AP National Entertainment News

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Barack Obama helped Marc Maron lock the gates on his podcast Monday, returning to the show for the final episode after 16 years and more than 1,600 episodes. The former president gave new status to “WTF With Marc Maron” and to podcasts in general when

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Tron: Ares” powered up the box office grid in the top spot this weekend, but Disney’s third entry in the sci-fi franchise fell short of expectations. Despite some favorable reviews — including a three-out-of-four-star one from The Associated Press — the new “Tron” film

By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) — The NFL has been spicing up its international games with halftime performers, a bit like mini-Super Bowls. British rapper Giggs performed Sunday at halftime of the game between the New York Jets and Denver Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Broncos won 13-11. “It’s a huge

LONDON (AP) — British police have arrested two men on suspicion of murder after the former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death at a prison in northern England, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offenses. Emergency services were called to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire on Saturday morning after

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Diane Keaton never really played the part of glamorous movie star. She was in iconic films and she dated some of the biggest stars of her generation, and yet she somehow remained other and defiantly herself despite so many years working in the Hollywood system. Eccentric and approachable, with

By The Associated Press Oscar winning actor Diane Keaton, who died at 79, was known for her performances and style that helped shaped some of the most indelible films of all time, including “The Godfather,” “Annie Hall,” “Father of the Bride” and “Something’s Gotta Give.” She was beloved by fans and fellow actors, many of

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” films and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation, has died. She was 79. A family member told The Associated Press that Keaton died in

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marc Maron drops the 1,686th and final episode of his “WTF” podcast Monday. The show began with the comic and actor mainly interviewing stand-up comedians. Maron would go on to talk to legends of music and Hollywood, and a sitting president. Here’s a look at

By MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Two jurors who voted in June to convict Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault said they regret the decision and only did so because others on the panel bullied them, the former movie mogul’s lawyers said in a newly public court filing. Weinstein’s lawyers are seeking

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Don’t speak — scream, because No Doubt has announced the band’s first run of shows in 14 years. After surprising fans with a brief reunion at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the ska-punks have set their sights on Las Vegas. The band

LONDON (AP) — John Lodge, the singer and bassist of British rock band The Moody Blues for more than 50 years, has died. He was 82. In a statement Friday, his family said “with the deepest sadness” that Lodge died “suddenly and unexpectedly.” It added that Lodge “peacefully slipped away surrounded by his loved ones

By LARRY NEUMEISTER and ANDREW DALTON Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group was tossed out Thursday by a federal judge who said the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s dis track “Not Like Us” were opinion. The feud between two of hip-hop’s biggest stars erupted in the

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Get ready for more chicken jockey. “A Minecraft Movie” is getting a sequel. Warner Bros. Pictures on Thursday announced that it was planning to release the film in July 2027. Jared Hess is returning to direct and co-write the still untitled film, which counts Jason Momoa among its producers.

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — When rapper-actor Common was a kid, he carried towels and sneakers as a Chicago Bulls ball boy who was close enough to hear the squeak of shoes and the roar inside the arena. Decades later, Common is helping set a different kind of tone

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The new Apple TV+. series “The Last Frontier” begins with a plane crash in remote Alaska and a scramble for survivors. We learn the plane was carrying a nasty bunch of federal inmates. Then we find out that the nastiest of them is part of

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Kiss rock star Gene Simmons is recovering after he fainted while driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and crashed his SUV into a parked car, authorities said. Simmons, a co-founder and bassist for the legendary band, was evaluated at a hospital Tuesday before being released. He posted on social

GLASGOW (AP) — Sharing a Glasgow hotel with pop star Katy Perry hasn’t been much of a distraction for Scotland coach Steve Clarke as he prepares his team for two crucial World Cup qualifiers this week. “I didn’t know she was there,” the 62-year-old coach said, acknowledging that he wasn’t very familiar with the the

By KOSTYA MANENKOV, JILL LAWLESS and MIKE CORDER Associated Press STOCKHOLM (AP) — Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai, whose surreal and anarchic novels combine a bleak world view with mordant humor, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for work the judges said upholds the power of art in the midst of “apocalyptic terror.” The Nobel

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A novel about identity and a missing youth, a history of the overthrow of the Shah of Iran and a picture book celebrating the underappreciated belly button are this year’s winners of the Kirkus Prize, which includes a $50,000 cash award for each of the

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny’s music catalog has seen a jump in streams since his 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance was announced. According to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, Latin music is primarily consumed via streaming. They found that Bad Bunny saw a

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton “ain’t dead yet,” the country superstar said on social media Wednesday following public speculation about her health. “There are just a lot of rumors flying around. But I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay,” the 79-year-old

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City judge has dismissed a civil summons against Alex O’Keefe, a former writer for FX’s hit show “The Bear” who was removed from a commuter train in handcuffs last month following a seating dispute. O’Keefe, who is Black, has accused transit officers of

By MATT SEDENSKY AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Bari Weiss has made a name for herself as an unflinching critic of mainstream news outlets. Now, she’s set to run one. The announcement this week of Weiss as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News has been met with a response the 41-year-old has grown

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer VENICE, Italy (AP) — Kathryn Bigelow is exceedingly calm when she talks about nuclear annihilation. That’s not to say she’s nonchalant about the topic— much the opposite. The Oscar-winning filmmaker discusses it with grave, matter-of-fact seriousness. But she also doesn’t need to dress up the threat in hyperbole, whether

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A glittering list of music figures will help present awards at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this year, including Elton John, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Questlove, Twenty One Pilots, Missy Elliott and Raye. The induction ceremony will include Bad Company, Chubby

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Several high-profile Turkish celebrities were summoned on Wednesday for questioning and blood tests as part of a drugs-related investigation, reports and officials said. The investigation, led by Istanbul’s chief prosecutor, was launched into individuals suspected of “using narcotic or stimulant substances,” the prosecutor’s office said. Those summoned include 12 singers, actors

By The Associated Press Documentaries on comedian John Candy and pop artist-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham as well as a “Family Guy” Halloween special are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift says she did not turn down the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Bad Bunny. “The Life of a Showgirl” singer paid a visit to “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday and dispelled a few rumors. Most

By RONALD BLUM Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Tenor Rolando Villazón was singing the title role in Massenet’s “Werther” in 2006 at Nice, France, when he started thinking about how he would direct the opera. “I said, ‘oh, this last act is very difficult. He shot himself and keeps singing for 40 minutes.’ And

By THOMAS ADAMSON AP Fashion Writer PARIS (AP) — The spring fashion season ended with silhouettes you could spot from a block away. As Paris Fashion Week wrapped up this week after myriad debuts and shake-ups, three trends took hold. Shoulders were broadened and jackets snapped to attention. Skin showed on the wearer’s terms. And