AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 2:27 p.m. EST

From box office bomb to media powerhouse: Skydance’s 20-year rise to overtake Paramount, Warner Bros

NEW YORK (AP) — It's a come-from-behind story fit for Hollywood itself. Skydance's unlikely triumph in the battle for Warner Bros. Discovery, sealed with Netflix's step back, is a win two decades in the making. When Skydance founder David Ellison created the company at the age of 23 two decades ago, it registered little more than a blip in an industry accustomed to rich newcomers trying to gain a place beneath the glow of Hollywood's lights. Its first feature was a flop. But, slowly and surely, it has churned out successes that have led to its place at the pinnacle of media power.

Actor Shia LaBeouf arrested again on battery charge in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Court records in New Orleans show that actor Shia LaBeouf has been rearrested and charged with an additional count of simple battery. The court record from Orleans Parish in Louisiana show LaBeouf was arrested Saturday. It wasn’t immediately clear if the new charge is connected to a Feb. 17 brawl outside a New Orleans bar, where LaBeouf is accused of hitting multiple people during Mardis Gras celebrations. Telephone and email messages left Saturday with LaBeouf’s attorney and New Orleans police weren’t immediately returned.

Democrats look to Tejano music star Bobby Pulido in a high-stakes South Texas congressional race

PHARR, Texas (AP) — Democrats are banking on Tejano music star Bobby Pulido to help them win back Hispanic voters in a South Texas congressional district that favors Republicans. In Tuesday's party primary, Pulido faces Ada Cuellar, a doctor and law student who's running to the left of the singer. Pulido campaigns like a hometown celebrity, greeting voters in English and Spanish and saying fame gets attention but not votes. He runs as a moderate on issues such as abortion. He also faces scrutiny over old, crude social media posts. The winner takes on Republican Monica De La Cruz in a district favorably redrawn for the congresswoman.

Racial slur at BAFTA awards stirs complex feelings for Black people with Tourette syndrome

For Black people living with Tourette syndrome, a racial slur being shouted by someone with the disorder at the British Academy Film Awards has left them with complicated feelings. Still, several Black people with Tourette syndrome, from politicians to content creators, are speaking out. They assert that showing empathy for those dealing with the disorder doesn’t excuse the pain felt by the Black community. There needs to be an acknowledgment of the harm, some have said. Others also are worried that misinformation or stereotypes about Tourette syndrome could exacerbate racial profiling or discrimination for Black people who live with it. Meanwhile, advocacy groups are trying to grow support networks focused on Black people who feel isolated by Tourette syndrome.

Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind dozens of hits of the 1960s and '70s, dies at age 86

NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Sedaka, the million-selling singer and songwriter, has died. His many hits included “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Calendar Girl” and “Oh! Carol,” a lament for his high school sweetheart, Carole King. Among those covering his work were Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Captain & Tennille, whose version of “Love Will Keep Us Together” was a No. 1 smash in 1975. Sedaka kept performing dozens of concerts a year well into his 80s. He retained the enthusiasm and broad vocal range of his youth and never tired of the standards he had sung hundreds of times.

The end of Hollywood or a brighter future? What a Paramount-owned Warner Bros. means for the movies

Paramount is set to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix dropped out of bidding, setting up another major Hollywood merger. On Thursday, Netflix said the price no longer makes financial sense. Paramount topped Netflix’s earlier offer and aims to buy the whole company. Executives say the deal will help them compete in streaming and create bigger movie and television libraries. Paramount is also targeting about $6 billion in savings through overlapping job cuts. Theater owners have warned about more consolidation under any new ownership of Warner Bros. Paramount's purchase isn't a sure thing — regulators have already started reviews, and plans for HBO Max and Paramount+ remain unclear.

Paramount must convince regulators its deal with Warner will not hurt customers

After months of heated wrangling, Paramount has emerged the apparent victor in its bid to acquire storied Hollywood rival Warner Bros. Discovery. But a bumpy regulatory road lies ahead. Up until Thursday, Netflix had been the favored suitor from Warner’s board and others. But Netflix abruptly dropped out of the running after Paramount upped its rival offer. A Paramount buyout would reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape. And unlike Netflix, Paramount wants the entire company. A merger of this size is reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department, which could sue to block the transaction or request changes. And other countries and entities could challenge the acquisition, too.

CNN chief prescribes calm after staff anxiety over Paramount's expected purchase of parent company

Shortly after it became known that Paramount was the apparent victor in the competition to buy CNN's parent company, network president Mark Thompson was compelled to send his staff a note to calm down, in effect. “I suggest that you don't jump to conclusions,” he said. But that didn't stop the leaping: Paramount chief David Ellison had reportedly suggested to President Donald Trump — no big fan of CNN — that he'd make changes at the network. Paramount has controlled CBS News for the past six months, and he installed opinion journalist Bari Weiss as its editor-in-chief, and his moves at CBS are being scrutinized for what they might mean for CNN.

Vatican removes salty white film coating Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment'

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” is getting a facial. The Vatican Museums on Saturday unveiled how restorers are removing a chalky white film of salt that has accumulated over the fresco since its last major renovation three decades ago. They are using a simple technique: Japanese rice paper dipped in distilled water and then applied to the fresco to remove the film. The film has formed thanks to the nearly 25,000 people who pass through the Vatican Museums each day, emitting particles and creating ambient humidity that reacts with the fresco.