Chuck Todd leaving NBC political panel show ‘Meet the Press’ and being replaced by Kristen Welker
June 4, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Todd said on Sunday that he'll be leaving “Meet the Press” after a tumultuous near-decade of moderating the NBC political panel show, to be replaced in the coming months by Kristen Welker.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “The Eric Andre Show” is ostensibly not a series that lends itself to longevity. Its titular star, who plays a version of himself and satirizes talk shows by putting unsuspecting celebrity guests through hellish interviews, has become considerably more famous since the series first aired over a decade ago.
NEW YORK (AP) — When Sara Bareilles signed on for a two-week, stripped down production of “Into the Woods” off-Broadway, she had no idea the adventure would lead to Broadway and a Tony Award nomination. She also had no idea it would become a moving tribute to composer Stephen Sondheim.
Jay Roach goes into the desert with Patricia Arquette for quirky, noirish Apple series
June 2, 2023 GMTFilmmaker Jay Roach usually has a moment of panic and doubt before production starts on a project.
It’s something Sydney Pollack, who was a mentor of his, once assured him was normal. He’d also read something similar about Mike Nichols in Mark Harris’s biography.
‘Ted Lasso’ finale proved its whole point — that those who are stuck can overcome (SPOILERS)
June 1, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Roy Kent cries. Nate Shelley apologizes. Rebecca Welton lets her anger go. Trent Crimm finishes his book. Keeley Jones embraces her strength. And the kind-to-a-fault but often lost Ted Lasso finally — after three seasons, but arguably after nearly a lifetime — figures out exactly where he needs to be.
Movie Review: Sydney Sweeney is brilliant in ‘Reality,’ based on true story of NSA whistleblower
May 31, 2023 GMT“Reality,” a new movie starring Sydney Sweeney, is largely set in one empty room. There is nothing on the walls. There are no chairs or rugs, just a stark and ugly room in a nondescript rental property in a downtrodden neighborhood.
NEW YORK (AP) — Journalist Lisa Ling, who left CNN after her “This is Life” documentary series was canceled, has joined CBS News as a reporter, the network said on Wednesday.
Major League Baseball will take over broadcasts of San Diego Padres games beginning Wednesday after Diamond Sports missed a rights fees payment to the regional sports network's parent company and let the grace period expire.
Dinosaur exhibition temporarily closes in Atlanta after intruders cause expensive damage
May 30, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — A dinosaur exhibition linked to the Jurassic Park movie franchise has temporarily closed its Atlanta location after police say people broke in and caused more than $250,000 in damage.
NEW YORK (AP) — HBO said 2.9 million people watched or streamed the series finale of “Succession” on Sunday night, a series record that is expected to grow as delayed viewing is taken into account.
George Maharis, star of TV’s ‘Route 66’ in the 1960s, dies at 94
May 29, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — George Maharis, a stage-trained actor with rough-hewn good looks who became an icon to American youth in the 1960s as he cruised the country in a Corvette convertible in the hit television series "Route 66," has died.
‘Tony’ Yasumura reveals all about his not-naked shtick and its origins in Japanese comedy
May 29, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The shtick that’s gone viral features a soccer player, a Spice Girl, James Bond, you name it, appearing to be naked, except they’re not really naked at all.
The disarming sight gag by Japanese comic Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura is simple and rather silly.
‘Succession’ finale: Fans react to end of Emmy-winning hit drama
May 29, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — With the end of the critically acclaimed drama's fourth and final season, dedicated fans of “Succession” now know the answer to the series' central question: Which of the Murdoch-esque Roy family siblings will prevail?
Ed Ames, ’50s pop singer with Ames Brothers and ‘60s TV star in ‘Daniel Boone,’ dies at 95
May 28, 2023 GMTEd Ames, the youngest member of the popular 1950s singing group the Ames Brothers, who later became a successful actor in television and musical theater, has died. He was 95.
The last survivor of the four singing brothers, Ames died May 21 from Alzheimer's disease, his wife, Jeanne Ames, said Saturday.
There's no Iron Throne, but the stakes feel just as high.
“Succession,” the critically acclaimed drama chronicling a Murdoch-esque feuding billionaire family, wraps its four-season run on Sunday with a highly anticipated 88-minute finale.
After a year of long overdue Hollywood love, actor James Hong is still having his moment
May 26, 2023 GMTGreeted with a standing ovation at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, James Hong could easily have just basked in the applause and moved on. But for the 94-year-old, the mostly Asian cast of “Everything Everywhere All at Once" winning best cast seemed like an opportunity for a stark reminder that Hollywood wasn't always so open.
CBS is television’s most popular network for 15th straight year
May 26, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — CBS claimed the distinction of most-watched television network for the 15th straight year, even as those bragging rights don't mean what they used to.
The network averaged just under 6 million viewers on a typical moment in prime time for the season that just concluded, the Nielsen company said on Friday.
What to watch this weekend: ‘Succession’ finale, John Wick, Matchbox Twenty, ‘American Born Chinese’
May 26, 2023 GMTSure, lots of folks are eagerly anticipating this Sunday’s “Succession” finale. But what if you haven’t followed the Roy family drama? There’s plenty of new don’t miss new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.
Netflix to charge an additional $8 month for viewers living outside US subscribers’ households
May 23, 2023 GMTNetflix on Tuesday outlined how it intends to crack down on the rampant sharing of account passwords in the U.S., its latest bid to reel in more subscribers to its video streaming service as its growth slows.
Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne weigh in on ‘When Harry Met Sally’ debate of ‘Platonic’ friendships
May 23, 2023 GMTCan men and women be friends? 1989's “ When Harry Met Sally ” said no, but Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen disagree.
From Xerox to TV box, long awaited adaptation of ‘American Born Chinese’ book hits Disney+
May 23, 2023 GMTGene Luen Yang remembers feeling pumped in 2007 when Hollywood came calling about his trailblazing graphic novel “American Born Chinese.” But that excitement turned into exasperation when it became clear the interested party completely missed the point of the book.
‘SmartLess’ podcast goes on tour with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, ends up on TV
May 23, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — When Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes get together, they can instantly tell if something's wrong: If insults don't immediately fly, there's a problem.
“I think it is our love language,” says Arnett, the “Arrested Development star and voice of Batman in the "Lego Movie" franchise.
Ray Stevenson, of ‘Rome’ and ‘Thor’ movies, dies at 58
May 22, 2023 GMTRay Stevenson, who played the villainous British governor in “RRR,” an Asgardian warrior in the “Thor” films, and a member of the 13th Legion in HBO’s “Rome,” has died. He was 58.
Representatives for Stevenson told The Associated Press that he died Sunday but had no other details to share on Monday.
NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, the week in May when television executives revealed what new shows were coming and which old ones were going spoke to the power and influence that ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox had over popular culture.
What to stream this weekend: Jack Harlow’s acting debut, Kesha, Scott brothers on HGTV
May 19, 2023 GMTThis week's new streaming options include rapper Jack Harlow's acting debut, the return of Kesha and new projects for an heart-warming HGTV show.
Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.
ABC News crew spends year in Uvalde, documents journey of survivors, families of shooting victims
May 18, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — After most mass shootings that capture the public's attention, national news organizations will send reporters for a few days, a week maybe, before moving on. There's always another community, another tragedy.
Daytime Emmy Awards postponed because of writers strike
May 17, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — The Daytime Emmy Awards have become the latest casualty of the Hollywood writers strike.
NEW YORK (AP) — CNN said Kaitlan Collins will host a new hourlong show at the center of the prime-time lineup, filling a slot left vacant since the firing of Chris Cuomo and as the network's ratings are at a low ebb.
Paul Schrader can’t shake his Christian faith, even with his latest movie, ‘Master Gardener’
May 17, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Throughout his life, Paul Schrader has had a complicated relationship with Christianity.
He grew up in a strict Calvinist home, went to a Christian college, left the faith and then eventually returned, albeit to a different denomination.
ESPN announces ‘Pat McAfee Show’ will join afternoon lineup
May 17, 2023 GMTPat McAfee's show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal announced Tuesday.
McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship.
Striking Hollywood writers vow not to picket Tony Awards, opening the door to some kind of show
May 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Striking members of the Writers Guild of America have said they will not picket next month's Tony Awards telecast, clearing a thorny issue facing show organizers and opening the door for some sort of Broadway razzle-dazzle on TV.
Writers strike felt in missing NBC stars, absence of Fox schedule for TV sales pitches
May 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The impact of the Hollywood writers strike was felt as major television networks began their annual week of sales presentations to advertisers on Monday, with news personalities like Willie Geist and Stephanie Ruhle left to hawk comedies and dramas for NBC Universal.
Review: In ‘Still,’ Michael J. Fox movingly tells his story
May 12, 2023 GMTI've always liked Michael J. Fox and always will. I suspect most people feel the same way.
That's surely partly because, as Marty McFly in “Back to the Future" and Alex P. Keaton in “Family Ties,” Fox was a fixture of so many childhoods.
‘Succession’ star Jeremy Strong lands a role on Broadway in 2024 in ‘An Enemy of the People’
May 12, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Strong is going from a corporate boardroom on TV to a whistleblower on Broadway.
The actor who plays Kendall Roy in the HBO television series “Succession” has signed on to play a man who tries to expose water contamination in a Norwegian spa town in Henrik Ibsen's 1882 play “An Enemy of the People.”
Jacklyn Zeman, longtime ‘General Hospital’ cast member who played nurse Bobbie Spencer, dies at 70
May 12, 2023 GMTJacklyn Zeman, who became one of the most recognizable actors on daytime television during 45 years of playing nurse Bobbie Spencer on ABC’s “General Hospital,” has died. She was 70.
Zeman died of cancer, her family confirmed Wednesday.
‘BlackBerry’ film hails the must-have gadget that the iPhone turned into a forgotten relic
May 11, 2023 GMTAlmost everyone knows Steve Jobs' uncanny vision, relentless drive and technological wizardry hatched the iPhone, a breakthrough that continues to reshape culture 16 years after the late Apple co-founder introduced the device to the world.
Swimming, gymnastics and track & field fans can rejoice. For the first time in a European Olympics, those event finals will be televised live on network television in the United States.
NBC will have at least nine hours of weekday daytime coverage, expanding to at least 11 hours on weekends.
Not live, MTV Movie & TV Awards rely on plenty of old clips
May 8, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A host-less, pre-taped and muted MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday became the first big awards show to air during the screenwriters' strike, offering a commercial-heavy broadcast featuring lots of past recycled live clips.
Newton Minow, ex-FCC chief who dubbed TV ‘wasteland,’ dies
May 7, 2023 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — Newton N. Minow, who as Federal Communications Commission chief in the early 1960s famously proclaimed that network television was a "vast wasteland," died Saturday. He was 97.
Minow, who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, died Saturday at home, surrounded by loved ones, said his daughter, Nell Minow.
How (and when) to watch King Charles’ coronation in the US
May 5, 2023 GMTKing Charles III's coronation Saturday will mix a thousand-year tradition with the streaming age.
Why Hollywood writers are striking and the immediate impact
May 5, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — The union representing 11,500 writers of film, television and other entertainment forms are now on strike.
‘Yellowstone’ to end in November, sequel starts in December
May 5, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The popular television western “Yellowstone” with Kevin Costner will end this fall and be replaced almost immediately by a sequel.
Since his ouster, embarrassing reports on Carlson pile up
May 3, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A week after Fox News fired star host Tucker Carlson — for reasons that remain unexplained — he has been the subject of a handful of embarrassing stories about some of his private messages and statements while at the network.
Writers strike looks to be a long fight, as Hollywood braces
May 3, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood writers picketing to preserve pay and job security outside major studios and streamers braced for a long fight at the outset of a strike that immediately forced late-night shows into hiatus, put other productions on pause and had the entire industry slowing its roll.
Late-night TV shows go dark as writers strike for better pay
May 3, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The first Hollywood strike in 15 years began Tuesday as the economic pressures of the streaming era prompted unionized TV and film writers to picket for better pay outside major studios, a work stoppage that already is leading most late-night shows to air reruns.
Shot fired at Memphis TV station; suspect in custody
May 2, 2023 GMTMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A shot was fired at a Memphis television station on Tuesday, but no one was wounded, the station said.
The suspect then hid in a nearby business before he was arrested about two hours later, police said.
‘Cheers’ bar, ‘Tonight Show’ set among TV history at auction
May 1, 2023 GMTDALLAS (AP) — When Johnny Carson retired from “The Tonight Show” after 30 years, one man was determined to make the iconic set part of his burgeoning collection of television memorabilia.
“I would love to say that I convinced him that I was the best guy for the job, but really, if I’m being honest, I had to convince him to save the set at all," James Comisar said.
‘A Small Light’ focuses on those who helped Anne Frank
May 1, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Liev Schreiber was visiting conflict-ravaged Ukraine when he got a script about real-life events some 80 years ago that felt strangely timely.
It was a story set during the 1942 occupation of the Netherlands by the Nazis and the way some Dutch risked their lives to save Jews from the Holocaust.
Steve Austin ‘vulnerable’ in ‘Stone Cold Takes on America’
April 28, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — “Stone Cold” Steve Austin missed out on many seemingly mundane experiences during his legendary, bloodied, broken-bodied rise to becoming one of the most popular wrestlers of all time.
Fox ratings tumble in Tucker Carlson slot after his firing
April 27, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Fox News viewers are reacting to Tucker Carlson's firing by abandoning the network in his old time slot — at least temporarily.
Jerry Springer, politician turned TV ringmaster, dies at 79
April 27, 2023 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Jerry Springer, the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional guests willing to bare all — sometimes literally — as they brawled and hurled obscenities before a raucous audience, died Thursday at 79.
Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer, dies at 96
April 25, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.
How ‘Perry Mason’ captured 1930s Los Angeles, race divisions
April 25, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Early in the second season finale of “Perry Mason,” which aired Monday, the titular character pulls up on his motorcycle to Los Angeles City Hall and pauses for a long moment.
Don Lemon fired from CNN after divisive morning show run
April 24, 2023 GMTNew this week: David Bowie, ‘Fatal Attraction’ and Smokey
April 24, 2023 GMTHere’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.
Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 23-29
April 24, 2023 GMTCelebrity birthdays for the week of April 23-29
April 23: Actor Lee Majors (“Six Million Dollar Man”) is 84. Actor Blair Brown is 76. Actor Joyce DeWitt (“Three’s Company”) is 74. Actor James Russo is 70.
NBCUniversal CEO Shell departs over ‘inappropriate conduct’
April 23, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jeff Shell, the chief executive of NBCUniversal and one of the media industry's renowned executives, is departing the company after an investigation into inappropriate conduct, parent company Comcast announced Sunday.
Seeking a rebound, CNN turns to Charles Barkley, Gayle King
April 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — TV personalities Gayle King and Charles Barkley will headline a new prime-time weekly CNN show, “King Charles,” debuting in the fall, the network announced Saturday as it tries to engineer a turnaround amid tumbling ratings.