AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:59 p.m. EST

Sesame Street's new season: Bubba Wallace, Netflix and a whole lot of chickens

NEW YORK (AP) — “Sesame Street” launches its 56th season on Nov. 10 with NASCAR champion Bubba Wallace as a guest and a new format on Netflix. The show will feature an 11-minute main story, up from 9 minutes last year, and new segments alongside returning favorites. Executive producer Sal Perez says the show continues to modernize and engage kids. The first episode includes races with Elmo, Abby, and Zoe, featuring Wallace's commentary. The Netflix deal expands the show's reach to 30 languages while keeping it on PBS. New segments like “Tales from 123" will also be introduced, offering a peek inside the characters' apartment building.

The Grammys invited all Latin Grammy voting members to the Recording Academy: Why it matters

NEW YORK (AP) — In the last few years, the Grammy Awards have made a concerted effort to diversify its electorate. For the first time ever in 2025, all Latin Grammy voting members were invited to join the Recording Academy as part of its 2025 new member class. The results are notable. There are 3,800 new Recording Academy members in 2025. Half are 39 and under, 58% are people of color and 35% identify as women. In that group, there are approximately 2,900 new Grammy voting members. Nearly half, 49%, are 39 and under, 60% are people of color and 30% identify as women.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Which stars are joining this year's lineup?

NEW YORK (AP) — Ciara, Foreigner, Lil Jon and Kool & the Gang will feature in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The event will also spotlight “KPop Demon Hunters” with performances by the film's singers and themed balloons. The parade kicks off on Nov. 27, featuring 32 balloons, 27 floats and 11 marching bands — all leading to Santa Claus. Broadway shows and the Radio City Rockettes will perform. Four new character balloons, including Buzz Lightyear and Mario, will debut. Spectators can expect performances from stars like Debbie Gibson and Shaggy, with marching bands from across the U.S. and Panama.

‘Regretting You’ and ‘Black Phone 2’ neck-in-neck on slow Halloween box office weekend

The movie exhibition business is wrapping up one of its slowest Octobers in over 25 years with a sluggish Halloween weekend. Studios avoided major new releases with Halloween on a Friday. Instead, several re-releases hit theaters, including “Back to the Future” for its 40th anniversary. Universal’s “Black Phone 2” and Paramount’s “Regretting You” both claimed the top spot, with “Regretting You” ultimately taking it with $8.1 million. The Netflix phenomenon “KPop Demon Hunters” was also back in theaters, though it wasn't as successful as its run in August. The month’s total ticket sales are the lowest since 1998, excluding October 2020 during the pandemic.

East Wing ballroom donations by corporate owners create awkward moments for news outlets

President Donald Trump's razing of the White House's East Wing to build a ballroom has meant for some awkward moments for news outlets. Comcast, the corporate owner of NBC News and MSNBC, is among the corporate and personal donors that funded the project. So is Amazon, whose founder Jeff Bezos is also the owner of The Washington Post. The Post editorialized in favor of Trump's renovation, but did not immediately disclose Bezos' involvement. Comcast's donation came under some heavy criticism by MSNBC personalities, including Rachel Maddow and Stephanie Ruhle. It's not the first time during the Trump administration that corporate owners acted in a way to make its journalists uncomfortable

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Nov. 9-15 includes Demi Moore and Miranda Lambert

Celebrities having birthdays during the week of Nov. 9-15 include actor Demi Moore, singer Miranda Lambert and comedian Jimmy Kimmel. Comedian Tracy Morgan of “30 Rock” turns 57, actor Ellen Pompeo hits 56 and “Downton Abbey” actor Hugh Bonneville celebrates 62. Other celebrities with big days include actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger, actor Stanley Tucci and actor Ryan Gosling. Sportscaster Al Michaels turns 81, singer Neil Young reaches 80 and actor Whoopi Goldberg hits 70. Two “Law & Order” actors have birthdays — Sam Waterston turns 85 and Chris Noth reaches 71.

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith’s Midwest roots inspire surprise gift to U. of Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith is gifting a need-based music scholarship to the University of Michigan. The 64-year-old grew up in Detroit's suburbs. Smith made the official announcement during a surprise appearance Sunday at the Ann Arbor school’s annual Band-O-Rama event. He performed the Chili Peppers hit “Can’t Stop,” alongside the Michigan Marching Band at Hill Auditorium. The Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship is named in honor of Smith’s parents. It will be awarded to an incoming University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance student, beginning in 2026. Smith credits his parents with nurturing his love of music and supporting his dream to pursue it professionally.

What to Stream: 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' Tracy Morgan, Kim Kardashian and 'Downton Abbey'

The earnest superhero team-up tale “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and Tracy Morgan returning to TV with a new comedy called “Crutch” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time for the week of Nov. 3 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are the upstairs-downstairs drama “Downton Abbey” bidding farewell in a final movie, Kim Kardashian playing a divorce attorney in Hulu’s “All’s Fair” and Willie Nelson continuing to demonstrate his prolific output with the release of yet another new album this year.

What to know about the British king's remote private estate that will be Andrew's new home

LONDON (AP) — Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, King Charles III's younger brother, is facing banishment from royal premises. He is being moved from the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle to a property on the king's private estate at Sandringham. The move symbolizes his downfall amid scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew denies allegations of improper behavior. On Thursday, Charles took a significant step to shield the monarchy from Andrew's connections with Epstein. Andrew has been given notice to leave Royal Lodge, where he has lived for over 20 years. His relocation will be funded privately by Charles, not the British taxpayer.