AP Entertainment
AP-Entertainment
Celebrities among thousands evacuated and waiting to learn their homes’ fates in Los Angeles fires
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wildfires that ripped through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles forced many Hollywood stars, including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods, to evacuate their homes. California firefighters are battling wind-whipped wildfires tearing across the area, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled and straining resources as the fires burned uncontained early Wednesday. The Pacific Palisades neighborhood is a hillside area along the coast dotted with celebrity residences and memorialized by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit “Surfin’ USA.” In the frantic haste to get to safety, roadways became impassable when scores of people abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, some toting suitcases.
‘Wicked’ tops SAG Awards nominations as many big names are snubbed
“Wicked” topped nominations to the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards on Wednesday, landing a leading five nominations including best ensemble, and individual nods for Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. Out-of-control wildfires that swept across Los Angeles and Southern California forced the Screen Actors Guild to cancel its plans to announce the nominations live Wednesday morning. The nominations were instead issued by press release by SAG and Netflix, which began a multiyear deal to stream the awards last year. The other nominees for best ensemble are: “Anora,” “Conclave,” “Emilia Pérez” and “A Complete Unknown.” It was an especially strong showing for the Bob Dylan drama “A Complete Unknown,” which scored four nominations.
Movie Review: Robbie Williams has always lived to entertain. In ‘Better Man,’ he’s still doing it
Robbie Williams may not be familiar to many in the United States, but in his native Britain, he became a huge pop star, performing to adoring crowds and making 14 No. 1 singles. Williams, now 50, produces and narrates his story in “Better Man,” a biopic that seeks to do what he sought obsessively to do from childhood — to entertain. Director Michael Gracey’s most audacious move, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck, is to present Williams throughout as a CGI monkey, his moves and speaking voice captured by actor Jonno Davies. Mostly, it all works surprisingly well. In theaters.
CNN defamation trial comes at a rough time for legacy media — and for the struggling network
NEW YORK (AP) — CNN is on trial for libel this week before a jury in Florida, and it comes at a particularly inopportune time for legacy media. The media is already the frequent target of criticism by President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters. Now it will face scrutiny over its operations — and a lawyer for the plaintiff suggested jurors should send a message. At issue is a Navy veteran who helped rescue Afghans at the time of the Taliban takeover in 2021, and how he was included in a story that CNN did about a “black market” of people who faced steep charges to be extracted from the country.
A new book alleges that someone at Fox News gave Trump’s team an early look at town hall questions
WASHINGTON (AP) — A forthcoming book alleges that someone inside Fox News gave Donald Trump’s presidential campaign the questions he would face ahead of a town hall the network produced in January 2024. That’s according to excerpts of the book that were obtained by CNN. The claim appears in “Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power” by Politico reporter Alex Isenstadt. The book is set to be published in March. A Fox News spokesperson says the network has no evidence anything occcured but will investigate.
National Board of Review Awards hold space for ‘Wicked’
NEW YORK (AP) — The National Board of Review Awards have held space for “Wicked.” The smash hit musical was celebrated during the New York group’s annual gala Tuesday. The untelevised but very starry NBR Awards were a chance for many of the nominees who didn’t win at the Golden Globes on Sunday to trot out their would-be acceptance speeches. “Wicked” was the board’s pick for best film and best director. It also was awarded a special award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The common theme of the night was community and togetherness as many alluded to Hollywood’s role in the coming years.
Art Deco style is popular again, a century after its heyday
A sophisticated style that once defined an era is inspiring a new generation of design lovers. Art Deco’s heyday was a century ago, but it’s got current influence in fashion, decor and more. An exhibition running at the Museum of the City of New York explores the style that helped define the city a century ago with landmark skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. Emerging after World War I, the original Art Deco era embodied a spirit of creativity, freedom and innovation. There were faster trains and jazz-fueled nightclubs. More free-flowing flapper fashion. Gleaming metallic accents and geometric motifs. Many designers now are embracing the look, from fashion to furniture.
Complete list of Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Wicked” is the leading nominee for the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, with the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” following closely behind. Out-of-control wildfires that swept across Los Angeles and Southern California forced the Screen Actors Guild to cancel its plans to announce the nominations live Wednesday morning. The nominations were instead issued by press release. Notable television nominees include “Shōgun,” “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear” and “Hacks.” The SAG Awards, hosted by Kristen Bell, will be streamed live on Netflix on Feb. 23. Bell is a nominee for “Nobody Wants This,” as is her co-star Adam Brody.
Expected guilty plea for man in ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers case postponed due to hospitalization
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A hearing where a Minnesota man was expected to plead guilty to hiding a stolen pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” has been postponed indefinitely because he’s hospitalized. Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz granted the continuance Wednesday at the request of the attorney for 77-year-old Jerry Hal Saliterman, of Crystal. Saliterman was planning to change his plea to guilty at a hearing that was set for this coming Friday. But defense lawyer John Brink told the court that Saliterman is hospitalized. Brink doesn’t know when he will be available.
Peter Yarrow of folk-music trio Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 86
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The singer-songwriter and social activist best known as one-third of the folk-music group Peter, Paul and Mary, has died at age 86. Peter Yarrow died Tuesday at his home in New York. That’s according to publicist Ken Sunshine. Peter, Paul and Mary rose to overnight fame in 1962 when they blended their voices in stunning harmonies as they sang out against war and social injustice. Among their many hits were Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Pete Seeger’s “If I Had a Hammer” and Yarrow’s own “Puff the Magic Dragon.” After a 1970 breakup they reunited eight years later, continuing their partnership until Mary Travers’ death in 2009.
