New Chair for Almost, Live from New York

Prince Harry, 38, was this close to hosting the iconic NBC show Saturday Night Live as part of the promotional tour for his bestselling memoir, Spare.

But talks reportedly stalled at the final hurdle and he went on to appear on other high-profile shows, including 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

An industry insider tells the New York Post’s Page Six: “I know that Harry was all in. He was really serious about doing it. And it would have been great fun as promo for his book.”

Lorne Michaels, the longtime creator and producer of the iconic show at 30 Rock in Manhattan, would still reportedly like to have King Charles’s youngest son on the show even if it’s not to discuss the revelatory memoir.

Stay tuned…

‘Fawlty Towers’ Returns

Former Montecito funnyman John Cleese, 83, is set to return to TV screens as Basil Fawlty with a reboot of his famous comedy Fawlty Towers.

The second and final series ended more than 40 years ago, but the former Monty Python actor is writing new episodes of the former BBC program with his comedian daughter Camilla Cleese, 39.

Developed by the actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment, the new season, possibly located in the Caribbean, will look back at how cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty fares in the modern world.

The original series ran from 1975 to 1979 for 12 episodes. Basil and his daughter decide to reenter the tourism industry and open up a boutique hotel property.

All Saints-by-the-Sea Donates to Transition House

All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church has announced a $65,000 donation along with a volunteer commitment towards supporting Transition House of Santa Barbara.

The monies will go to the organization’s three stage housing program which provides assistance to local homeless families by offering shelter for those in immediate need and teaching life skills necessary to step of out poverty and become self-sufficient in permanent housing.

“The donation aligns well with our outreach mission here at All Saints of helping underserved communities of greater Santa Barbara, including low-to-moderate income families, children and the unhoused,” says Susan Evans, chair of the Montecito church’s outreach committee.

Artists Assemble for Ensemble 

Santa Barbara’s Ensemble Theatre Company is holding its first design competition, which will recognize one artist, 18 or older, submitting an original image that represents one of its three upcoming productions at the New Vic – Selling Kabul, The Children, or Seared.

The winner, who can use any medium as long as the image can be submitted in a digital form, will receive a $500 cash prize and the opportunity to copartner with ETC’s artistic and managing directors to design the artwork for the entire 45th season.

If the winning artist’s images are used to promote the season, he or she will receive an additional $2,500.

The deadline for submissions is Feb. 28, with the winner being announced March 15.

Heartfelt Goop

Montecito actress Gwyneth Paltrow has unveiled her latest bizarre guide for Valentine’s Day, offering a range of high-end pieces for every type of date, with a hefty price tag to match.

The 49-piece guide, published on her lifestyle website Goop, features a range of date night ideas, ranging from a solo night in to a lavish dinner reservation.

Along with pricey suggestions, including $900 slippers and a $700 blanket, the guide also includes the perfect outfit for a solo night alone, if you’re willing to splash out $2,400.

Never one to miss out on the minor details, the Oscar winner suggests a vast array of looks for every kind of date night, with the perfect concert look setting buyers back a hefty $11,000.

Trimming Down

Carpinteria actor Ashton Kutcher had to “mow down” his chest hair and start doing sit-ups for a throwback sequence in his latest film.

Starring alongside Reese Witherspoon in a new Netflix rom-com Your Place or Mine, Kutcher, 45, at one point has to try to revert back to his 20-year-old self as the twosome swap lifestyles in New York and Los Angeles respectively.

“God, I used to have abs when I was 20!” he told a U.K.TV talk show. “Like, what happened!”

Sightings

Ellen DeGeneres checking out Homer Montecito on CVR… Actor Christopher Lloyd picking up his New York Times at Pierre Lafond…Oscar winner Kevin Costner noshing at Local.

Pip! Pip!