AP Entertainment

February 26, 2025

What will win at a nailbiter Oscars? AP’s film writers make their predictions

By the time the Oscars wind around after months of other award shows and constant handicapping, the prizes can feel almost predetermined. Not this year. Sunday’s 97th Academy Awards has more potential drama than any recent year, with many possible outcomes in the top categories, including best picture, best actor and best actress. Associated Press Film Writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr offer their predictions on this year’s key races, with Coyle predicting “Anora” wins best picture and Bahr saying the top prize will likely go to “Conclave.” Both agree Demi Moore will likely win best actress, but Coyle thinks Timothee Chalamet may win best actor, while Bahr thinks it’ll go to Adrien Brody.

Want to be prescribed a new hospital drama? These TV doctors are ready to treat you

LONDON (AP) — It’s a case of physician, heal thyself in new hospital dramas at the moment as TV showcases a selection of hardworking but flawed medical staff. Noah Wyle returns to the genre after “ER” and struggles with mental health issues in “The Pitt.” And both Morris Chestnut in “Watson” and Molly Parker in “Doc” are dealing with traumatic brain injuries while also trying to cure patients. All the while, Joshua Jackson is cruising in luxe style. Now there’s also a new hospital series arriving Wednesday and set in Germany, where the staff of “Berlin ER” are self-medicating in unhelpful ways. They could all do with seeing a doctor.

Singer-musician Rhiannon Giddens calls off Kennedy Center show, citing Trump takeover

NEW YORK (AP) — Award-winning singe-musician Rhiannon Giddens has become the latest artist to call off an appearance at the Kennedy Center, which has been in upheaval since President Donald Trump took office. Trump has forced out the center’s leadership and was elected chair of the board of trustees. Actor Issa Rae, author Louise Penny and the rock band Low Cut Connie also have canceled scheduled Kennedy Center events. Singer-songwriter Victoria Clark went ahead with her Feb. 15 show, but on stage wearing an anti-Trump T-shirt. Supported by government money and private donations and attracting millions of visitors each year, the Kennedy Center is a 100-foot high complex featuring a concert hall, opera house and theater.

The White House says it ‘will determine’ which news outlets cover Trump, rotating traditional ones

The White House says its officials “will determine” which news outlets cover President Donald Trump. That departs from a century of tradition in which a pool of independent news organizations go where the chief executive does and holds him accountable on behalf of regular Americans. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the changes would rotate some traditional outlets from the group and include some streaming services. She cast the change as a modernization of the press pool, saying the move would restore “access back to the American people” who elected Trump.

Mindy Kaling and Kate Hudson take on pro basketball in ‘Running Point’

Mindy Kaling’s new Netflix series “Running Point” is set in the world of professional basketball in Los Angeles. The show premiering Thursday stars Kate Hudson as the new president of Los Angeles’ hometown team. In this series, they’re the Waves, not the Lakers, but the storyline will ring familiar to Lakers fans. Hudson’s character often has to prove herself as qualified in a field dominated by men. The role is based on Lakers president Jeanie Buss, who is also an executive producer on the show. Kaling says Buss gave the writers carte blanche to be inspired by her real life.

British musicians release a silent album to protest plans to let AI use their work

LONDON (AP) — A new album called “Is This What We Want?” features a stellar list of more than 1,000 musicians — and the sound of silence. The album has contributions from artists including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Cat Stevens and Damon Albarn. The protest album features recordings of empty studios and performance spaces and was released Tuesday to protest proposed British changes to artificial intelligence laws. The U.K. government is consulting on whether to let tech firms use copyrighted material to help train AI models unless the creators explicitly opt out. Critics fear that will make it harder for artists to retain control of their work and will undermine Britain’s creative industries.

Oscar performers include Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Lisa. Here’s what to know about the show

After devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles, the 97th Academy Awards are going forward. Performers were added to the bill Monday, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Queen Latifah, Blackpink’s Lisa, Doja Cat and RAYE. Presenters include Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey, and last year’s acting winners. Those include Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The 97th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Conan O’Brien is hosting for the first time. In another first, the Oscars will be streamed live on Hulu.

Missouri woman pleads guilty to federal charge in plot to sell Graceland

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to a federal charge accusing her of concocting a brazen plot to defraud Elvis Presley’s family by trying to auction off his Graceland mansion and property before a judge halted the mysterious foreclosure sale. Lisa Jeanine Findley pleaded guilty in front of a federal judge Tuesday to a charge of mail fraud related to the scheme. She previously pleaded not guilty to the two-count indictment, which also includes a count of aggravated identity theft that will now be dropped. Findley will be sentenced June 18. She was initially charged in August 2024.

Woman injured on Harry Potter theme park ride in California is awarded $7.25 million

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 74-year-old Arizona woman has been awarded $7.25 million by a jury for a spine injury she suffered in a fall while exiting the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. Pamela Morrison was getting seated on the popular attraction with her grandson when she was asked to exit after her harness failed to secure properly. Morrison slipped and fell when stepping from a moving walkway onto solid ground, according to her lawsuit. Her attorney argued that the fall was due to employees’ failure to halt the walkway. Jurors agreed. The theme park had argued that Morrison was not focused on where she was stepping, so the fall was her fault.

Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning ‘Killing Me Softly’ singer with an intimate style, dies at 88

NEW YORK (AP) — Roberta Flack has died at 88. The Grammy-winning singer and pianist was known for her intimate vocal and musical style on “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and other hits. Her publicist says she died Monday, surrounded by her family. Flack became an overnight star in the early 1970s after Clint Eastwood used “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in his film “Play Misty for Me.” Flack’s other hits included “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and a duet with former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway, “Where is the Love?”