "Fast & The Furious" star showed excellent southern hospitality by joining his cause.
Ludacris told Cincy's Local 12, "I'm drawn to the Children's Theatre's project in Cincinnati because of the plans to develop new works that hit on the topics that matter to kids today.”
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He added, “The Emery project signals an incredible opportunity for more children to access the arts and see themselves in what happens on stage. As a father of four daughters and a philanthropist who's constantly investing in the next generation, I'm honored to be a part of this."
The theater is currently sitting at $30M of its $48M goal.
Music philanthropy definitely pulls at Luda's heartstrings.
The last time we spoke to him, he said he was focused on being a shining example of positivity, and The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati is the latest beneficiary in the Ludaverse!!!
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UFC's Jorge Masvidal I'm Out $100k!!! After Gaethje KO'ed Poirier
"Kids, I'm sorry ... you gotta go to public school now."
Jorge Masvidal was down bad after Dustin Poirier got knocked out at UFC 291 ... not only because he hated seeing his friend lose, but he also kissed a whopping $100k goodbye after betting on the fight.
This angle of Justin Gaethje’s KO is incredible 😍 pic.twitter.com/TLlg7pQ7Ph
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) July 30, 2023 @mma_orbit
The retired UFC star revealed his woeful wager shortly after his American Top Team teammate lost to Justin Gaethje via a vicious leg kick during Saturday's BMF belt matchup ... admitting he was so confident "Diamond" would come out on top, he was willing to risk a hefty chunk of change.
FYI -- Poirier was a -150 favorite to beat Gaethje, which means Jorge would have pocketed an extra $66k had it gone the other way.
Gamebred told TNT Sports he "probably shouldn't" be making bets of that magnitude ... and joked his three children will suffer from the financial blow.
Of course, Jorge will be okay -- he previously said in an interview he once made $5 million off one fight alone ... and he has his own Gamebred Boxing and Bareknuckle promotions that are taking off in his retirement.
As for the fight, Jorge felt Dustin had the upper hand in the first round ... but Gaethje had the "perfect kick" in the second that knocked him out.
"So hats off to Justin, man," the former BMF title holder said. "Great fight, great competitor always."
"I’m just hurt. I wanted my boy to get that belt.”
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Disney's 'Haunted Mansion' Big Bomb At the Box Office ... 'Barbie' Keeps Flying High
Disney has another dud on their hands -- this time, it's "The Haunted Mansion" ... which paled in comparison to last week's big hits, including "Barbie" -- who reigns supreme again.
The Mouse House's latest offering -- featuring a star-studded cast, including the likes of Lakeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish and others -- got off to a bad start this weekend ... having only generated $24.6 million in North America markets.
Overseas, it did even worse -- raking in only $9.1 mil, meaning worldwide ... it's got about $33 million to its name so far. The problem, the film's budget was $150 mil -- plus tens of millions that Disney reported spent to market the movie. So, yeah ... way down in the red.
"Haunted Mansion's" poor performance at the box office is emblematic of how its premiere felt ... very empty/soulless. Granted that was SAG strike related, but still -- they run parallel.
It ain't the only Disney flick of late to disappoint. The new 'Indiana Jones' didn't do so hot either -- although, their other films have done somewhat decently big picture this year. It's a mixed bag ... but it's certainly nowhere near where Bog Iger would like to see the numbers.
Elsewhere in movie land ... "Barbie" cleaned up for the 2nd week in a row. Margot Robbie and co. still had momentum from just 7 days ago, with a massive $93 million haul domestically. Mind you, that's in addition to the $162 mil from the opening weekend. And don't get us started on the international numbers ... at this point. "Barbie" has made over $750M.
"Oppenheimer," too, is riding a second wave of success. It clawed an extra $46.6 million from ticket holders this weekend ... bringing its final domestic tally to $174 million. Not half bad!
It remains to be seen whether the 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon was a fluke or if it's a trend for features to come. On its face, this feels like a viral marketing thing that took a life of its own ... morphing into an event for people. Hard to tell if folks will get as excited for others.
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Hollywood Actors Strike A-Listers Saving Face ... Flocking to Plastic Surgeons!!!
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Lots of actors who are on strike are getting work ... courtesy of Beverly Hills plastic surgeons!
Business is booming ... so says Dr. Ben Talei of the Beverly Hills Center for Plastic Surgery. He told Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" he's working 7 days a week, because actors are using the downtime to go under the knife and recover without being noticed or missing work.
Dr. Talei says it's the A and B-listers who are swarming his office ... mostly because they can afford it. He's been doing work on some of his favorite sports stars and actors, and there's an interesting story about a famous Scientologist who went under his knife.
And here's the most fascinating part ... he says some actors made contingency plans -- if it seemed the strike wouldn't last long, they'd get minor, filler work, but if it was prolonged, they get the full monty.
Get ready to see some rejuvenated celebs once the strike comes to an end ... courtesy of Dr. Talei!
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Travis Scott Old, Super Rare Ferrari ... Up For Sale For $4 Million!!!
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If you want to drive the LaFerrari to Jamba Juice just like Travis Scott, here's your chance ... the super rare Ferrari that the rapper once owned is now up for sale!!
And, get this, TMZ Sports has learned Floyd Mayweather's car guy is actually the one who helped it hit the open market.
Here's the deal ... Scott purchased the 2014 LaFerrari back in 2019 ... but sold it a few years later when he wanted an Aperta instead.
It eventually landed in the lap of Obi Okeke -- aka Dr. Bugatti ... the man who helps Mayweather with his massive car collection.
Okeke realized the LaFerrari -- a 1 of 499 -- had crazy value, given its rarity AND the fact that it was owned by the Utopia musician ... so he sold it to a Ferrari dealership in Silicon Valley for a pretty penny.
Now, the guys at the dealership have listed the whip -- and are expecting it to net them around $4 MILLION.
It's a hefty price tag ... but certainly worth it -- after all, the car's got a V12 engine that helps it scoot from 0 to 124 MPH in under 6.9 seconds!
Talk about sicko mode.
L.A. Reid I Totally Dropped the Ball ... When I Dropped Lady Gaga!!!
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Veteran music exec L.A. Reid won't let his numerous accolades cloud the fact he royally screwed the pooch when it comes to Lady Gaga ... by dropping her from the label before she had a chance to just dance!!!
Ya gotta go back to circa 2006 ... L.A. was CEO and Chairman of Def Jam Records, and after the prodding of A&R exec Joshua Sarubin, Gaga was immediately signed and set up for superstardom. Sike!!!
The music industry can be extremely fickle, which Gaga soon found out, as Def Jam dropped the future megastar just 3 months later ... a move L.A. didn't seem to regret until much later.
He came clean to Billy Mann on an upcoming episode of the "Yeah, I F*cked That Up" podcast, saying he hated to disappoint Joshua but didn't think much of the separation ... until he saw Gaga's DIAMOND-SELLING debut single hit the Canadian charts, of all places.
He says he tried to ignore her growing buzz at first, but couldn't deny the fail ... which still haunts him until this day!!!
Going from a member of The Deele with Babyface to overseeing the careers of Outkast, TLC, Goodie Mob and several other legends ... L.A.'s had way more success than failure, but Gaga isn't the only bad pop prediction on his resumé.
Pink famously called him out on her 2001 album "Missundaztood" for altering her image too much on her previous project ... and proved him wrong by going multi-platinum her way.
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Viola Davis Hits Pause on New 'G20' Movie ... Despite Snagging Waiver
Viola Davis might be setting a tone for A-listers -- because, despite recently receiving an independent film waiver, she's stopping down on her new movie ... all to support the strike.
The actress told Deadline Saturday that she was bowing out of her Amazon flick, "G20," for now -- saying ... "I love this movie, but I do not feel that it would be appropriate for this production to move forward during the strike."
She adds, "I appreciate that the producers on the project agree with this decision. JuVee Productions and I stand in solidarity with actors, SAG/AFTRA and the WGA."
It's a bold move, and speaks volumes on where Viola's priorities are. Like we said, just the other day ... the producers behind "G20" got the green light to go ahead and continue with production -- even though Amazon is obviously a major studio. The fact an independent production company, MRC, is also behind it appears to be the reason it got a pass.
In any case, it would seem moving forward while thousands of other actors are on the picket lines wasn't sitting well with her ... which is interesting, because a lot of other big stars are also attached to independent flicks right now that got SAG waivers as well.
Those names include ... Anne Hathaway, Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Matthew McConaughey, Mark Wahlberg, Sigourney Weaver, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Kingsley, Dave Bautista, Ice Cube, Dakota Fanning, John Malkovich, Sean Bean, Rebel Wilson ... to name a few.
Again, them being attached to indie films -- with no direct ties to AMPTP -- is why they can keep trucking (especially overseas) ... but some have raised an eyebrow regardless -- viewing their continued work as a betrayal. That's, perhaps, unfair, but it's a real POV out there.
Now that Viola is putting her foot down ... it may be a signal for other mega stars to do the same -- even though they can technically proceed through the SAG indie loophole.
The principle of the matter could be why Brad Pitt reportedly stood down on filming as well. There was word that his F1 movie, "Apex," was continuing to film in Hungary last week -- with some claiming BP himself even got behind the wheel at one point for some scenes.
Since then however, he's said to have stopped production on the whole thing ... again, to stand with SAG and WGA. It's good optics, of course -- but it also seems to be the right thing to do. Time will tell if others begin to follow suit ... the scab accusations are flying. 😬
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Mark Zuckerberg Takes Daughters to Taylor Swift Tour ... Girl Dadding 101
Another unlikely drop-in for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour -- this time it's Mark Zuckerberg who paid a visit to her big show, and it looks like he's on dad duty in the process ... x3.
The Facebook founder hit up Taylor's concert Friday in Santa Clara at Levi's Stadium -- where he, his wife and his three daughters (plus a pal, it seems) had their own private box overlooking the stage below. Indeed, they're fantastic seats ... and he can afford it.
Anyway, as excited as the kids surely were ... it seems Mark himself was stoked too, evidenced in the fact that he kinda bedazzled himself for the occasion, literally.
Take a look ... the guy had sparkles and rhinestone-like jewelry plastered on his face, and yes -- he was also rocking one of those multi-bead friendship bracelets that Swifties wear.
It seems Mark was having a little meme-ish fun as well. He posted a filtered shot of himself decked out in the T-Swift-inspired gear and checking his phone -- with the caption, "Checking 13 emails on the way to the concert." Yeah, he was in the spirit of things.
MZ's far from the only celeb who's crashed a Taylor show over these past few months -- several others (who you normally wouldn't consider Swifites) have done it time and again.
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Lisa Marie Presley Beloved Last House Up for Sale
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The house Lisa Marie Presley lived in until the day she died is up for sale ... TMZ has learned.
Lisa Marie moved into the Calabasas house in 2020 ... she rented but had an option to purchase it, which she planned to do.
The house is listed for $4,679,000. Her realtor and friend, Robb Friedman, significantly renovated the property after she died back in January.
The house is a skosh under 7,500 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 7 baths, and has all the bells and whistles, including a home theatre, a wine cellar, the obligatory California pool and great canyon views.
We're told when Lisa Marie first saw the house, she fell in love with it, as did her twins and ex-husband Danny Keough, who lived with them. In fact, after Lisa Marie rented it, she loved it so much she cajoled the landlord into giving her an option to buy it, which she jumped at.
TMZ broke the story ... Lisa Marie was found unresponsive at her home January 12. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died. Lisa Marie was 54.
The house is listed by celeb realtors Robb and Nikki Friedman.
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KEVIN COSTNER's Ex Christine Packs Up, Moving Out ... Just Under Court Deadline
Kevin Costner's estranged wife Christine Baumgartner has moving trucks backed up to the front door ... bolting from their home with a few days to spare before her court-ordered move-out day.
Multiple vehicles were spotted arriving at the Costner ocean-front estate in Carpinteria, CA Friday ... and we're told another U-Haul was seen leaving the property earlier in the morning, too.
As you know, Christine leaving Kevin's property was part of the prenup they both agreed to when the got married back in 2004 ... she must be out of the home by the end of this month.
While Christine is in the middle of her move, Kevin is at one of his other homes in Aspen ... and he's got their 3 children with him for a little summer vacation.
The divorce means the kids get double vacays -- Christine already took them to Hawaii a week ago, where they stayed in a swanky resort while she spent time with a guy who's been a longtime friend to Kevin and Christine.
Now, it's back to reality for Christine.
She's got a moving crew to handle the heavy lifting, but she's there keeping a close eye on the process. As we reported, Kevin filed a detailed list of what she can and can't take.
Christine filed for divorce in May, and the split has been extremely nasty ... with early fights over child support and the prenup, plus allegations by Kevin she took large sums of money and other assets behind his back.
Whenever Kevin gets back from Aspen, it appears Christine will be long gone.
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Lisa Vanderpump Keeps Quiet About Rachel Leviss' 'VPR' Return ... Sorry, Gotta Run!
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Rachel Leviss' big return to "Vanderpump Rules" has been mostly shrouded in mystery ... but surely Lisa Vanderpump would help give some answers, right? Think again.
We got Lisa on the TMZ Celebrity Tour in WeHo Thursday ... and as we chatted at a red light about her recent Emmy nominations, we asked her the million-dollar question -- is RL comin' back or not??
Of course, Lisa's keeping a tight lip on the whole situation ... playfully making her big escape thanks to a perfectly-timed green light.
Jokes aside, the 'VPR' matriarch has gotta know something about Rachel's return, but she ain't spilling the tea any time soon. TMZ broke the story, Rachel's actually bound by her contract with Bravo to join the cast for season 11, but she's still in negotiations -- possibly for a higher rate.
Remember, Rachel left her mental health facility earlier this month after checking herself in back in April ... and has been MIA while production picked back up for 'VPR.' Nothing's been said about how she was doing while away -- even Tom Sandoval wouldn't blab.
If we were betting, it seems increasingly unlikely Rachel will return to the show ... they're halfway through shooting Season 11, and it's gonna be hard to integrate her into the storylines.
Ya can't run away from us forever, Lisa ... especially with that crappy L.A. traffic!
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Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sanchez Come Aboard, Oprah ... We're Expecting Youuuu!!!
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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez got their own not-so-little 'Love Boat' floating off the coast of Italy, and none other than Oprah Winfrey is up on the lido deck with 'em!!!
The billionaires -- Jeff and O -- were shoulder to shoulder at the lunch table aboard the Koru ... his superyacht that's been cruising along the French and Italian Rivieras this summer. Sanchezos hosted Oprah and Gayle King Thursday for what looks like a fabulous luncheon near Capri.
As for what they were chatting about -- super-rich stuff, no doubt -- but it wasn't all biz, not for the hosts, anyway ... 'cause Mommy and Daddy couldn't keep their hands off each other.
After Oprah and Gayle boarded a tender to head back to shore (or to their own fabulous yacht), Lauren and Jeff were hugging and kissing before slipping into something more comfortable ... their swimwear.
Get used to this kinda scene aboard the SS Sanchezos ... we hear Oprah's just the start of a celeb parade aboard Jeff's ship. They'll be celebrating all summer with several groups of their famous friends coming aboard.
It's exciting and new ... it's looooooooove!!!
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2023 Emmys Trophies Can Wait!!! Postponed Due to SAG, WGA Strikes
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The 2023 Emmy Awards are officially on hold as the actors' and writers' strikes continue to freeze everything in Hollywood.
The Television Academy had to pump the breaks on its September 18 ceremony date, according to the New York Times -- and it could be pushed as far out as January ... a move the outlet's source said was "most likely."
The final date is reportedly going to be hammered out in the next few weeks ... and Fox, which is broadcasting the Emmys, was looking at postponing the show last month if the writers stayed on strike through July.
As you know, the writers aren't alone anymore on the picket lines -- WGA put pens down in early May, and SAG-AFTRA joined the cause on July 14 after its negotiations stalled with the studios.
The Emmys could have company if this strike continues through the end of the year and beyond. The Golden Globes, SAG Awards and, of course, The Oscars ... are all set to go down in the first 3 months of 2024, but the strikes could force them to postpone, too.