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Southwest Airlines CEO says airline may reevaluate open seating after financial loss

Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- Southwest Airlines famously allows passengers to select their own seats upon boarding, but the low fare carrier could be changing course.

Earlier this week, after the Dallas-based carrier reported a $231 million net loss from the first quarter of 2024, CEO Bob Jordan commented on the "disappointing" results and said they are "evaluating options to enhance our Customer Experience" which he said includes "onboard seating."

"We are focused on controlling what we can control and have already taken swift action to address our financial underperformance and adjust for revised aircraft delivery expectations," he continued.

On a webcast recording of the earnings call, Jordan said, "It's been several years since we last studied this in-depth, and customer preference and expectations change over time."

Jordan later spoke about the potentially massive shift to its open seating cabins as a means to drive up revenue, CNBC first reported.

"We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft," Jordan told CNBC.

While Southwest offers priority boarding groups for an additional fee, the company's all-Boeing 737 fleet of single economy class aircraft is known by consumers and among airline competitors for its simplistic and affordable experience.

Southwest did not respond to ABC News' request for additional comment and pointed to the quarterly earnings report.

'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy coming back to theaters

'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' - New Line/WireImage

Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy is returning to theaters for three days in June.

The extended and remastered cuts of 2001's The Fellowship of the Ring, 2002's The Two Towers and the finale, 2003's The Return of the King, will screen starting June 8 thanks to a collaboration between Warner Bros. Pictures and Fathom Events at participating chains, including Cinemark, AMC and Regal.

The acclaimed adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved sword and sorcery books begins with Fellowship on June 8, followed by The Two Towers on June 9 and The Return of the King on June 10.

Check out Fathom Events for details.

The movies made a combined $3 billion in theaters. The Return of the King won 11 Academy Awards out of 11 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Jackson, tying Ben-Hur and Titanic for the most Oscars won by a single film.

Kevin Spacey claps back after 'Spacey Unmasked' documentary trailer debuts

The trailer to Spacey Unmasked, a documentary about Kevin Spacey from the U.K.'s Channel 4 that will debut there on May 6, has debuted online.

Thanks to a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, the doc will also air in the States at some point, Variety reports.

In 2017, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning House of Cards star's career was sidelined by sexual assault allegations. He was found not guilty in July 2023 in a London court of a series of sexual assaults against several accusers.

The trade says the documentary was in the works before Spacey's acquittal and the film's producers acknowledge it.

According to a logline published by the trade, "Spacey Unmasked is a forensic look at a man who was once one of the most admired and respected actors in the world. Featuring never-seen-before interviews and archive, the series examines his life from childhood to early success on Broadway and subsequent meteoric rise to stardom."

Producers explain, "This two-part series will investigate Spacey's conduct and talks to multiple men unconnected to that case," teasing that almost all those men have never spoken to media before.

In response to the trailer news, a rep for Spacey sent Variety a cheeky statement from the actor, who reportedly said, "I'm honored to be starring in my first film with Warner Brothers in many years. I hope the Academy takes note of some of the great acting by the lesser known cast."

ABC Audio attempted to confirm the comment, but had not received word back from Spacey's camp as of press time.

Ryan Gosling sings again in new 'Fall Guy' stuntman tribute

Ryan Gosling apparently hasn't let his pipes cool down since his "I'm Just Ken" Oscar night showstopper. In a new spot promoting The Fall Guy, the Academy Award nominee goes for an eventful ride with members of his upcoming action-comedy's stunt team.

The film was directed by stuntman-turned-blockbuster director David Leitch, who calls Ryan to talk through the shots in the promo spot. Gosling learns they're shooting "like a Carpool Karaoke kind of thing" as he drives around in a green street racer.

"No singing," Leitch advises. Just pick up the stuntmen Logan Holladay, Ben Jenkin and Troy Brown.

But Ryan ignores that direction and starts blasting Journey's classic track “Any Way You Want It" — and because stuntmen are stuntmen, their pickups are anything but ordinary.

Holladay is first, insisting he drives — after popping a wheelie on a motorcycle.

As the pair drift around what's likely Universal's back lot, Gosling spots Jenkin; Holladay hits him with the car, carries him on the hood for a spell, then stops short, sending the performer rolling onto the pavement.

"You can't just get in the car, can you?" Gosling asks a crumpled Jenkin. "Where's the fun in that?!" Jenkin asks as he hops in.

The trio all take turns singing Journey, with Jenkin from the back seat giving Steve Perry a run for his money.

Then they stop for Brown, who free-falls from the top of a building to meet them, explaining he's too claustrophobic to take an elevator.

Leitch then calls them out, saying they need to reshoot, as they "don't have the rights" to the song. "Any way you want it," Ryan replies.

The Fall Guy, also starring Emily Blunt, opens May 3.

Lori Loughlin gives first interview following college admissions scandal

While she didn't mention the college admission scandal that left her behind bars, Full House star Lori Loughlin recently gave her first post-scandal interview to the magazine First for Women.

Loughlin and her designer husband Mossimo Giannulli pleaded guilty in May 2020 after paying $500,000 to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as crew recruits, when neither child participated in the sport.

Loughlin served two months behind bars and Giannulli was sentenced to five months in prison, in addition to a $250,000 fine and community service.

The 59-year-old actress spoke about perseverance and forgiveness in the cover story.

"I try to be a forgiving person. I'm not one to hold onto stuff," she says.

Loughlin adds, "Stuff happens to everyone. We've all been in positions to ask for forgiveness but to ask for it, you have to learn and know how to give forgiveness, too."

"No one is perfect, we all make mistakes. So I was always told to let stuff go," Loughlin notes. "And I think for your own health, you have to let things go because you can't hang on to negativity. Life’s too short."

The actress adds, "Everyone has good times and bad times. That’s life. I think you just have to pick yourself up. Nobody said life was going to be a breeze. There’s beauty in life, but there’s also hardship in life."

Incidentally, Loughlin spoofed her scandal in the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, when Larry David successfully helped her join a country club that had rebuffed her over the Varsity Blues investigation -- however, he finds she cuts corners in other ways.

Reality Roundup: Lisa Vanderpump claps back, 'Little People, Big World' couple exits and more

Have no fear, your reality roundup is here! Here's a look at what happened in the world of reality television this week:

Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)

Lisa Vanderpump has responded to former Vanderpump Rules cast member Jax Taylor's claim that the reality show is scripted. "I think it's absolutely ridiculous to say 'scripted,'" Vanderpump told Entertainment Tonight. "Nobody can write a script like Vanderpump Rules." She said perhaps Taylor planned what he was going to say on the series ahead of time. "Maybe what Jax says is scripted. Maybe he sits at home, in his little bedroom and writes his own scripts. Well, what do I know? Anyway, for the most part, anything Jax says doesn't make any sense to me," Vanderpump said.

Little People, Big World (TLC)

Zach and Tori Roloff, stars of Little People, Big World, are officially exiting the show after 25 seasons. The latest season's finale on Tuesday, April 23, serves as the couple's final appearance on the program. Zach and Tori first mentioned their departure in a YouTube video they posted back in February. “We are not coming back to Little People, Big World. Like, we are done,” Tori said. “That chapter has closed.”

RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)

Celebrate drag culture as RuPaul's DragCon returns to LA this year. The event will take place on July 19 and July 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Fans will be able to have meet and greets with their favorite queens, as well as watch performances and purchase exclusive merchandise. Tickets can be purchased at rupaulsdragcon.com.