Movie Review: Sorry, my pretty, ‘Wicked: For Good' doesn’t delight
“Give us a clock tick” is an expression uttered several times in “Wicked: For Good.” But Jon M. Chu’s two-part musical has asked for quite a bit more than that. Together, the two halves of this “Wicked” adaptation have run 297 minutes, which, more than the threat of lions and tigers and bears, is enough to make any moviegoer not entirely bewitched by the “Wizard of Oz” revision breathe a sigh of “Oh, my.” For most “Wicked” fans, more is good. But for those of us who felt – what’s a non-wicked way to say this? – mildly waterboarded, in pink and green, by “Wicked,” “For Good” doesn’t offer much relief, writes Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review.
For Brandon Lake, crossing over means more opportunities to spread a Christian message
NEW YORK (AP) — Christian music is gaining in popularity, and Brandon Lake is one reason why. The singer-songwriter's latest album, “King of Hearts,” melds pop, rock, country and hip-hop. That is unusual in contemporary Christian music, and it's one reason why he's seeing a lot of success. Lake is up for Grammys and his first ever Country Music Association Award. He told The Associated Press that he views this as a crossover moment and an opportunity to further his message of worship. Lake also made headlines earlier this year when he performed at a memorial for conservative personality Charlie Kirk. Lake says he was not making a political message and that he was simply going to minister for Kirk's widow.
Movie Review: George Clooney stars in 'Jay Kelly,' a Hollywood tale of self-discovery
George Clooney stars in "Jay Kelly," a film by Noah Baumbach that blurs reality and fiction, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy. Clooney plays a movie star in a mid-life crisis, questioning his life choices. The script co-written by Baumbach and Emily Mortimer explores themes of identity and self-discovery. A meeting with an old acting partner played by Billy Crudup reveals harsh truths and sends Kelly on a journey to Tuscany. The film touches on missed family moments and the sacrifices made for success. With nods to classic cinema, R-rated "Jay Kelly" is ultimately about time and where we choose to spend it.
Chef Lidia Bastianich hits the road in search of community in a divided country
NEW YORK (AP) — Lidia Bastianich is highlighting community togetherness in her 14th TV special. “Lidia Celebrates America: A Nation of Neighbors” premieres Nov. 25 on PBS. She travels to places like wildfire-scarred neighborhoods in California, a pay-what-you-can café in Denver, and the nation’s first legislatively supported free grocery market in San Francisco. She showcases acts of kindness. Bastianich believes these connections make people feel more human and foster positivity. Her journey includes meeting volunteers and visiting a free grocery market in San Francisco. Bastianich, who once lived in a refugee camp in Italy, emphasizes that small gestures can make a big difference in building community spirit.
Lidia Bastianich's recipe for Pumpkin Ravioli, a fall dish using butternut squash
Lidia Bastianich shares her recipe for pumpkin ravioli, using butternut squash as a substitute for traditional Mantova squash. The filling includes butternut squash, golden raisins, nutmeg, breadcrumbs, eggs, and grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano. Instead of the traditional mostarda di Mantova, which is a chutney of preserved fruit, she uses golden raisins for a sweet and piquant flavor. The ravioli is served with a simple sauce of butter and sage. Bastianich emphasizes the importance of choosing the right squash, suggesting alternatives like blue Hokkaido pumpkin or kabocha squash for the dish.
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For conservative media, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani quickly becomes attack target
New York City's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, has quickly become a target of conservative media figures. Like Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, he's seen as someone guaranteed to make their audiences’ blood boil. He's been labeled “downright sinister” and a “seething leftist,” a commie and a jihadist sympathizer. The hostility is primarily directed toward his Muslim faith and status as a democratic socialist, which some critics have stretched to falsely suggest that Mamdani is a communist. In Mamdani, some conservative media figures also see the chance to associate all Democrats with the background and policy prescriptions of someone they don't believe will be popular elsewhere in the country.
Han Kang, Megha Majumdar and Yiyun Li are among finalists for Andrew Carnegie Medals
NEW YORK (AP) — Nobel laureate Han Kang's “We Do Not Part” and Megha Majumdar's “A Guardian and a Thief” are among the finalists for the Andrew Carnegie Medals. These fiction and nonfiction awards are presented by the American Library Association. Majumdar's book, an Oprah Winfrey book club pick, is the only finalist originally written in English. Yiyun Li's memoir about the suicides of her two sons is also a finalist. Winners will be announced on Jan. 27 and will receive $5,000. The awards were established in 2012 with help from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The 2025 Country Music Association Awards are almost here: How to watch
NEW YORK (AP) — The 2025 Country Music Association Awards are here. Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson lead this year’s nominations with six nods each. There’s a lot of stiff competition. Wilson is competing for the night’s top prize, entertainer of the year, against Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen, last year’s winner in the category. The legendary Vince Gill will be presented with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Shaboozey, Luke Combs, BigXThaPlug and more will perform. The 59th annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena at 8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central on ABC. It will become available to stream the next day on Hulu.
What to Stream: 'Wicked: For Good' soundtrack, Ted Danson, 'The Bad Guys 2' and Black cowboys
Ted Danson’s “A Man on the Inside” returning to Netflix for its second season and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo belting out the “Wicked: For Good” soundtrack are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time for the week of Nov. 17 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are Aerosmith teaming up with Yungblud on a new EP, DreamWorks Animation’s sequel “The Bad Guys 2” hitting Peacock and Jordan Peele looking at Black cowboys in a new documentary series.
Trump attacks ABC reporter after question about killing of Saudi journalist Khashoggi
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump denounced ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce as a “terrible reporter” and threatened the network's license to broadcast after she asked three sharp questions in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Bruce was among a group of reporters to question Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following a White House meeting. Bruce asked Trump about his family's business in Saudi Arabia and why he didn't release the Jeffrey Epstein files on his own. She also asked the prince why Americans should trust him after U.S. intelligence concluded he had a role in the 2018 killing of a Washington Post reporter.
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