Lin-Manuel Miranda breaks down the songs of 'Encanto'
Lin-Manuel Miranda went song by song through some of the hits of โEncantoโ in a recent interview, from the breakout smash โWe Donโt Talk About Brunoโ to his self-described โโ90s Rock en Espaรฑol throwbackโ โWhat Else Can I Do?โ.
'Dune,' 'CODA,' 'West Side Story' make AFI's 2021 top 10
The American Film Institute lined up behind many of the yearโs end-of-year Oscar contenders, naming Steven Spielbergโs โWest Side Story,โ Jane Campionโs โThe Power of the Dogโ and Adam McKayโs โDonโt Look Upโ among the yearโs 10 best films.
'Encanto,' 'House of Gucci' fuel Thanksgiving box office
Thanksgiving weekend moviegoing was still far from the feast it normally is, but Disneyโs โEncantoโ and the Lady Gaga-led โHouse of Gucciโ both gave a lift to two genres that have been particularly battered by the pandemic: family movies and adult dramas.
New this week: Will Smith, 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' and Adele
This weekโs new entertainment releases include a much-anticipated album from Adele, a documentary about Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show and Will Smith playing father and tennis guru to Venus and Serena Williams.
Hundreds gather for PEN America gala, hosted by Awkwafina
PEN America held one of New Yorkโs first major indoor literary gatherings since the pandemic began last year, as hundreds met Tuesday night for the organizationโs annual gala to honor writers, community servants, political dissidents and such prominent public figures as Walt Disney executive chair Robert A.
Cheers greet the reopening of three mega-hit Broadway shows
Kristin Chenoweth, Julie Taymor and Lin-Manuel Miranda welcomed back boisterous audiences to โWicked,โ โThe Lion Kingโ and โHamiltonโ for the first time since the start of the pandemic, marking Tuesday as the unofficial return of Broadway.
Biden takes the helm, appeals for unity to take on crises
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch fireworks light up the sky from the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. Both he, Harris and their spouses walked the last short part of the route to the White House after an abridged parade. At Biden's invitation, congressional leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced service a few blocks from the White House. The Bidens ended their evening watching fireworks from a White House balcony. Trump did adhere to one tradition and left a personal note for Biden in the Oval Office.
Hollywood on the Potomac: A-list turns out for Biden-Harris
Lady Gaga sings the national anthem during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. And country star Garth Brooks, doffing his black cowboy hat, sang a soulful a capella rendition of โAmazing Grace,โ his eyes closed for much of the song. While stars mostly eschewed Trump's inauguration four years ago, the A-list was back for Biden. Brooks was careful to call his decision to perform on Wednesday non-political, and in the spirit of unity. Alone with his guitar, The Boss sang his โLand of Hope and Dreamsโ in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Biden takes the helm as president: โDemocracy has prevailedโ
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch fireworks light up the sky from the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. Weโve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden declared in his speech. Both he, Harris and their spouses walked the last short part of the route to the White House after an abridged parade. Biden then strode into the Oval Office, a room he knew well as vice president, for the first time as commander in chief.
From Gaga to Garth, Miranda to Moreno: Celebs join inaugural
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)Like so much this past year, the inaugural celebration will be like no other: pared down, distanced, much of it virtual. But for actor Christopher Jackson โ the original George Washington in Broadway's โHamilton" โ performing in a virtual โballโ is a way of participating in an essential rite of American democracy. Miranda will contribute a classical recitation, joining musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Katy Perry, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake and Bon Jovi. The inaugural committee has made sure to blend this high-powered list with ordinary Americans and inspiring stories. And the โAAPI Inaugural Ball: Breaking Barriersโ celebrated the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities with planned participants including actors Kal Penn, John Cho, Kumail Nanjiani and Chloe Bennet.
The Latest: Springsteen, Miranda set for inaugural gala
Iconic artists Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are among the stars who will highlight a primetime virtual celebration televised Wednesday night following President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration. Bidenโs inaugural committee announced the lineup Sunday for โCelebrating America,โ a multinetwork broadcast that the committee bills as a mix of stars and everyday citizens. Musicians John Legend, Demi Lovato and Justin Timberlake, among others, will join Springsteen and Bon Jovi. The safeguards will remain in place leading up to President-elect Joe Bidenโs inauguration on Wednesday. Fencing, boarded-up windows and lines of police and National Guard troops have transformed statehouse grounds ahead of expected demonstrations leading up to President-elect Joe Bidenโs inauguration on Wednesday.
A record 39 holiday songs dominate Billboard Hot 100 chart
(Apple TV+ via AP)NEW YORK โ Tis the season to be jolly: A record 39 holiday songs have dominated this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart, including nine holiday tunes in the Top 10. Other holiday songs in the Top 10 include Dean Martin's โLet It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snowโ at No. Some acts have multiple holiday songs on the chart, including Bing Crosby, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublรฉ, Perry Como and Carrie Underwood. Here's a full list of the 39 holiday songs on this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart:โ No. 8, Dean Martin, โLet It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snowโโ No.
New this week: 'Soul,' a Tom Hanks film & 'Bridgerton' on TV
This image released by Disney-Pixar shows the character 22, voiced by Tina Fey, left, and Joe Gardner, voiced by Jamie Foxx, in a scene from the animated film "Soul." But with more than half of U.S. theaters closed, two of the biggest movies of the year โ โSoulโ and โWonder Woman 1984โ โ will be going straight to streaming. โ Also arriving Christmas Day is โWonder Woman 1984,โ Patty Jenkins' sequel to her barrier-breaking 2017 film. With Gal Gadot returning, โWonder Woman 1984โ fast-forwards from 1918 to the โgreed is goodโ decade. โ AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy___Catch up on APโs entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.
2020 indelible TV moments: Trebek, debate bluster and Floyd
Trebek made no secret of the fight with pancreatic cancer that claimed his life on Nov. 8. Here are a selection of the defining moments of 2020 from the perspective of The Associated Press' media and television writers. ALEX TREBEKThe โJeopardy!โ host made no secret of the fight with pancreatic cancer that ultimately claimed his life on Nov. 8. Millions of viewers will see the story resolved on their own time, creating countless individual moments rather than a communal one. The actors were conciliatory toward each other about what occurred during a marital separation, but Will Smith couldnโt resist revising his wifeโs description.
In seismic shift, Warner Bros. to stream all 2021 films
This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Timothee Chalamet, left, and Rebecca Ferguson in a scene from the upcoming 2021 film "Dune." The move follows Warner Bros.' decision to put โWonder Woman 1984โ on HBO Max in December, along with a concurrent theatrical run. Warner Bros.' move amounts to an acknowledgement that any full rebound for theaters is still a year or more away. Warner Bros. confirmed the films will be available to subscribers with no further charge. After a rocky rollout, HBO Max said in October that nearly 9 million people were using HBO Max, though 29 million had access to the streaming service as part of their HBO subscriptions.
Ladies' night at Latin Grammys: Lafourcade, Rosalรญa win big
(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)NEW YORK โ A year after Rosalรญa made history by becoming the first solo female performer in 13 years to win the top prize at the Latin Grammys, Natalia Lafourcade followed in her footsteps with a big win at the 2020 show. The Mexican singer won album of the year โ a category dominated by male acts โ on Thursday night with โUn Canto Por Mรฉxico, Vol. Lafourcade didn't attend the Latin Grammys, which aired live on Univision and featured a number of performances, most of them pre-taped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the Latin Grammys with a strong message about Latin music. Speaking in Spanish and English, he said Latin music โunites all of us and makes us human.โโThis is our night,โ he added.
Research sheds light on Alexander Hamilton as slave owner
FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, file photo, a statue of Alexander Hamilton stands in Central Park in New York. A new research paper takes a swipe at the popular image of Alexander Hamilton as the abolitionist founding father, citing evidence that he was a slave trader and owner himself. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)ALBANY, N.Y. โ A new research paper takes a swipe at the popular image of Alexander Hamilton as the abolitionist founding father, citing evidence he was a slave trader and owner himself. Hamilton is almost universally depicted as an abolitionist in popular modern works, from Ron Chernowโs 2004 biography, โHamilton,โ to Lin-Manuel Mirandaโs Tony Award-winning show, โHamilton: An American Musical.โBut after poring over ledgers and correspondence of Hamilton and his wife, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, Serfilippi, who works at the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany, concluded that image falls short. Serfilippi said her research interest goes beyond debunking myths about Hamilton.
It was all a dream: Whitney, B.I.G. inducted into Rock Hall
are among the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2020 class. (AP Photo)NEW YORK โ In a normal year, the newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class would have hit the stage and perform the well-known songs that made them famous and helped them enter the prestigious organization. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this yearโs all-star group was inducted Saturday night in a taped HBO special that told the stories of Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G. As she inducted Houston into the Rock Hall, Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys gave a beautiful, heartfelt speech about one of the best singers in pop history. The Notorious B.I.G.
Golden Globes group gives $5.1 million in grants
Kidman was among the entertainers who appeared to discuss the charities that benefit from HFPA grants. More than $5.1 million in funds were given to over 70 nonprofit organizations during the โHFPA Philanthropy: Empowering the Next Generationโ virtual event on Tuesday. The event, formerly known as the Grants Banquet, celebrated some of the organizations with aspiring artists, filmmakers and storytellers. The organization is known for putting on the Golden Globes. Salma Hayek paid homage to the Las Fotos Project, a nonprofit organization that inspires teenage girls through photography.
Diddy, Springsteen among rock hall of fame guest list
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2020, file photo, Sean Combs accepts the 2020 Industry Icon award at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif. Combs will be among a star-studded guest list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 induction. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)CLEVELAND โ Sean โDiddyโ Combs, Bruce Springsteen and Alicia Keys will be among a star-studded guest list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 induction. The prestigious organization announced the guest list Thursday for the ceremony, which will debut Nov. 7 on HBO. Other guests will include Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Gwen Stefani, Charlize Theron, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Adam Levine and Brad Paisley. The special guests will speak on how this yearโs inductees impacted their personal life and careers.
A sweep for โSchittโs Creek,โ โSuccessionโ tops Emmy Awards
(The Television Academy and ABC Entertainment via AP)LOS ANGELES โ โSchitt's Creek,โ the little Canadian show about a fish-out-of-water family, made history at Sunday's Emmy Awards with a comedy awards sweep, something even TV greats including โFrasierโ and โModern Familyโ failed to achieve. The awards for Pop TV's โSchitt's Creekโ included best comedy series and trophies for its stars, including Catherine O'Hara and father-son Eugene and Daniel Levy. Moments later, his son won the award for comedy writing for โSchitt's Creekโ episode, then shared a directing award and captured the supporting actor comedy trophy. As โSchittโs Creekโ gobbled up comedy awards, that left acclaimed โInsecureโ and its creator Issa Rae empty-handed. But Black stories, Black performances and Black Lives Matter,โ he said, urging Kimmel to shout with him.
Emmy show will include $2.8M donation to fight child hunger
LOS ANGELES โ Every Emmy Award handed out Sunday will come with something extra โ a $100,000 donation to fight child hunger. The Television Academy announced Friday that each network and streaming service competing on the telecast has pledged the donation for every Emmy they win. With 23 Emmys being handed out and the academy committing $500,000, that will mean a donation of $2.8 million to No Kid Hungry, a group working to relieve child hunger brought on by the coronavirus crisis. The 72nd Emmy Awards air Sunday at 5 p.m. on ABC. Guests set to appear include Anthony Anderson, Mindy Kaling, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Patrick Stuart, RuPaul and Oprah Winfrey.
Rivera, Estefan, Miranda to star in digital benefit show
NEW YORK Chita Rivera, Gloria Estefan, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thala will headline a benefit digital concert in October to celebrate Latino culture and achievement in theater. Hear Our Voices will be held online Oct. 1 and will be hosted by Andra Burns. It's going to pay attention to the present and look to the future, said Trujillo, who said the themes will explore Latin representation, inclusion and diversity. Additional attendees include Lucie Arnaz, Melissa Barrera, Jaime Camil, Florencia Cuenca, Ral Esparza, Mandy Gonzalez, Ral Gonzalez, Ivan Hernandez, Ariana DeBose, Mauricio Martinez, Bianca Marroqun, Shereen Pimentel, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Philippa Stefani, Anglica Vale, Robin de Jesus and Ana Villafae. The concert will be broadcast on Playbill.com, Playbills YouTube Channel and on The Broadway Leagues Viva.Broadway website.
Lucille Ball Comedy Festival goes virtual in its 29th year
LOS ANGELES The annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is going virtual with help from Tiffany Haddish, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Margaret Cho, Weird Al Yankovic and more than two-dozen others working in the realm of humor. The festival, presented by the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, will stream conversations with the artists over three weekends, starting Friday and running through Aug. 30. Other pairings include Cho with host and fellow comedian Judy Gold (10 p.m. EDT Friday); Haddish with comedian Flame Monroe (8 p.m. EDT Aug. 22); political satirist Mark Russell with Lewis Black (8 p.m. EDT Aug. 28). The 29th annual festival will pay tribute to Carl Reiner, the filmmaker and creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show who died in June. A rare Reiner interview from the center's archives will be shown at 8 p.m. EDT Aug. 30, with humorist Paula Poundstone hosting.
New this week: 'Psych,' The Chicks album, '30 Rock' reunited
Heres a collection curated by The Associated Press entertainment journalists of whats arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it essential to Miranda disciples. After the film's June debut was postponed in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protests, it lands on Hulu on Friday. AP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSIC The Chicks: After changing their name and recording their first album in 14 years, Grammy-winning country trio The Chicks will release their new album, Gaslighter, on Friday. AP Music Editor Mesfin FekaduTELEVISIONThe documentary Showbiz Kids promises a candid look at the high risk, high reward careers of child actors, with perspective from those who have been there.
How many people saw 'Hamilton'? For now, that's a secret
(Disney Plus via AP)NEW YORK Disney+'s streaming of Hamilton was surely the biggest event on television screens over the holiday weekend. Hamilton is the poster boy for how the science of measurement is not keeping up with how entertainment content is being consumed. For example, Fox News Channel drew 5.7 million viewers on Friday night when it showed President Donald Trump speaking at Mount Rushmore. CBS had 3.3 million, ABC had 2.3 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Fox had 1.3 million, ION Television had 1 million and Telemundo had 820,000. ABC's World News Tonight led the evening newscasts with an average of 8.9 million viewers.
5 musicals that should be filmed for a streaming network since Broadway is still closed
Considering Disney+ saw a 72% increase in downloads of its app over the weekend, itโs safe to say that bringing musicals filmed on stage to a mass audience is a pretty good idea. Some will argue that theater is meant to be consumed live, but with so much uncertainty about when Broadway will return, itโs not a bad idea to start filming more Broadway musicals and plays for streaming networks. While itโs still a wildly popular musical, fans have been begging for some sort of movie version for years. Disneyโs most popular and long-running show on Broadway is โThe Lion King,โ and itโs hard to imagine the people wouldnโt love to watch a filmed version of this production. Do you plan to watch โHamilton?โ Are there any musicals youโd like to see from the comfort of your home?
What you need to know before streaming โHamiltonโ on Disney+ over the weekend
Since thereโs likely to be a good chunk of people who will watch โHamiltonโ over the weekend whoโve probably never seen it before, here is a quick rundown of what you need to know before experiencing the phenomenon. The โHamiltonโ on Disney+ is a filmed version of the show, not a movie. Itโs easy to call the version of โHamiltonโ coming out on Disney+ a movie, but technically, itโs the stage version, filmed. An actual movie version of โHamiltonโ will probably happen eventually, but this is a great way to really capture the magic of the stage version of the show. And because the people at Disney are incredibly smart, free trials of the streaming service have ended, so if you want to watch, youโre going to have to sign up.
New this week: Willie Nelson, Nick race special, 'Hamilton'
This cover image released by Legacy Recordings shows "First Rose of Spring," the latest album by WIllie Nelson, available on July 3. The PG-13 film was shot in summer 2016 over two Hamilton performances with the original cast, and it comes complete with an intermission. The legend Willie Nelson will release his 70th studio album, First Rose of Spring, on Friday. AP Music Editor Mesfin FekaduTELEVISIONAlicia Keys hosts Kids, Race and Unity, a Nick News special aimed at helping children understand the crisis facing America. The special debuts 7 p.m. EDT Monday on Nickelodeon, TeenNick, and Nicktoons and online on sites including Nickelodeon YouTube.
Lin Miranda doc postponed out of solidarity with protesters
NEW YORK Just two days before it was to begin streaming, We Are Freestyle Love Supreme," a documentary about the hip-hop improv group with Lin-Manuel Miranda and friends, has postponed its release out of solidarity with protesters. The group announced the postponement Wednesday, citing that our collective attention is turned toward more pressing concerns. Today our country, our world struggles to reach an end to this systemic racial injustice, intolerance, police brutality and hate, Freestyle Love Supreme said in a statement on Twitter. "We are for the freedom of expression, creativity, inclusion, equality, and most of all, love, the group said. The film captures the group reuniting for a Broadway run that concluded earlier this year.
Reaction to the death of AIDS activist, writer Larry Kramer
(AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File)NEW YORK Reaction to the death of Larry Kramer, the AIDS activist and playwright who turned his fury into mass protests and helped raise the profile of the disease:"If you remember the early days of the AIDS crisis then you remember Larry Kramer. Author and fellow founder of the Gay Men's Health Crisis Edmund White, in a statement. His anger was needed at a time when gay mens deaths to AIDS were being ignored by the American government. Elton John, in a statement. Thank you, Larry Kramer. Lin-Manuel Miranda, via Twitter. ___Rest in power to our fighter Larry Kramer.
Conan O'Brien to return to air, with an iPhone from home
NEW YORK, N.Y. โ With iPhones and Skype, Conan O'Brien is going back on the air. The late-night host said he will resume putting out new episodes of TBS' โConanโ on March 30. His staff will remain at home, and the show will be cobbled together with O'Brien on an iPhone and guests via Skype. The late-night shows have all shut down production due to the coronavirus pandemic to avoid congregating live audiences and large TV crews. ___The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Instituteโs Department of Science Education.
Met Gala 2020 Theme Announced Along With Co-Chairs Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, Lin-Manuel Miranda
The 2020 Met Gala will be taking style-savvy stars back to the future! The first Monday of May, which falls on May 4 next year, will have French designer Nicolas Ghesquire joining actors Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emma Stone and Meryl Streep as co-chairs. David Bailey pic.twitter.com/JLgX3ON9cD The Met (@metmuseum) November 7, 2019Though Streep has never attended a Met Gala, she does have several ties to the event. Here's a look back at some of the Met Gala's most memorable styles through the years: Met Gala Fashion Flashback: Katy Perry, Blake Lively and More! Kim Kardashian Responds to Rumors That She Had Her Ribs Removed to Fit Into Met Gala DressKanye West Tells Kim Kardashian He's Not Into Her 'Too Sexy' Met Gala Look
More celebs join Michelle Obama's voter outreach drive
NEW YORK, NY โ Election Day is over, but Michelle Obama is still trying to get out the vote. Obama is already a co-chair, along with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Faith Hill, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, and basketball star Chris Paul. When We Vote, a nonprofit, describes itself as a nonpartisan group dedicated to increasing voter participation. The announcement Thursday marks a year until the 2020 elections, which includes the presidential race. ___This story has been corrected to delete incorrect reference that the 2020 general elections are happening a year to the date of Thursday.
Anthony Ramos on Telling Stories Through His Music & Extra Special Connection to 'In the
"I know Usnavi [de la Vega], that's Leo from the corner store. And there is certainly a place for Ramos: On Broadway, Hollywood and the music industry. "In the Heights is one of the greatest experiences of my life," Ramos perks ups as he talks about the project. His In the Heights experience also included hanging out with Marc Anthony on the set, and sharing stories with the Latin music icon. Just tell your story, write, write, write and don't be ashamed.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's new show opens on Broadway
Lin-Manuel Miranda is coming back to Broadway. "Freestyle Love Supreme" is set to hit the Great White Way in the fall. NEW YORK - Lin-Manuel Miranda's new improvisatory hip-hop musical show opens today on Broadway. "Freestyle Love Supreme" was co-created by Thomas Kail, Anthony Veneziale, and Lin-Manuel Miranda of "Hamilton" fame. Other occasional performers for the Broadway run include Christopher Jackson, Wayne Brady and Daveed Diggs -- who played George Washington, Aaron Burr, and Thomas Jefferson in "Hamilton," respectively.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin and More Celebrate Puerto Rico Governor's Resignatio
"QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO !!!!!!" J Balvin also weighed in, commemorating the occasion with a tweet reading, "FELICIDADES PUERTO RICO." FELICIDADES PUERTO RICO J BALVIN (@JBALVIN) July 25, 2019The people of Puerto Rico have shown the world what can happen when a united public demands justice and accountability with a clear voice, he said in a statement. Now they must choose what comes next, and Congress must listen. @RepGrijalvaCS https://t.co/pofiuFIdiG Wilson Cruz (@wcruz73) July 25, 2019ASI Puerto Rico! RELATED CONTENT:2019 Premios Juventud: The Best Moments, From Daddy Yankee's Puerto Rico Speech to Maluma's Family MomentFarruko Teams Up With HBO Latino for Concert Special in Puerto Rico (Exclusive)Ricky Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda and More Support Puerto Rico ProtestOprah Winfrey Commits $2 Million to Puerto Rico After Being Inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Ricky Martin, Bad Bunny, Lin-Manuel Miranda and More Stars Support Puerto Rico Protest
Ricky Martin, Bad Bunny and Lin-Manuel Miranda, among many other Latin stars, spoke out about their native homeland's recent political troubles. Martin took to social media on Wednesday to share video of himself on the streets of Puerto Rico protesting the governor. "I have to come to Puerto Rico to let the world know that we will make a change," he continued. On Monday, Bad Bunny explained that he would be dropping his tour and heading to his homeland to protest. RELATED CONTENT:Oprah Winfrey Commits $2 Million to Puerto Rico After Being Inspired by Lin-Manuel MirandaBad Bunny Makes History With Sold-Out Homecoming Concert in Puerto RicoJennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Open Up About Relief Trip to Puerto Rico