In battles over free speech, comedians are often center stage
NEW YORK (AP) — In all the stunning things about ABC’s swift removal of Jimmy Kimmel, its longtime late-night host and Oscars-hosting face of the network, perhaps the least surprising was that a comedian was again at the center of a battle over free speech. As long as jokes have been told, comedians have drawn the ire of the powerful. That has often put comedians on the front lines of free-speech battles, from George Carlin violating obscenity laws to satirical puppet shows trying to exist in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. In authoritarian regimes, crackdowns on speech usually make comedy a target.
Sonny Curtis, Crickets member who penned ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ theme, dies at 88
A vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote both the rebel anthem “I Fought the Law” and the theme to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” Sonny Curtis has died at 88. His wife Louise Curtis confirmed to The Associated Press that he died Friday. Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly and early member of his band the Crickets. Starting as a teenager, he wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from Keith Whitley's country smash “I'm No Stranger to the Rain” to the Everly Brothers' “Walk Right Back.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of the Crickets.
As controversy swirls around late-night TV, here's what a new poll shows about who still watches
WASHINGTON (AP) — As late-night talk shows undergo major changes and controversy, a new poll finds most Americans don’t watch them regularly and the ones who do are more likely to be Democrats. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows only about a quarter of Americans say they have watched a late-night show at least once a month in the past year. But about one-third of Democrats say they’ve done this monthly over the last year, compared with about 2 in 10 Republicans or independents. The poll was conducted after the announcement of Stephen Colbert’s show being canceled but before Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension.
Release party for Swift's ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ album is coming to AMC theaters
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taylor Swift is heading back to the big screen next month, and fans are already lining up for tickets. AMC Theatres will host a release party for Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of the Showgirl,” in October. Officials say the nearly 90-minute show will play at all 540 AMC theaters in the U.S. between Oct. 3 and Oct. 5. AMC will also air the show that weekend in Mexico, Canada and across Europe. “The Life of the Showgirl” is Swift’s first release since she regained control over her entire body of work in May. Tickets are available online.
Kimmel’s rise from radio to cultural icon hits roadblock with ABC’s suspension of late-night TV show
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel has become a cultural fixture over two decades in late-night television, blending humor with political satire. He rose from Las Vegas radio to hosting prestigious events like the Oscars. His show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been suspended indefinitely after comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. ABC's decision followed backlash from major affiliates. Kimmel's career began in Las Vegas radio, and he rose to fame with Comedy Central's “Win Ben Stein’s Money.” He became the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2003. His future remains uncertain as his contract with ABC expires in 2026.
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Web of business interests shows that Kimmel's future rests on far more than his jokes
NEW YORK (AP) — The decision about whether to keep Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night ABC show depends on far more than his jokes. The choice is complicated by a web of business and regulatory considerations involving ABC’s parent company, other media companies and the Trump administration. It’s the inevitable result of industry consolidation that over years has built giant corporations with wide-ranging interests. ABC owner Walt Disney Co. is a massive organization with far-flung operations. It frequently seeks federal regulatory approval to expand, buy or sell businesses or acquire licenses. The Trump administration has not spared the company from investigations. It has opened multiple inquiries in just the past few months to probe possible antitrust, programming and hiring violations.
D4vd tour dates removed from websites after the discovery of a girl's body in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The last two remaining dates in singer d4vd’s U.S. tour and multiple stops in his upcoming European tour have been removed from ticketing websites. The development comes as authorities continue to investigate the discovery of the decomposed body of a teenage girl in Los Angeles. Police have not said d4vd (pronounced “David”) is implicated in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found inside an impounded Tesla earlier this month. The 15-year-old was reported missing last year. Several news outlets have reported that the vehicle was registered to the singer. His representatives have not responded to requests for comment
Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James who co-wrote 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' dies in plane crash
Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James has died in a plane crash in North Carolina. Authorities reported that the crash Thursday afternoon involved a small plane with three people aboard. There were no survivors. James, known for hits like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “When the Sun Goes Down,” was 57. The plane, a Cirrus SR22T, was registered to him, but it's unclear if he was the pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. James, who left medical school for music, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.
NBC's 'Sunday Night Football' celebrates 20 years of prime-time dominance
Dick Ebersol has had a major impact on television, creating "Saturday Night Live" in 1975 and “Sunday Night Football” on NBC in 2006. Both shows are celebrating milestones, with "SNL" marking its 50th season earlier this year and "SNF" now in its 20th. "Sunday Night Football" has been the top-rated prime-time show for 14 consecutive seasons. The show introduced innovations like flex scheduling and a musical opening. Ebersol's vision and collaboration with the NFL helped make "SNF" a cultural phenomenon. Despite leaving NBC Sports in 2011, Ebersol's influence on storytelling and presentation remains strong.
Pakistani dating show sparks anger ahead of its debut on YouTube
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A new dating show based on “Love Island” featuring Pakistani contestants has sparked controversy in the Muslim-majority country. The series, called Lazawal Ishq, is hosted by actress Ayesha Omar and filmed in Istanbul. It will only be available on YouTube, which means Pakistan's broadcasting regulator can't act on public complaints. The show brings together four Pakistani men and women in a luxury villa, and critics have labeled it “un-Islamic” and accused it of copying Western culture. The Pakistani media regulator says it has no control over YouTube content. The show is to debut on September 29.
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