Ryan Seacrest to join Kelly Ripa on ‘Live’

Ryan Seacrest to join Kelly Ripa on ‘Live’

NEW YORK

Ryan Seacrest was named co-host of the morning chat show “Live” with Kelly Ripa on Monday, ending a yearlong search for a marquee name as Michael Strahan’s successor.

“Nice to see you, partner,” Seacrest said as he walked onto the New York set of the show made famous by Regis Philbin.

Seacrest, 42, is a busy show-biz presence, hosting ABC’s New Year’s Eve show, red carpet coverage on E! Entertainment and a daily Los Angeles-based radio show. He has his own production company. But the ending of “American Idol” gave that show’s host less of a regular television presence.

He’ll move to New York for the new job, although he will continue his radio show.

“Ryan is a close friend and his star shines as brightly off camera as it does on,” Ripa said. “His tremendous success is only matched by his impeccable reputation. Plainly said, everyone loves him, and so will our daily viewers.”

Gold Darth Vader mask? Yours for $1.4M

TOKYO

“Star Wars” fans with deep pockets might consider it a golden opportunity.

A Tokyo jewelry store is offering life-size Darth Vader masks made of 24-karat gold at a hefty price of $1.4 million to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first “Star Wars” movie.

The creation measures 10.4 inches wide and 11.8 inches high.

The Ginza Tanaka store says the masks are not designed for wearing – at about 33 pounds, they would be too heavy, and they have no opening for a head.

Dane’s depression puts ‘Last Ship’ on hiatus

LOS ANGELES

TNT has temporarily shut down production of its drama, “The Last Ship,” while star Eric Dane battles depression.

Variety reports the series is going on production hiatus through Memorial Day. The publication reports a representative for Dane says the actor suffers from depression and asked for a few weeks of downtime.

TNT spokesman Scott Radloff confirmed the Variety report to The Associated Press.

“The Last Ship” is set to return for a fourth season this summer. Dane plays Tom Chandler, the captain of a U.S. Navy destroyer at sea after a global catastrophe wiped out most of the world’s population.

Dane previously starred as “McSteamy” Dr. Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

‘Fixer Upper’ star talks about $1M lawsuit

WACO, TEXAS

HGTV star Chip Gaines is speaking out on Twitter about a lawsuit filed against him by his former business partners.

Gaines is being sued in state court in Texas for $1 million by his former partners in a real-estate company. They say he bought them out before telling them that HGTV had decided to broadcast his “Fixer Upper” show nationally.

Gaines tweeted Saturday, writing that no one called or emailed him about the issue, adding “’friends’ reach out via lawsuit.. humm.”

Gaines’ attorney tells KWTX-TV that he’s “confident that these claims will be found to be meritless.”

Associated Press