AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 9:05 a.m. EDT

Sterling K. Brown has 3 Emmys, but Dan Fogelman has a bottle of scotch and a story

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Sterling K. Brown and Dan Fogelman are heading into Sunday's Emmy Awards with nominations for the first season of their show, “Paradise.” Brown has three Emmys, while Fogelman has none despite nine nominations. Fogelman jokes he's not jealous because he cherishes a pricey bottle of scotch Brown gave him without realizing an Emmy Awards engraving on it would out him as regifting. “Paradise” is a major departure from the men's previous show, “This Is Us,” which won Brown one of his Emmys. Brown is nominated for best actor, and the show is up for best drama, which would mean Fogelman finally gets a trophy.

With ‘The Grand Finale,’ ‘Downton Abbey’ is really coming to an end

Julian Fellowes has been saying goodbye to “Downton Abbey” for nearly as long as it has existed. The creators are really saying a final farewell with “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” which opens in theaters nationwide Friday. Fellowes said in a recent interview with The Associated Press that it is sad and that it has been a huge chunk of his life. “Downton Abbey” was conceived by producer Gareth Neame as a kind of spinoff to “Gosford Park.” It was in many ways an improbable hit. The first two features grossed more than $287 million at the worldwide box office.

Music Review: Spinal Tap almost goes to 11 on 'The End Continues' soundtrack

On “The End Continues,” the fictitious hard-rock band Spinal Tap continues to delightfully walk the fine line between clever and stupid, writes The Associated Press' Jim Pollock in his review. When the mockumentary film “This is Spinal Tap” and the accompanying debut album were released in 1984, the idea of a band rocking into middle age felt mildly ridiculous. With its core members now in their 70s and 80s, the band no longer goes all the way to 11, says Pollock. But the new album rewards fans with crisp comedic writing, interesting collaborations with rock royalty, and surprisingly direct confrontation with mortality and the ravages of time.

Jane Austen fans honor 250 years since her birth with grand costumed balls and dancing

LONDON (AP) — Fans of Jane Austen are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the beloved author's birth with costumed balls and themed events. This weekend, thousands of Austen devotees from all over the world are descending on Bath, England, for a 10-day festival celebrating the author of “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.” The highlight is a Regency costumed promenade, expected to draw some 2,000 people. The popularity of “Bridgerton” has renewed interest in all things Regency and drawn in a new generation of fans. Many “Janeites” say they get huge enjoyment in making Austen’s words and imageries come to life by making their own period dress and immersing themselves in historical dances.

Americans still give awards shows consideration, a new AP-NORC poll finds

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Most Americans still want to thank the academy, at least a little. About half of U.S. adults say they’ve watched all or most of an awards show on TV or streaming in the past year. That's according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Just over half say they’ve watched clips from an awards show. The results suggest some vitality remains in the tuxedo-and-gown world of the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Golden Globes, whose makers have fought to make them relevant when Americans have more choices in what to watch. When the Emmys return Sunday, all eyes will likely be on the winners and the ratings.

Michael Kors' style and wearability attract starry crowd at his New York Fashion Week show

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Kors was feeling loose as he brought his love of nature to urban New York City for a celebrity-heavy Spring/Summer 2026 show at New York Fashion Week. Kors called the collection he unveiled Thursday “earthly elegance” and says he was inspired by recent trips to tropical destinations. The clothes had an easy, loose feel, including oversized silk blouses and jackets and white linen matching sets of skirts and pants that looked like aspirational yacht-wear. Fabrics were light and often sheer, lending to comfort and wearability, and dominating colors were black, white, and brown, with accents of yellow and pink.

A new Whitney Houston duet? How Calum Scott made 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' with the late star

NEW YORK (AP) — A new Whitney Houston song has arrived 13 years after her death. On Thursday, English singer Calum Scott released a balladic reinterpretation of the timeless “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).” It was only possible with the approval of a few parties. Whitney’s sister-in-law and the executor of her estate Pat Houston and copyright holder Primary Wave were all on board. Scott even got approval from the 1987 hit's original songwriters, George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam. Unlike the up-tempo original, Scott and Houston's new song is slow. It highlights the yearning in the song's lyrics.

Royal Opera appearance by Russian soprano Anna Netrebko draws pro-Ukraine demonstration

LONDON (AP) — Dozens of Ukrainians and their supporters have demonstrated outside the Royal Opera House in London against a performance by Russian soprano Anna Netrebko. The singer is appearing in Puccini's “Tosca." It has faced calls to cancel her invitation. One protester held a sign saying, “While Netrebko sings, Ukraine bleeds.” Netrebko received an award from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2008 but has not performed in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She was dropped by New York’s Metropolitan Opera after the invasion but has since appeared with major companies around the world.

At TIFF, the mid-sized movie strives to survive

TORONTO (AP) — Real moviegoer energy has always made the Toronto International Film Festival a good measuring stick for not just what might catch on during Hollywood’s awards season but what will click with audiences. Yet there might be no more endangered species in today’s film industry than the kind of crowd-pleaser that thrives in Toronto. More than most years, this year’s festival has been a veritable ark for the castaways of today’s Hollywood. Those are the star-driven dramas, big-screen comedies and adult-oriented movies without a whiff of franchise about them. All struggled to reach the screen. Now the fight to reach audiences is just getting started.