Christopher Nolan to lead Directors Guild of America
Christopher Nolan has been elected to lead the Directors Guild of America. He calls it "one of the greatest honors" of his career. The guild represents around 19,500 film and TV directors in the U.S. and abroad. Nolan, known for championing the theatrical experience, will take over from Lesli Linka Glatter. He plans to work with her and the board to secure creative and economic protections for members. Nolan's recent film, "Oppenheimer," was a box office hit, grossing over $976 million worldwide. His next project, an adaptation of "The Odyssey," opens July 17.
Bad Bunny says goodbye to Puerto Rico in one final concert after a historic residency
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Bad Bunny fans have marked the anniversary of Hurricane Maria with a powerful concert in Puerto Rico. The event on Saturday marked the end of Bad Bunny's 30-concert residency on the island. The performance was streamed globally for the first time, reaching thousands via Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch. The concert served as a tribute to Puerto Rico's resilience and beauty, with Bad Bunny emphasizing the island's strength. The residency attracted about half a million attendees, generating significant revenue for Puerto Rico. Fans expressed pride and emotion, celebrating their heritage with the traditional call-and-response, "Yo soy boricua!"
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.
Egyptians outraged after ancient pharaoh’s bracelet was stolen from Cairo museum and melted down
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptians have expressed outrage after a 3,000-year-old bracelet belonging to an ancient pharaoh was stolen from Cairo's Egyptian Museum and melted down for gold. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said Saturday that the bracelet was stolen on September 9 while being prepared for an exhibit in Italy. Four suspects, including a museum restoration specialist, have been arrested. The bracelet was funneled through dealers and eventually melted down. The loss has sparked calls for improved security measures at the museum. Prominent figures are urging better control over the nation's treasures to prevent future thefts.
Power, politics and performance: Russia's revamped Intervision song contest names a winner
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc was crowned the winner of the newly revamped Intervision song contest — a Russian answer to Eurovision that some say is as much about politics and power as it is about performance. The competition, which comes three years after Moscow was barred from Eurovision for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, featured more than 20 acts, including those from China, South Africa, Brazil, the UAE, India, Cuba, Ethiopia, and Venezuela. Next year’s Intervision is already planned to be held in Saudi Arabia.
Recommended for you
Pentagon steps up media restrictions, now requiring approval before reporting even unclassified info
The Pentagon is stepping up restrictions on the media by requiring journalists to sign a pledge not to report on information that has not been authorized for release, including unclassified information. Journalists who don't abide risk losing their media credentials that provide direct to the military headquarters. Free-press advocates call the move an assault on independent journalism. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is telling journalists to follow the rules or go home. The Pentagon this year has evicted many news organizations while imposing a series of restrictions on the press that include banning reporters from entering wide swaths of the Pentagon without a government escort.
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.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.