TV news… Conan O’Brien is the 97th Oscars host… Mariah Carey dethroned… Zach Bryan is coming to MetLife Stadium… and Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul during final staredown

 

In TV news — Joe Manganiello is back to host Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island, which returns to NBC on Tuesday, Jan. 7. There are 14 contenders this season, including Parvati Shallow, a five-time competitor of Survivor who also appeared on The Traitors last season, and Dr. Will Kirby, who won Season 2 of Big Brother and made an appearance on The Traitors last season. Reportedly, there will even be a little showmance, but we don’t know who that involves yet. And speaking of The Traitors, we have a premiere date for Season 3! It debuts on Peacock, Thursday, Jan. 9. Alan Cumming is back as host, with a new cast of traitors and faithfuls including Britney Spears’ ex-husband Sam Asghari, Tom Sandoval, Bob Harper, Bob the Drag Queen, and Real Housewives Delores from Jersey, Dorinda from New York, Robyn from Potomac and Chanel from Dubai.

Just like John Krasinski was third choice for People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Conan O’Brien was third choice to host the Oscars. In a press release, Conan said, “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.” Earlier this year we learned that both Jimmy Kimmel and John Mulaney turned it down. And while Conan has hosted other major events — like the 2002 and 2006 Emmys and the White House Correspondents Dinner in 1995 and 2013 — this is his first time hosting the Oscars, which are set to air on Sunday, March 2, on ABC.

Jason Kelce has dethroned Mariah Carey as the Queen of Christmas! His duet with Stevie Nicks Maybe This Christmas topped the iTunes holiday chart, beating out Mariah’s iconic All I Want for Christmas Is You. Jason’s duet is part of his 3rd annual holiday album, A Philly Special Christmas Party, benefiting Philadelphia-area charities. The full album drops Nov. 22. Jason jokes that it’s been his lifelong dream to be the Queen of Christmas, although he realizes it will be short-lived.

Zach Bryan has had a rough couple of weeks in the headlines after his breakup, but he did get some good news this week. Prosecutors in Oklahoma agreed to drop their case against him for an arrest for obstruction that took place there last year. In May, they deferred charging him for six months, and that after he managed to stay out of trouble, they decided to forget about the case altogether. So that expired yesterday. Then Zach announced on Instagram that he’ll be playing with Kings of Leon at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 20, 2025. Tickets go on sale today. That and Zach’s show at Stagecoach are the only two concerts on his US schedule next year. He’s got two back-to-back concerts at Hyde Park in London in June. Zach recently said he’s planning to take time off to get his master’s degree in Paris.

The long-awaited, highly-anticipated fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson takes place tonight. At the final weigh-in yesterday, 58-year-old Mike came in at 228.4-lb while 27-year-old Jake weighed 227.2-lb, the heaviest of his career. During their stare-down, Mike slapped Jake across face, causing their entourages to intervene. Jake later told an interview that he didn’t even feel the slap, but “it’s personal now. He must die.” Win or lose, both men are getting PAID. Mike reportedly will earn around $20M, while Jake is expected to make $40M. That’s because his startup company, Most Valuable Promotions, teamed up with Netflix to make the fight happen. This will be Netflix’s first live-streamed boxing event.

 

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