The HOTLIST - Tuesday, December 15th

BLESS HIS LITTLE HEART: #TeamKnoxJoseph

Four year old  Prestyn Barnette went with his folks to a shopping mall in his hometown
of Charleston, South Carolina to see the big ol jolly fella himself. When it was his turn to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas, instead of asking for toys or gaming systems he simply asked for Santa to kneel and pray with him for a miracle for a little boy he has never met. 

Prestyn had heard the story about 2 month old Knox Joseph who was found unresponsive in his crib by his father back on November 30th. Knox's father Carl immediately began CPR on his baby boy until paramedics arrived and transported him to a children's hospital in Las Vegas where he remains today. The prognosis isn't a positive one and the family has taken to social media asking for prayers and they have set up a page to help with costs since the father is having to take unpaid time off of work to be with his son during this time. HERE  is that link if you would like more information.

SAY IT AIN'T SO - MIKE AND MOLLY GETS THE BOOT

Melissa McCarthy apparently did not anticipate the end of the comedy series “Mike & Molly.” After it was announced that the upcoming sixth season would be its last she Tweeted, “I was shocked and heartbroken when @CBS canceled #MikeAndMolly. I would have shot this show for 50 more years. I'll miss my 2nd family.”

McCarthy portrays Molly on the CBS series. Her co-star, Billy Gardell, also tweeted his disappointment, saying, “Mike and Molly returns Jan 6, it will be our last episodes. There are 13 of them. Thank you everyone who supported us.”

The last season, which premiers January 6th, 2016, will move to Wednesday night to join in a comedy block with “2 Broke Girls.”

BILL COSBY IS FIRING BACK AT HIS ACCUSERS

Bill Cosby filed a lawsuit against seven of the women who have accused him of sexually assaulting them.

The embattled comedian suffered emotional distress and “substantial injuries” to his reputation, business contracts, as well as damage to his property, according to his lawyer Monique Pressley.

Cosby is countersuing Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis and Angela Leslie for their “malicious, opportunistic, and false and defamatory” accusations of sexual misconduct, according to the suit filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. The accusers sought to “cause damage” to his reputation and to gain money, the suit continues.


“Mr. Cosby states plainly that he neither drugged nor sexually assaulted the defendants,” Pressley said in the statement. Cosby is seeking “relief” from federal court and has asked the court to get the defendants to publicly “correct” their public statements. A number of women came forward in the last few years to accuse Cosby of sexual assault, which the actor has denied repeatedly.

KEIFER SUTHERLAND TAPPED FOR NEW ABC SERIES

Kiefer Sutherland has signed on to star in “Designated Survivor,” the newest series on ABC, according to EW. The Emmy-winning star of “24” will take on the role of a U.S. Cabinet member who becomes president after an attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him who could be president.

The conspiracy storyline is said to be a family drama about an ordinary man pulled into an extraordinary situation.

“Designated Survivor” is a term used when a member of the U.S. Cabinet is sequestered in a safe place when the President and other top leaders of the U.S. will be gathered in one location. The reason for the policy is to preserve the continuity of government should a major catastrophe happen during that event.

The creator of the show is David Guggenheim. It will be executive produced by Simon Kinberg and his production company, Genre Films, Sutherland and Suzan Bymel of Entertainment 360.