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Warning: this post will contain spoilers for "The Exorcist: Believer."

As of this writing, actress Linda Blair has appeared as Regan MacNeil in three of the six extant "Exorcist" feature films. She was only about 13 when she appeared in William Friedkin's "The Exorcist" in 1973, and returned in 1977 to reprise her role in John Boorman's truly terrible "Exorcist II: The Heretic." Blair then sat out the three following sequels and prequels, returning in 2023 for a cameo in David Gordon Green's "The Exorcist: Believer." In that film, Regan only appeared at the very end of the film to comfort her elderly mother Chris (Ellen Burstyn) who has been blinded by a demon earlier in the picture. One might also want to count Blair's excellent comedic performance in the 1990 farce "Repossessed" as an official "Exorcist" appearance. Her character was named Nancy Aglet, but everything else in that film synchs up with Friedkin's original film.

That was fast ... Jeff Beacher's lawsuit against "Pit Boss" Shorty Rossi is Settled ... thanks to TMZ.As we reported, Beacher just sued Rossi -- who used to work at Beacher's Madhouse -- claiming Rossi essentially stole valuable Beacher-themed website domain names after the two parted ways ... domain names like jeffbeacher.com and beachersmadhouse.net.Rossi called in to "TMZ Live" today and said even if he won the lawsuit, he had no interest in squeezing...

5:27 P.M. Pt --  Rossi denies he ever stole any passwords ... and tells TMZ he bought the domain name legally from GoDaddy.com.  "Simple as that."  And, he says, if Beacher wants the domain name, he's welcome to buy it -- for 5K. One of the biggest little people on TV -- "Pit Boss" star Shorty Rossi -- just got slapped with a lawsuit from a Hollywood bigwig who makes a living tossing little people around ... TMZ has learned.

We love Animal Planet series "Pit Boss" and the stars Sebastian Saraceno and Ronald Clark. The series is a docu-drama that follows Shorty Rossi, owner of Shorty's Rescue, an organization devoted to pit bull rescue. Well, Sebastian Saraceno and Ronald Clark from the show have collaborated with indie rock band Post Trauma to release their debut Ep "Risen." .Risen. will be released on June 1st and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to dog charities and rescues. Dogs in need will benefit if you buy and spread the word to others! The decision to donate part of the proceeds to charity was easy; as Sebastian shares: .Working on the show 'Pit Boss,' I saw how important...

There's nothing the Internet loves more than animals (particular those who dish out advice), so it comes as no surprise that Animal Planet--one of the largest TV channels dedicated to the fauna of the world--is upping its web presence. Animal Planet has already launched one web companion series and will soon launch another four, each one paired with a different TV program. The only currently active one, Shorty's Top Dog, follows Shorty Rossi, the host of Pit Boss, as he searches around Mexico for a new faithful companion. Though the content is different from Pit Boss (which follows Rossi as he runs his Pit Bull rescue shelter), the general tone is the same. Animal Planet knows how much people like excitable dogs. The upcoming companions will focus on Tanked, My Cat From Hell, River Monster, and Call of the Wildman. Their releases will be well spaced out, with one more debuting in March,...

When Animal Planet's "Pit Boss" returns for a new season on Saturday, Jan. 5, viewers will notice that things are a bit different.

Shorty Rossi is still the tough-talking little person with a fondness for cigars and pit bulls, and he still runs his Los Angeles talent agency for little people, Shortywood. He still rescues pit bulls in his spare time, with the help of his dedicated crew.

But now there's a new wrinkle.

"I'm getting a kennel," he tells Zap2it, "which I've never had before. Our rescues usually go to fosters and into other rescue groups, so we try to take on the challenge of kind of running a kennel. It brings a whole new drama appeal to the show.

"We're working with another kennel, and they loaned us some of their spaces. Sharing space with another kennel is not the best thing."

Along with taking time to...

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kim Zolciak fed us some Bs about her epic battle with her landlord -- so we got the landlord, Kendra Davis on the phone today to fill in the blanks. Two words: illegal squatting. Plus, Gwyneth Paltrow catches heat for tweeting "Ni**as in Paris for real" while on stage at a Kanye West and Jay-z concert. So, is it ever okay to use the n-word ... even if it's the title of a song?...

Los Angeles — Even dog actors can get awards in Tinseltown, and six pooches collected prizes at the inaugural Golden Collar Awards.

The ceremony Monday at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel proceeded like a traditional Hollywood-style awards show, with actors including "NCIS" star Pauley Perrette and "Hot in Cleveland" star Wendie Malick presenting trophies for the best dog performances on the big and small screens.

Uggie, the four-legged star of "The Artist," was named top dog in a movie. His owner-trainer, Omar Von Muller, was on hand to accept the award.

Von Muller said the Jack Russell terrier, who stole hearts in the silent film that's up for 10 Academy Awards, is a "great performer, but he's also a great family member."

"He sleeps with us," Von Muller said.

The Golden Collar Awards, dreamed up by Alan Siskind of the website dognewsdaily.com, drew other stars of "The Artist," including James Cromwell and Missi Pyle,...

The role played by canine star Uggie in silent movie The Artist has attracted a lot of attention but it wasn't his first appearance.

The lovable Jack Russell (right) was also on screen in 2011's Water for Elephants starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon.

In fact, this past year has seen several standout performances by dogs in Hollywood productions and on TV. And now this somewhat neglected area of acting has its own awards ceremony.

The first annual Golden Collar Awards take place in Los Angeles on Monday, February 13. The full list of nominees in all categories is included below.

Hummer (pictured top; photo: The Hollywood News), a four-year-old Pomeranian, has been nominated for his touching performance as Dolce alongside Charlize Theron in director Jason Reitman's new comedy Young Adult, released by Paramount in UK cinemas on February 3.

Reitman explained how he came across Hummer: "I couldn't find the right dog,...

We all know Santa has his reindeer and a team of elves to help him deliver those gifts.

But that's not all. Santa also has a dog and you can meet him in Hercules Saves Christmas, a two-hour festive family movie that has its world premiere on November 17 at the Orinda Theatre in Orinda, California. It airs on December 3 on Animal Planet, the same day it arrives on DVD.

Written by John Pizzo and directed by Edward Hightower, it features pit bull Hercules, star of Animal Planet's series Pit Boss, with Shorty Rossi as the voice of the dog. Also starring are Anthony Robinson, Mackenzie Phillips, Kathy Garver, Marc McClure, Danny Arroyo, George Maguire, Richard Van Vleet and, as the elves, Arturo Gil, Ronald Clark, George McGuire, Brad Williams and Dana Woods.

The story begins two days before Christmas when Max Moogle (Anthony Robinson), an adorable yet mischievous 12-year-old orphan,...

Filed under: TV Replay

Sadly, injured dogs don't typically last long in shelters, especially if the required treatment is expensive. It's even worse if that dog is a pit bull. That made things tough on Shorty Rossi and his gang on 'Pit Boss Xl' (Saturdays, 10Pm on Animal Planet) as they tried to raise money for Patty, a pit with an injured leg for whom Rossi was trying to find a home.

The shelter had called Rossi to tell him they were running out of space and might have to euthanize Patty. "So I have to prove my case to the shelter so they will give Patty a couple of more days," he said. He got the extra time, and set out to find a way to raise funds for Patty's surgery.

 

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Previews are here for BBC2 and HBO's new Ricky Gervais mockumentary/comedy "Life's Too Short." Move over Karl Pilkington: Gervais and his creative partner Stephen Merchant bring their star-studded new TV show that chronicles the misadventures of a dwarf actor, introducing the very funny actor Warwick Davis to wider audiences. Gervais has called upon friends Steve Carell, Johnny Depp and Liam Neeson to make guest appearances on the mockumentary. Similar to the Animal Planet reality TV series "Pit Boss", where star Shorty Rossi runs a talent agency for little people (and saves Pit Bull dogs on the side) Gervais' show follows the daily life of a dwarf actor (Davis) who runs a talent agency for fellow dwarfs, but keeps the...

Following Little People, Big World, and The Little Couple, telly's latest show about the vertically challenged has something of a twist. Shorty Rossi is an actor and owns Shortywood Productions, a Hollywood agency for little people, but he has another string to his bow - he rescues dogs. It's an odd combination, to be sure, but Shorty's fiery personality, little person status and the aforementioned dogs make for an almost perfect reality trinity.

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

HollywoodNews.com: With the second season finale of “Pit Boss” coming up Oct. 23, star Shorty Rossi is awaiting word on Season 3 of his reality show. The fedora-wearing, 4 ’1/2” tough guy talent agent, who runs a pit bull rescue operation, definitely wants to continue with the popular Animal Planet series, though in some ways it sounds as if it’s turned his world upside-down.

“Our workload has quadrupled, so that’s a hard thing,” observes Shorty. Also, “It’s amazing how many people watch Animal Planet. We’re recognized everywhere we go. I don’t have a private life no more, that’s over. I live part-time in Mexico. That was my solace, but now the show is being aired in Mexico and I’m getting recognized there. I just came up from there. Even the toll road inspector said, ‘I saw you and the dogs.

With myriad series like Little Chocolatiers, The Little Couple and Little People, Big World, reality shows about small-statured folks have taken off in a big way. But none has had as much bite as Pit Boss, Animal Planet's edgy, yet endearing, hit about a street-smart ex-con who runs both a Los Angeles pit-bull rescue operation and a little-person entertainment agency (airing Saturday at 10/9c).

"Little people are misunderstood just like pit bulls are," says straight-talking star Shorty Rossi, who believes the glut of LP series helps dispel stereotypes...

Read More >...

Filed under: TV Replay

Shorty Rossi really loves his dogs. But not everyone feels the same way.

Mr. Rossi is a man who rescues pit bulls. But this type of dog is considered to be the most dangerous dog in the world. As a matter of fact, pit bulls are thought to be so violent that some cities have outlawed their ownership. Other cities require that the dogs be spayed or neutered.

Still, Shorty has owned the animals ever since he was 14. And he credits their loyal companionship for helping to "save his life."

On the latest episode of 'Pit Boss' (Sat., 10Pm Et on Animal Planet), Shorty has to deal with two separate people who really don't like the dogs. First, on a radio talk-show, a man named Jerry calls in -- and he hates the pets. Shorty then ends up cursing him out.

Next, at a photo shoot,...

Filed under: TV Replay

Welcome to the world's best animal rescue show starring a team of little people! And yes, okay, it's also the only animal rescue show starring a group of little people -- but that's irrelevant to the point that we're trying to make here.

On the latest episode of 'Pit Boss' (Sat., 10Pm Et on Animal Planet), Shorty Rossi and his team of rescuers encounter the dreadful crime of dog fighting. Although he's pledged to his team that he will not get out of the car, Shorty can't help himself, and tries to aid the tormented dogs.

This plan backfires once Shorty enters the criminals' property -- and suddenly finds himself surrounded by a gang of enormous tough guys. Now, highly outnumbered, Shorty and his friends must find a way to rescue themselves.

In the end, we're very impressed by Shorty's bravery -- and very...

Filed under: TV Replay

Welcome to the world's best animal rescue show starring a team of little people! And yes, okay, it's also the only animal rescue show starring a group of little people -- but that's irrelevant to the point that we're trying to make here.

On the latest episode of 'Pit Boss' (Sat., 10Pm Et on Animal Planet), Shorty Rossi and his team of rescuers encounter the terrible crime of dog fighting. Although he's pledged to his team that he will not get out of the car, Shorty can't help himself, and tries to aid the tormented dogs.

This plan backfires once Shorty enters the criminals' property -- and suddenly finds himself surrounded by a gang of enormous tough guys. Now, highly outnumbered, Shorty and his friends must find a way to rescue themselves.

In the end, we're very impressed by Shorty's bravery -- and very...

Shorty Rossi is a tough customer, and his checkered past has forged a hard-as-steel demeanor that matches the tenacity and fierceness of his favorite breed of dog, the pit bull. Rossi did hard time in prison, and now has redeemed himself through his hard work and entrepreneurial talent and energy harnessed for good. In the ultimate redemption tale, Rossi heads a talent agency for little people and is also one of the patron saints of the pit bull breed, saving these dogs from bad circumstances in the greater Los Angeles area in the hit series "Pit Boss." Rossi has help too. His staff work hard to find homes for animals that are neglected or abused, and they...

The star of the Animal Planet show "Pit Boss" knows what it's like to be treated like an animal: Dude spent 10 years behind bars for attempted murder -- and TMZ has obtained his mug shot. Before he started rescuing dogs, Shorty Rossi -- who went by the name Melvin Rossi -- was sentenced to 20 years in California State Prison for participating in a gang-related shooting in Los Angeles back in 1988. Rossi -- who was a...