Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir dies at 78
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at age 78. Weir’s death was announced Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page. The statement says said Weir had beaten cancer but succumbed to underlying lung issues. Weir joined the Grateful Dead in 1965 at just 17 years old. He’d spend the next 30 years playing on endless tours alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995. Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including “Sugar Magnolia” and “Mexicali Blues.” In the decades since he kept playing with other projects including Dead and Company.
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."
Daniel Walker Howe, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, dead at 88
NEW YORK (AP) — Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Daniel Walker Howe has died at 88. A spokesperson at UCLA confirmed he died Dec. 25. Howe was known for his book “What Hath God Wrought,” which chronicled the vast changes in the U.S. from 1815 to 1848. The book was part of Oxford University Press' series on American history and won the Pulitzer in 2008. Howe's work explored themes like Manifest Destiny, the rise of political parties, and the debate over slavery. He highlighted how technological advances impacted society and politics. Howe taught at several universities and aimed to make history accessible to general readers.
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.
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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.
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.
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