AP Entertainment

February 14, 2025

‘Saturday Night Live’ stars name their favorite sketches and reflect on show’s legacy

NEW YORK (AP) — Legions of comedic talent have paraded through NBC’s Studio 8H, whether as cast members, writers or hosts of “Saturday Night Live.” As the sketch show marks its 50th anniversary with a bevy of celebrations, its cast members and alumni look back on their favorite sketches and the enduring legacy of “Saturday Night Live.” Bobby Moynihan still can’t believe the character of David S. Pumpkins made it to air. John Mulaney praises fellow former writer Simon Rich’s ideas. “More Cowbell” is a favorite for Seth Meyers and Will Forte, who both also praise Nate Bargatze’s sketches. Chloe Fineman hopes the anniversary special includes a “Californians” reprise.

‘Tournament of Champions’ has elevated women chefs. Here’s what winners say is a key ingredient

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Women have dominated Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions,” the only cooking competition series that includes people of all genders where no man has ever won or made it to the finale. As the show prepares to start its sixth season in March, several winners say the blind-judged format, created by Guy Fieri, eliminates bias. Winners credit their success to multitasking, resilience and experience in male-dominated kitchens. The show’s results challenge the gender norms of the culinary industry, where men have historically won more competitions. “Tournament of Champions” begins airing its competition rounds on Sunday, with the main season starting March 2.

A$AP Rocky trial nears deliberations as closing arguments are set to finish

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawyers are expected to complete closing arguments and jurors are expected to start deliberating Friday at the trial of rapper A$AP Rocky, who is accused of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors argued Thursday that Rocky fired a handgun at a former friend on a Hollywood street corner in 2021. The defense says he shot blanks from a prop gun he carried for security. The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star faces up to 24 years in prison. He is the longtime partner of singing superstar Rihanna, with whom he has two young sons she brought into the courtroom for the first time Thursday.

Oscar-nominated documentary exposes horrifying truths about Indigenous residential schools in Canada

The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at an Indian residential school in Canada in 2021 was just the catalyst for “Sugarcane.” Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, the filmmakers behind the Oscar-nominated documentary, spent years investigating the truth behind just one of the institutions. Now streaming on Hulu, “Sugarcane” paints a horrifying picture of the systemic abuses inflicted by the state-funded school and exposes for the first time a pattern of infanticide. It also marks the first time that an Indigenous North American filmmaker has received an Oscar nomination. If it wins, NoiseCat promised that he will make his time on stage “a moment.”

At 50, ‘Saturday Night Live’ celebrates its past as a comedy icon — and wonders about its future

NEW YORK (AP) — In a feast of special programming, NBC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” this weekend. The show has been an engine of comedy, minting stars, movie franchises and catchphrases in assembly line fashion. It’s a rich history, and as NBC honors it, there are also questions about its future. Network television is fading as a force. The show’s inventor and still executive producer, Lorne Michaels, has turned 80 and that’s led to speculation about how long he’ll continue in the job and who will replace him when he leaves. Michaels, for one, is keeping mum about that.

The Wayans family to be inducted into the NAACP Awards’ Hall of Fame

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Wayans family, who through film, TV, sketch and stand-up comedy, have both entertained and created countless jobs both on and off camera in Hollywood, will be feted at this year’s NAACP Image Awards. The organization says Thursday that it will induct Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. into the NAACP Awards’ Hall of Fame. The annual award show honors people of color who are standouts in acting, music and writing. The 56th NAACP Image Awards will broadcast live on BET and CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 22.

Sarah Jessica Parker to be honored this spring by PEN America

NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Jessica Parker will be this year’s recipient of PEN America’s “Literary Service” award. The “Sex and the City” star, a longtime advocate for reading and literacy, will be honored May 15 at the free expression organization’s annual spring gala. Jon Yaged, CEO of Macmillan Publishers, will receive the Business Visionary Award. Parker has been involved in numerous literary projects, whether as founder of her own publishing imprint or serving as executive producer of the anti-book banning documentary “The Librarians,” which premiered last month at the Sundance Film Festival.

A$AP Rocky trial brings clashing closing arguments over gun as Rihanna brings tiny sons to court

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawyers are giving their closing arguments at the trial of rapper A$AP Rocky, who is accused of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors argued Thursday that Rocky fired a handgun at a former friend on a Hollywood street corner in 2021. The defense says he shot blanks from a prop gun he carried for security. The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star could get up to 24 years in prison if convicted. He is the longtime partner of singing superstar Rihanna, with whom he has two young sons that she brought into the courtroom for the first time during closings.

Movie Review: ‘Universal Language’ needs to be seen to be believed

It’s not unusual for a city to double for another metropolis in movies. New Yorkers have long been able to spot when Toronto has been substituted for the Big Apple. Matthew Rankin, though, has gone more than a step, or maybe 85 steps, further. His “Universal Language” takes place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but the culture is entirely Iranian. Farsi is the spoken tongue. At Tim Hortons, tea is served from samovars. It’s as if we’ve been knocked over the head and woken up in some snowy, Canadian version of an Abbas Kiarostami film. If cinema is a universal language, it’s never been more elastically employed, Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle writes in his review.

Many Americans think Valentine’s Day is romantic and fun — not outdated or stressful: AP-NORC poll

NEW YORK (AP) — Some U.S. adults consider Valentine’s Day outdated, according to a new AP-NORC poll — but many more say they love the romance and fun of quality time with partners, friends and extended family. The survey shows that about three-quarters of Americans plan to celebrate on Friday. Roughly 2 in 10 say “outdated” sums up Valentine’s Day nicely. About half will be with a romantic partner. Four in 10 will be with family. About 2 in 10 will celebrate with friends. Roughly one-quarter of Americans will not celebrate at all. People in a relationship are much more likely than those not in a relationship to say they’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day in some way.