AP Entertainment

AP-Newswatch
January 9, 2025
Edison: Most News and Sports Audio Is Consumed Via AM/FM Radio
January 9, 2025
AP-Newswatch
January 9, 2025
Edison: Most News and Sports Audio Is Consumed Via AM/FM Radio
January 9, 2025
AP Entertainment

AP-Entertainment

Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore among those who lost homes in Los Angeles fires

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fires burning in and around Los Angeles have claimed the homes of numerous celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore and Paris Hilton and led to sweeping disruptions of entertainment events. Three awards ceremonies planned for this weekend have been postponed. Next week’s Oscar nominations have been delayed. And tens of thousands of Angelenos are displaced and awaiting word Thursday on whether their homes survived the flames — some of them the city’s most famous denizens. Late Wednesday, a fire in the Hollywood Hills was scorching the hills near the famed Hollywood Bowl and Dolby Theatre, which is the home of the Academy Awards.

Elmo tells all: ‘Sesame Street’ 55th season features SZA, Chris Stapleton, Reneé Rapp and more

NEW YORK (AP) — Appearing on “Sesame Street”? That’s the best idea. The 55th season of the acclaimed family program features a star-studded lineup of musicians that would be the envy of any summer festival. It includes SZA, Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, Reneé Rapp and Samara Joy. Elmo says music brings people together. “Sesame Street” music director Bill Sherman says the secret to a great children’s song is “earworms on earworms.” The 55th season of the iconic children’s show debuts Jan. 16 on MAX with new episodes releasing every Thursday.

Participate or keep it quiet? Recent sing-alongs tap into larger discussion on moviegoing etiquette

WASHINGTON (AP) — As movie theaters have worked to entice Americans back to the silver screen, the industry has marketed blockbuster films like ″Wicked” as cultural events. However, box office successes have led to heated debates about how moviegoers should behave at the theater, including whether attendees can sing during films. Despite the internet uproar, in-person disruptions at actual theaters appear to be minimal. Plus, American movie theaters have a long history of interactive sing-alongs dating back to the late 1920s. Movie distributors and theater owners are expanding the types of experiences they offer, including sing-along screenings, themed nights with giveaways and themed snack menus.

‘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.

TikTok’s fate arrives at Supreme Court in collision of free speech and national security

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a collision between free speech and national security, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over the fate of TikTok, a digital age cultural phenomenon that roughly half the U.S. population uses for entertainment and information. The case is being heard Friday. TikTok says it plans to shut down the social media platform in the U.S. by Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court strikes down or otherwise delays the effective date of a law aimed at forcing TikTok’s sale by its Chinese parent company. Enforcement of the law would be left to the incoming Trump administration. President-elect Donald Trump has dropped his support for a TikTok ban. The court’s decision could come within days.

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

PHOENIX (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 The Associated Press. 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.