Veteran actor T.K. Carter, known for 'The Thing' and 'Punky Brewster,' dies at 69
DUARTE, Calif. (AP) — Veteran actor T.K. Carter, known for his roles in "The Thing" and "Punky Brewster," has died at 69. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported that deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive male in Duarte, California, on Friday evening. Police have not disclosed a cause of death but said no foul play is suspected. Carter gained fame as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic, "The Thing." He also appeared in the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster" and films like "Runaway Train," "Ski Patrol," and "Space Jam."
Actor Timothy Busfield accused of child sex abuse in New Mexico
Authorities in New Mexico have issued an arrest warrant for director and Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield to face a child sex abuse charge. An investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department said in a criminal complaint Friday that the child reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately. The acts allegedly occurred on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” a TV series Busfield directed and acted in. The complaint says the child’s mother told Child Protective Services the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. Busfield’s attorney and agent did not immediately respond to email messages seeking comment late Friday.
Hollywood stars gather for an all-winners celebration at the American Film Institute Awards
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The American Film Institute Awards has gathered its 2026 honorees for a special luncheon in Beverly Hills. The Friday event honored creative teams both in front of and behind the camera. There were no acceptance speeches or suspenseful moments, just thoughtful tributes and clips showcasing the year's work. AFI President Bob Gazzale emphasized shared recognition. The luncheon also featured AFI’s signature March of Time video montage, a sweeping look at cinematic and television milestones from decades past. It put this year’s honorees within the evolving history of the medium. Carol Burnett closed the ceremony, celebrating the power of creative collaboration.
Laura Dave's sequel to 'The Last Thing He Told Me' reveals all
Laura Dave has released a sequel to “The Last Thing He Told Me.” Fans of the book, which spent 65 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list, can also look forward to a second season of the TV adaptation on Apple TV next month. Dave explains that the sequel, “The First Time I Saw Him,” picks up after the events of “The Last Thing He Told Me” and fleshes out details from the past. The new book focuses on themes of forgiveness and second chances. Dave, who co-created the TV series with her husband, is also working on a screenplay for Netflix for her novel “The Night We Lost Him.”
Hollywood couple Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors gain Guinean citizenship
CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Hollywood couple Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors have received Guinean citizenship after tracing their ancestry to the West African country. They were awarded citizenship in a private ceremony in Conakry on Friday. The couple plans to tour the country's tourist sites on Sunday. Djiba Diakité, head of the president's cabinet, praised them as worthy representatives of Guinea. Majors, once on track for Hollywood stardom, faced setbacks after a 2023 arrest and subsequent conviction. Good, who began dating Majors in 2023, supported him during his trial. They married last year. Guinea's citizenship offer follows similar initiatives by other African countries.
Recommended for you
Judge dismisses Salt-N-Pepa's lawsuit to reclaim master recordings from Universal Music Group
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed Salt-N-Pepa's lawsuit to reclaim ownership of their master recordings from Universal Music Group. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote sided with the recording giant, stating the group never owned the copyrights to their sound recordings. UMG argued the recordings were “works made for hire,” preventing rights reclamation. Salt-N-Pepa claimed their agreements indicated otherwise. The duo, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, became Salt-N-Pepa in 1985. They signed with Next Plateau Records, now under Universal’s Republic label. The judge found no evidence they granted the label copyright that can be reclaimed.
Producers Guild nominees include ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Sinners’ and ‘Weapons’
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Producers Guild of America has announced 10 nominees for their top prize Friday. This includes awards season front-runners “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners,” “Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein” and “Hamnet.” “F1” and “Weapons” also made the list, as did “Sentimental Value,” “Bugonia” and “Train Dreams” Notably missing are “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and “Wicked: For Good.” The nominees align closely with recent actors and directors guild selections and the winner has 17 out of past 22 times gone on to win best picture at the Oscars. The 37th Annual Producers Guild Awards will take place on Feb. 28 in Los Angeles.
Washington National Opera bows out of Kennedy Center
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington National Opera is moving performances away from the Kennedy Center. The decision follows President Donald Trump's takeover of the venue and its rebranding as the Trump-Kennedy Center. A statement from the opera says it can't function under financial constraints imposed by the Trump-appointed board of the Kennedy Center. The opera will reduce its spring season and move performances to other venues. Francesca Zambello, the opera's artistic director, vows to continue offering a variety of shows.
K-pop might win at the Grammys for the first time
NEW YORK (AP) — K-pop is an inextricable force in global pop culture. It has also long been undercelebrated at institutions like the Grammys. That could change at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony next month. K-pop artists have earned nominations in three of the big four categories for the first time. Experts say it may be a historic moment for K-pop, but this year's nominees are better described as K-pop-adjacent. Up for awards are Katseye, HUNTR/X’s “Golden” from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack and Rosé and Bruno Mars' “APT.” The artists perform mostly in English, and the songs feature universally accessible and beloved pop hooks.
Rare copy of the comic book that introduced the world to Superman sells for $15 million
A rare copy of the comic book that introduced the world to Superman and also was once stolen from the home of actor Nicolas Cage has been sold for a record $15 million. The private deal for “Action Comics No. 1” was announced Friday. It eclipses the previous record set last November when a copy of “Superman No. 1″ was sold at auction for $9.12 million. The Action Comics sale was negotiated by Manhattan-based Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, which said the comic book’s owner and the buyer wished to remain anonymous. The comic sold for 10 cents when it came out in 1938 and marks the beginning of the superhero genre.
(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.