Arts Entertainments

ESPN sports analyst Pat McAfee apologized after Aaron Rodgers came on his talk show and implied that Jimmy Kimmel was among those named in the highly anticipated Jeffrey Epstein court documents. McAfee opened his self-titled show Wednesday by addressing the controversy and chalking up Rodgers’ remarks to making a “s— talk joke” that became a…

Rapper T.I. and wife Tiny said they will not waver as they face resurfaced allegations of sexual assault in a new lawsuit. The couple, whose real names are Clifford Harris Jr. and Tameka Harris, said in a statement Wednesday to The Times that their accuser — identified in the complaint as Jane Doe — has…

Jimmy Kimmel responded swiftly to Aaron Rodgers’ claims that the late-night host could show up on the highly anticipated Jeffrey Epstein associates list. Kimmel and Rodgers have been trading slights in the media for years now, but during a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the New York Jets quarterback crossed a line for…

The scene from the movie “Cotton Club” was fictional but encapsulated much in the relationship between Maurice and Gregory Hines. In the film, the estranged brothers, once a top-billed dance duo, come face to face in a nightclub, their wounds and vanities visible; then they reunite in a seamless virtuoso dance, followed by an embrace….

Jazz pianist and singer Les McCann, best known for his raucous live single “Compared to What” from the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival and later sampled heavily by hip-hop artists, died Friday at a Los Angeles-area hospital, according to his longtime manager and producer Alan Abrahams. McCann, 88, had been living in a Van Nuys nursing…

“Beyond Utopia,” an eye-opening thriller that captures a family’s desperate and dangerous escape from North Korea, is one of the year’s most acclaimed documentaries, winning an audience prize after its January premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and recently earning a spot among the 15 shortlisted titles for consideration in the documentary feature Oscar race….

Legendary stand-up comedian Shecky Greene — known for his rambling routines, several headlining runs in Las Vegas and constant presence on the late-night talk show scene — died at his home in Las Vegas on Sunday, his widow, Marie Musso Greene, confirmed to The Times. He was 97. According to Musso Greene, the Vegas headliner…

After a strong Christmas Day performance by Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Color Purple,” the studio’s chocolatier-centered musical “Wonka” topped the final weekend box office of 2023 with a modest $23.9 million domestic haul, according to estimates from measurement firm Comscore. Final 2023 numbers, meanwhile, signaled that a turbulent year dominated by Hollywood strikes ultimately belonged…

Oscar-nominated British actor Tom Wilkinson, internationally known for his roles in “The Full Monty,” “Batman Begins” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” has died. He was 75. The BAFTA, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning film, television and stage star died Saturday at home in London of undisclosed causes, his publicist told The Times. His wife, fellow…

Bram Inscore, a songwriter and producer who had led Beck’s backing band and worked with BTS and Troye Sivan, has died. He was 41. In a statement released Friday, Inscore’s family said that he “ended his life after a hard fought battle with depression” in San Francisco on Dec. 19. “Selfless as a human and…

Tom Smothers, also called Tommy, who died Tuesday at 86, was a childhood hero of mine. He was the older and less mature sibling in the comedy act the Smothers Brothers, who began the 1960s as clean-cut, wholesome, humorous folk singers and ended the decade fired by CBS from “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” their…

A woman has sued Jermaine Jackson, older brother of Michael Jackson and a member of the Jackson 5, alleging that the singer sexually assaulted her. In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, Rita Barrett claims that she knew Jackson through her husband’s friendship with Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. She alleges…

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the woman whose twisted upbringing and mother‘s death inspired Hulu’s award-winning series “The Act” and HBO’s “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” has been released from prison. The Times confirmed that Blanchard was released from Missouri’s Chillicothe Correctional Center early Thursday and granted parole, seven years after she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She…

The unrestricted world of Yellowstone National Park was not enough for actor Pierce Brosnan. The actor known for playing James Bond received a citation for “foot travel in a thermal area” at the Wyoming park, according to the court citation reviewed by The Times. According to the National Park Service’s Yellowstone safety website, visitors to…

Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestsellers list for Sunday, December 31

Ken Jennings was just as surprised as everyone else when his “Jeopardy!” co-host Mayim Bialik announced last week that she was leaving the game show. “It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her,” Jennings told the Hollywood Reporter. “I can’t speak to her decision-making process or…

New York —  The first concert I saw after the pandemic lockdowns was a recital staged by the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles in May 2021. Two dozen masked teens performed a Bach concerto to a handful of music and design writers as a socially distanced acoustic test of YOLA’s new home: an old bank building in…

Suspicion has poisoned the middle school where Ms. Nowak (Leonie Benesch) has been teaching for a few months. Her admirable dedication to engaging with students and striving for fairness prove insufficient when a seemingly minor scandal upends her class. Bristling with tension, “The Teachers’ Lounge,” Germany’s current Oscar contender for international feature, places the educator…

Ryan O’Neal, the Oscar-nominated actor who become a box office darling in the 1970s for his performances in “Love Story” and “What’s Up, Doc?,” died in early December of heart failure. His death certificate, obtained by the Blast, shows that he had suffered from cardiomyopathy for years and then died suddenly of a congestive heart…

Just nine days ago, Los Angeles comic Neel Nanda was headlining a Toronto comedy club for the first time, cracking up the crowd and inviting fans to help celebrate his birthday weekend with him downtown after the show. “He made our audiences smile and so happy,” Jokers Theatre & Comedy Club owner Dave Curran said…

A tumultuous time for the upcoming “Scream VII” continued Saturday as the film’s director, Christopher Landon, announced he has left the project. “I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks ago,” Landon posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. “This will disappoint some and delight…

Laura Lynch, a founding member of the music group who would find fame as the Dixie Chicks, has died in a car crash in West Texas. She was 65. Lynch was involved in a head-on collision in El Paso on Friday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Now know as the Chicks, the…

A new docuseries cataloging Willie Nelson’s life and career drops one bombshell after another about the 90-year-old country singer — among them his refusal to file bankruptcy to the point of a home raid and his shootout with a daughter’s ex-husband. Then there was the hospital bill that exposed his years-long affair with film producer…

A federal appeals court on Thursday revived a child sexual-exploitation lawsuit filed by the man who was pictured naked at 4 months old on the cover of Nirvana’s 1991 album “Nevermind.” The lawsuit by Spencer Elden, now a 32-year-old artist, against the grunge rock hitmakers alleges that he has suffered “permanent harm” as the band…

It has been a big year for actor-director-producer Benny Safdie, who starred in “Oppenheimer” and “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” and co-created and stars in Showtime series “The Curse.” (Evelyn Freja / For The Times) When Benny Safdie began doing stand-up while in high school in New York City’s Upper West Side, he…

Adam Driver confirmed the birth of his second child with his wife, fellow actor Joanne Tucker. While Driver was a guest on “Live With Kelly and Mark” on Wednesday, co-host Kelly Ripa asked the “Ferrari” and “Star Wars” actor about having a “baby girl.” “I do, yeah, she’s 8 months,” Driver said before quipping, “You…

The crown has passed from one half-blood to another. Logan Lerman, who portrayed the titular character Percy Jackson in the 2010 and 2012 big-screen adaptations of the popular fantasy book series, sent a surprise message to the cast of the newly premiered Percy Jackson television show, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” on Disney+. Several of…

As if there wasn’t already Kenough of the Barbie-themed ads and merch over the summer, get ready for “Now That’s What I Call Ken-mas!” That’s right, Ryan Gosling and “Barbie” composer-pop whisperer Mark Ronson have teamed up once again to release a Christmas-themed version of one of the movie’s hit songs, “I’m Just Ken.” The…

How to handle a problem like the “best animated feature film” of the year? For many decades, the Academy Awards’ answer was, “Occasionally give their creators a special Oscar.” That’s how the animators, producers and directors of groundbreaking films such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937), “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988) and “Toy…

At the first collaboration between the Los Angeles Times and Can’t Even Comedy on Saturday, at the soon-to-be-renamed Ace Hotel, a packed lineup headlined by 30-year-old former Vine star turned internet sensation and stand-up star Trevor Wallace had fans rolling with laughter all evening. In the historic hotel’s small upstairs venue, Segovia Hall, roughly 200…

As a director, Blitz Bazawule knows that his voice goes pretty much unquestioned on the set. But once he signed on to make the newest, musical iteration of “The Color Purple” — a story about hardships and survival among Black women — he wanted to make sure that his wasn’t the only voice on set…

Official details about the death of groundbreaking TV producer Norman Lear came to light Monday following the publication of his death certificate. The informational copy of the document, published online by TMZ, confirmed that the 101-year-old Emmy winner died Dec. 5 at 6:21 p.m. following cardiopulmonary arrest — also known as cardiac arrest, or when…

Ramy Youssef is a multi-hyphenate’s multi-hyphenate. A partial rundown of his current workload includes co-creating, executive producing, writing, often-directing and starring in Hulu’s “Ramy,” based loosely on his own background as the son of Egyptian immigrants living in New Jersey; co-creating and writing the Netflix series “Mo” with comedian Mohammed Amer, based loosely on Amer’s…

What do you get when you guzzle down treats? Box office gold with Timothée Chalamet as the lead. Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” cooked up $39 million at the North American box office in its opening weekend, according to estimates from measurement firm Comscore. Moviegoers’ sweet tooth was especially strong this weekend as the story of the…

Kate McKinnon‘s first time hosting “Saturday Night Live” was a reminder that she left an off-kilter, screwball humor void when she departed in 2022 that has taken multiple cast members to fill. (Want me to name them? Sure: Sarah Sherman, Ego Nwodim and James Austin Johnson.) McKinnon’s monologue was paced and delivered as only she…

Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman during a helicopter ride to Los Angeles in 2003, according to a new lawsuit. In a complaint filed Friday in L.A. and obtained by The Times, a woman identified only as Jane Doe accused Lee of assault after she was “lured” by…

Behind such pop stars as Carole King, James Taylor and Jackson Browne, a band of dependable session artists locked down the gentle groove. This is their story.

When celebrating his first Oscar win in 2019, Spike Lee jumped into the arms of a beaming Samuel L. Jackson. On the “BlacKkKlansman” director and co-screenwriter’s feet — glistening under the Dolby Theatre stage lights — were a pair of custom Nike Air Jordans with the leather painted metallic gold to match the coveted trophy….

Earlier this summer, a set of five frozen pizza boxes began populating the freezers at Walmart. But DiGiornos these were not; these pizzas featured the masked visages of the world’s most famous crime-fighting turtles. Yes, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Newsletter Inside the business of entertainment The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights…

“Wonka,” the new musical origin story of everyone’s favorite chocolatier, is a lot like the confections our protagonist conjures: We don’t need chocolate, but how can we resist such a tantalizing treat? We don’t need a musical origin story of Willy Wonka, but how can we not chomp down on this whimsical and wonderful tale,…

Oprah Winfrey has had a busy week. From being caressed by Drew Barrymore to shutting down Ozempic naysayers, and even lighting the Empire State Building, here’s everything Oprah managed to accomplish by Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, Winfrey joined Barrymore, who earlier this year was was hailed the “millennial Oprah” for her intimate approach to talk-show…

BERLIN —  For 25 centuries, a mythic Medea has haunted civilization. The sorceress — mortal granddaughter of Helios, the sun god of Greek mythology — kills two of her children as revenge for her husband Jason’s betrayal. How better than through incomprehensible maternal violence to make him suffer? How better to makes us suffer as we…

If there’s one thing that Kanye West knows how to do, it’s create. Now, one of the rap game’s most prolific creators is back to creating music and controversy. On Tuesday, West held a live listening event in Miami in support of his upcoming album, “Vultures,” with Ty Dolla $ign. They were joined onstage by…

Some marriages need therapy to be saved, others need divine intervention. Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith got their celestial intercession thanks to the “Men In Black” actor’s Oscars night slap of presenter Chris Rock. Pinkett Smith recently revealed that the infamous slap strengthened the couple’s teetering relationship. “That moment of the s— hitting the…

This story contains details of sexual assault. Six women have now accused famed L.A. DJ Rodney Bingenheimer of sexually assaulting them when they were minors, according to court documents and media reports. Among the accusers is Jane Wiedlin, who co-founded the new wave group the Go-Go’s in 1978. When she was 15, Wiedlin says, she…

Japanese entertainment giant Toho is making waves in Hollywood. After breaking box-office records with the live-action film “Godzilla Minus One,” Toho is now investing $225 million into Fifth Season, the production company behind “Severance,” company executives said late Sunday. The investment will give Tokyo-based Toho a 25% stake in Fifth Season, while Korean entertainment company…

Anna Cardwell, a former reality TV star who appeared along with her family on TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” and “Toddlers & Tiaras,” has died. She was 29. Her mother, June Shannon, known as “Mama June,” announced on social media that her eldest daughter had died on Saturday. “With the breaking heart, we are…

Writer and producer Gloria Calderón Kellett worked closely with Norman Lear, developing the reboot of his groundbreaking 1975 show, “One Day at a Time.” Here, in her own words, she writes about her relationship with the TV icon. On April 30, 2015, I had the privilege of meeting Norman Lear (then 95), an encounter forever…

Actor Tatum O’Neal is sharing her thoughts following the death on Friday of her father, Ryan O’Neal, with whom she long had a stormy relationship. After starring together in 1973’s “Paper Moon,” for which then 10-year-old Tatum earned a supporting actress Oscar, the O’Neals were often estranged in the ensuing years. For decades, recriminations involving…

Rapper 2 Chainz was rushed to the hospital early Saturday morning following a car accident in Miami. The 46-year-old hip-hop artist, whose real name is Tauheed K. Epps, was hit from behind while exiting Interstate 95, sustaining neck injuries, according to TMZ, which first reported the incident. Following the accident, 2 Chainz shared a video…

Mackenzie Phillips was just 16 when she met with Norman Lear to talk about playing rebellious teenager Julie Cooper in his sitcom “One Day at a Time.” She was by then an established actor, known for roles in “American Graffiti” and the TV movie “Go Ask Alice,” and had had to grow up fast in…

Back in August, Eris Nezha and Petra Conti stepped in front of a crowd at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. They looked at each other. Nezha nodded at Conti, who smiled in return. Then, they danced. Through the lifts, twists and turns, the two caught each other’s eyes through each moment. The crowd gathered that evening…

Country singer Kenny Chesney has nothing but love for Time magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift. The “When the Sun Goes Down” artist shared a sweet message for Swift after she gave him a shout-out in her interview for the annual honor. “Taylor, I knew looking in your eyes that first time on…

Tony Shalhoub, whose credits are many and range wide, has taken his Adrian Monk (brown) suit out of mothballs after 14 years for “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,” premiering Friday on Peacock. For those new to the story, told across eight seasons of the comedy procedural “Monk,” Monk was a San Francisco consulting…

Wait, so the man behind “The Santa Clauses’” Kris Kringle, Sinterklaas, Père Noël, is actually a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge? According to Tim Allen’s co-star Casey Wilson, the longtime “Santa Clause” star actually belongs on the naughty list. On the most recent episode of Wilson’s “Bitch Sesh” podcast, the actor did not mince words when recounting…

As last year’s treasures — among them “Past Lives,” “Passages,” “Birth/Rebirth,” “Mami Wata,” “Eileen,” “A Thousand and One” and “Kokomo City” — continue to garner awards attention, the Sundance Film Festival, established in 1984, hits a new milestone this year: the big 4-0. Organizers are planning to celebrate accordingly with a lineup of 82 U.S….

Members of performers union SAG-AFTRA have voted in favor of the contract that ended the actors’ strike, following a weeks-long ratification period that saw a number of actors voice concerns about the new deal. The ratification vote, which was expected, marks the end of Hollywood’s extraordinary season of labor discontent that caused widespread disruptions across…

“I’m not a clone,” Jamie Foxx assured his fans and industry peers as he made his first Hollywood appearance in months. “I’ve been through some things. You know it’s crazy, I couldn’t do that six months ago, I couldn’t actually walk,” he said at the Critics Choice Celebration of Cinema & Television. “I know a…

The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows, but on Sunday, Philly was celebrating. Nearly 50 years after the 1976 Oscar-winning sports film “Rocky” introduced audiences to small-time boxer Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone returned to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Balboa famously sprinted up the steps as he trained for his big fight. The occasion?…

Ridley Scott wasn’t a great student, although he isn’t going to shoulder all the blame. “The secret of teaching is that a teacher wants to do the job,” the erudite 86-year-old filmmaker declares over Zoom from his home in southern France, “and so often in my day, they did not want to do the job.”…

Singer-songwriter Dua Lipa had never written a song from a character’s point of view, she’d always drawn from personal experience — until “Dance the Night,” from “Barbie.” (Alex Harper / For The Times) Dua Lipa was on tour — she can’t remember where, it was a bit of a blur — when she got the…

 Art Craft #flowers #installation #Marianne Eriksen Scott-Hansen #paper November 1, 2023 Kate Mothes All images © Marianne Eriksen Scott-Hansen, shared with permission Enormous blooms crafted from thousands of sheets of creased, textured, and twisted paper explode in Marianne Eriksen Scott-Hansen’s vibrant installations. The Copenhagen-based artist (previously) draws inspiration from real blossoms like peonies or…