SOTH 12.27

Longtime Hamptons resident George Stephanopoulos, a cornerstone of ABC News and Good Morning America, isn’t stepping away from the spotlight anytime soon. Amid mounting turbulence over the network’s decision to resolve a high-profile defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump, Stephanopoulos has inked a fresh multiyear deal to remain a leading presence on its flagship morning program. The settlement, which saw ABC agree to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential library and $1 million in legal costs, stirred unease among the network’s newsroom staff, according to a New York Post report. The lawsuit was brought over Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate on-air statement on March 10 that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. In the suit, Trump’s lawyers argued the jury found him liable for sexual abuse, not rape. There was speculation of a fallout between the 63-year-old star anchor and executives at Disney, the parent company of ABC. Reports from Variety suggested that Stephanopoulos was “unhappy” and “blindsided” by the network’s choice to resolve the defamation case. But shortly after the story was published online, the Los Angeles Times confirmed that Stephanopoulos had agreed to a contract extension.Since joining the morning staple in 2009, Stephanopoulos has become an irreplaceable figure alongside co-hosts Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan. He reportedly was earning $18 million per year in his previous contract, per Fox News. For the past 22 years, he and his wife, actress and comedian Ali Wentworth, 59, have spent their summers enjoying the Hamptons. Over the years, they’ve owned properties in East Hampton, Amagansett, Southampton, and most recently, Sagaponack. “The whole family loves the Hamptons. It is our home away from home and always our favorite place to go when we have time off,” he told the New York Post in May. Adding some of his favorite spots are Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen, The 1770 House, Amber Waves Farm & Market and the East Hampton Duck Pond.  

Meanwhile, another Hamptons resident making waves in the world of broadcast news is Southampton’s Chris Cuomo. The brother of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Chris is proving that life after CNN can be a comeback story. Following his highly publicized departure from the network, the newscaster has found his footing at NewsNation, where his top-rated prime time show, CUOMO, has become a standout success. And now he’s got more reason to celebrate. The anchor recently renewed his contract with the Nexstar-owned network, securing a multiyear deal to continue hosting his weeknight program at 8 p.m. ET. “Of course I am staying,” Cuomo, 54, said. “Where else but NewsNation can you expose the game instead of being forced to play? Let’s get after it!” The show has been a ratings winner, doubling its audience since its 2022 launch, with a 54% increase in total viewers, according to a press release from the network.  “Chris is a one-of-a-kind talent whose unrivaled analysis and commentary has helped grow the audience at NewsNation and strengthen our brand,” said Sean Compton, president of Nexstar’s Networks Division. “He believes strongly in NewsNation’s mission of delivering ‘News for All Americans’ and we are extremely pleased that he will remain a staple of the network’s primetime lineup.”

Ron Lauder, heir to the Estée Lauder fortune, has sold his 30-acre Wainscott estate for $56 million, $10 million less than he paid three years ago. Most interestingly, the buyer is not another billionaire but the Town of East Hampton, which used its Community Preservation Fund to secure the land as open space. The property will now be protected from development. The purchase was the largest in the fund’s history since its creation in 1998 and is seen as a major win for conservation. “These types of acquisitions are important to the preservation of the beautiful landscapes that make the Hamptons the iconic destination that it is,” Cody Vichinsky, founding partner of Bespoke Real Estate, which brokered the deal for both sides, told The New York Post.

 Jacqui Lofaro, founder and executive director of Hamptons Doc Fest, has announced the winner of the 2024 Brown Harris Stevens Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature. The award goes to Música!, an uplifting film that kicked off the festival’s 17th year on Dec. 5. “There’s always a bit of intrigue in guessing what film will win the Audience Award,” said Lofaro. “But when the tallies are in, we all say, ‘Of course that was the one.’ This year’s film program of 32 films was star-studded, so I congratulate directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman on their outstanding documentary and well-deserved award. And we thank Brown Harris Stevens for their continuing support of our mission and documentary film festival.” 

Música! also received the Hamptons Doc Fest’s 2024 Art & Inspiration Award, sponsored by the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation. Reflecting on the accolades, Epstein and Friedman shared, “It’s been a joy to see how Música! resonates with audiences. Receiving the Hamptons Documentary Festival Audience Award is a wonderful affirmation of that connection.” 

We hear…

Summer House is back for Season 9, premiering Feb. 12, as the Bravo hit continues to follow the drama-filled lives of young New Yorkers spending their summers in the Hamptons. The latest trailer teases tension between exes Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke, who split in 2023 while engaged. Returning cast members also include Kyle Cooke, Amanda Batula, Paige DeSorbo, Ciara Miller, Gabby Prescod, West Wilson, and Jesse Solomon. New additions include Lexi Wood, a Canadian model, and Imrul Hassan, a real estate broker.

Amagansett resident Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper are set to return as co-hosts of CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live for the eighth consecutive year. Broadcasting live from Times Square, the duo will welcome an eclectic lineup of guests, including Sting, Shania Twain, Meghan Trainor, and 50 Cent, alongside comedians Whitney Cummings, Amy Sedaris, and Adam Devine.

Sightings…

Bridgehampton resident Christie Brinkley recently hit up Marders, a landscaping shop in Bridgehampton, for last-minute holiday essentials. She called the business one of her favorite places. 

Montauk resident Julianne Moore attended a screening of The Room Next Door, which she stars in, at the Museum of Modern Art on Dec. 13.

Model Lauren Besselman, who lives in Montauk, enjoyed a cocktail at The Bird on Dec. 13. The bombshell was later spotted at Montauk Nail Studio getting a red manicure for Christmas.

Jennifer Lopez was spotted in Los Angeles on Dec. 15 for a special screening of her film Unstoppable. The 55-year-old star, who owns a home in Water Mill, wowed in low-rise blue jeans.