AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 11:56 a.m. EDT

Jilly Cooper, British author of bestselling risqué novels, including 'Rivals,' dies at 88

LONDON (AP) — British author Jilly Cooper, known for her bestselling novels, including “Rivals” and “Riders,” has died. She was 88. The author died on Sunday after a fall, a statement from her agency Curtis Brown said. Her agent, Felicity Blunt, praised Cooper for defining culture, writing and conversation for over 50 years. Cooper was best known for her books in “The Rutshire Chronicles,” which portrayed the sex lives and excesses of the well-off, horse-riding set in 1980s England. Her books sold millions of copies in the United Kingdom alone, with “Rivals” adapted as a hit Disney+ TV series last year.

'The Walking Dead' comes alive in auction for 15-year anniversary

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The eerily humanistic zombies from “The Walking Dead” first stepped into viewers’ living rooms on Halloween nearly 15 years ago, ushering in a new era for the horror genre. Fans are getting a chance to own some of the franchise’s most coveted items. AMC Networks, in partnership with Heritage Auctions, will be auctioning over 1,000 prop items that span the entire franchise. Online bidding runs until Nov. 1. Greg Nicotero, who led the show's special effects, says the auction takes people “on a journey” through the timeline of the franchise, starting from the first season and through the various spinoffs.

Bad Bunny kicks off 'SNL' 51st season with a group of new faces and jabs at his Super Bowl critics

NEW YORK (AP) — Bad Bunny kicked off the 51st season of “Saturday Night Live” with a few timely jokes about his next high-profile gig: the Super Bowl. He greeted his fans with a few sentences in Spanish, after which he noted that if anyone didn’t understand, they have four months to learn. Bad Bunny will be making history by performing in Spanish, a landmark moment for Latino culture. Launching a season that introduces some new faces in the cast, the cold open featured a sketch mocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s presentation to generals earlier this week, with Colin Jost as Hegseth and James Austin Johnson returning as Trump to interrupt him.

Taylor Swift's 'The Official Release Party of a Show Girl' debuts at No. 1 with $33 million

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taylor Swift's new film, “The Official Release Party of a Show Girl,” has topped the weekend box office with $33 million in North America. The AMC Theatres release was announced just two weeks ago and features music videos and behind-the-scenes footage. This success follows her “Eras Tour” concert film, which opened to $96 million nearly two years ago. Meanwhile, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson's drama “The Smashing Machine” debuted in third place with $6 million. Other notable releases include “One Battle After Another” at $11.1 million and “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” at $5.2 million.

What to Stream: Documentaries on John Candy and Victoria Beckham, Battlefield 6 and 'Family Guy'

Documentaries on comedian John Candy and pop artist-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham as well as a “Family Guy” Halloween special 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 Oct 6 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are Keira Knightley starring as a journalist in “The Woman in Cabin 10,” Electronic Arts getting ready to get back in the fight with the game Battlefield 6 and hip-hop group Mobb Deep releasing “Infinite,” their ninth and final album.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Oct. 12-18

Celebrities having birthdays during the week of Oct. 12-18 include “Shogun” actor Hiroyuki Sanada, singer-songwriter John Mayer and animator Mike Judge, creator of “King of the Hill." Musician Paul Simon turns 84, singer-actor-talk show host Marie Osmond reaches 67 and “The X-Files” creator Chris Carter hits 70. Other musicians with big days include Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, jazz musician Esperanza Spalding and singer Ashanti. TV personality Stacy Keibler from the WWE turns 46, “Spinal Tap” actor Michael McKean welcomes 78 and actor Zac Efron from “High School Musical” celebrates 38.

Miu Miu stays steady at Paris Fashion Week as France grapples with political turmoil

PARIS (AP) — Miuccia Prada's Miu Miu has delivered a steady performance at Paris Fashion Week, offering reassurance amid France's political instability. The show opened with a deep blue warehouse apron dress, setting a tone that was both playful and pragmatic. Founded in 1993, Miu Miu serves as Prada's freer, more instinctive outlet. The collection featured apron motifs, floral minidresses, and geometric prints, embracing contradictions like lingerie-as-daywear and bourgeois classics with a twist. Despite the turbulence in French politics, Miu Miu's formula remains unchanged, providing a sense of continuity and steadiness.

Oktoberfest ends Sunday with the traditional Bavarian salute

MUNICH (AP) — The 190th Oktoberfest has come to a close, wrapping up the world’s largest folk festival with the traditional Bavarian marksmen’s gun salute in Munich, after a bomb threat closed it for hours last week. Roughly 6.5 million visitors attended between Sept. 20 and Sunday, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrian-born former governor of California spontaneously conducted a live music band and the singing crowd in a beer tent. The fairgrounds were closed for hours Wednesday as police searched the area due to a bomb threat linked to an explosion across town.