New this week: Bruce Springsteen, 'The Big Brunch' and Sonic
This week’s new entertainment releases include albums by Bruce Springsteen and Louis Tomlinson, Olivia Wilde's “Don't Worry Darling” hits HBO Max, and Dan Levy of Emmy-winning “Schitt’s Creek” fame has “The Big Brunch,” a cooking competition he created and hosts.
'Lovecraft Country' part of virtual festival celebrating TV
This image released by HBO shows Jurnee Smollett, from left, Jonathan Majors and Courtney B. Vance in a scene from "Lovecraft Country." The Queens Gambit, Lovecraft Country and What We Do in the Shadows are among the series featured in a virtual edition of the Paley Centers annual festival. (HBO via AP)LOS ANGELES – "Lovecraft Country,” “The Queen’s Gambit” and “What We Do in the Shadows” are among the series featured in a virtual edition of the Paley Center’s annual festival celebrating TV programs and their makers. Sessions with stars and creators of “The Good Doctor” and “Big Sky” round out the festival lineup. Highlights of PaleyFest events past, including for “The Golden Girls” and “The Big Bang Theory,” are available on the Paley Center’s YouTube page at youtube.com/user/paleycenter.
Goldberg, Zendaya to be honored at Essence Hollywood awards
This combination photo shows actress Michaela Coel, from left, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Whoopi Goldberg and Zendaya. Essence announced on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, that the actresses are among the honorees at this year's Essence Black Women in Hollywood event. (AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Whoopi Goldberg, Andra Day and Zendaya will be among the honorees at this year's Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, which will be livestreamed during Oscars week for the first time this year. Essence on Tuesday announced the honorees for the 14th annual ceremony on April 22. In addition to the Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar- and Tony-winner Goldberg and “Euphoria” star Zendaya, they include actor, singer and songwriter Cynthia Erivo and actor Michaela Coel.
Catherine Zeta-Jones joins Michael Sheen in 'Prodigal Son'
This combination photo shows Catherine Zeta-Jones, left, at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles and Michael Sheen at the FOX Upfront party on May 13, 2019, in New York. The Welsh actors join "Prodigal Son" in the Tuesday, March 2, 20201, episode with Zeta-Jones playing a doctor and Sheen playing an incarcerated serial killer surgeon. (AP Photo)LOS ANGELES – Catherine Zeta-Jones was already a fan of “Prodigal Son,” so when the chance came to join the show, she jumped, lured by the prospect of working alongside Michael Sheen. She was born in Swansea and Sheen was born in Newport seven months apart. That was, of course, a huge pull for me.”Zeta-Jones joins Fox’s “Prodigal Son” in Tuesday's episode, directed by co-star Lou Diamond Phillips.
MTA brings celebrity voices to NYC transit announcements
FILE - This photo from Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, show riders exit and enter a bus at the Fordham Metro-North in New York. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday launched a campaign that has celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg, and Awkwafina making the announcements heard at subway stations, on trains, and buses. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)NEW YORK – Riders on New York City subways and buses are getting an earful, thanks to some famous hometown voices. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday launched a campaign that has celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg and Awkwafina making the announcements heard at subway stations, on trains and buses. The MTA said the announcements will run for at least a month, and highlight the importance of mask-wearing and other coronavirus pandemic safety measures.
Star-studded benefit concert to honor nurses on Thanksgiving
All rights reserved)LOS ANGELES – Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan will be among the entertainers honoring nurses in a star-studded benefit virtual concert on Thanksgiving. Nurse Heroes announced Tuesday that the concert called Nurse Heroes Live will stream on the organization’s YouTube and Facebook along with LiveXLive on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. EST. The benefit will provide money for a variety of programs including scholarships for nurses and their children. Taylor Swift will donate a signed collectible edition “Folklore" guitar, which will be auctioned for the benefit of the Nurses Heroes Foundation. The nurses of New York's Northwell Health will be the first beneficiaries of the concert.
Atlanta police make arrest in actor's shooting death
In this Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, photo made from video and released by the Atlanta Police Department, Antonio Demetrice Rhynes surrenders to an APD drone with officers outside his apartment in Atlanta. Atlanta police announced Friday that they have arrested Rhynes on a felony murder charge for the shooting death of actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd. (Atlanta Police Department via AP)ATLANTA – Atlanta police announced Friday that they have made an arrest in the shooting death of actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd. It wasn't immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his arrest. In drone footage of the arrest released by Atlanta police, the camera enters a second-floor apartment with a damaged front door.
Thomas Jefferson Byrd, known for Spike Lee films, killed
ATLANTA – Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, known for his roles in Spike Lee films, has been shot and killed in Atlanta, police said Sunday. Grant said homicide detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and declined to provide further details. “May we all wish condolences and blessings to his family,” Lee wrote. !”“Loved working with you Byrd,” she wrote. Actor Lori Petty tweeted: “What a man, what a talent ... what a crazy loss.”
Times' tax story is talker, but perceptions mostly hold
One questioned the report's timing and another wondered why the paper would run The New York Times' account without other sources. It was the most-engaged story that The New York Times has had this year, with 4.2 million reposts or reactions on social media through early Monday afternoon, according to NewsWhip. Seven of the 10 most-engaged stories concerned Trump's taxes, either the Times' pieces or those of other news organizations. The story ran under a large photo of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort shrouded in palm trees, itself a provocative news decision contrasting Trump's tax records with his wealth. The Orlando Sentinel's story ran under the headline, “Report releases Trump tax info.” Somewhat bland, the headline could be seen as a way of mollifying both sides.
Oscars diversity criteria 'not about exclusion' say leaders
I want to commend them for trying and for putting together a criteria because we know criteria is a way to counter bias, said Smith. Five years ago, the film academy endeavored to significantly diversify its own membership. The best picture adjustment is just one of the effort. Others include implementing a set 10 best picture nominees starting at the 94th Oscars and mandatory unconscious bias training for academy members. The best picture standards were specifically designed to be flexible and give latitude to filmmakers.
Film academy to host virtual panels about inclusion, equity
Lee Daniels, Lulu Wang and Taraji P. Henson are among the talent participating in a series of virtual panels about inclusion and equity in Hollywood hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The organization that puts on the Oscars said Thursday that the panels rolling out through September and October will be available to the public. Entitled Academy Dialogues: It Starts with Us, the series is part of the film academys push to further equity and inclusion in its ranks and in the entertainment industry. The series launched last month with a conversation between Whoopi Goldberg and civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson about the power of narrative. Its currently available on YouTube.
DaBaby, Roddy Ricch to help BET celebrate awards virtually
The three-hour show will be jam-packed with heavy hitters currently dominating the pop charts and streaming services, including DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Summer Walker, Kane Brown and Chloe x Halle. The three-hour show will be jam-packed with heavy hitters currently dominating the pop charts and streaming services, including DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Summer Walker, Kane Brown and Chloe x Halle. Comedian, actress and TV personality Amanda Seales will host the 2020 BET Awards, which will air on CBS for the first time. Drake is the leading nominee: Hes up for six honors, including video of the year and best male hip-hop artist. Ricch and Megan Thee Stallion follow Drake with five nominations each.
Ava DuVernay joins the film academy's Board of Governors
LOS ANGELES Filmmaker Ava DuVernay has been elected to the film academys Board of Governors for the first time. The academy has increased the number of women and people of color on the board. Incumbent governors reelected include Whoopi Goldberg, Dolemite Is My Name screenwriter Larry Karaszewski and Participant Media CEO David Linde among others. The organization that puts on the Oscars said that the number of women on the board has gone from 25 to 26 and people of color from 11 to 12. The Board of Governors represent each of the academys 17 branches and work to set the organizations strategy, finances and fulfillment of its mission.
A look at entertainers and entities on hold over coronavirus
“I’m going to socially distance myself.”Behar said she doesn’t trust the government and made the decision to self-quarantine herself. She added she is lucky that she doesn’t have child care needs and has enough money to tide her over. And the crisis is hampering production of potential new shows, with work on more than a dozen pilots halted. The decision comes a day after Disney announced the planned shutdown of its parks. ___The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education.