'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another' poised for an all-Warner Bros. showdown at Academy Awards
NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood will convene Sunday night for a nail-biter Academy Awards that’s steering toward a coronation for either Paul Thomas Anderson or Ryan Coogler. Most would call that a win-win. Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” is the favorite heading into the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. But Coogler’s “Sinners” comes in the lead nominee with a record 16 nominations. Both filmmakers are poised to leave with their first Oscar. But little else is assured at an Academy Awards where Michael B. Jordan or Timothée Chalamet — despite the ballet diss heard 'round the world — could win their first Academy Award. The telecast will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu beginning at 7 p.m. EDT.
The day before the Oscars, the ‘Bridesmaids’ rehearsed
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The “Bridesmaids” cast has reunited at the Dolby Theatre as Oscar presenters. On Saturday Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper, Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy ran through their lines and fine-tuned the timing. Byrne rehearsed with the group while also holding the distinction of being an acting nominee. Other presenters keep it casual too, with some wearing sneakers including Javier Bardem and Adrien Brody. The room felt calm as crews work through final checks, just 24 hours before the 98th Academy Awards. Conan O’Brien is returning to host the show, which will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Eastern.
A seat at the table, but no vote yet for a Democratic lawmaker in the Kennedy Center board showdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge says a Democratic lawmaker is entitled to participate in a Kennedy Center board meeting to discuss President Donald Trump’s plan to close the performing arts center for two years of renovations. But the judge isn't forcing the board to let Joyce Beatty vote at Monday's meeting. The Ohio congresswoman is an ex officio member through her position in Congress. She sued to preclude the Trump administration from excluding her from the session where board members are expected to decide whether to approve the Republican president’s proposal to shutter the center during the construction project.
Trump ally Ric Grenell stepping down as Kennedy Center president
WASHINGTON (AP) — Richard Grenell is stepping down as president of the Kennedy Center after leading changes that drive artists away. President Donald Trump announced the shakeup on Friday. Trump says Matt Floca, who runs facilities operations, will replace Grenell. A person familiar with the plans says the board is set to finalize the move on Monday. Grenell played a key role in Trump’s push to overhaul the center and target “woke” culture. Trump replaced the old leadership and installed a loyal board. Major artists then canceled performances in protest.
5 indelible photos from Hollywood's awards season, and the stories behind them
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As a staff photojournalist for The Associated Press based in Los Angeles, Chris Pizzello covers hundreds of entertainment events a year. It all culminates in awards season, where he captures the defining moments in the lives of the celebrities he’s shot day in and day out, from the triumphs of Beyoncé and Bad Bunny at the Grammys to the envelope snafu and The Slap at the Oscars. This year, he chose five key photos and shared the stories behind making them. They range from Amy Madigan and Michael B. Jordan's surprise wins to Teyana Taylor's celebration. He connected with Ethan Hawke while making hurried portraits and shot Justin Bieber's stripped-down performance from afar.
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Live Nation, Ticketmaster trial to resume after 7 states join a Justice Department settlement
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 30 states will resume their antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster on Monday after negotiations this week failed to result in many states joining a tentative settlement reached by the Justice Department. Federal Judge Arun Subramanian said at a hearing in Manhattan on Friday that the states had dropped their request to restart the trial in coming weeks with a different jury. Lawyers told the judge that Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina and South Dakota were joining the Justice Department in settling.
Ryan Coogler aware of potential Oscar history ahead but focused on 'Sinners' team before ceremony
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ryan Coogler says the Oscars matter, but he is focused on enjoying the moment with his “Sinners” team. He told The Associated Press Thursday that he is staying present as the ceremony nears. Coogler could become the first Black filmmaker to win best director. He says Sunday feels like the last official night together for the cast and crew after months on the awards circuit. They were honored at the Macro Pre-Oscars party, which celebrates nominees of color. “Sinners” leads the Oscars field with 16 nominations and stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles.
Brazil's telenovela industry is the secret agent behind powerful films at the Oscars
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Hollywood actors might rule the silver screen, but Brazil’s path to stardom often starts under the bright lights of a television studio. Since the early 1960s, the telenovelas, often compared to soap operas, produced by the country’s leading broadcaster TV Globo have evolved from simple daily dramas into a multi-million-dollar industry that can shape the national discourse, reaching more than 60 million of Brazil's 212 million people every week. Many Brazilian actors associated with Oscar-contending films, including “I’m Still Here” and this year’s four-category nominee “The Secret Agent,” first became household names via TV Globo. Actors like Wagner Moura and Fernanda Torres gained broad national visibility through telenovelas.
Out of the frying pan? Noma’s Rene Redzepi resigns, and fine dining confronts 'brigade' culture
LONDON (AP) — The downfall of the world's top chef has raised questions about whether time is up for the storied bullying and abuse of fine dining kitchens. Danish chef Rene Redzepi, the founder of Noma in Copenhagen, resigned this week after The New York Times reported that dozens of his former employees say he abused them. The report came just before Noma opened an expensive pop-up in Los Angeles. Celebrity chefs bullying subordinates is a well-known and well-studied feature of fine dining kitchens for over a century. Experts say that restaurants are unlikely to self-police and make broad reforms on the scale of the entertainment industry after #MeToo exposed sexual assault in that industry.
Two long-lost episodes of 'Doctor Who' have been found. Fans will soon be able to watch them
LONDON (AP) — A film charity has uncovered two episodes of sci-fi series “Doctor Who” that were long believed lost. The charity Film is Fabulous found the 1960s episodes in the belongings of a deceased collector. “Doctor Who” first aired in 1963 and is now a much-loved classic. But scores of episodes were lost because the broadcaster wiped the tapes for re-use. The BBC has restored the two rediscovered episodes and plans to release them next month on its streaming service. The episodes come from 1965 and star William Hartnell as intergalactic adventurer the Doctor in a storyline involving iconic villains the Daleks. Ninety-five episodes still remain missing.

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