AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 5:59 p.m. EST

Ken Burns and Lin-Manuel Miranda offer history lesson to NYC students at Trinity Church

NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of New York City high school students gathered at Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan for a lesson led by filmmaker Ken Burns and “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. The event Wednesday was tied to Burns' new documentary, “The American Revolution,” which premieres Sunday on PBS. Burns emphasizes the importance of telling stories from all perspectives, not just from the top down. The documentary features an impressive cast of narrators and historians. Burns and Miranda, who have been friends for about 10 years, share a mission to educate through storytelling, aiming to broaden historical narratives.

How the funny and feminist fashion in 'Palm Royale' further the storytelling

NEW YORK (AP) — “Palm Royale” made a splash in its first season with a starry cast, high production values, and its ubiquitous grasshopper cocktail. The Apple TV comedy stars Kristen Wiig as Maxine, who tries to break into 1969 Palm Beach high society while bumping heads with co-stars Carol Burnett, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb and Laura Dern. But also starring are the brightly colored and graphic print vintage designer looks that help the actors get into character. Costume designer Alix Friedberg says 50-60% of the “thousands” of costumes in Season 2 are original, with incredible attention to detail.

Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys merge their parallel lives for 'The Beast in Me'

Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys have teamed up for the first time in the new Netflix series "The Beast in Me." The show, now streaming, features Danes as Aggie, a Pulitzer prize-winning author struggling with writer's block and personal loss. Rhys plays Nile, a real estate tycoon with a mysterious past. The series explores their complex relationship as Aggie proposes writing a book about Nile to clear his name. Danes and Rhys share an intriguing chemistry, with their characters challenging each other intellectually. The show reunites Danes with some of her "Homeland" team, adding to the excitement.

SAG Awards change name to the Actor Awards starting in 2026

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Screen Actors Guild Awards are now called the Actor Awards. The show, commonly known as the SAG Awards, will officially become the Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA on March 1. Netflix will stream the event, as it has since 2023. The change was announced Friday to the board of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing U.S. movie and television actors. Since starting in 1995, the SAG Awards have become a key part of Hollywood's awards season. SAG-AFTRA explained that aligning the show's name with its iconic statuette, The Actor, provides clearer recognition for audiences.

How chummy is too chummy? Epstein emails shine light on relationships between journalists, sources

The emails to and from Jeffrey Epstein that were released this week shine a light on the relationship between reporters and their sources — and that light isn't always flattering. Messages between journalists and the convicted sex offender who died in 2019 were frequently chummy. In one case, Michael Wolff is shown giving Epstein advice on how to deal with the media. Wolff said it was in service of trying to get the story of the relationship between Epstein and President Donald Trump. People often see journalists working in public — in an interview or news conference. The relationships can be different in private, but ethical rules remain the same.

Reaching 67 points is creating a '6-7' frenzy at college basketball games across the country

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk hears the popular catchphrase “6-7” all the time at home, possibly more often than please and thank you. Getting an earful of it at a women’s basketball game, well, that was new for the mother of three. Baranczyk and the sixth-ranked Sooners became the latest college team to send fans into a frenzy when they hit 67 points in an 89-61 victory against North Alabama on Friday. Hundreds of students on a field trip screamed their approval along with the ubiquitous phrase and juggled their hands up and down to mimic a video that went viral earlier this year.

From Disney to Broadway: Meg Donnelly's 'Moulin Rouge!' debut fulfills theater kid dream

NEW YORK (AP) — Meg Donnelly, known for her roles in Disney's “Zombies” and ABC's “American Housewife,” has made her Broadway debut in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” She plays cabaret star Santine in the show, which features hits like “Single Ladies” and “Lady Marmalade.” Donnelly describes her debut as surreal, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She has always loved theater, with “Rent” being her favorite musical. Her career path has included roles that naturally led to this moment, including a part in NBC’s live “The Sound of Music.” Donnelly also plans to pursue her passion for writing and performing her own music.

In documentary, the late poet Andrea Gibson shared their terminal cancer journey to help others

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist, never expected a documentary about their life with terminal cancer to be funny. Gibson, who died in July at 49, was able to see “Come See Me in the Good Light,” a film capturing their life with their wife, Megan Falley. Filmmaker Ryan White says the film, now streaming on Apple TV, balances humor and deep emotion. The project began with a suggestion from comedian Tig Notaro. Despite the heavy subject, the film focuses on living, not dying. Falley continues to tour with the film, sharing their love story and Gibson's legacy.

Critics warn Florida's new teaching standards rehabilitate aspects of the anti-communist Red Scare

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Critics are warning that Florida's new social studies standards rehabilitate aspects of McCarthyism and the anti-communist Red Scare. Mitzi Trumbo, whose Hollywood screenwriter father was blacklisted during the McCarthy era, finds the standards appalling. Approved Thursday, the standards say using terms like "McCarthyism" and "Red Scare" is slander against anti-communists. The standards soften criticism of Senator Joseph McCarthy, who led efforts to root out communists in various communities during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Many accused, including Dalton Trumbo, faced career bans. Mitzi Trumbo emphasizes that history should not be rewritten to fit current politics.