John Hostetter Dies; Murphy Brown Actor Was 69

John Hostetter – a character actor best known for his time on the popular long-running sitcom Murphy Brown – has passed away at the age of 69.

Hostetter’s family says he had been battling cancer for several years.

In 60 episodes of Murphy Brown, Hostetter played John, the levelheaded stage manager of the fictional show-within-a-show, FYI.

He racked up dozens of other and television credits over the years, including parts on NYPD Blue, MacGyver, L.A. Law, ER, Family Ties, and G.I. Joe.

His film credits include Into the Night, Heartbreak Ridge, Beverly Hills Cop II, No Way Out and Leonard Part 6, opposite Bill Cosby.

Hostetter is also well-known to Muppets fans for his role in the cult favorite DVD Kermit’s Swampland.

The Brooklyn native, who grew up in Hanover, Maryland, got his start on the stage.

Hostetter reportedly wowed audiences in a 1971 production of Waiting For Godot, in which he co-starred with a young Christopher Reeve.

But it wasn’t until 1988 that Hostetter rose to national prominence after being cast on Brown – one of the most popular and acclaimed sitcoms of its time.

The show won’t be found in many syndicated markets these days, as its topical, political humor made it very much a product of its era.

During its ten-season run on CBS, however, the series was regarded as a ground-breaking television achievement.

A sitcom that skewered, with equal aplomb, the worlds of Washington and TV news, Brown helped paved the way for politically-charged scripted series, as well as left-leaning late night shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

It’s difficult to overstate the show’s influence, and while he was never a principal cast member, Hostetter was a favorite amongst fans.

While Brown‘s political commentary helped it win over critics, the purely comedic scenes, of the variety that so often featured Hostetter, were essential to making a commercial hit.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Passed Away in 2016: Gone, But Not Forgotten

Social media tributes from fans and colleagues alike began pouring in on social media shortly after news of Hostetter’s death went public.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Del Hostetter.

Our thoughts go out to the actor’s family during this difficult time.

Sofia Richie: Justin Bieber is Very "Special" to Me

Sofia Richie has broken her silence when it comes to Justin Bieber.

It’s true: although Richie and Bieber have been dating for a number of weeks now, the 18-year old model has never really commented publicly about the singer before.

She’s just posed alongside him for a number of cozy Instagram photos is all.

To wit:

Richie and Bieber went public with their romance about a month ago, as she traveled all the way to Tokyo with the singer for segments of his world tour.

The two walked around the street, hung out in a hotel and shared many of these experiences on social media.

This resulted in an unfortunate, albeit expected, backlash, with Bieber followers not just insulting Richie… but actually threatening her life.

Bieber tried to calm down the madness by telling his fans to leave Richie alone or else he would make his Instagram account private.

This announcement backfired, however, after Selena Gomez jumped in to Justin’s Comments section and told him to just keep his private life private.

She later apologized for the inappropriate message, but the damage had already been done.

Annoyed at the negative attention, Bieber took it one step further: he left Instagram for a number of weeks.

Everything became a mess, basically, just because Justin Bieber found a new girlfriend.

But this hasn’t seemed to put a damper on the romance with Richie.

The teenager is featured on the cover of this month’s Billboard, bringing Bieber up with the publication and making it clear that something is happening between them.

“We have a special relationship. Justin is very easy to talk to, and that’s hard to find with people in Los Angeles,” Richie tells the magazine.

She doesn’t elaborate, but she doesn’t really have to, either.

Sofia Richie, who is officially old enough for Bieber to bang, is admitting here that she’s dating Justin Bieber.

And Bieber seems very happy about that. And what else really matters?

View Slideshow: Sofia Richie: Meet Justin Bieber’s Underage New Squeeze

If you’re a fan of Bieber, you should want only good things for him.

We’re sorry to break the bad news to you but did you really expect to marry him?

If not, just be content that he’s currently at peace and spending time with someone who appreciates his good looks and unique gifts.

In the issue, Richie also addresses some of the online bullying she’s faced as her romance with the superstar has grown more intense.

“I remember the paparazzi and the sh-t people would say to [sister Nicole], and she wouldn’t respond,” Richie says.

“I’m going to be real with you: It. Doesn’t. Bother. Me. As long as I’m happy.”

We love that attitude.

And we love how Richie has apparently chosen to respond to the paparazzi.

Paris Jackson: Secretly Married To Michael Snoddy?!

Paris Jackson is 18, and taking full advantage of adulthood.

She and her boyfriend, Michael Snoddy are living in her late father, Michael Jackson’s Encino, CA home together, and sources tell Page Six that the two – who have been dating for six months – might already be married.

Snoddy, a drummer with Street Drum Corps in L.A., quit his job as a pizza delivery boy for D’Amore’s Pizza in Malibu, CA back in July.   

In many of his Instagrams, Snoddy is seen wearing a gold band.  He and Jackson also refers to themselves a lot as a “family” in their photo captions.

“Michael [Snoddy] quit his job around July and they moved into the house where Michael [Jackson] grew up,” a Jackson source told the gossip column.

“Now they’re trying to do this happy family thing. They refer to themselves as a family a lot.”

Michael Jackson grew up in the Encino home before moving to his Neverland Ranch, but it’s being fought over by his mom, Katherine Jackson and his estate.  

Jackson herself gets a reportedly $ 8 million allowance annually, and prior to the move lived in a seven-bedroom home in Calabasas, CA with her brothers, Michael Jackson Jr, 19 and Blanket, 14.

The heiress to the Jackson fortune first denied rumors of marriage and/or pregnancy back in August, just the latest round trolling she’s had to suffer in the past couple of years.

“so many marriage and pregnancy rumors just in the past 3 years. literally???” a now-deleted tweet read.

“what’s next, me running for president? my boyfriend and i become super villains and try to take over the world come on now.”

In happier news, Jackson has reportedly mended fences with her estranged mother, Debbie Rowe.

According to TMZ, Rowe has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and must undergo chemotherapy and radiation.  

Once Jackson found out, she reached out to Rowe, and has been part of her the nurse’s support system ever since.

This past Mother’s Day, Rowe spoke out about her non-existent relationship with Jackson.

“One of the saddest things in this world is to see a child grow up hating one of their parents because they only got one side of the story,” Rowe wrote on Facebook.

Rowe was married to the King of Pop from 1996 to 1999, but became estranged from her daughter two years ago, blaming it on influence from the Jackson family.  Rowe is also mother to Michael Jackson, Jr.

Rob Kardashian To Blac Chyna: Let Me Read Your Messages!

Rob & Chyna premieres in just a few days, and E! is ramping up their promotional efforts for the Keeping Up with the Kardashians spin-off. 

It’s the spin-off that no one really cares about.

If you watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians online, you’ll know that Rob was not the most interesting person on the show. 

It resulted in him taking a back seat from his duties due to him coming to the conclusion that the show ruined his family. 

That’s a perfectly plausible conclusion, but it does not explain why the heck he’s taking part in another show. 

There’s no denying Rob and Blac Chyna found love in a hopeless place.

Their relationship came out of nowhere and shocked the world. 

Blac has a son to Kylie Jenner’s ex, Tyga. 

That’s going to make for one messed up family tree. 

We know that this new series is going to focus on the ups and downs for both Rob and Chyna. 

Like most couples, they have their arguments, but they always seem to find a way to work through their issues. 

However, Blac is not amused with Rob in the slightest in a new sneak peek when he starts quizzing her about changing her password to her cell phone. 

“Who’s this hitting your phone over and over?” Kardashian, 29, asks. 

“And your password’s not the same as it was.”

Chyna made her feelings known to Rob when quizzed why he didn’t trust her. 

“It’s not about that — it’s just that I don’t get why you even care if I go through your phone.… I mean, don’t you think that’s shady?,” quipped Kardashian. 

Rob & Chyna Trailer: Twerking, Tears and Texts!

It’s pretty evident that Rob is insecure about what Blac’s really up to and that could ultimately break their relationship. 

“I don’t even understand why Rob would even think that I’m doing anything wrong,” she tells the camera.

“I’m four months pregnant, I have two businesses that I’m running, I’m with King, and I literally don’t leave the house. So what could I possibly be doing?”

The good thing about Rob being with Blac, is that the cameras are never far behind them. 

View Slideshow: Blac Chyna: Expensive Taste Causes Rob Kardashian To Go Broke!!!

There’s genuinely zero chance that Chyna could be stepping out on him. 

It would be all over the internet by now.

This is not the type of melodrama that will keep their show afloat. 

We need to see how they function in their relationship. 

All of the convoluted stuff is not what viewers want to see.

That’s why viewers are fleeing Keeping Up with the Kardashians. 

What do you think about all of this?

Should Rob be dictating who she can talk to?

Hit the comments!

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