ABC/Craig Sjodin(NEW YORK) — After a rough week, Colton Underwood decided Caelynn, Cassie, Hannah G. and Tayshia were the four ladies who were ready for a commitment. Now Colton visited their hometowns, which led to a shocking elimination.

First up: a visit to Caelynn’s hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia that starts out with a fun horse and buggy ride through town, followed by a meeting her protective family. Caelynn’s sister, Ariana, is happy to hear Caelynn say she’s in love with Colton, but also voices some skepticism about his sincerity. Caelynn’s stepdad, John, is equally concerned, suggesting she shouldn’t rush into marriage and risk a broken heart. Finally, after an emotional exchange, he tells Caelynn he will always love her regardless of the outcome.  Meanwhile, in separate conversations, Caelynn’s parents also confront Colton and share their reservations about a possible marriage to their daughter.

Eventually, John agrees to give his blessing to a potential marriage to his daughter, on the condition that Colton can promise he’s willing to make a lifelong commitment to Caelynn. Addressing the camera afterward, Caelynn’s stepdad says he and his wife have done everything they can to prepare Caelynn for adulthood, and must trust her ability to make wise decisions. However, a hint of trouble ahead comes during a private conversation between Colton and Caelynn, where she reveals being “fully in love” with him, but he doesn’t reply.

Next, the Bachelor heads further south to Birmingham, Alabama, where Hannah G. tries to turn him into a “perfect Southern gentleman” with a quick etiquette lesson before meeting her family and friends. Needless to say, they wonder how the couple can be ready for marriage after a just a month of dating, and with other women in the mix. When Colton asks Hannah’s dad, Tom, for permission to marry his daughter, Tom’s “blown away” by the gesture and says yes. Hannah’s mother tells her to follow her heart and “Go get it, girl.” Afterward, Hannah also tells Colton she’s falling in love with him, but this time he answers that he’s falling in love with her, too.

Tayshia gives Colton a little payback for their bungee-jumping adventure and challenges him to go skydiving near her hometown of Santa Ana, California. Afterward, they reveal they’re falling in love with each other. However, skydiving proves not nearly as scary as meeting Tayshia’s father, Desmond, who doesn’t want to see his already married-and-divorced daughter get hurt again. When Colton asks for his blessing to marry his daughter, Desmond’s hesitant to give him a definitive answer, and then tells his daughter that she can’t “microwave” a relationship. He finally comes around, though, and gives the couple his blessing.

Finally, it’s Cassie’s turn to host Colton in her hometown of Huntington Beach, California, where she gives him a surfing lesson. It doesn’t go well, and things only go downhill from there. Before meeting Cassie’s folks, Colton asks Cassie where she stands in the relationship, and learns she isn’t quite ready to use the “L” word. Over other conversations between Cassie and her family it also becomes clear that, just as the other bachelorettes had warned, Cassie isn’t ready for marriage.

To make matters worse, Colton asks Cassie’s father for permission to marry his daughter, and dad refuses, explaining it would be a “premature blessing.” A further blow to Colton comes when he again confronts Cassie about her feelings toward him, and she again refuses to commit.

All of this would lead us to believe that when it’s time to hand out the roses, Cassie would be the one who was sent home.  But in a shocking twist, it’s Caelynn who gets “blindsided and dumped,” by Colton.

The three remaining women are:

Cassie, 23, a speech pathologist from Huntington Beach, California
Hannah G., 23, a content creator from Birmingham, Alabama
Tayshia, 28, a phlebotomist from Corona Del Mar, California

The Bachelor returns next Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Marvel Studios(VIRGINIA) — If you were on Twitter Sunday night during the Oscars — if for no other reason to celebrate Black Panther‘s multiple wins — you may have noticed there were spies among you. Literally.

The CIA began tweeting about the film, specifically about one of its fictional — but key — elements: Vibranium, which is central to all of the advanced technology in Panther’s kingdom of Wakanda.

As part of its #ReelvsRealCIA hashtag, the agency posted the question, “Which fictional Wakandan technology would you most like to see made real in the future?”

The agency also posted a poll, reading, “Do you think vibranium is: A.  A real metal, B.  Based upon real materials, C. Possible future tech or D. Total fiction?”

Fortunately, only 8% thought it was real stuff.

The spy agency also posted a video of one of its scientists talking about how Black Panther‘s high-tech Kimoyo beads — which can do everything from helping Wakandans communicate, to stabilizing gunshot wounds — would come in handy in the real world.

For the record, the CIA is portrayed in the film, at times to bumbling effect, thanks to Martin Freeman’s spy character, Everett Ross.

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Chicago Police Department(CHICAGO) — ABC News has obtained a copy of a $3,500 check apparently written by Empire actor Jussie Smollett to Abimbola Osundairo, one of the two brothers who police say helped stage an attack on Smollett in Chicago last month.

The check’s memo line reads, “5 week Nutrition/Workout program (Don’t Go),” which police have corroborated.  The check was dated Jan. 23, six days before Smollett claims he was attacked in a hate crime.

Sources close to Smollett told ABC News the actor was starting to train for an upcoming music video titled “Don’t Go,” in which he had to appear shirtless. ABC News obtained a calendar entry of Smollett’s that indicates the video was scheduled to be filmed Feb. 23.

The $3,500 check was $600 per week for the workout plan, plus $100 per week for the nutrition plan, over five weeks, a source close to Smollett told ABC News.

Meanwhile, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, appearing exclusively on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday, doubled down on his contention that the Empire star fabricated the account.

Johnson said the Osundairo brothers told police that Smollett gave them a $3,500 check to carry out the elaborate scheme.

“Let me tell, you, Robin, there’s a lot more evidence that hasn’t been presented yet, and does not support the version he gave,” the police chief told GMA. “There’s still a lot of physical evidence, video evidence and testimony that just simply does not support his version of what happened.”

ABC News has also obtained copies of apparent text messages between Smollett and one of the Osundairo brothers, whom he calls “Bon,” in which the two discuss exercise and meal plans in the days preceding the alleged attack. Police confirmed they have the texts.

As previously reported, Smollett, who has consistently denied any role in staging the supposed crime on Jan. 29, turned himself in to police Thursday morning.

A judge set bond at $100,000 and ordered Smollett to surrender his passport. The actor, who pleaded not guilty, was released after posting 10 percent of his bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 14.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — Black excellence regined supreme during the 91st annual Academy Awards Sunday night.

Spike Lee was the evening’s ultimate show stopper when the director received a standing ovation for his powerful acceptance speech after winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for his film BlacKkKlansman.

Lee co-wrote the project — based on the true story of Ron Stallworth, a black cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in 1978 — with Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmott.

Spike was welcomed on the stage by his fellow Morehouse brother, Samuel L. Jackson, and spoke about the significance of the moment, his ancestors who paved the way, and his hope for the future. 

“The 2020 presidential election is around the corner,” Lee said. “Let’s all mobilize. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing!”

This was Lee’s first official Oscar win, although he did receive an honorary Academy Award in 2015.

While Lee was one to watch during the big event, the night kicked off with an emotional moment from first-time Oscar nominee Regina King, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Barry Jenkins’ drama, If Beale Street Could Talk, an adaptation of the 1974 James Baldwin novel of the same name.

Dressed in white, King shed tears of joy and gratitude as she gave her speech thanking friends, family, and those who have supported her along the way.

“James Baldwin birthed this baby and Barry, you nurtured her, you surrounded her with so much love and support, so it’s appropriate for me to be standing here because I’m an example of what it looks like when support and love is poured into someone,” King said.

With her award, King became the eight black female to win an Oscar for Best Supporting actress following Hattie McDaniel, who was the first African-American to be nominated for an Oscar and the first to win the award in 1939, for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.

While King led the epic night of wins for black cinema, the actress was soon joined by three-time Oscar nominee Ruth E. Carter, who won for Best Costume Design for her work on Marvel’s Black Panther. Carter, the first African-American to win in her category, was previously nominated for Spike Lee’s 1992 film Malcom X and the 1997 historical drama Amistad. 

Carter described her win as “a long time coming,” and made sure to thank Lee for giving her career a start with his 1988 film School Daze, where she also served as his costume designer.

“Marvel may have created the first black superhero, but through costume design, we turned him into an African king,” she said in her speech. “It’s been my life’s honor to create costumes.”

Black Panther also picked up another historical win for Hannah Beachler, who was the first black person to ever be nominated for Best Production Design. In her moving acceptance speech, Beachler thanked Black Panther‘s director Ryan Coogler, whom she said “made her a better person.”

Marhershala Ali took home his second Best Supporting Actor nominee for his role the feel-good film Green Book. During his speech, he dedicated his Oscar to his grandmother, whom he said told him that “if at first you don’t succeed try, try again.”

Ali, the first Muslim to win an Oscar, is also the first black actor to win two Best Supporting Actor Oscars.  His first, of course, was in 2017, for Moonlight.

Other notable wins of the night included Peter Ramsey, who became the first African-American to be nominated for Best Animated Feature. He won alongside his co-directors Bob Persichetti and Rodney Rothman for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Black Panther also nabbed the Oscar for Best Original Score.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Khloe Kardashian will not be the new Bachelorette, thankyouverymuch.

The reality star and her family hit back on Twitter Saturday after Bachelor producer Mike Fleiss teased she was in the running for the next season of The Bachelorette.

After Khloe’s boyfriend, Tristan Thompson, was accused of cheating on her with Kylie Jenner’s best friend, Jordyn Woods, Fleiss tweeted that Khloe was “very much in contention” to be the Bachelorette and that he was already in talks with Khloe and her momager, Kris Jenner.

Kim Kardashian West tweeted in response, “Fake f****** news big time!!!!”

Fleiss replied, “How would @KimKardashian know??? This is between me and @KrisJenner — and most importantly @khloekardashian !!!”

Kim responded with a screenshot of a group text between her, Khloe and Kris, where they denied being in talks with The Bachelorette.

But that didn’t stop Fleiss from continuing to tweet Saturday, saying that Khloe wouldn’t be able to tell Kim if she was the Bachelorette due to “strict confidentiality agreements.”

That prompted a response from Khloe herself, threatening legal action.

“I’m not f****** clickbait right now. Stop or you will be hearing from my lawyers. How insensitive!!” she wrote.

Khloe and Tristan share a daughter together, 10-month-old True. Tristan previously cheated on Khloe while she was pregnant. She learned of his infidelity just days before giving birth.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Patrick Hoelck/FOX(LOS ANGELES) — Over the weekend, Terrence Howard spoke out in support of his Empire co-star Jussie Smollett, following a week which saw the actor charged with filing a false police report in connected to his alleged assault. 

Howard posted a video on Instagram of Smollett holding a baby and captioned it, “All your lil homies got you… We love the hell outta you.”

The post generated thousands of comments, some of them critical of Howard for continuing to support Smollett. 

He responded to one of them, writing, “sorry you feel that way but that’s the only Jussie that I know. The Jussie that I know could never even conceive of something so unconscious and ugly. His innocence or judgement is not for any of us to decide.”  

He continued, “Stay in your lane and my lane is empathy and love and compassion for someone that I’ve called my son for 5 years. It’s God’s job to judge and it is ours to love and hope, especially for those that we claim to have loved. There’s nothing more harmful than a fake friend! Real talk.”

Empire’s producers announced last week that Smollett would be written out of the last 2 episodes of Empire’s fifth season.

Smollett was arraigned on a class-four felony charge of disorderly conduct/filing a false police report Thursday and released on $100,000 bond. During his court appearance, Smollett maintained his innocence, denying he staged the January 29 attack. 

The actor claimed he was attacked by two men who hurled racist and homophobic epithets and put a noose around his neck.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Universal(NEW YORK) — How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World topped the weekend box office, delivering an estimated $55.5 million for a franchise-best opening weekend, unseating How to Train Your Dragon 2‘s debut by a little over $6 million. The animated film — featuring the voices of Cate Blanchett, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kit Harington and F. Murray Abraham — also marks the largest debut of 2019 so far, surpassing Glass, which grabbed $46.5 million in January. Adding in The Hidden World‘s exclusive Fandango event earlier this month, the film has collected upwards of $58 million stateside.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is doing even better in its seventh weekend of international release, delivering $216.9, which brings its worldwide numbers to just under $275 million.

Alita: Battle Angel finished in second place, delivering an estimated $12 million, a 58% drop over its debut weekend earnings.  On the plus side, it’s so far brought in $202 million overseas for a global tally of better than $263 million.

Third place belonged to The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, earning an estimated $10 million.

Fighting with My Family nabbed an estimated $8 million in its first week of wide release — less than expected, but good enough for a fourth-place finish.

Isn’t It Romantic rounds out the top five with an estimated $7.5 million in its second week of release, bringing its domestic total to just shy of $34 million.

The last of this weekend’s new releases, Run the Race, finished in 10th place, taking in an estimated $2.27 million from 853 theaters.

Here are the top 10 movies from Friday through Sunday, with estimated domestic box office earnings:

1. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, $55.5 million
2. Alita: Battle Angel, $12 million
3. Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, $10 million
4. Fighting With My Family, $8 million
5. Isn’t It Romantic, $7.5 million
6. What Men Want, $5.2 million
7. Happy Death Day 2U, $4.988 million
8. Cold Pursuit, $3.3 million
9. The Upside, $3.2 million
10. Run the Race, $2.27 million

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.