Epstein emails show he helped arrange White House visit for Woody Allen
NEW YORK (AP) — Woody Allen’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has been known for years, but emails in the huge trove of records released by the Justice Department illustrate that relationship in new depth. The filmmaker, his wife and Epstein were neighbors in New York City. Records show the three dined together often. They also commiserated with each other about being accused of sexual misconduct. One year, Epstein used his connections to a former member of President Barack Obama’s administration to help Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, get a White House tour. A message sent to an assistant for Allen and Previn via email seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.
Bad Bunny says he will bring his culture to 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bad Bunny says he wants to bring his culture to his Super Bowl halftime show Sunday. He will highlight Latin identity at America’s most-watched event. The Grammy winner revealed some details Thursday during an interview in San Francisco, but he won't provide any spoilers. The conversation was broadcast on Apple Music and social media. Bad Bunny recently won Album of the Year at the Grammys, marking the first time an all Spanish-language album took the top prize. The Super Bowl will be held Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots.
How Brandi Carlile, Coco Jones and Charlie Puth are preparing for the Super Bowl pregame stage
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandi Carlile plans to perform “America the Beautiful” live at the Super Bowl, without prerecorded tracks. She says she believes audiences deserve the same risk they take daily. Carlile, along with Charlie Puth and Coco Jones, will perform before kickoff. Carlile emphasizes spiritual preparation for the challenging stadium acoustics. Jones will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” focusing on discipline and repetition. She values sound monitoring and advice from Alicia Keys. Puth, performing the national anthem, approaches it as both producer and vocalist, emphasizing restraint. Carlile sees the Super Bowl as preparation for her upcoming Human Tour.
Movie Review: In submission romance 'Pillion,' BDSM meets barbershop quartet
“Do you give?” It can be a pertinent question in any relationship, but it’s a particularly poignant one for the BDSM couple of Harry Lighton’s kink-friendly, disarmingly affecting romance “Pillion.” Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård star as a submissive-dominant couple in what could be termed our first “dom-com.” But what makes “Pillion,” Lighton’s first feature, such a bewitching experience is its lightness, writes AP Film Writer Jake Coyle. Lighton is keen to enjoy the unfolding dynamics of a relationship in the extreme, one that ultimately, like any other, is guided by needs and wants.
Jon Hamm on hosting NFL Honors and 'fellow Pisces' Bad Bunny's moment: 'I applaud him as an artist'
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jon Hamm is set to host the NFL Honors as they mark their 15th anniversary at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Hamm first attended the awards show when it was a new addition to Super Bowl week. He says the event has grown into something meaningful for players, especially those not tied to postseason success. Hamm highlights the importance of recognizing individual achievements. He brings extensive hosting experience and aims to celebrate the players and their season. Hamm describes the event as an appetizer to Super Bowl week, emphasizing its cultural significance. The NFL Honors air Thursday night.
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Robert Redford's character in 1969 film 'Downhill Racer' still resonates with American ski racers
BORMIO, Italy (AP) — David Chappellet, a fictional downhill racer played by Robert Redford in the 1969 film "Downhill Racer," continues to inspire skiers. The movie remains a badge of honor for American downhillers, embodying their spirit and underdog role in a European-centric sport. Known for its gritty camerawork, the film captures the essence of ski racing. It features iconic locations like Kitzbühel in Austria, along with Wengen in Switzerland. American racer River Radamus credits the film for inspiring his career. Directed by Michael Ritchie, the film explores the relationship between Redford's character and his coach, played by Gene Hackman. Both actors died in 2025.
Malcolm Gladwell's 'The American Way of Killing' to be released in September
NEW YORK (AP) — Malcolm Gladwell's next book, “The American Way of Killing,” focuses on gun violence in the U.S. Little, Brown and Company announced the release for Sept. 29. The book argues for examining unexpected places to understand lethal violence in America. Gladwell explores the issue through various stories, including a young gunshot victim in Washington, D.C., a 17th-century English knight and a professor in Alabama with a secret. Gladwell, 62, is a New Yorker staff writer and host of the podcast Revisionist History. His previous bestsellers include “The Tipping Point,” “Blin,” and “Outliers.”
Actor Michael Keaton to be honored as Man of the Year by Harvard's Hasty Pudding theater group
BOSTON (AP) — Actor Michael Keaton is set to be honored as the 2026 Man of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. Keaton will receive his Pudding Pot award at a celebratory roast Friday. Afterward he will attend a performance of Hasty Pudding's 177th production, “Salooney Tunes.” Hasty Pudding Theatricals dates to 1844 and calls itself the third-oldest theater group in existence. It gives out its Man and Woman of the Year awards to people who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment. Keaton is known for his roles in films such as “Batman,” “Birdman,” “Beetlejuice” and “Spotlight.” Actor Jon Hamm won the award last year.
Meet the man behind the Super Bowl's annual confetti blizzard
Noah Winter has attended more Super Bowls than Tom Brady, but not as a player. Winter is the mastermind behind the confetti spectacle at the end of each game. His company, Artistry in Motion, has been creating the colorful celebrations in the winning team's colors since the 31st Super Bowl, in 1997. Winter began his career in lighting design and pyrotechnics before transitioning to confetti for Disney and major concerts. The confetti is made from recycled materials and is biodegradable. Winter's team makes sure the confetti drops precisely when the game ends. And in the right colors.
Bad Bunny look-alike contest in San Francisco draws hundreds of fans
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Bad Bunny look-alike contest in San Francisco has turned into a street party as hundreds of fans gather to celebrate the global superstar. More than 30 contestants from across the Bay Area competed Thursday at a packed Mexican restaurant in the Mission neighborhood. They channeled the Puerto Rican singer with his bold looks, including straw hats and aviator hats and his signature “perreo,” or twerking, moves. The grand prize went to Abdul Ramirez Arroyave, a professional Bad Bunny impersonator who broke into song when asked to say a few words to the delight of the artist's fans who sang along. The event took place ahead of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show this weekend.
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