‘Notes on Surviving the Fire’ tackles rape culture on college campuses
Review Notes on Surviving the Fire By Christine MurphyKnopf: 288 pages, $28 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores. About midway through Christine Murphy’s debut novel,…
Death of Chauncy Glover, KCAL News anchor, ruled an accident
Emmy-winning news anchor Chauncy Glover died with drugs in his system and his death has been ruled an accident, according to the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner. The medical examiner’s office confirmed Wednesday in a statement that…
Hood Historian is archiving and mapping the history of L.A.
This story is part of a zine that L.A. Times Image created in collaboration with Lauren Halsey, Diamond Jones and the Summaeverythang Community Center. The limited-edition zine, printed by -ism, will be at Halsey’s booth at Frieze L.A. For over…
Kevin Spacey says former co-star Guy Pearce is ‘not a victim’
Nearly 30 years after the fact, Guy Pearce appears to have processed his interactions with Kevin Spacey on the set of “L.A. Confidential.” But Kevin Spacey is not having it — even though Pearce said previously that he had dealt…
Lorne Michaels biography: Best stories about ‘SNL’ creator
On the Shelf Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live By Susan MorrisonRandom House: 656 pages, $36 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores. There’s…
Carl Lumbly on politics in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’
“Captain America: Brave New World” puts Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson at the center of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the first Black Captain America. Joining Mackie in his groundbreaking journey is Carl Lumbly, who made his own historic mark as…
No one has higher expectations for ‘Suits LA’ than creator Aaron Korsh
Aaron Korsh hates thinking about expectations. He sees it as a pointless mind game that he has no real control over. But when you’re the creator of a cable legal drama — in this case, “Suits” — that concluded nearly…
Paramount, YouTube TV strike deal, averting CBS outage
Google’s YouTube and Paramount Global have struck a new distribution contract, averting a threatened blackout of CBS and other television channels for nearly 8 million YouTube TV customers. The deal was clinched Saturday night, about 48 hours after the previous…
Abraham Lincoln-Frederick Douglass musical is frank about slavery
In 1862, Abraham Lincoln held a forum to consider a potential solution to the country’s conflict: What if all free Black people left the U.S. and settled in Central America? The president’s controversial proposal of Linconia is one of many…
Review: 'Becoming Led Zeppelin' brings riffage and volume but little in the way of fresh insight
Though blessed with new interviews with surviving band members Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant, the timid profile represents a missed opportunity.
OpenAI’s board rejects bid from Elon Musk-led group
The feud between Elon Musk and rival Sam Altman took a new turn on Friday when OpenAI’s board rejected a $97.4-billion offer by an investment consortium led by the Tesla chief executive. “OpenAI is not for sale, and the board…
Review: ‘Old Friends’ celebrate Sondheim in luxury at the Ahmanson
Our love of Stephen Sondheim is approaching the “Beatlemania” phase. One wonders what the Broadway maestro would have made of “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends,” which opened Thursday at the Ahmanson Theatre in preparation for its move to Broadway in the…
With ‘Captain America: Brave New World,’ Marvel looks to reset
Minutes into the first fight scene of the new “Captain America: Brave New World,” a foe quips that the Captain America he dreamed of killing was bigger than current mantle-holder Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. The legacy of that…
‘Paddington in Peru’ review: Not hard to bear but coasting
As delicious as a marmalade sandwich can be, too many of them can be too much, especially when they aren’t made by someone who knows how to spread the jam just right. When it comes to marmalade sandwiches — and…
Sean Baker doesn’t know he’s the front-runner with ‘Anora’
Upstairs at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Sean Baker is talking shop with veteran projectionist Ivan Rothberg as he’s threading the fifth reel of “Anora,” Baker’s Oscar-nominated crowd-pleaser that won top honors from the directors and producers guilds over…
Rebecca Kutler named president of MSNBC
Rebecca Kutler was named the new president of the Comcast-owned progressive cable news channel MSNBC after holding the post on an interim basis. Mark Lazarus, the Comcast executive leading the proposed spinoff company that will include MSNBC and other cable…
Timothée Chalamet: Forever young in the record books?
Timothée Chalamet, nominated for playing music legend Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” could take the Oscar — and a milestone — from a close rival in this season’s lead actor race. 29 years, 63 days If he wins, Chalamet…
Serena Williams implies Super Bowl cameo wasn’t about Drake
All those fan theories about Serena Williams’ Super Bowl LIX halftime show cameo appear to be wrong, according to the tennis legend herself. The retired athlete, who crip-walked during Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” verse during Sunday’s big game, took…
Felipe Esparza talks about new Netflix special ‘Raging Fool’
Before Felipe Esparza became a star comedian traveling all over the world at his leisure, it was a struggle for the L.A. comic to get around without a car. For years, he got to all his gigs by public transit,…
Television Academy discusses AI with lawmakers
The Television Academy has long existed to celebrate industry excellence, handing out Emmy Awards each fall. But the North Hollywood-based group has been branching out. Dramatic shifts in television platforms, production and technology — including the rapid adoption of artificial…
These days an Oscar snub is almost a badge of honor
The 97th Academy Award nominations have been announced and, sorry, Pamela, you’re not on the invite list. But take comfort, you’re in very good company. Every year brings the inevitable snubs when Oscar puts together its dance card. Wags and…
Counterculture author Tom Robbins has died
Tom Robbins, a 1970s counterculture author hailed as “the most dangerous writer in the world” by a leading Italian critic and named one of the 100 best writers of the 20th century by Writer’s Digest magazine in 2000, has died….
‘Anora’ takes PGA and DGA. is the Oscar next?
An awards season notable for wild momentum swings saw another big shift Saturday night with Sean Baker’s “Anora” winning top honors from both the directors and producers guilds. Baker picked up the DGA’s award around 9 p.m. at the Beverly…
Trump amends CBS ’60 Minutes’ lawsuit, demands $20 billion
President Trump has amended his lawsuit against CBS, demanding $20 billion and again claiming the network deceptively edited a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris in an effort to prop up her election chances. In the new…
Willy Chavarria’s best celebrity looks, from Becky G to Kendrick Lamar
Last month, award-winning Latino fashion designer Willy Chavarria brought his renegade sensibilities to the runway in France, finally making his long-awaited debut at Men’s Fashion Week in Paris with his fall collection, “Tarántula.” Chavarria tells the story of American fashion…
‘Parthenope’ review: Sorrentino returns with surface charms
A softer Paolo Sorrentino (“The Great Beauty”) is still a fertile imagemaker. That means a willing viewer can coast through much of the Italian writer-director’s new film, “Parthenope,” on an enigmatic bliss-out of Neapolitan beauty (both people and places) and…
Jacques Audiard’s strong prix game
Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language, French-made musical “Emilia Pérez” leads all other movies in the 2025 Oscar nominations, adding to the scores of other laurels Audiard’s thematically gritty, visually innovative works have collected over the years. 13 The “Emilia” nominations haul is…
Ye explains himself again. This time, the answer is autism
Ye is redefining Ye once again, and this time the answer is autism. “I went to this doctor, one that worked with Justin Bieber, one that worked with — I’m not even gonna name the other names,” he said on…
How RaMell Ross made ‘Nickel Boys’ as ‘visceral’ as real life
In the latest episode of The Envelope video podcast, “Nickel Boys” filmmaker RaMell Ross breaks down the film’s distinctive style and costume designer Arianne Phillips discusses dressing Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” Kelvin Washington: Hello and…
Gigi Zumbado takes edge off Valentine’s Day slasher ‘Heart Eyes’
Love is a killer in the new Valentine’s Day horror flick “Heart Eyes” — but Gigi Zumbado brings levity and charm to this cheeky, yet gruesome movie. The Cuban American actor stars alongside Olivia Holt (“Ally”) and Mason Gooding (“Jay”),…
How do these pitches from the 10 best picture nominees sound?
What movie will win the Oscar for best picture? The race, for the moment, is more of a free-for-all than it has been in years. For the 10 movies nominated, being invited to the party was just the first step….
Ke Huy Quan reunites with ‘Goonies’ co-stars at Chinese Theatre
For some fans of “The Goonies,” star Ke Huy Quan’s hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Monday was a “Data” remember. The Oscar winner — who starred as gadget whiz Richard “Data” Wang in “The Goonies”…
Jennifer Finney Boylan on ‘two sexes’ executive order, Caitlyn Jenner
On the Shelf Cleavage By Jennifer Finney BoylanCeladon Books: 256 pages, $29 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores. “I hope people don’t think it’s a…
Former President Biden signs with Hollywood talent agency CAA
Just weeks after leaving office, Joe Biden is laying the groundwork for his post-presidential era in Hollywood. One of the entertainment industry’s biggest talent firms, Creative Artists Agency, which represents actors including Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, said Monday it…
‘Conclave’s’ doubt stands out amid an angelic visual
In Edward Berger’s suspenseful “Conclave,” a spirited monologue from newcomer Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) speaks of the pettiness among the clergymen gathered to select the next pontiff. “These things are not the church,” he says. “The church is not a…
Grammys red carpet: Best dressed at 2025 Grammy Awards
Arrivals are underway at the Grammy Awards, and The Times’ photo team is out in force on the red carpet Crypto.com Arena. Whether you’re following along live in the lead-up to Sunday’s night’s telecast, again hosted by Trevor Noah, or…
Jacob Collier on Joni Mitchell, Quincy Jones and the Grammys
In a category dominated by the likes of Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, Jacob Collier is unquestionably the least famous musician nominated for album of the year at Sunday’s 67th Grammy Awards. Yet the English singer, songwriter, producer and…
The Grateful Dead is honored at MusiCares charity gala
Deadheads mixed with bigwigs Friday night at the annual MusiCares Persons of the Year gala, where the members of the Grateful Dead were honored by the Recording Academy for their philanthropy and cultural impact 60 years after the iconic jam…
‘Dog Man’ review: Animation hides parental anxiety under fur
Never fear, “Dog Man” is here — to save your families from the doldrums of January moviegoing. The popular children’s books by Dav Pilkey (a spinoff of the “Captain Underpants” series) are adapted with a silly, self-referential charm by writer-director…
For Rawayana, a Grammy nomination symbolizes Venezuela resilience
Though the winners for the 67th annual Grammy Awards have yet to be announced, the Venezuelan band Rawayana has already achieved a career milestone with the nomination of their fifth studio album “¿Quién trae las cornetas?” for Latin rock or…
‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’ review: Minnelli’s team saluted
One of the casualties of an era centered on ring lights over stage lights is the marginalizing of the all-around “performer,” that blood-sweat-and-tears breed who could light up rooms and arenas alike with undeniable talent, passion and sparkling artifice. Anyone…
Greg Olsen on losing top Fox analyst role to Tom Brady: ‘It sucks’
Greg Olsen was a key part of the second-most-watched TV broadcast of all time. On Feb. 12, 2023, more than 115 million people tuned in to Super Bowl LVII to see the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35….
‘Emilia Pérez’ parody ‘Johanne Sacreblu’ goes viral
I’m here to champion a work of art that centers a transgender woman in the lead role, to make the case for thought-provoking cinema that subverts tropes by radically embracing them. I could only be speaking, of course, of “Johanne…
Comedian Ken Flores dies at 28, remembered for his ‘infectious laugh and presence’ in the L.A. comedy scene
Comedian Ken Flores, a rising talent in the Los Angeles stand-up comedy scene, died on Tuesday, according to his manager, Cameron Silzle. His body was discovered at his home Tuesday afternoon around 2 p.m. No cause of death was immediately…
Chinese films dodging censors have no place to go. Can they crack into Taiwan?
TAIPEI, Taiwan — When producer Wang Zijian was making the movie “Bel Ami,” or “Beautiful Friends,” he knew it had no chance of airing in Chinese theaters. The black-and-white satire, set in a small, snowy Chinese town, details the intersecting lives…
Linda Lavin: ‘Alice’ star’s cause of death revealed
Stage and screen actor Linda Lavin’s immediate cause of death has been revealed. The “Alice” star’s death certificate, obtained and posted online Monday by TMZ, said that her immediate cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest due to her underlying lung…
Eslabon Armado, DannyLux to play L.A. fire relief benefit concert
Eslabon Armado, Cuco and DannyLux join the long list of acts performing at benefit concerts across the country to aid those impacted by the Los Angeles fires. The trio of balladeering acts will perform at the Glass House in Pomona…
Steuart Smith retiring from the Eagles due to Parkinsonism
The Eagles are flying without touring guitarist Steuart Smith, who is stepping away from the rock band because of health issues. “It is with profound regret that, due to performance issues associated with my recently diagnosed Parkinsonism, I find that…
Sundance: Wildfire recovery tale ‘Rebuilding’ stirs raw emotions
PARK CITY, Utah — For those of us fortunate enough to avoid evacuation, much less life-altering destruction, during the recent L.A. wildfires, the past weeks have come with a certain numbness. What level of grief is appropriate, after all, if you…
‘Watson’ star Morris Chestnut on racist trolls, Hollywood longevity
For the record, Morris Chestnut is not a real doctor. He just plays one on TV. To be precise, Chestnut has played multiple physicians in the last several years, scrubbing in as a trauma specialist in “Nurse Jackie” before moving…
Timothée Chalamet hosts ‘SNL’ and puts on his Bob Dylan impression
In his third outing as “Saturday Night Live” host, Timothée Chalamet proved again he’s game for anything that “SNL” throws at him … sometimes to his detriment. Chalamet, who was just nominated for a lead actor Oscar this week for…
How a Nuggets fan ended up painting Kobe Bryant mural in Venice Beach
Artist Chris Carlson lives in Denver. He is a Nuggets fan. He may not have been the most obvious choice to paint a mural in Los Angeles based on a Lakers legend. “My relationship with the Lakers is complicated,” Carlson…
ASAP Rocky lawyer says gun in alleged Hollywood shooting was a prop
On the night he allegedly shot a founding member of the New York rap crew that helped launch his career, ASAP Rocky was carrying only a “prop gun” from a music video shoot that couldn’t fire real bullets, his defense…
Sundance 2025 photos: Lauren Graham, Emilie Blichfeldt, more
PARK CITY, Utah — The 2025 Sundance Film Festival is officially underway, which means we’re back on Main Street documenting the actors, writers, directors and documentary subjects shaping the cultural conversation in Park City, Hollywood and beyond. Along with bringing you…
‘Pee-wee as Himself’: Paul Reubens’ deathbed audio recording
On the day before his death in 2023, Paul Reubens, the children’s entertainer better known as Pee-wee Herman, recorded a rueful statement about being labeled a “pedophile” after his bombshell arrests on indecent exposure and obscenity charges in the 1990s…
Yura Borisov on his historic Oscar nomination for ‘Anora’
If “Anora” is a cockeyed contemporary reconfiguration of the Cinderella story, then actor Yura Borisov is its Prince Charming. Not that you would know it from the way he first slinks onscreen, silent and watchful. In the film, Borisov plays…
SXSW 2025 lineup: Seth Rogen, Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, more
The South by Southwest Film and TV Festival released the program for this year’s event, which will run March 7–14. The opening night’s TV selection will be the world premiere of “The Studio,” the anticipated new series from Seth Rogen…
Benedict Cumberbatch reveals ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ spoilers
Doctor Strange is going on hiatus in the next Marvel sequel, “Avengers: Doomsday,” according to a spoiler-happy, secret-spilling Benedict Cumberbatch. “Is that a spoiler?” the actor asked Variety in a recent interview. “F— it!” Speaking of no effs to give,…
Trump inauguration draws 24.6 million viewers, a steep drop from 2021 and 2017
The TV viewership for President Trump’s historic second inauguration fell far short of the audience for his first ceremony in 2017 and former President Biden’s 2021 event. Nielsen data showed Trump’s festivities averaged 24.6 million viewers across 15 networks from…
Fires could make Hollywood production even more expensive
As film and television production in Los Angeles lurches back to life, entertainment executives are grappling with a new concern: How the devastating wildfires could add to the already high cost of filming in Southern California. An estimated 30 film…
11 features and documentaries about the drug war by Mexican directors
Whether you disliked or enjoyed “Emilia Pérez,” the French-produced, Netflix-distributed musical about a Mexican cartel boss who undergoes gender transition, the conversation around it should hopefully inspire you to seek a deeper understanding of the ongoing violence that afflicts Mexico….
Oscars flashback: Sandy Powell prevails over Colleen Atwood
It’s a truism worth repeating: If you’ve done stellar costume design in a contemporary film, you may as well plan to stay home on Oscar night. It’s been 30 years since the academy has awarded a costume design statuette for…
L.A. wildfire coverage shows why local TV news matters in a crisis
As the devastating wildfires began to sweep across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, frightened residents were not turning to Netflix. Local TV news broadcasts were the video go-to for residents seeking immediate information on the crisis that engulfed the region….
TikTok was gone. It’s back with a Trump lifeline
At the stroke of midnight on Sunday, TikTok users in the United States were momentarily silenced, after the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a new law, which requires the social media app’s Chinese owner to sell off TikTok’s U.S. business or…
‘SNL’ host Dave Chappelle weighs in on L.A. fires, Palestine and Trump
At one time, comedian Dave Chappelle’s appearances as host on “Saturday Night Live” were events to be celebrated, most memorably when he hosted the first “SNL” after Donald Trump’s election to the presidency in 2016. In recent years, there’s been…
Broad museum hit with discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit
The former human resources director of the Broad is suing the Los Angeles museum and its former chief operating officer, accusing them of discrimination, retaliation and sexual harassment. In the lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, former…
‘Grand Theft Hamlet’ review: Goodnight, sweet Player One
To be an artist, or not to be? That is the question of “Grand Theft Hamlet,” a guns-blazingly funny documentary about two out-of-work British actors who spent a chunk of their COVID-19 lockdown staging Shakespeare’s masterpiece on the mean streets…
‘Every Little Thing’ review: Hope soars in hummingbird doc
All of us living in battered, unbowed Los Angeles could use a dose of the restorative right about now. Sally Aitken’s documentary “Every Little Thing” offers just that, giving us a glimpse of some small-scale repair work that bursts with…
Wendy Williams speaks out: ‘I am not cognitively impaired’
Wendy Williams is speaking out against her own legal guardian who stated last year that the former TV host is “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and legally incapacitated.” The daytime talk personality, 60, asserted Thursday morning: “I am not cognitively impaired.”…
‘Severance’ Season 2 review: A refined, thrilling masterwork
If you’re not familiar with the fantastically strange yet remarkably relatable premise of the sci-fi office series “Severance,” what I’m about to say may not make a whole lot of sense. Skip to paragraph three for a primer, then come…
Amid L.A. fires, Oscars ‘must go forward’ and will, CEO says
Decimated by fire season, it seems impossible that the Los Angeles area could even begin to think about awards season. As fires that have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses continue to burn, the idea…
Why Apple Music is betting on live radio in an on-demand era
In 2015, Zane Lowe left his job as a DJ on the BBC’s venerable Radio 1 in the U.K. to become the principal voice of a new digital radio station at the music-streaming service launched that year by Apple. Among…
Kate Middleton says her cancer is now in remission
After battling cancer most of last year, Kate Middleton says she’s now in remission. Catherine, Princess of Wales, who confirmed last March that she had cancer after months of speculation about her health and well-being, said Tuesday that she is…
Jimmy Kimmel praises L.A. ‘superheroes’ amid SoCal fires
Jimmy Kimmel is moved by community support and the commitment of first responders amid a dark period of L.A. history defined by devastating wildfires and immense loss. Returning Monday to his late-night TV slot, Kimmel delivered an emotional opening monologue…
Surf legend Gidget left homeless by Palisades fire
After the original “Gidget” movie, in 1959, Hollywood churned out any number of sequels. “Gidget Grows Up.” “Gidget Goes to Rome.” “Gidget Gets Married.” And so on. Half a century later, the onetime real-life surfer girl heroine — who was…
How Shakespeare can help us fathom the unimaginable L.A. fires
The sprawling geography of Los Angeles is hard to envision for those who live outside the region. Friends and family members in New York, gripped by apocalyptic images of the fires in 24/7 news reports, have had difficulty accepting that…
Brooke Shields tackles aging while female in a new book
On the Shelf ‘Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old’ By Brooke ShieldsFlatiron Books: 256 pages, $30If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores. “I was…
Billy Bob Thornton on ‘Landman’ finale and Season 2 hopes
Warning: This story contains spoilers from the season finale of “Landman.” Billy Bob Thornton had a hunch that his latest series, “Landman,” would strike a chord with viewers. Like the blockbuster hit “Yellowstone,” the Western-flavored drama about a fixer for…
Sam Moore, half of ’60s R&B duo Sam & Dave, dies at 89
Sam Moore, who as half of the 1960s R&B duo Sam & Dave sang gritty but hook-filled hits including “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Coming,” died Friday in Coral Gables, Fla. He was 89. His death was confirmed by…
L.A.’s architecturally significant houses destroyed in fires
Los Angeles has Frank Gehry’s glorious Walt Disney Concert Hall, the space-age wonder of the LAX Theme Building and the stack-of-vinyl needle drop that is the Capitol Records building. For some design geeks, however, the heart and soul of L.A.’s…
How the Palisades, Eaton fires are affecting L.A. theaters
Pasadena Playhouse producing artistic director Danny Feldman first had the idea years ago: concert stagings of classic American musicals, each featuring an all-star cast and a full orchestra. The Tony-winning regional theater scheduled the shows for back-to-back weekends, three performances…
Bob Clearmountain, L.A. recording icon, lost home in Palisades fire: ‘This could be the end of our world.’
On Tuesday afternoon, Bob Clearmountain was driving back from Apogee Studios in Santa Monica to his home in Pacific Palisades. The revered producer and mixer has helmed records by such rock legends as Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Roxy Music…
Netflix-operated Bay Theater survived Palisades fire, owner says
Amid the devastation of downtown Pacific Palisades caused by this week’s firestorm, the Bay Theater has emerged relatively unscathed. While nearby buildings were reduced to ash, developer Rick Caruso, who owns the Palisades Village retail-restaurant-residential complex that includes the movie…
‘The Pitt’ and ‘Doc’ review: Medical hyperrealism vs. melodrama
Judging by the content of television shows over the seven decades since the medium began, an alien race — you know they’re watching — would be justified in thinking the primary occupations of the human race to be solving crime…
‘American Primeval’ review: A bloody western centering women’s survival
“American Primeval,” a new limited series premiering Thursday on Netflix, lays its (title) cards right on the table: “Utah Territory, 1857. Wild and Untamed. The United States Army, Mormon Militia, Native Americans, and Pioneers. All locked in a brutal war…
For ‘The Brutalist,’ a ragtag orchestra created epic sound
The score for “The Brutalist” is itself a feat of architectural engineering. Composing only his second feature film, Daniel Blumberg gathered solos, performances and improvisations from select instrumentalists all over Europe — from the garden studio of an octogenarian pianist…
L.A. backs $1-billion TVC project, amid fears about Hollywood jobs
For the past two and a half years, the battle for the future of L.A.’s Fairfax Avenue corridor has been raging between economic powerhouses. Hackman Capital Partners, which owns and operates nearly two dozen studio properties, has been seeking to…
Peter Yarrow of ’60s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 86
Peter Yarrow, who helped make folk music a pop phenomenon in the 1960s as one-third of the vocal trio Peter, Paul and Mary, died Tuesday at his home in New York. He was 86. His death was confirmed by his…
Aubrey Plaza breaks silence on husband’s death: ‘Unimaginable tragedy’
Actor Aubrey Plaza broke her silence Monday on the recent death of her husband, Jeff Baena, saying it was an “unimaginable tragedy” and asking for privacy. Baena, an independent filmmaker, died Friday at his Los Feliz residence, according to the…
You’re the only guest at ‘Undersigned,’ a thrilling show in L.A.
Last summer I had a chance to strike a deal with the devil. I sat, contemplating my choice — what I could live without to acquire the one thing I most desired. This was no arbitrary crossroads. Over the past…
Golden Globes 2025 review: Nikki Glaser delivers a good time
The world may be falling apart around us, but we have somehow survived into 2025 and — yes — another awards season. First but also least is the Golden Globes, which through sheer determination and persistence has insinuated itself into…
How to watch the 2025 Golden Globe Awards this Sunday
Awards season is upon us once again, with this Sunday’s 82nd Golden Globe Awards kicking off the televised awards race that will consume Hollywood through the Academy Awards in March. Here’s what you need to know about the star-studded bash,…
What I learned from watching Fox News after the New Orleans attack
I usually kick off every Jan. 1 with the Rose Parade broadcast on Channel 5, then college football in the afternoon and evening. It’s one of the few days I honestly, truly try to relax and do something that’s next…
Jeff Baena dead: Indie filmmaker and husband of Aubrey Plaza was 47
Jeff Baena, an independent filmmaker who directed wife Aubrey Plaza in “The Little Hours” and co-wrote David O. Russell’s “I Heart Huckabees,” has died at 47. Baena died Friday at his residence, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office….
Brenton Wood, crooner who captivated Latino listeners, dies
In 1967, Brenton Wood looked as if he was on the cusp of mainstream success. The Compton crooner’s single “The Oogum Boogum Song” became a hit and ranked 34th and 19th on the Billboard’s Hot 100 and Top Selling R&B…
Neil Young reverses decision on canceled Glastonbury performance
Neil Young is back on the bill at Glastonbury. Three days after announcing that he’d pulled out of a planned performance at this year’s edition of the venerable English music festival, the 79-year-old rock legend said Friday that the gig…
FCC’s net neutrality rules struck down, in another blow to Biden administration
A federal appeals court on Thursday dealt a blow to President Biden’s Federal Communications Commission, striking down the agency’s hard-fought and long-debated open internet rules. The FCC had sought to reinstate a sweeping policy established under President Obama that was…
Oscars 2025: Who’s in for supporting actor and actress?
A month before our December awards vote, the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. launches a group email thread for members to advocate for their favorite films and standout work. The idea is to help everyone close any gaps in our…
The week’s bestselling books, Jan. 5
Hardcover fiction 1. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” 41 2. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $29) A woman upends her domestic life in this irreverent and tender novel….
The 30 best Latin music songs of 2024, according to the De Los staff
For Latin music, 2024 was yet another year of significant expansion — both on the commercial front, and in the stylistic detours and avant-garde tendencies favored by artists across the Americas. Música mexicana continued gaining new fans around the world,…
Southern rock, White House joints: How music shaped Carter’s career
In January 1974, Jimmy Carter — then the governor of Georgia — hosted a post-concert reception for Bob Dylan at the Governor’s Mansion in Atlanta. Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band was on the guest list, but he had…
Notorious kidnapper charged in new home invasions, attempted rapes
A notorious kidnapper whose 2015 crimes — and the subsequent flawed police investigation — were turned into a Netflix documentary has been charged in two new cases committed years ago in the San Francisco Bay Area. Matthew Muller, 47, appeared…
The secret behind Jimmy Carter’s prolific writing career
After Jimmy Carter was defeated in the 1980 presidential election a reporter asked if he’d write a memoir. The reply was certain, “Yes … I intend to write more than one book, as a matter of fact.” Carter — who…
Justin Baldoni plans countersuit against Blake Lively in latest ‘It Ends With Us’ drama
The legal drama surrounding “It Ends With Us” continued to mount over the weekend. On Dec. 20, Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director on the film “It Ends With Us,” accusing him of…
Box office was down in 2024. Why Hollywood still sounds relieved
It wasn’t good, but it could’ve been a lot worse. Given the lingering effects of last year’s Hollywood labor strikes, the relative lack of big movies and a dismal first half of the year at the box office, the film…
Emmy Russell of ‘Idol,’ Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, pregnant
A family of country music sweethearts is adding another idol to the list. Emmy Russell, a 2024 “American Idol” finalist and granddaughter of country legend Loretta Lynn, announced she is expecting a baby girl with boyfriend and singer Tyler Ward….
10 promising books to add to your reading list in January
Critic Bethanne Patrick recommends 10 promising titles — fiction and nonfiction — to consider for your January reading list. Each of us approaches a new year with a combination of worry and hope. What lies ahead? Might this be when…
George Perez turned his painful life into laughs in new “Misunderstood” special
On a recent Saturday night on Sunset Boulevard, a pair of black 1940s low-riders guided the diverse, sold-out crowd into the Comedy Store. Cypress Hill hung out in the green room. Los Angeles photographer and director Estevan Oriol oversaw six…
Sean Hannity is engaged to Ainsley Earhardt of ‘Fox & Friends’
Call it Fox & Fiancées: Fox News’ prime-time star Sean Hannity is engaged to “Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt. The “Hannity” host popped the question at their home church at Christmas, according to Fox News. The couple’s children —…
Netflix NFL games score 24 million viewers each on Christmas as streamers push further into sports
With two much anticipated NFL games and a big assist from Beyoncé, Netflix created a major cultural moment for the streaming industry, marking a significant milestone as the service pushes further into live sports. But the events couldn’t top the…
Hudson Meek, ‘Baby Driver’ child actor, dies at 16
Hudson Meek, an actor who appeared in “Baby Driver” and voiced Bada in the preschool-age series “Badanamu Stories,” has died after falling from a moving car. He was 16. Meek fell “to the roadway from a motor vehicle in motion”…
Beyoncé brings ‘Cowboy Carter’ to the NFL on Netflix
Beyoncé brought her album “Cowboy Carter” to life for the first time in a halftime performance at an NFL game on Christmas Day in her hometown of Houston. The show, which came midway through the Baltimore Ravens’ rout of the…
The week’s bestselling books, Dec. 29
Hardcover fiction 1. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” 2. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $29) Two grieving brothers come to terms with their history and the people…
The 2024 Envelope Oscar Roundtables
The fear factor behind great art Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, Colman Domingo, Peter Sarsgaard, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong dive into their films, truth-telling and acting alongside your director. READ HERE Doubts, sure. Compromise? Never 6 directors on doubt, compromise…
Wendy Williams ‘wants to come home’ from facility, son says
Wendy Williams’ family is “fighting” to get her back home from a facility where she’s receiving treatment for her health issues, her son said. The former daytime talk show host’s son Kevin Hunter Jr. on Monday shared an update about…
‘Bad Sisters’ creator Sharon Horgan on Season 2’s twist-filled finale
This story contains spoilers about the Season 2 finale of Apple TV+’s“Bad Sisters.” When Season 1 of “Bad Sisters” ended in 2022, the story of the Garvey sisters seemed to have reached a tidy conclusion. The evil John Paul was…
Animation Guild ratifies contract with Hollywood studios despite AI concerns
The Animation Guild on Monday said its members had approved the tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, by a supermajority “yes” vote. The union that represents Hollywood animators ratified its new…
‘Dune: Prophecy’ finale: Showrunner Alison Schapker on Valya’s secret
The first season of “Dune: Prophecy” came to a close on Sunday with a few gasp-inducing revelations and a lot more questions. HBO’s prequel series, set 10,000 years before the events of Denis Villeneuve’s films “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two,”…
Mystery writers reveal their go-to books for holiday gift-giving
Dying to Know 4 mystery writers answer burning questions If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores. Ring out the old year and bring in the new…
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunite onstage in London
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr hope you enjoyed the show. The surviving Beatles reunited onstage Thursday night at McCartney’s Got Back Tour finale in London to perform two of the band’s most iconic songs. As McCartney, 82, welcomed his surprise…
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ review: Jim Carrey keeps things zany
The thing about the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies is that they continue to surprise — with how humorous, self-referential and even insightful they can be. Since the first movie defied expectations in 2020 (the creative team redesigned the character after…
‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ review: Serves sumptuous vengeance
The brawny, bloodlust howl of “Gladiator II” isn’t your only opportunity for sweeping period spectacle this season, thanks to the renewed allure that OG adventure author Alexandre Dumas has exerted over the French film industry of late. Last year’s hearty…
Lizzo was ‘blindsided’ by sexual harassment lawsuits, she says
Lizzo is getting frank about how a landmark year in her career has turned into one of its most fraught. The “About Damn Time” hitmaker was fresh off of her first arena run last summer when three of her former…
‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ Netflix series team took creative risks
When Colombian director Laura Mora was first approached about joining the team tasked with adapting Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” into a TV series, she was more than skeptical. “I first heard of the project back…
The Weeknd performs intimate show for fans in Santa Monica
In the digital streaming era, one of the biggest flexes an artist can have is being a member of Spotify’s Billions Club, a playlist that highlights every song that has been streamed more than 1 billion times on the platform….
Megan Thee Stallion wants a new Tory Lanez restraining order
Megan Thee Stallion says even a jail cell can’t stop her convicted shooter Tory Lanez from tormenting her. The “Savage” rapper, born Megan Pete, on Tuesday filed a request for a new restraining order against Lanez, who is serving 10…
‘The Room Next Door’ review: Almodóvar, fixated on death
“I think I deserve a good death,” Martha laments to her friend and fellow writer Ingrid in “The Room Next Door,” a film fixated on the end — of a life, of a relationship, maybe even of the planet itself….
Lorraine O’Grady, groundbreaking conceptual artist, dies at 90
Lorraine O’Grady, a one-of-a-kind conceptual artist who examined racism and sexism through a multitude of mediums, has died at age 90. The artist’s groundbreaking works came after decades spent in other pursuits, including research economist and rock critic. The artist…
Justin Timberlake’s harness causes wardrobe mishap onstage
Justin Timberlake’s world tour has yielded a moment that fans are unlikely to forget tomorrow. It all went down at the “SexyBack” singer’s Thursday concert in Nashville, while he was performing his set closer, “Mirrors,” PageSix reported. During that number,…
‘What We Do in the Shadows’ finale: All good things must end
This article contains spoilers for the series finale of “What We Do in the Shadows.” Can vampires be funny? After six seasons of “What We Do in the Shadows,” the answer is a resounding yes. Like the 2014 film by…
Billie Eilish hit in the face after fan throws object onstage
Billie Eilish and a vocal group of concert attendees were displeased after one fan ruined the moment at a recent stop on the singer’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour. The nine-time Grammy winner had just begun performing her poignant…
Appreciation: Nikki Giovanni made me a poet. Listen, and she’ll still make you one too
“You sound like a poet.” When Nikki Giovanni uttered these words in January 2007 at the end of a two-hour interview, she shifted my life’s focus from covering the news to making art with it. Her matter-of-fact declaration offered me…
What the sexual assault charges against Sean Combs and others reveal
When I first heard the phrase “rape culture” years ago, it sounded so dystopian that I wanted to believe it was an exaggeration. But then came shocking revelations from all corners: the Catholic Church sex scandal, the Boy Scout sex…
Jay-Z seeks rape lawsuit dismissal, accuser stands by allegation
Jay-Z is seeking to have a lawsuit accusing him of rape dismissed after the accuser recently admitted there are several inconsistencies in her recollection of the alleged incident, which took place 24 years ago. The lawsuit was initially filed against…
Netflix’s ‘Maria’ and Angelina Jolie get Maria Callas all wrong
Here we go again. In Hollywood’s ongoing cheerless attempts to contest the joy of music by cutting stellar classical musicians down to size, “Maria” joins the curt parade of “Tár” and “Maestro.” The new biopic of Maria Callas follows the…
Cord-cutters are fuming over YouTube TV price hike
Remember all that money you were going to save by canceling your cable TV subscription? Cord-cutters are again dealing with the reality of rising programming costs after YouTube TV told subscribers Thursday that their monthly fee will go up by…
Dick Van Dyke rescued by neighbors in Malibu fire, reunited with cat
Dick Van Dyke is celebrating his 99th birthday Friday with his wife and pets — including his beloved cat Bobo, who briefly went missing — thanks to neighbors who helped rescue the legendary screen and stage actor from his home…
Judge orders rapper Lil Durk jailed in L.A. murder-for-hire case
Federal prosecutors said Thursday that rapper Lil Durk, who is accused of commissioning a murder two years ago in Los Angeles, may be linked to another killing in Chicago — allegations that helped convince a judge to order the Grammy…
John Galliano leaving Maison Margiela after a 10-year run
Maison Margiela’s creative director John Galliano, the iconoclastic couturier who previously headed artistry at Givenchy and Christian Dior, is leaving his post at the luxury French fashion house after a decade-long run. The British designer, 64, announced his goodbye Wednesday…
The secrets behind ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’s’ suburban At Attin
This story contains spoilers for “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” Episode 3. There’s more to At Attin than meets the eye. The peaceful and orderly planet introduced in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” is not just the suburban homeworld of Wim (Ravi…
Sundance 2025 lineup: Rachel Sennott, Chloë Sevigny, Steven Yeun
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival will have not one but two events potentially drawing eyeballs away from the programming. The festival, running from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, will begin just days after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Then…
Jamie Foxx details brain bleed, stroke in stand-up special
Jamie Foxx is finally telling the whole story about his hospitalization last year in the language he knows best: comedy. In his new comedy special released Tuesday, the Oscar winner revealed that he suffered a stroke last April. At that…
The 30 best songs of 2024: Chappell, Kendrick and Sabrina top the list
In a year of exuberance and dread, songs came from every which way to comfort, to amuse, to haunt, to tantalize. Here, in descending order of greatness, are the 30 best of the year. 1. Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”The…
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain retires, plays last show
Nicko McBrain bid farewell over the weekend to the last crowd of metalheads he will ever perform for as a touring member of Iron Maiden. McBrain, 72, who has served as the British heavy metal band’s drummer for more than…
Best of 2024: TV and streaming, movies, music, art, books
Dec. 9, 2024 10:10 AM PT What was best in 2024? How about “Dune: Part Two” and “Anora”? Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan? “The Vince Staples Show” and “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.” Mickalene Thomas and Judithe Hernández….
‘Somebody Somewhere’ finale: HBO series was epic television
Not every epic hero has to travel from Troy to Ithaca, across Middle-earth or Westeros, or along the Yellow Brick Road to battle monsters, forge unlikely friendships, discover hidden powers and vanquish the shadow that threatens to engulf their world….
First-time ‘SNL’ host Paul Mescal isn’t afraid to have fun
As pointed out in the first proper Please Don’t Destroy sketch to air this season that wasn’t a commercial, serious actors don’t always do great on “Saturday Night Live.” Either they’re not actually funny, or they get too in their…
Opinion: Not another revival of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’
On Nov. 25, Band Aid released the “ultimate remix” of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” the rock charity single from 40 years ago that, in addition to whatever good it has done, also broadcasts a narrative that undermines an entire…
Amber Heard announces pregnancy with her second child
Amber Heard is expecting her second child. The “Aquaman” actor’s pregnancy announcement comes two years after she settled her highly publicized defamation lawsuit with ex-husband Johnny Depp, after which she moved to Spain with her daughter, Oonagh Paige. People first…
‘The Order’ review: White-power thriller, told with clarity
The stare burns hard and clean, with an undercurrent of malice that you’d be a fool to miss. And then there’s another man, also with cold eyes, who gives off the stink of unmet expectations, marital dysfunction and alcohol. The…
TikTok loses court bid to stop U.S. ban. Supreme Court appeal expected
TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains in jeopardy after the popular social video app on Friday lost a major court battle as it tries to prevent its banishment. TikTok had asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to declare unconstitutional a…
Everything coming to Disneyland in 2025 — including $67 per day tickets
Disneyland is turning 70 next year, and the theme park has never missed an excuse to throw a nostalgia-fueled party. The coming months will be no different, and arguably the star of the festivities will be Walt Disney himself, albeit…
Joshua Oppenheimer on “The End,” a postapocalyptic musical
It’s a little startling — even if you’re expecting it — when Michael Shannon begins to sing with George MacKay in the opening minutes of “The End.” “A perfect morning,” MacKay croons, stretching the “o” in “morning” as he puts…
Martin Benson dead: South Coast Repertory founding artistic director was 87
Theater director Martin Benson, who co-established the Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory and served as its founding artistic director for 46 years, has died. He was 87. The theater’s current artistic director, David Ivers, and managing director, Suzanne Appel, announced…
Dead & Company announce new Sphere residency in Las Vegas
Dead & Company are headed back to Sphere. The jam band pairing surviving members of the Grateful Dead with singer-songwriter John Mayer said Wednesday that it will play an 18-show residency at the state-of-the-art dome-shaped venue in Las Vegas next…
Daddy Yankee announces divorce from wife Mireddys González
Daddy Yankee and his wife of nearly 30 years, Mireddys González, are getting divorced. The “Gasolina” rapper, who retired from performing last year to rededicate his life to his Christian faith, announced the split Monday on his Instagram story. “After…
Talent agency Gersh acquires sports representation firm You First
Beverly Hills-based talent agency Gersh is acquiring Madrid-based sports representation firm You First in a major expansion that marks the firm’s entry into the highly competitive business of working with athletes. The deal, announced Tuesday, doubles the agency’s staff to…
Francesca Eastwood won’t be charged with domestic violence, D.A. says
Francesca Eastwood, daughter of Oscar-winning actor-director Clint Eastwood, will avoid criminal charges following her October arrest on suspicion of domestic violence, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office confirmed. Eastwood, a 31-year-old actor whose credits include “Twin Peaks” and “Juror #2,”…
Steve McQueen’s ‘Blitz’ reveals an inclusive WWII London
For British director Steve McQueen, the past isn’t worth dramatizing unless it can illuminate the present, so when he makes films steeped in history — whether it’s “12 Years a Slave” or his World War II epic “Blitz” — he’s…
Five leading best picture contenders and how they might win
We’re heading into the early stretch of awards season where voters are about to embark on a long holiday weekend, give thanks and sift through a topsy-turvy world in which it’s the Dallas Cowboys and not the Detroit Lions who…
Disney’s ‘Moana 2’ smashes Thanksgiving box office record with $221 million
Walt Disney Co.’s animated sequel “Moana 2” navigated its way to No. 1 at the box office with a record-breaking domestic Thanksgiving weekend debut, a remarkable feat considering that this big-screen return to Motunui almost didn’t happen. Led again by…
Earl Holliman, ‘Police Woman’ and ‘Rainmaker’ actor, dies at 96
Earl Holliman, whose prolific acting career included a Golden Globe-winning role in “The Rainmaker” and TV series such as “Police Woman,” has died. He was 96. Holliman died Monday afternoon at his home in Studio City, his husband, Craig Curtis,…
Hallmark Channel debuts “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story”
Hallmark Channel is leaning into its Kansas City roots — and the world-famous romance between music star Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce — to score during its lucrative Christmas TV movie season. For more than a decade, viewers…
Disney’s ‘Moana 2’ rolling toward history-making Thanksgiving weekend
“Moana 2” is shaping up to be one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ biggest wave riders ever. The animated musical about the seafaring Polynesian princess delivered a domestic Thanksgiving Day haul of $28 million — the largest Turkey Day bounty…
How ‘Senna’ TV show deepens relationship between Netflix, F1
A few seasons into the run of Netflix’s Formula 1 docuseries “Drive to Survive,” the racing league’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), presented the platform with a deck containing evidence of “the Netflix effect.” Since the series…
‘Maria’ review: Jolie’s Callas is a chilly one-note bore
Maria Callas seized fame as the voice of Tosca, Medea and Carmen, opera’s eternally doomed heroines. If opera still commands audiences a century from now, perhaps it will sing of Callas, a fighter who survived the Nazi occupation of Greece,…
A trio of new TV thrillers can provide some escapism this Thanksgiving
It seems like only the week before last that I was reviewing two thrillers — “Cross” and “Day of the Jackal” — in a single review. (Because it was.) And now I’m going to review three more, similarly grouped. I…
‘Seed of the Sacred Fig’ review: One Iranian family combusts
Reality seeps into “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” in multiple ways, including ones that writer-director Mohammad Rasoulof couldn’t have imagined back when he shot this absorbing drama in secret. One of Iran’s signature filmmakers — and among those most…
The week’s bestselling books, Dec. 1
Hardcover fiction 1. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” 2. The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami (Knopf: $35) The acclaimed writer returns with a love story and ode…
Rocker Marilyn Manson drops lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood
Embattled rock icon Marilyn Manson has dropped his lawsuit against former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood and will pay her $327,000 in attorney fees, her lawyers confirmed Tuesday afternoon. Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, sued the “Westworld” actor in…
Disney agrees to pay $43 million to settle lawsuit over women’s pay
Walt Disney Co. has agreed to pay $43.3 million to resolve a long-running lawsuit brought by a group of female employees who had alleged gender pay discrimination at the Burbank entertainment giant. The proposed settlement was filed in Los Angeles…
Besame Mucho Festival at Dodger Stadium is canceled
Organizers of the Besame Mucho Festival announced on Monday via an Instagram post that the 2024 edition of the event was canceled due to “circumstances beyond [their] control.” The one-day event was scheduled to take place Dec. 21 at Dodger…
‘Wicked’ box office: Hollywood needs family-friendly films
Everyone is wondering if “Glicked,” the potentially record-breaking, industry-lifting pre-Thanksgiving combination of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” will be this year’s “Barbenheimer,” the record-breaking, industry-lifting summertime combination of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” Could be. Hope so. But it’s hard not to think…
Kendrick Lamar uses spite as an engine on ‘GNX’
Kendrick Lamar starts his exhilarating new album by complaining that someone vandalized a mural depicting his face — a mural depicting his face in triplicate, in fact — on the side of a Honduran restaurant in his Compton hometown. Never…
10 must-see concerts this holiday season
Considering that the weather outside isn’t exactly frightful during the winter months in SoCal, our concert calendar manages to keep our social lives plenty warm in between all the extra meals and family gatherings scheduled to descend upon us in…
Review: 'Bonhoeffer,' a dramatization of a celebrated theologian's life, makes him a superhero
Director Todd Komarnicki’s simplified portrait of the WWII Christian resistance hero ups the ante, adding several action beats to what should have been a drama.
Combs’ lawyers say his NY home would be ‘more restrictive’ than jail
For a third time, lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs urged a judge Friday to grant the hip-hop mogul $50 million bail, this time saying he should be placed in home confinement in a three-bedroom New York City apartment on the…
The MAMA Awards has potential to be the big American awards show K-pop deserves
When BTS ended Justin Bieber’s reign by winning the Billboard Awards’ Top Social Artist in 2017, a year that also marked “the first big moment for K-pop on American television,” K-pop fans dared to hope. Wonder Girls had become the…
Disney Junior Hanukkah episodes introduce holiday with ‘joy and love’
Growing up, Phil Weinstein, executive producer of “Mickey Mouse Funhouse,” celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah. “My uncle had a religiously blended family,” Weinstein says. “We would go to their house and they would have a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah…
Author Cormac McCarthy’s ‘secret muse’ reveals herself
Great American novelist Cormac McCarthy was defensively private and didn’t share much about the inspiration behind his books — or about himself. However, the author, who died in 2023, apparently lived out much of his bestseller “All the Pretty Horses”…
With Palm Springs AIDS memorial, Philip K. Smith finds redemption
Doesn’t it look like an anus? That question — posed in September 2023 by one of the 16,000 members of the Gay Men of Palm Springs CA Facebook group — ignited a firestorm over the initial design for the Palm…
Comcast’s planned spinoff highlights challenges in the cable industry
When Comcast swallowed NBC and Universal Studios 14 years ago, the sibling cable channels USA Network, Bravo and CNBC were considered diamonds in the rough. USA Network had gained traction with its “Blue Skies” programming strategy: sunny and upbeat TV…
Sir Lady Java dead: Pioneering transgender performer was 82
Sir Lady Java, a pioneering transgender performer and activist who boldly challenged discriminatory laws and police harassment as a star of the Los Angeles nightclub scene in the 1960s, died Saturday following a stroke, close friends confirmed Tuesday. She was…
Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off ‘Real Housewives’
Viewers of “The Real Housewives” have grown accustomed to watching stars of the popular Bravo franchise battle it out over a range of topics — from the superficial (questionable leather pants, tipping off paparazzi at Disneyland) to the serious (alleged…
With ‘Squid Game 2,’ Netflix doubles down on international appeal
Is Netflix a universal language? The entertainment giant is counting on it as the company seeks to extend its lead in the global streaming business. On Monday, Netflix showcased its latest slate of international original programs, which are a key…
The best of Camp Flog Gnaw Day 2: Erykah Badu, Mustard, Playboi Carti and more
The second day of Camp Flog Gnaw’s 10-year anniversary came roaring back into Dodger Stadium for fans of Tyler, the Creator’s universe of energized and eclectic hip-hop and R&B — with a dash of jazz flute. As fans swarmed the…
Meet the voice coach behind Ariana Grande, Timothée Chalamet
A secret center of the musical theater universe lies almost 3,000 miles from Broadway in a modestly grand house in Toluca Lake. On a late summer day, the home’s most striking feature was the figure of a white standard French…
Netflix’s Tyson-Paul fight watched by 60 million households
Netflix looked for the silver lining in the technically flawed live stream of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight on Friday. The Los Gatos, Calif.-based streaming giant said 60 million households watched the bout between Paul, a fighter who has established…
‘Dune: Prophecy’ review: Women lead and vie for power
Even before Denis Villeneuve’s big-screen, two-part 2021 film introduced it to moviegoers who had missed David Lynch’s enjoyably bonkers 1984 adaptation, Frank Herbert’s “Dune” had become exploited IP. Herbert completed six novels before his death in 1986; 17 more have…
Sabrina Carpenter brings out Christina Aguilera at Crypto.com Arena
In late 2022, Sabrina Carpenter was a hard-working Disney Channel journeyman just getting out from beneath the pop-culture ignominy of having been cast as the bad-guy “blond girl” in Olivia Rodrigo’s instant smash of a Gen Z heartbreak ballad, “Drivers…
How epilepsy musical ‘It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!’ came to be
In March 1998, Ben Decter drove from Los Angeles to Tijuana to get medicine for his 17-month-old daughter, Addie. She had “catastrophic childhood epilepsy,” the neurologist had told him, and a drug not yet available in the U.S. was their…
‘Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat’ review: Jazz, African politics
Decolonization gets the ultimate needle-drop treatment in the documentary “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” from Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez. It’s a dazzling, tune-filled collage of images, words and sounds, recounting the moment during the Cold War when Congolese independence, hot…
The academy has found its next Oscars host: Conan O’Brien
Emmy-winning talk show host and comedian Conan O’Brien has been tapped to emcee the 97th Academy Awards, set for March 2, the academy announced Friday. This will mark O’Brien’s first time hosting the Oscars, with the academy betting on his…
Sydney Sweeney blasts ‘fake’ female empowerment in Hollywood
Sydney Sweeney, since her breakout role in HBO’s “Euphoria,” has worked to prove she has much more to offer than just her looks. The “White Lotus” actor in recent years has diversified her portfolio to showcase her acting chops and…
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and ‘Inside Out 2’ drive Disney studio earnings
Superheroes and animation packed a punch for Walt Disney Co. as “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2” propelled the company’s film studio to one of its best fiscal quarters. The Burbank media giant reported Thursday that its entertainment business…
Quincy Jones died from pancreatic cancer, report says
Music legend Quincy Jones died earlier this month reportedly from pancreatic cancer. The 28-time Grammy Award winner’s cause of death was listed as the aggressive form of cancer, according to a death certificate issued by the Los Angeles County Department…
The week’s bestselling books, Nov. 17
Hardcover fiction 1. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $29) Two grieving brothers come to terms with their history and the people they love. 2. The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (Minotaur: $30) The 19th mystery in the…
Trump picks Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Fox News personality Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, making him the first on-air talent from the conservative-leaning network to join the incoming administration. And he may not be the last. Hegseth, a…
Netflix ad plan has 70 million monthly active users
Netflix said Tuesday that it had reached 70 million monthly active users on its ad-supported plan, two years after launching its cheaper subscription tier that includes commercials. That’s up from May, when the company reported having 40 million monthly users…
Chris Wallace exits CNN as post-election cost-cutting begins
Veteran journalist Chris Wallace is exiting CNN three years after joining from Fox News. “Chris Wallace is one of the most respected political journalists in the news business with a unique track record across radio, print, broadcast television, cable television…