Striking Hollywood writers vow not to picket Tony Awards, opening the door to some kind of show
Striking members of the Writers Guild of America have said they will not picket next month’s Tony Award telecast, clearing a thorny issue facing show organizers and opening the door for some sort of Broadway razzle-dazzle.
Biden shied away from news conferences, interviews in Year 1
As President Joe Biden wraps up his first year in the White House, he has held fewer news conferences than any of his five immediate predecessors at the same point in their presidencies, and has taken part in fewer media interviews than any of his recent predecessors.
Louisiana high school boasts 4 best-album Grammy nominees
A New Orleans high school is celebrating Grammy nominations for four of its graduates. St. Augustine High School alumni PJ Morton, Timothy Thedford, Jonathan Batiste and Luke James are each up for best album in different categories at the awards show Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)NEW ORLEANS – A New Orleans high school is celebrating Grammy nominations for four of its graduates. St. Augustine High School alumni PJ Morton, Timothy Thedford, Jonathan Batiste and Luke James are each up for best album in different categories at the awards show Sunday, The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate reports. The school congratulated the four nominees on a billboard along the Pontchartrain Expressway in New Orleans.
CBS to air Emmy Awards on Sept. 19; no host yet
FILE - A video monitor displays the stage for Sunday's 71st Primetime Emmy Awards during Press Preview Day in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, 2019. The Emmy Awards will be held on Sept. 19 and air live on CBS. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – The Emmy Awards will be held on Sept. 19 and air live on CBS. Since 2008, the show has been held at Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Kimmel was live at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and most presenters and nominees appeared remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
New this week: 'Coming 2 America,' Camilo and a dragon movie
(ABC/Paramount+/Amazon via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are back in Queens as Prince Akeem and Semmi in “Coming 2 America,” the sequel to the 1988 film, which is now coming straight to your living room Friday on Amazon Prime Video. Set to becoming the King of Zamunda, Murphy’s character returns to the U.S. to find a son he’s never met. Ad— A more family friendly streaming option this week is the Walt Disney Co.’s computer animated “Raya and the Last Dragon,” featuring the voices of “Star Wars’” Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as a dragon. The big-voiced Grammy-winning singer self-produced “Baby, I’m Hollywood!” – which is a mix of soul music, piano ballads and funk sounds.
Deal reached in suit alleging James Franco sexual misconduct
FILE - This Sept. 5, 2019 file photo shows James Franco at the premiere of HBO's "The Deuce" third and final season in New York. A settlement deal has been reached in a lawsuit that alleged James Franco intimidated students at an acting and film school he founded into exploitative sexual situations. A filing in Los Angeles Superior Court said a settlement had been reached in the class-action suit brought by former students at the now-defunct Studio 4. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – A tentative settlement has been reached in a lawsuit that alleged James Franco intimidated students at an acting and film school he founded into gratuitous and exploitative sexual situations, attorneys for the plaintiffs said Saturday. In a subsequent interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Franco called the sexual misconduct stories about him inaccurate, but said, “If I’ve done something wrong, I will fix it.
Fox News gives satirist Greg Gutfeld a weeknight talk show
This image released by Fox News Channel shows host Greg Gitfeld. Fox News Channel says it will give a weeknight talk show to its hard-edged satirist, Greg Gutfeld, starting this spring. Gutfeld has been hosting a weekend talk show and been a panelist on "The Five." (Fox News Channel via AP)NEW YORK – Fox News Channel says it is giving a weeknight talk show this spring to its hard-edged satirical personality, Greg Gutfeld, in a further expansion of its opinion programming. Another recent segment mocked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's use of the phrase “circle back” to answer questions where she had to check for further details.
Interview flap shows challenges as Harris settles in as VP
The flap was an early signal of some of the issues Harris faces as she settles in and seeks to define her position within the White House. "Harris has a challenge in figuring out what is her role, what’s her specialty in this White House,” said longtime Democratic strategist Joel Payne. Harris also misspoke on some details in her West Virginia interview, referring to “abandoned land mines” instead of “abandoned mine lands” in coal country. She will constantly have to ask herself the question: Would a previous vice president be critiqued in this way?” he said. Even after the interview, Harris’ aides said she was calling lawmakers to advocate for the bill and hear their concerns.
With quarantines almost over, tennis set to start Down Under
It was a controversial start to the government-mandated quarantine ahead of the Australian Open beginning Feb. 8, 2021. The government-mandated quarantine ahead of the Feb. 8-21 Australian Open had a controversial start. There was some considerable doubt during that second wave whether the Australian Open would even be remotely possible in Melbourne. Players, coaches and officials were flown in on 17 jets chartered by Tennis Australia and met by biosecurity officials and placed immediately into hotel quarantine. They include 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu, whose coach was among those who tested positive, and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.
Late-night hosts react with shock, anger to Capitol attack
(CBS/NBC/NBC/ABC via AP)NEW YORK – Late-night TV show hosts expressed anger and frustration at the violence at the U.S. Capitol, offering somber monologues that pleaded for unity even as some aimed pointed barbs at those they held responsible for the mobs' actions. “It was a terrible day in the history of this country,” said Jimmy Kimmel on his ABC show Wednesday. “If my grandfather were alive today and saw what was happening in the country that he fought for, he’d be disgusted," said Jimmy Fallon on NBC. "After five years of coddling this president’s fascist rhetoric, guess whose followers want to burn down the Reichstag?” he said. I assure you there are more good people than there are bad, and good will prevail,” Fallon said.
New Queen Latifah drama gets post-Super Bowl debut showcase
LOS ANGELES – Queen Latifah's upcoming drama series has scored a touchdown. CBS says “The Equalizer” will get the coveted post-Super Bowl slot next February to showcase its debut. A special edition of Stephen Colbert's daily “The Late Show” will follow late local news on Super Bowl night, the network also announced. The returning series “FBI” also is getting special treatment, with its season debut following the NFL's AFC championship game on Sunday, Jan. 24. The other daily CBS late-night program, James Corden's “The Late Late Show,” will air a weekend edition on the night of the conference championship and after local newscasts.
Jon Stewart will be back in the host's chair for Apple TV+
LOS ANGELES – Jon Stewart is returning to TV, more than five years after bowing out as host of “The Daily Show” and with a new home at Apple TV+. Stewart will host an hour-long, current affairs series that will explore topics of national interest as well as his advocacy work, the streaming service said Tuesday. Each season of the show will have a companion podcast to “continue the discussion,” Apple TV+ said. The platform also has a deal with Stewart and his production company that gives it first shot at other projects. Stewart, writer and director of the recent film “Irresistible" with Steve Carell and Rose Byrne, is also an executive producer for CBS' “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”Stewart will be an executive producer along with host of his new Apple TV+ show, with the title yet to be announced.
Trump the dancer? His moves to 'YMCA' at rallies are a hit
President Donald Trump, a man who is famously particular about his appearance, is fully embracing doing a dad dance to the Village People's “YMCA” as the finale to his rallies in the campaign's closing stretch. Trump's rally dance has become a rare moment of levity in an otherwise miserable campaign year marked by a deadly pandemic, an economic recession and racial turmoil. Then order 'Dancing with The Don’ and let President Trump teach you all the hottest moves!" Dancing.”“YMCA,” widely considered a gay anthem, is a relatively new addition to Trump's rally playlist. Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller agreed to reveal the secret to an AP reporter “only if we first get a clip of you singing YMCA.”AP's Jill Colvin declined.
Heard any Biden jokes? Study of late-night comics finds few
A staggering 97% of the jokes Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon told about the candidates in September targeted President Donald Trump, a study released Monday found. That's 455 jokes about Trump and 14 about Democrat Joe Biden, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University. That doesn't even count 64 jokes made about Trump's family or administration, the study said. It may present a real challenge for the comics if Biden defeats Trump in next month's election, however. In 2001, late-night comedians made former President Bill Clinton the subject of more jokes than his successor, George W. Bush, Lichter said.
Guilfoyle's loud RNC speech makes her the comics' favorite
Stephen Colbert mimicked poking his head out from under a table after playing a clip of Guilfoyle on CBS' Late Show." I'm glad we already have kids, because I think I was sterilized by that.He called Guilfoyle a vengeful banshee who will haunt your dreams.On The Daily Show, Trevor Noah said Guilfoyle's speech was so loud that Canada called the cops. I want to wish a speedy recovery for anyone who watched the convention on headphones, he said. MSNBC's Morning Joe ran portions of her speech side-by-side with Dwight Schrute's classic award acceptance speech in The Office.Somewhere, Kimmel was taking notes. That stands in contrast to Colbert, who is doing the Late Show live for the two weeks of the convention.
Novelist Patchett has Nashville bookstore customers swooning
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Nashville bookstore that opened and thrived while others were closing their doors is once again defying the odds, thanks, in part, to its famous novelist co-owner. How could pandemic-stressed book purchasers resist a read she describes as a cross between a puppy and a warm bath? In addition to the book-related customer comments, a lot of posts also ask where Patchett gets her dresses. Parnassus opened in 2011, shortly after two large Nashville bookstores the once-independent Davis-Kidd and the chain store Borders shut down in quick succession. Despite the naysayers, Parnassus thrived.
New York City curfew lifts early following peaceful protests
(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)NEW YORK New York City is lifting its curfew spurred by protests against police brutality ahead of schedule, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday morning. At protests in Manhattan earlier Saturday, volunteers handed out snacks, first aid kits and plenty of water bottles on a muggy afternoon. But Mayor Bill de Blasio has insisted the curfew will remain in place throughout the weekend. She added she thinks protests could continue next week, even as some will go back to work when New York City begins its reopening. I think as long as we stay organized, thats exactly what can and will and should happen, Henry said.
Conan O'Brien to return to air, with an iPhone from home
NEW YORK, N.Y. – 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' “Conan” 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 Institute’s Department of Science Education.
Virus prompts late shows to drop audiences, ‘Survivor’ delay
The late night talk shows announced that they will tape their shows without studio audiences due to the new coronavirus. “The Tonight Show” and other late-night talk shows in New York announced Wednesday they will tape without audiences, while CBS said that production on the next season of “Survivor” was being postponed. The action won't affect the talk show's production schedule, and it will be regularly reviewed, Telepictures Productions said. Also Wednesday, CBS said production on the 41st edition of “Survivor” has been postponed in response to the spread of the coronavirus. ___The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education.
NBC's Bell, producer for Fallon and Olympics, departs
NEW YORK, NY – NBC executive Jim Bell, who has produced the last four Olympics for the network and been in charge backstage at Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight" show for the past year, says he's leaving NBC. Bell said in a statement that the timing was perfect to forge a new path that would build on his experience in news, sports and entertainment. He was a longtime producer of the "Today" show before moving to the Olympics, where he was in charge of NBC's prime-time telecasts. Since 2017, Bell had been in charge of all Olympics content across all platforms. NBC says a former "Tonight" producer, Gavin Purcell, will fill in at the show.
'Late Show' Host Stephen Colbert Extends Contract With CBS Through August 2023
On Thursday, CBS announced that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert star got a new contract extension, taking him well past August 2020, the end of his previous contract. "I've been asked by CBS to host The Late Show until 2023, and I have every intention of honoring their subpoena," he said in a statement. "Stephen Colbert is one of the most entertaining, influential and relevant voices in America today," David Nevins, Chief Creative Officer, CBS Corporation, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Showtime Networks, Inc., said in his own statement. The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. RELATED CONTENT: Nicki Minaj Makes Stephen Colbert Blush With Flirty Rap - Watch!
Rami Malek Talks Impromptu Kiss With Daniel Craig: 'Does This Make Me a Bond Girl?'
Rami Malek may be playing the unnamed villain in the upcoming James Bond film, No Time to Die, but he got more intimate with British actor Daniel Craig than most of the franchise's baddies. He's my favorite Bond if I can say that," Malek said of Craig. And we were sitting at a table over hours just batting about ideas back and forth, and we finally cracked this really challenging scene," Malek recalled. Little is known about the role that Malek is playing in the upcoming film, which will be Craig's last as Bond. RELATED CONTENT:Rami Malek Hopes to 'Shock' Fans as New James Bond Villain (Exclusive)Daniel Craig 'Really Quite Drunk' as He Bids Farewell to James Bond With a Heartfelt SpeechDaniel Craig Gives Prince Charles a Tour of 'Bond 25' Set Following Ankle Injury
Kirsten Dunst Says Former Co-Stars Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise Treated Me Like a Little Sister
Kirsten Dunst has fond memories of her former co-stars, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. I watched Tom in I feel like I watched Brad in A River Runs Through It, and Tom was in Far and Away, which I loved. So it was more like romantic fans.MoviepixDunst, who plays the young vampire Claudia in the film, added, They treated me like a little sister. Though she didnt name her new son Tristan, she did welcome little Ennis with her fianc, Jesse Plemons, last May. You clean one and theres another one to clean!Calling Plemons, a very good dad, Dunst noted, He cleans [the bottles] too!For more from Dunst, watch the clip below:RELATED CONTENT:Kirsten Dunst Makes Red Carpet Debut Just 4 Months After Giving BirthKirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons' Baby Name RevealedKirsten Dunst Gives Birth to First Child With Fiance Jesse Plemons
Will Ferrell Appears on 6 Late-Night Shows as Ron Burgundy
The original Anchorman Ron Burgundy made a rare appearance on, not one, but six late-night television programs. Will Farrell took up his fictional alter ego Thursday night, taking over the stage at Conan, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, The Late Late Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night With Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel Live! all in one night. On one show, the fictional San Diego anchor performed stand-up ventriloquism with a bearded dummy. On another, Burgundy poked fun at current events, joking that the biggest story of 2019 is the Bueller Report. The Ferris Bueller report.The late night takeover was meant to promote the new season of Ferrells podcast, The Ron Burgundy Podcast.RELATED STORIESSupreme Court Pick's 'Virgin Defense' Provides Fodder for Late-Night ComediansIn Wake of Vegas Shooting, Late Night Comics Let Go of Humor to Push for Gun ControlJon Stewart Returns to Late Night TV With Stephen Colbert to Mock Trump During RNC
Tiffany Haddish Reveals the Hilarious Piece of Dating Advice John Mayer Gave Her
Tiffany Haddish is getting some relationship advice from John Mayer. "John Mayer been giving me relationship advice," Haddish told the host. "He said if there's somebody that I like that's in the eye of the public I should, when I'm doing interviews, say that I'm seeing that person," Haddish shared. The goal of Mayer's advice, Haddish said, is to produce "some kind of interaction" with her celeb crush. "I'm seeing him in my dreams a lot."
'Spider-Man' Tom Holland Rescues Fan Being Crushed Outside 'Late Show'
Before he entered the Ed Sullivan Theater in Midtown Manhattan, Holland helped a young lady who was being pushed by autograph hounds. I got you, Holland told Cassidy Ariel as she was being pushed into barricades. Ariel found herself in a throng of eager fans outside the theater as Holland showed up. Holland told the people around Ariel back up and made sure she was alright. Holland didn't dish on the drama during his appearance on Colbert's show, but this fan said she will never forget Spider-Man coming to her rescue.