Entertainment News https://www.wspa.com News, weather, sports for Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Pickens, SC and Asheville, Hendersonville, NC. CBS affiliate, Channel 7 Fri, 24 Nov 2023 20:31:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.3 https://www.wspa.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/53/2019/06/cropped-7-favicon-1.png?w=32 Entertainment News https://www.wspa.com 32 32 Tiffany Haddish charged with DUI after arrest in Beverly Hills https://www.wspa.com/news/national/tiffany-haddish-charged-with-dui-after-arrest-in-beverly-hills/ Fri, 24 Nov 2023 20:31:05 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1664626 BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Tiffany Haddish was arrested Friday and charged with driving under the influence, police said.

The actor and comedian was detained after Beverly Hills police received a call about 5:45 a.m. Police said she appeared to be found slumped over the wheel of the vehicle while the car engine was still running.

Haddish, an Emmy and Grammy winner, performed at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles on Thursday night. It was the comedy club’s 43rd annual free Thanksgiving feast for the community.

A representative for Haddish did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Last year, Haddish was arrested on suspicion of DUI in suburban Atlanta.

Haddish has starred in the films including the comedy “Girls Trip,” “Night School,” “Like a Boss” and “The Kitchen.” She wrote the New York Times best seller “The Last Black Unicorn,” which earned a Grammy nomination.

In 2018, Haddish won an Emmy for her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” and a Grammy in 2021 for her special "Black Mitzvah.”

]]>
2023-11-24T20:31:06+00:00
What's streaming now: 'Oppenheimer,' Adam Sandler as a lizard and celebs dancing to Taylor Swift https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/whats-streaming-now-oppenheimer-adam-sandler-as-a-lizard-and-celebs-dancing-to-taylor-swift/ Fri, 24 Nov 2023 01:02:22 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1663738 “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham's Christmas special and this week's edition of “Dancing With the Stars” promising celebrities swaying to the music of Taylor Swift are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists is a collection of 55 Tina Turner singles from 1975-2023, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is finally available to watch in your living room and Adam Sandler voices a 74-year-old lizard in Netflix's animated “Leo.”

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

— Are you and your home entertainment system prepared? After making nearly $950 million at the box office, Christopher Nolan’s three-hour “Oppenheimer” is finally be available to watch in your living room. There’s a UHD streaming version available to purchase for $19.99, as well as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-Ray options with over 3 hours of extras, with everything overseen by Nolan. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review that, “There are times in Nolan’s latest opus that flames fill the frame and visions of subatomic particles flitter across the screen — montages of Oppenheimer’s own churning visions. But for all the immensity of 'Oppenheimer,' this is Nolan’s most human-scaled film — and one of his greatest achievements.”

This image released by Netflix shows Leo, a 74-year-old lizard voiced by Adam Sandler, center, being held by Summer, voiced by Sunny Sandler, as Squirtle the turtle, voiced by Bill Burr, looks on at left, in a scene from "Leo." (Netflix via AP)

— Adam Sandler plays a 74-year-old class lizard named “Leo” in the latest Netflix animation offering. Worried he’s wasted his life in a cage, Leo tries to plot his escape when a kid in the school is assigned to take him home. But some mishaps ensue and he ends up befriending some of the elementary school kids when they learn he can talk. Sandler is joined by a strong comedic voice cast including Bill Burr, Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Jo Koy and, of course, Rob Schneider.

— Good golly, Miss Molly, is Little Richard the uncrowned king of rock ‘n’ roll? The documentary “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” directed by Lisa Cortés and streaming on Max, makes a solid case. His flamboyant and boundary pushing lyrics, style and music had a direct influence on famous acts to follow, including the Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Mick Jagger and even filmmaker John Waters, who calls his own mustache a “twisted tribute” to Little Richard. In his review, AP critic Mark Kennedy wrote “Cortés’ film is also the story of American rock itself, the way transistor radios allowed teens in the ‘50s to rebel against their parents’ staid music and how Black music was appropriated by white bands.”

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

— The music world lost a giant when Tina Turner, the undisputed “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” died in May 2023. She left behind an incredible body of work, songs that only become more deeply felt with the passage of time. To celebrate the prolific artist, Rhino Records releases “Turner, Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll (A Collection of All Her Singles From 1975-2023)” on Black Friday – a massive collection of 55 tracks across five vinyl records and three CDs. But if physical media isn’t your thing – and this series is called “What to Stream,” after all — the set will be available on streaming platforms, too.

— Take That, the gargantuan British boy band turned man-pop group that gave the world Robbie Williams, are releasing their ninth studio album. Titled “This Life," it is their first full-length album in seven years, a rare reunion for a band not on a break. It's also an exciting listen: there’s a plucky warmth to these songs, like on the acoustic single “Windows” — no doubt the influence of Savannah, Georgia, where the band made most of the record. It’s a lovely album from one of the most successful bands in British chart history – the result of getting the guys back together and finding a new sound with some old friends.

NEW SERIES TO STREAM

— Since “Fargo” began airing on FX as an anthology series, each season has featured an impressive roster of talent including Billy Bob Thornton, Chris Rock and Kirsten Dunst stepping into its quirky world of folksy Midwesterners mixed up in the law. “Fargo: Year 5,″ is no different. Juno Temple stars as a woman whose strange behavior catches the attention of local authorities. Jon Hamm, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Richa Moorjani, Joe Keery, Lamorne Morris and Dave Foley also appear.

— Celebrities competing on season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars” have had to jive, waltz and foxtrot their way through a number of themed episodes including Disney music, music video night and a Whitney Houston tribute, but we’ll find out whether they’re “… Ready for It” on the Tuesday episode, dedicated to Taylor Swift. The show aired a video message from the superstar where she said she couldn’t wait to watch the celebration of her “Eras.” Who will be the “Fearless” performer of the night and swift-ly rise to the top of the leaderboard? Famed choreographer Mandy Moore helps decide when she sits in as a guest judge.

— When “Squid Game” premiered on Netflix in 2021, viewers were both captivated and terrified by the deadly child-like games featured in the story. On Wednesday, the streamer debuted a new 10-episode competition called “Squid Game: The Challenge.” In this version, real people get the chance to take part in challenges inspired by the show — without the life-threatening consequences. Over 450 contestants from across the globe kick off the competition where the winner leaves with $4.56 million.

— Margery Williams’ classic children’s book ”The Velveteen Rabbit” comes to Apple TV+ in a new special featuring the voices of Helena Bonham Carter and Nicola Coughlan of “Bridgerton.” With a mix of live-action and animation, it tells the tale of a young boy who receives a new toy for Christmas that introduces him to a magical world with lessons of friendship.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Hannah Waddingham in a scene from her holiday special "Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas," premiering Nov. 22. (Robert Viglasky/Apple TV+ via AP)

— Besides her Emmy-winning role on “Ted Lasso,” Hannah Waddingham has an extensive musical theater background. She showcases those talents in a Christmas special for Apple TV+ called “Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas.” Available now, the concert was taped in front of a live audience at the London Coliseum and features special guests.

NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

— The big game publishers are taking the holiday week off, but there are some intriguing indie adventures worth checking out while you’re recovering from your turkey coma. Worldless, a collaboration among three European studios, is a blend of turn-based fighting and running-and-jumping exploration in a striking-looking “newborn universe.” It’s out now on Xbox X/S/One, PlayStation 5/4, Nintendo Switch and PC.

In Stars and Time, from California’s Armor Games, is more earthbound, with black-and-white graphics that evoke both anime and 1980s Mac games. But once the protagonists discover they’re trapped in a time loop, it zips off into a metaphysical mystery. The journey unfolds on PlayStation 5/4, Nintendo Switch and PC.

]]>
2023-11-24T01:02:24+00:00
There's another 'Karate Kid' movie on the way: Ralph Macchio, Jackie Chan launch search for new star https://www.wspa.com/news/national/theres-another-karate-kid-movie-on-the-way-ralph-macchio-jackie-chan-launch-search-for-new-star/ Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:19:10 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/theres-another-karate-kid-movie-on-the-way-ralph-macchio-jackie-chan-launch-search-for-new-star/ (KTLA) – Despite appearing in separate "Karate Kid" films (made decades apart), Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan are teaming up to help find the star of the next installment.

Macchio and Chan made the announcement Tuesday in a YouTube video posted to the Sony Pictures Entertainment account.

"The global search for the star of our new film starts right now," Macchio explained. "So let's 'wax on, wax off' everybody," he added, referring to a line from the original trilogy of films.

"You mean, 'jacket on, jacket off, hang it up,'" Chan chimed in, making reference to a similar line from his 2010 installment.

"Maybe the new 'Karate Kid' will have to do it all," Macchio continued.

The open casting call is currently posted on Sony's website. According to the site, producers are looking for an actor aged 15 through 17 to "portray Chinese or mixed-race Chinese." The actor must speak "fluent English," with bonus points for "conversational" Mandarin.

No acting experience is required, but "martial arts movements, gymnastics and/or dance experience is a strong plus."

Shooting will take place between March 2024 to June 2024, the site indicated. Interested parties can contact KarateKidCasting@sony.com.

The new film is set to be released on Dec. 13, 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The outlet says the film's plot will concern a teenager from China who moves to the East Coast and "finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor."

Ralph Macchio will also be reprising his role as Daniel LaRusso, a character who appeared in the original '80s trilogy as well as Netflix's "Cobra Kai." Jackie Chan will reprise his role as Mr. Han from the 2010 reboot.

The "Karate Kid" franchise also spawned a fifth movie, 1994's "The Next Karate Kid," starring future Oscar-winner Hilary Swank in a lead role opposite Pat Morita.

]]>
2023-11-22T19:39:14+00:00
Hollywood’s feast and famine before Thanksgiving, as ‘Hunger Games’ prequel tops box office https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/hollywoods-feast-and-famine-before-thanksgiving-as-hunger-games-prequel-tops-box-office/ Sun, 19 Nov 2023 22:26:48 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1658830 “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” topped the North American box office in its first weekend in theaters with $44 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It was a busy weekend at the multiplex, leading into the often lucrative Thanksgiving corridor. And while there was plenty to choose from at the buffet, not everything could be a hit. Audiences had “The Marvels,” which plummeted a record 78% in its second weekend, as well as the nationwide debuts of the family-friendly “Trolls Band Together,” Taika Waititi’s soccer comedy “Next Goal Wins” and the R-rated slasher “Thanksgiving” all in wide release.

“The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is an interesting case study for a franchise that’s been dormant for 8 years and is testing the waters for a new era. Its $44 million from 3,776 locations, including 1,610 premium screens, marks a low for films carrying “The Hunger Games” in the title. The four Jennifer Lawrence films all broke $100 million in their first weekends (the high point was the first with $158 million in 2013, the low was the last one with $102.7 million in 2015).

But it's a more nuanced story for Lionsgate, which operates differently from legacy studios by licensing its titles to international distributors which helps cover a significant portion of the film's budget. The filmmakers kept this around $100 million, which was also offset by tax credits for filming in Germany.

With an added $54.5 million from 87 international markets, the film has already earned $98.5 million out of the gates. The studio considers it a strong start for the prequel, set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen entered the picture, with a new cast led by Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler.

“Historically attempting to do prequels, especially with no returning cast, can be a very challenging proposition,” said Adam Fogelson, the vice chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “The fact that we’re sitting here at basically $100 million on opening weekend around the world is, I think, a testament to the quality of the movie, the quality of the talent that worked on the movie and a campaign that was both successful and efficient.”

For Fogelson and the filmmakers, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” represents something completely new, darker and more dramatic that opens up new possibilities, provided author Suzanne Collins wants to tell more stories. To judge it against the Jennifer Lawrence movies at the height of Collins' books popularity, he said, would be “a complete disservice to this movie as a standalone.”

Also, he noted, “From a pure crass business perspective, it’s going to end up being an incredibly successful proposition for Lionsgate.”

However, critics were mixed on this one, which is an origin story about future Panem President Coriolanus Snow. It currently carries a 61% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were more positive and moviegoing behavior around holidays can be skewed. Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, said that some audiences might also be waiting to watch it with their families during days off around Thanksgiving.

Unlike many of its big-budget peers, “The Hunger Games” prequel also had the benefit of having its stars promote the film in its lead-up, having secured an interim agreement before the SAG-AFTRA strike ended. In the still-fresh aftermath of the strike, other studios had to scramble to get their newly available stars out to promote their films before this weekend.

This image released by DreamWorks Animation shows the characters Branch voiced by Justin Timberlake, center left, and Queen Poppy voiced by Anna Kendrick, center right, in a scene of the animated film “Trolls Band Together.” (DreamWorks Animation via AP)

“Trolls Band Together,” the third in the animated series, opened in second place with an estimated $30.6 million in its North American debut, a total which includes profits from early sneak showings from Nov. 4. “Trolls” opened internationally earlier and is expected to cross $100 million globally this weekend.

The jukebox musical from Universal and DreamWorks Animation brings back Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake in main voice roles and also featured a much-hyped reunion of (asterisk)NSYNC. It also has a mixed 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, but its young audiences were much more positive giving it an A CinemaScore.

And after its rough start last weekend, the outlook for “The Marvels” keeps getting worse. It made only $10.2 million from 4,030 locations in weekend two, to take third place. Its 78% drop is a historic low for Marvel and modern superhero pictures. Internationally it added $19.5 million, bringing its global total to $161.3 million.

“The Marvels” was nearly bested by an R-rated Eli Roth horror, “Thanksgiving,” which made an estimated $10.2 million from 3,204 locations. The movie from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group takes place in Plymouth, Massachusetts, after a Black Friday tragedy and stars Patrick Dempsey and Addison Rae. The studio hopes it will draw college students to the theaters on their holiday breaks.

The Walt Disney Co. is also struggling with Searchlight Pictures' “Next Goal Wins,” its underdog soccer movie starring Michael Fassbender, which made $2.5 million from 2,240 locations in its first weekend for a seventh-place spot. Directed by Taika Waititi and based on a true story, the film had its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and was not well-received by critics.

With much better reviews and word of mouth, Focus Features' “The Holdovers," starring Paul Giamatti, is finding audiences as it continues to expand in its fourth weekend, earning $2.7 million from 1,478 theaters. “Priscilla,” from A24 and Sofia Coppola, is similarly enjoying a steady run with nearly $17 million. It is now Coppola's second biggest film ever, behind "Lost in Translation."

This week, the offerings get even more plentiful, with Disney's “Wish,” Ridley Scott's historical epic “Napoleon” and the expansion of Emerald Fennell's provocative “Saltburn" added to the mix.

“It’s traditional for the Thanksgiving frame that people can catch up on movies big and small,” Dergarabedian said. “The issue for moviegoers is how do you choose? And which films are going to be left sitting at the kid's table?”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

  1. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” $44 million.
  2. “Trolls Band Together,” $30.6 million.
  3. “The Marvels,” $10.2 million.
  4. “Thanksgiving,” $10.2 million.
  5. “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” $3.5 million.
  6. “The Holdovers,” $2.7 million.
  7. “Next Goal Wins,” $2.5 million.
  8. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” $2.4 million.
  9. “Priscilla,” $2.3 million.
  10. “Killers of the Flower Moon,” $1.9 million.
]]>
2023-11-19T22:26:49+00:00
Comedian Dana Carvey says he's taking a break from acting after son’s sudden death  https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/comedian-dana-carvey-says-hes-taking-a-break-from-acting-after-sons-sudden-death/ Sun, 19 Nov 2023 21:11:58 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/comedian-dana-carvey-says-hes-taking-a-break-from-acting-after-sons-sudden-death/ (KTLA) -- Dana Carvey, the comedian and actor best known for his time as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” has announced that he will be taking a break from work and social media after the death of his son. 

Dex Carvey died of an accidental drug overdose at his L.A. County home on Wednesday, his family confirmed to People Magazine

He was 32 years old. 

Dex had previously opened for his father’s 2016 Netflix special “Straight White Male” and also starred in “Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser” and “The Funster,” the latter of which was a series featuring his father. 

According to a social media post from the elder Carvey, Dex “packed a lot into those 32 years” and was extremely talented in numerous creative outlets, including music, art, filmmaking, and comedy. 

“Dex was a beautiful person,” Carvey posted on Instagram. “We will miss him forever.” 

The “Wayne’s World” star announced Saturday that he would be stepping away from acting and social media due to his son’s death. 

“[We are] trying to figure out what life looks like now that we are a family of three,” he said on X, formerly Twitter. “We will heal the best we can and carry on. Our darling Dex would have wanted it that way.” 

Carvey was credited with helping make “Saturday Night Live” more popular when he joined the cast in 1986. His breakout character, the Church Lady, became a popular reoccurring skit on SNL, and Carvey was also the designated “presidential impersonator” of George H.W. Bush during his 1992 presidential re-election. 

]]>
2023-11-19T20:10:23+00:00
George Brown, drummer and co-founder of Kool & The Gang, dead at 74 https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/george-brown-drummer-and-co-founder-of-kool-the-gang-dead-at-74/ Sat, 18 Nov 2023 05:02:17 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1657768 NEW YORK (AP) — George “Funky” Brown, the co-founder and longtime drummer of Kool & The Gang who helped write such hits as “Too Hot,” “Ladies Night,” “Joanna” and the party favorite “Celebration,” died Thursday in Los Angeles at age 74.

Brown died after a battle with cancer, according to a statement released by Universal Music. He had retired earlier in the year, nearly 60 years after the band began, and revealed that he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

Kool & The Gang has sold millions of records with its catchy blend of jazz, funk and soul, what Brown liked to call “the sound of happiness.” In 1964, Brown helped launch the Grammy-winning group, originally called the Jazziacs, along with such friends as bassist Robert “Kool” Bell, brother Ronald Bell on keyboards and guitarist Charles Smith.

After years of relative obscurity, name changes and personnel changes, Kool & The Gang broke through in the mid-1970s with “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging” among others songs and peaked in the late '70s-mid 1980s, with hits ranging from the ballads “Cherish” and “Joanna” to the up-tempo, chart-topping “Celebration,” now a standard at weddings and other festive gatherings.

In 2023, Brown produced the band's latest album, “People Just Wanna Have Fun,” and released his memoir “Too Hot: Kool & The Gang & Me.”

He is survived by his wife, Hanh Brown, and his five children. In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that donations can be made in his honor to the Lung Cancer Society of America.

]]>
2023-11-18T05:02:19+00:00
Feature film shot in Spartanburg slated for June release https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/feature-film-shot-in-spartanburg-slated-for-june-release/ Fri, 17 Nov 2023 22:42:21 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1657349 SPARTANBURG, SC (WSPA) - What is believed by writer and director Edgar Michael Bravo to be the first full-length feature film ever created in Spartanburg finished filming Friday.

The movie, "The Little Box of Hope," explores themes of childhood trauma as the main character tries to prevent a serial killer from killing again.

“It’s the story of a businessman who finds a magic box in a park. It just appears." Bravo said. "When he opens it, he goes into the mind of a serial killer.”

Filming took 16 days, Bravo said, and utilized talents of local actors and film production specialists.

"The Little Box of Hope" is the first of three projects Bravo has in the works. All three represent parts of a bigger vision: to turn the Upstate into a hub for independent film.

“Filmmaking represents another diversification in our overall economy,” OneSpartanburg, Inc.'s vice president of industrial development said.

OneSpartanburg and other local partners have worked with Bravo to establish his independent film studio, called NoRestrictions.

“My vision is I want to make [the Upstate] the center of daring, bold independent film," Bravo said.

Bravo's "The Little Box of Hope" is slated to premiere in local theaters in June.

]]>
2023-11-17T23:22:58+00:00
Golden Globes find new home at CBS after years of scandal https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/golden-globes-find-new-home-at-cbs-after-years-of-scandal/ Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:31:25 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1657401 NEW YORK (AP) — The Golden Globes have found a new broadcast home at CBS after the troubled awards show lost its longtime home at NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was dissolved after years of scandal.

The 81st Golden Globes will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Jan. 7, CBS and the Globes announced Friday. The show will also be available on the CBS app.

The network declined to comment on the terms of the deal, including how long the agreement runs for.

NBC broadcast the 2023 Globes on a one-year basis after the 2022 edition was essentially canceled. After a 2021 report revealed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association had no Black members, stars and studios boycotted the Globes before returning for this year's awards.

After the 2023 broadcast, held on a Tuesday evening, NBC opted not to renew its contract. A near-record low of 6.3 million viewers tuned in, according to Nielsen.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has since been reorganized and no longer exists in name. Earlier this year, Dick Clark Production, a property of Penske Media, and Eldridge Industries, a holding company owned by the billionaire investor Todd Boehly, acquired rights and properties to the Globes. A newly formed, for-profit organization will vote on the awards.

CBS, which also broadcasts the Grammys, aired the Globes in 1981 and 1982 before the award show ran for years on NBC.

]]>
2023-11-17T21:31:27+00:00
Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of rape, years of abuse in lawsuit https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/sean-diddy-combs-accused-of-rape-years-of-abuse-in-lawsuit/ Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:49:27 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1656416 (KTLA) — R&B singer Cassie has filed a lawsuit against her ex-partner Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York federal court on Thursday.

According to the New York Times, Cassie's lawsuit accuses the Bad Boy Records founder of subjecting her to years of rape and abuse.

“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” Ventura said in a statement obtained by CNN. “With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life.”

Cassie, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura, said she met Combs in 2005 when she was just 19 years old. Since that meeting, she said Combs was controlling and abusive.

Combs has been a mainstay in the music industry for decades and in the mid-90s he became a household name after working with Mary J. Blige, the Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim.

Ventura said the media mogul supplied her with drugs, beat her and forced her to have sex with a "succession of male prostitutes while he filmed the encounters."

Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie
Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

She claimed that towards the end of their relationship in 2018, Combs forced himself into her home and raped her.

In response to these claims, Combs' lawyer, Ben Brafman, issued this statement obtained by NYT:

“Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations. For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s reputation and seeking a payday.”

Douglas Wigdor, one of Ventura's lawyers, told the outlet that both sides spoke before the lawsuit was filed and that Combs “offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit,” he said. “She rejected his efforts.”

Ventura signed with Combs' label, which released her self-titled debut album in 2006.

However, the hip-hop impresario not only controlled her career, but he also controlled her personal life, according to the allegations.

Ventura said Combs paid for her clothes, apartments, car and also had access to her medical records.

The suit details an M.R.I. Ventura had memory loss, "possibly caused by drug use or by a beating she suffered from Mr. Combs," which he had access to.

The "Me & U" singer said Combs supplied her with drugs like ketamine and ecstasy.

Ventura said Combs beat her "multiple times each year," and added that she didn't contact authorities because she was worried it “would merely give Mr. Combs another excuse to hurt her.”

The lawsuit provides a list of incidents where the "Last Night" singer allegedly physically abused Ventura.

A description of one incident in 2009, states that Combs became so enraged after he saw Ventura talk to another talent agent that he pushed her into a car and kicked her in the face numerous times. His team then had her recover in a hotel, without allowing her to see her family as she requested, the lawsuit alleges.

The suit also claims Combs would isolate Ventura from her friends and family.

“Ms. Ventura felt that saying ‘no’ to Mr. Combs would cost her something — her family, her friends, her career, or even her life.” 

Ventura alleges that she attempted to leave, but would be lured back by his employees.

One account claims that Combs did not like Ventura dating rapper Kid Cudi in 2012 and that he threatened to blow up his car.

According to that lawsuit, "around that time, Kid Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway.”

A spokeswoman for Kid Cudi confirmed this to NYT.

“This is all true,” he said.

The suit also claims that Combs forced Ventura “to engage in a fantasy of his called ‘voyeurism,’” which were called "freak offs."

The lawsuit claims this meant Ventura was forced to engage in sexual activity with male prostitutes while Combs watched, took photos and videos and touched himself.

Ventura's suit said that she'd delete the videos, but the rapper revealed he still had access to them.

In one account, Ventura claimed Combs made her watch a video she thought was deleted while aboard a plane.

According to the suit, Ventura left Combs for good in 2018 after he forced himself into her apartment and raped her after the two met for dinner. She said she “repeatedly said ‘no’ and tried to push him away.”

The court filing says Ventura's ties with Bad Boy Records ended in 2019.

In 2019, Ventura married model and trainer Alex Fine. The couple have two young daughters.

]]>
2023-11-17T10:51:18+00:00
Matt LeBlanc pays tribute to Matthew Perry in heartfelt post: 'I'll never forget you' https://www.wspa.com/news/national/matt-leblanc-pays-tribute-to-matthew-perry-in-heartfelt-post-ill-never-forget-you/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 18:36:00 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/matt-leblanc-pays-tribute-to-matthew-perry-in-heartfelt-post-ill-never-forget-you/ (NEXSTAR) – Matt LeBlanc has shared a statement on the passing of longtime friend and former "Friends" castmate Matthew Perry.

In an Instagram post shared Tuesday, LeBlanc said it was an “honor” to consider Perry a friend.

“It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life,” LeBlanc wrote. “It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never.”

LeBlanc ended his tribute with a joke.

“Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love. And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me.”

LeBlanc's post also included several photos of himself and Perry on the set of "Friends."

Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc attend the Stars Party at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on August 10, 2015. (Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images)

Perry, 54, died at his Los Angeles home in late October. Authorities confirmed Perry was already dead when first responders arrived to find him propped up in a hot tub, after having initially been discovered by another person.

“Firefighters pulled the victim out of the jacuzzi and did a quick medical assessment to find he was deceased,” the Los Angeles Fire Department wrote in a statement obtained by the L.A. Times.

A cause of death has not yet been determined. The Los Angeles County coroner has deferred giving a cause of death, though no foul play is suspected, according to authorities.

LeBlanc, along with Perry's other "Friends" castmates, had previously released a joint statement to People following news of Perry's death.

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," the statement, from Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, said. "There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.

“In time, we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world," the statement concluded.

]]>
2023-11-14T18:41:39+00:00
Former Fox News reporter says in lawsuit he was fired after challenging Jan. 6 coverage https://www.wspa.com/news/national/former-fox-news-reporter-says-in-lawsuit-he-was-fired-after-challenging-jan-6-coverage/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 01:46:25 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1652426 WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Fox News reporter says in a lawsuit he was targeted and fired for pushing back against false claims about the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

In the suit filed in federal court Monday, producer Jason Donner said he was part of a “purge” of employees who refused to only report information that would “appease” former President Donald Trump and his supporters.

Donner was inside the Capitol when the mob of Trump supporters breached the building. When he heard Fox News reporting that rioters were “peaceful” and “severely disappointed," he called the control room, using expletives as he said, “you’re gonna get us all killed," the suit states.

A spokeswoman for Fox News did not immediately return an email message seeking comment on the lawsuit.

Donner also debunked Tucker Carlson’s “Patriot Purge," a program on the Fox Nation streaming service that argued Jan. 6 was used as a pretext for persecution of conservative Americans.

Fox managers, though, were focused on wooing viewers who supported Trump, and as Donner pressed his complaints he was was eventually targeted by a manager who accused him of being irresponsible for calling in sick once while he was recovering from a COVID-19 vaccine, the lawsuit claimed. He was fired in 2022.

A longtime Republican who affiliated with Democrats more recently, Donner said he was illegally discriminated and retaliated against because of his political views. He is seeking unspecific damages.

The lawsuit was first filed in Washington’s Superior Court Sept. 27 and subsequently moved to federal court.

Fox also faced a lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems and paid nearly $800 million this year to settle the case alleging that Fox knowingly promoted false conspiracy theories about the security of its voting machines. It is also facing a suit from a second voting-machine company.

The network also paid $12 million to settle with Abby Grossberg, another former producer who claimed that she faced a discriminatory workplace and that the network coerced her into giving false or misleading testimony in the Dominion suit.

A former Trump supporter who became the center of a conspiracy theory about Jan. 6 has also sued the network, claiming the network made him a scapegoat for the riot.

]]>
2023-11-14T01:46:26+00:00
Tickets to Myrtle Beach PGA event go on sale Thursday https://www.wspa.com/news/state-news/tickets-to-myrtle-beach-pga-event-go-on-sale-thursday/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 17:09:26 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1651825 MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) -- Tickets for the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic PGA Tour event at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

The Myrtle Beach Classic, which is scheduled for May 9-12, is one of 36 events on the FedEx Cup regular season schedule for 2024. It is the first major professional golf tournament to call the Grand Strand home in the past 24 years.

“With ticket options for the Myrtle Beach Classic hitting the greens, so to speak, the excitement surrounding the event is palpable," tournament director Darren Nelson said. "We encourage enthusiasts of all ages to secure their spot and be a part of this inaugural tournament.”

In August, Collins Wakefield, the president of the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, told News13 that he expects the tournament to bring about 10,000 people to the course each day of the event. He said he expects the Grand Strand to see millions of dollars in economic impact.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting myrtlebeachclassic.com. Ticket options include daily and weekly general admission, Clubhouse and weekly Club 18 Shared Hospitality. Children younger than 15 will be admitted free with an adult ticketholder.

The Clubhouse ticket, which is limited to 100 per day, will allow access into the club’s ballroom lounge featuring various amenities. The Club 18 Shared Hospitality option includes food and beverage and offers covered, open-air viewing directly behind the 18th green. Private hospitality and pro-am opportunities are also available.

]]>
2023-11-13T17:09:28+00:00
Ice on Main returns to Greenville this week https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/ice-on-main-returns-to-greenville-this-week/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:40:50 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1651764 GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) - Ice on Main will open Wednesday in Greenville.

The ice rink is located on Village Green in front of the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Greenville.

It will be open Monday-Thursday 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets for adults are $10. Tickets for children are $8. Children 2-years-old or younger can skate for free.

Tickets ensure a one hour skate session for that specific hour.

To purchase tickets, click here.

]]>
2023-11-13T15:40:51+00:00
Kid Rock, Jason Aldean to perform at Rock the Country music festival in the Upstate https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/kid-rock-jason-aldean-to-perform-at-rock-the-country-music-festival-in-the-upstate/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1649825 ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) - Kid Rock and Jason Aldean will perform next summer at the Rock the Country music festival in the Upstate.

Rock the Country will be held at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Park on July 26 and July 27, 2024.

Headliners for the festival include Kid Rock and Jason Aldean. Along with them, you can see the following country musicians perform:

  • Miranda Lambert
  • Brantley Gilbert
  • Travis Tritt
  • Big & Rich
  • Gretchen Wilson
  • Colt Ford
  • Gavin Adcock
  • Elvie Shane
  • Sadie Bass
  • Dee Jay Silver

It is a two day festival that will visit seven small towns across the country.

For more information about Rock the Country, click here.

]]>
2023-11-13T17:12:25+00:00
Video: Taylor Swift changes lyrics during concert in nod to Travis Kelce https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/video-taylor-swift-changes-lyrics-during-concert-in-nod-to-travis-kelce/ Sun, 12 Nov 2023 19:52:08 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/video-taylor-swift-changes-lyrics-during-concert-in-nod-to-travis-kelce/ BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (KSNT) - The Kansas City Chiefs are on their bye week, allowing players a week off to do whatever they please.

If you're Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, that means following pop star Taylor Swift to her Eras Tour show in Buenos Aires, Argentina, apparently. The two have been rumored to be dating for weeks, with various pictures of them surfacing, as well as Swift's multiple appearances at Chiefs' games.

But in a viral video on Saturday, the couple can be seen becoming even more intimate.

After coming off the stage in Buenos Aires, Kelce can be seen embracing Swift and the two appear to kiss with thousands of screaming fans watching.

Earlier that night, Swift even changed the lyrics of her song "Karma." Rather than singing "Karma is the guy on the screen, coming straight home to me," Swift opted for "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me."

Kelce watched the show with Swift's father, Scott Swift, from the VIP tent. In a video posted to TikTok, it appears Mr. Swift is even wearing a Chiefs lanyard.

But that maybe wasn't the highlight of the video. It also captured the moment Kelce heard Swift change her "Karma" lyrics. It appeared to surprise both men, with Swift's father clapping Kelce on the back as they both laughed.

Kelce and the Chiefs will return to "the screen" with a Monday Night Football matchup against his brother, Jason Kelce, and the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 20. It's unclear if Taylor will be in attendance. She is scheduled to perform her third of three concerts in Rio De Janeiro on Nov. 19.

]]>
2023-11-12T18:50:33+00:00
2024 Grammy nomination snubs and surprises: No K-pop, little country and regional Mexican music https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/2024-grammy-nomination-snubs-and-surprises-no-k-pop-little-country-and-regional-mexican-music/ Fri, 10 Nov 2023 19:39:11 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1650071 LOS ANGELES (AP) — With new categories, SZA, and “Barbie” — there's a lot to discuss regarding the 2024 Grammy Award nominations. Who didn't make the cut? What were the best surprises of all? Let's take a look.

NEW BLOOD?

There's a lot to love about the nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards — and quite a bit to be a little confused by. Reneé Rapp, Peso Pluma and PinkPantheress are absent from the best new artist category despite having remarkable years. Rapp's “Snow Angel” was the biggest debut solo album from a female artist this year.

Rapp and PinkPantheress were both shut out and Peso Pluma only picked up one nomination: best música Mexicana album (including Tejano) for his third studio album, “Génesis.”

LATIN LOOKED OVER

In fact, in a year dominated by música Mexicana, it is surprising to see no nods for Eslabon Armado or Grupo Frontera, particularly for their songs “Ella Baila Sola” with Peso Pluma and “Un x100to" with Bad Bunny, respectively. Natanael Cano and Fuerza Regida are also noticeably absent.

This year, there are only three nominees for best música urbana album — because the category received fewer than 40 entries — and accounts for Karol G's sole nomination, for her historic 2023 album “Mañana Será Bonito.”

NO COUNTRY FOR COUNTRY

Undeniably, country music has had a massive 2023. In July, country acts held the top three spots on the Hot 100 for the first time: Controversy hoisted Jason Aldean's “Try That In a Small Town” to No. 1, followed by Morgan Wallen's “Last Night” and Luke Combs' cover of Tracy Chapman's “Fast Car.”

Also, over the summer, country singer Oliver Anthony Music's became the first artist to debut on the Hot 100 at the top of it, with the viral “Rich Men North of Richmond." Aldean and Anthony's dominance wasn't long — and Combs did earn a 2024 Grammy nomination for best country solo performance — but Wallen stands out as an obvious exclusion.

While “Last Night” is nominated for best country song, a songwriter's award, Wallen himself isn't despite his successful year. His latest album, “One Thing at a Time,” had, as of Oct. 14, spent 16 weeks at the top — which meant he's held the top spot for nearly 40% of the year so far ... and his record was released in March.

This isn't the first time Wallen has been absent from nominations. In 2021, after video surfaced of him using a racial slur, he was disqualified or limited from several award shows and received no Grammy nominations for his bestselling “Dangerous: The Double Album.”

K-POP STATE OF MIND

The eligibility window ran from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 15, 2023, which means quite a few K-pop heavyweights could have been nominated: TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Stray Kids and the Y2K-loving girl group NewJeans. But they weren't.

All three had releases hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — TXT's “The Name Chapter: Temptation” in February, Stray Kids' “Maxident” and NewJeans' “Get Up.”

Some critics had theorized that NewJeans might earn a best new artist nomination, which would have made them the first ever K-pop girl group to receive a Grammy nod. It could've been them, or the K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty, whose bubblegum pop single “Cupid” was inescapable on TikTok this summer — they became so ubiquitous, they even appeared on the “Barbie” film soundtrack.

Yet, after Friday's announcement, BTS remains the only K-pop group to ever receive a Grammy nod. And despite five nominations, they have no Grammy wins.PRINCE HARRY, WHERE ART THOU?

Much to the chagrin of fans of Michelle Williams’ reading of Britney Spears’ memoir “The Woman in Me,” the actor will not be eligible in the best audio book, narration & storytelling recording category this cycle. That's a 2025 possibility.

But perhaps most shocking of all is the omission of Prince Harry, whose memoir “Spare” sold more than 3.2 million copies worldwide in just one week. The British royal narrated the audiobook but did not receive a nomination. Instead, Meryl Streep, William Shatner, Rick Rubin, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama did.

WHO'S GUNNA BREAK THE NEWS

Using charts as the most immediate metric of popularity: There's been a bit of a dearth of dominant hip-hop releases. It's a shocking shift, as the Luminate 2022 Year-End report found that R&B/hip-hop is America’s most popular genre, accounting for the most U.S. on-demand song streams and the largest share of total album consumption. In fact, no rapper was able to top the Billboard 200 until Travis Scott's “Utopia" dropped in August. This time around, Scott only picked up one nomination: best rap album.

Curiously missing from the list is Gunna, whose 2023 album “A Gift & a Curse" was massive. It is clear that some of the biggest hits in the genre were pushed to rap-specific categories (think Lil Durk ft. J. Cole’s “All My Life,” or Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock.”)

NOTHING BUT MONÉT

If there is something to pop bottles over, it's Victoria Monét's seven nominations. The R&B singer-songwriter is no stranger to Grammy nominations — but for a different skillset. Monét was nominated as a producer for album of the year at the 2020 Grammys, for her work on Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next.” At the time, she was best known as hit maker for Grande and Chloe x Halle, though she’s always been one to watch as a soloist.

This time around, she’s the only leading nominee also up for best new artist. Monét has also picked up record of the year and best R&B song nominations for her glossy, brassy “On My Mama,” best R&B performance and best traditional R&B performance. Her 2023 release, “Jaguar ll,” is up for best R&B album and best engineered album, non-classical.

IT'S RAINING WOMEN, HALLEJUAH

The best story of the 2024 Grammy nominations, of course, is just how many women are represented in the major categories.

The majority of leading nominees are women and include superstars like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Olivia Rodrigo. In both the record and album of the year categories, the only man represented is Jon Batiste.

]]>
2023-11-10T19:41:39+00:00
'An Evening of Talent Expressions' returns to Spartanburg https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/an-evening-of-talent-expressions-returns-to-spartanburg/ Fri, 10 Nov 2023 18:49:40 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1650012 SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) - "An Evening of Talent Expressions" is returning for its 42nd year to Spartanburg.

The event will take place Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the Spartanburg District 7 Fine Art Center, which is located on the campus on Spartanburg High School.

The audience can expect comedy, drama, rap and vocal performances during the talent competition.

Not only is pride on the line for winners, but so are prices. Event coordinator Detra McClain said they are giving away $3,000 in prizes and trophies. The top prize is $2,000.

If you are interested in attending you can buy tickets online or purchase them at the door.

]]>
2023-11-10T18:52:45+00:00
'Simpsons' producers respond to reports that suggested Homer would stop strangling Bart https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/simpsons-producers-respond-to-reports-that-suggested-homer-would-stop-strangling-bart/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:21:01 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/simpsons-producers-respond-to-reports-that-suggested-homer-would-stop-strangling-bart/ (NEXSTAR) – The producers of "The Simpsons" have issued a response to reports that Homer might never again strangle Bart for laughs.

When asked for a comment on the subject, a consultant for the series provided Nexstar with the following statement: "Homer Simpson was unavailable for comment as he was busy strangling Bart."

The consultant also sent along an image drawn by Matt Groening, the show's creator, which suggesting that viewers — and media outlets — should not have taken Homer's recent remarks so literally.

Simpsons Matt Groening
Along with their response to recent reports, the producers of "The Simpsons" provided Nexstar with an image that appears to suggest Homer has not yet kicked his strangulation habit. (Matt Groening)

Fans of “The Simpsons” began wondering whether the animated sitcom had hinted at the end of the long-running gag in October after an episode in which Homer and Marge meet a new neighbor. The neighbor commends Homer on his strong handshake, at which point Homer turns to Marge and says, “See, Marge? Strangling the boy paid off.”

“Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore,” Homer quickly tells the neighbor. “Times have changed.”

The scene caught the internet’s attention when it was posted to X (formerly Twitter) after the episode aired.

“I just found out that, after over 30 years, ‘The Simpsons’ has finally retired their long-running gag of Homer strangling Bart. Took them long enough,” one user wrote.

“I knew my man Homer was gonna learn,” another said.

Others, meanwhile, were unsure if Homer’s remark actually reflected any larger decision from the show’s producers. The show was always a satire, some argued, and Homer’s actions were never meant to be “acceptable.”

“The joke is in the absurdity of it, and fits within the satirical nature of the show," wrote one Reddit user who seemed unconvinced that the writers intended Homer to follow through on his remarks.

Others pointed to an episode from 2011 in which Homer decides to stop strangling Bart after he attends a fathering enrichment class. During the class, the tables are turned on Homer after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar teaches Homer what it feels like “to be young, small, and terrified” by strangling him - and letting his friends do it too.

But Homer soon goes back to his old ways, once again strangling Bart in a 2013 episode.

He was also shown choking Bart during the 31st season, which ran between 2019 and 2020, The Independent recently noted.

Despite the response from the show's producers, viewers may have had good reason to believe the show would ditch an old gag that could be considered insensitive. In 2020, voice actor Hank Azaria stopped voicing the character of Apu following backlash over his casting and allegations of racial stereotyping.

Azaria admitted this past April in the podcast “The Fallout of the Callout: Code Switching” that he now finds his casting “embarrassing” and acknowledged how his portrayal of Apu led to “the broader dehumanization of Desi people in the United States.”

]]>
2023-11-09T22:32:37+00:00
CMA Awards: 2023 Winners https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/cma-awards-2023-winners/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 13:43:05 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1647759 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (NEXSTAR) — It was a big night for Lainey Wilson. The 31-year-old Louisiana singer, who had nine nominations coming into the 57th Annual CMA Awards — the most of any artist this year — took home five awards.

Check out a full list of winners from Country Music’s Biggest Night™ in Nashville, Tennessee.

CMA Entertainer of the Year

Lainey Wilson accepts the Entertainer of the Year award from Keith Urban onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

WINNER: Lainey Wilson

  • Luke Combs
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Morgan Wallen
  • Lainey Wilson

Female Vocalist of the Year

Lainey Wilson accepts the Female Vocalist of the Year award from Martina McBride onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

WINNER: Lainey Wilson

  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Ashley McBryde
  • Carly Pearce

Male Vocalist of the Year

Chris Stapleton (L) accepts the Male Vocalist of the Year award onstage from Nate Bargatze during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

WINNER: Chris Stapleton

  • Luke Combs
  • Jelly Roll
  • Cody Johnson
  • Morgan Wallen

Album of the Year

WINNER: Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson

  • Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde
  • Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
  • One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
  • Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini

New Artist of the Year

Jelly Roll (R) accepts the New Artist of the Year award from Gerry Turner (L) onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

WINNER: Jelly Roll

  • Zach Bryan
  • Parker McCollum
  • Megan Maroney
  • Hailey Whitters

Vocal Group of the Year

(L-R) Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi of Old Dominion accept the award for Vocal Group of the Year onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

WINNER: Old Dominion

  • Lady A
  • Little Big Town
  • Miland
  • Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year

(L-R) John Osborne and T.J. Osborne of The Brothers Osborne accept the Vocal Duo of the Year award onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

WINNER: Brothers Osborne

  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Dan + Shay
  • Maddie & Tae
  • The War and Treaty

Musician of the Year

WINNER: Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle)

  • Paul Franklin (Steel guitar)
  • Rob McNelley (Guitar)
  • Derek Wells (Guitar)
  • Charlie Worsham (Guitar)

Single of the Year

Luke Combs accepts the Single of the Year award onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

WINNER: “Fast Car” – Luke Combs 
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton 
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews

  • “Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson 
    Producer: Jay Joyce 
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce 
  • “Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll 
    Producer: Austin Nivarel 
    Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun 
  • “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis 
    Producer: Paul DiGiovanni 
    Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley 
  • “wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) 
    Producers: HARDY, Joey 

Song of the Year

WINNER: “Fast Car” - Songwriter: Tracy Chapman

  • “Heart Like A Truck” 
    Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson 
  • “Next Thing You Know” 
    Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne 
  • “Tennessee Orange” 
    Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams 
  • “wait in the truck” 
    Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt 

Musical Event of the Year

WINNER: “wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
 

  • “Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
    Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens 
  • “She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina
    Producer: Zach Crowell 
  • “Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown)
    Producer: Dann Huff
  • “We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton)
    Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce 

Music Video of the Year

WINNER: “wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) 
Director: Justin Clough

  • “Light On In The Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde 
    Director: Reid Long 
  • “Memory Lane” – Old Dominion 
    Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher 
  • “Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll 
    Director: Patrick Tohill 
  • “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis 
    Director: Running Bear 
]]>
2023-11-09T13:43:07+00:00
When will my favorite shows return now that the Hollywood strikes are over? https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/when-will-my-favorite-shows-return-now-that-the-hollywood-strikes-are-over/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:59:38 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/when-will-my-favorite-shows-return-now-that-the-hollywood-strikes-are-over/ LOS ANGELES (AP) — Missed your favorite actors? After nearly four months of striking, they're coming back.

Wednesday's deal between striking actors and studios and streaming services won't immediately restore filming to its full swing. That will take months.

But the tentative agreement — which both sides say include extraordinary provisions — means that more than six months of labor strife in the film and television industries is drawing to a close. Soon, tens of thousands of entertainment sector workers could get back to work. And popular franchises, like “Deadpool,” “Abbott Elementary” and “The Last of Us,” will be a step closer to returning to screens.

Hollywood loves a happy ending. The actors' strike might provide that, though there's still the chance of strike sequels in the months ahead.

Here's some of what will happen next:

SO IS THE ACTORS STRIKE REALLY OVER?

Picket lines are suspended and the only rallies on the horizon are celebratory ones that the actors union is promising will happen.

There are a couple of steps that need to happen before the deal becomes official. On Friday, the national board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will review the agreement and could approve it. Then, the agreement's details will be released and the guild's full membership will vote on it.

But when striking screenwriters — who started picketing May 2 — reached their deal in September, their guild allowed writing work to resume before full ratification of the contract was complete.

While it's possible those votes scuttle the deal, the union's negotiating committee unanimously approved the deal and called off picketing.

WHAT'S IN THE DEAL?

The exact terms of the deal won’t be released until later this week, but a few highlights are known.

The negotiation arm of the studios also says the deal includes historic provisions. The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers said Wednesday the “tentative agreement represents a new paradigm."

It said the companies are giving “SAG-AFTRA the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union, including the largest increase in minimum wages in the last forty years; a brand new residual for streaming programs; extensive consent and compensation protections in the use of artificial intelligence; and sizable contract increases on items across the board.”

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s executive director and chief negotiator, told The Associated Press the gains made the long strike worth it.

“It’s an agreement that our members can be proud of. I’m certainly very proud of it,” Crabtree-Ireland told The Associated Press in an interview.

WHAT WILL START FILMING FIRST?

The strike put an immediate stop to “Deadpool 3” with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, as well as Ridley Scott's “Gladiator” sequel. Those are likely among the first films that will resume production.

The resolution of the writers strike allowed script work to resume on shows like “Abbott Elementary,” “The White Lotus” and “Yellowjackets.” That head start might help those productions get back on the air sooner once their stars are cleared to work.

Television moves faster than movies, which once filming ends still face a lengthy editing and promotional process.

In recent weeks more shows and movies announced delays — Kevin Costner's final episodes of “Yellowstone” won't air until next November and the next “Mission: Impossible” film also delayed its release.

’WHAT OTHER CHANGES WILL I SEE NOW THAT THE STRIKE'S OVER?

Actors, lots more actors, will be talking about their work again. Splashy premieres will resume with their stars, as well.

Movies like “Killers of the Flower Moon” and this week's big release, “The Marvels,” have been without their stars to promote the film. Strike rules forbid actors from promoting work done for the major studios, which kept Leonardo DiCaprio, Brie Larson and many other actors from doing interviews.

That's prevented many performers, like “Killers of the Flower Moon” breakout Lily Gladstone, from having some big celebratory moments. (For more examples of performances that didn't get as much attention due to the strike, check out this list.)

Some projects have gotten exemptions, such as Michael Mann's upcoming racing drama “Ferrari.” That freed stars Adam Driver and Patrick Dempsey to attend the Venice Film Festival — and also allowed Dempsey to do an interview with People when it named him its Sexiest Man Alive.

But as Hollywood heads into its award season, expect to see more glamorous red carpet shots and interviews with stars.

WHAT ABOUT AWARDS SEASON?

Well, it's back on, and it'll be supercharged.

One of the actors strike ripple effects was to push the Emmy Awards from September into January. It'll now join the Grammys, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Oscars in Hollywood's traditional awards season. Those shows will all air between Jan. 15 and March 10.

Plans for the Emmys, and the SAG Awards, which will appear on Netflix, were in jeopardy as the strike got closer to 2024.

Still in limbo is the Golden Globe Awards, which is trying to reinvent itself after years of scandal, but doesn't yet have a U.S. broadcast partner.

AFTER TWO MAJOR STRIKES, WHAT'S NEXT?

Another actors strike — this one by video game performers — is possible. Negotiations for that contract are ongoing, but a strike has been authorized.

Actors who work on video games range from voice performers to stunt performers. They, too, have expressed concerns about the use of AI in their industry.

The studios in 2024 will also be negotiating with set workers and their guild, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. From building sets to controlling the lighting and even creating effects, IATSE members are crucial to film and television production. They been severely impacted by the filming shutdown and have joined the picket lines in the writers and actors strikes.

One of the key elements of the actors and writers strikes has been how much streaming has upended the industry, which could also be a key point in the set worker negotiations.

And other sectors of the industry have moved to unionize while this year's dual strikes played out. Some reality television workers are calling for a union, while visual effects artists who work on Marvel films voted to join IATSE.

]]>
2023-11-09T13:41:13+00:00
Hollywood actors' union reaches tentative deal with studios to end strike https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/sag-aftra-studios-agree-to-deal-to-end-strike-reports/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 01:16:26 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/sag-aftra-studios-agree-to-deal-to-end-strike-reports/ (KTLA) — The union representing hundreds of film and television actors has agreed in principle to a deal with the motion picture studios, signaling the coming end of a four-month strike that brought the industry to a standstill.

According to an email sent to members Wednesday evening, the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee approved a tentative deal with the major film studios.

The three-year contract agreement must be approved by votes from the union’s board and its members in the coming days, but the leadership declared the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

The total value of the contract totals more than $1 billion, the negotiating committee says, with increased pay for members, increased residual payments related to streaming content and better health and pension benefits.

The studios and Hollywood’s actors union also appear to have come to an agreement regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of media, a major sticking point throughout the duration of negotiations.

SAG-AFTRA said details would be made public after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.

More than 60,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Performers went on strike July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two unions had been on strike together since 1960. Studios chose to negotiate with the writers first, striking a deal that their leadership marked as a major win and bringing their strike to an end on Sept. 26.

The agreement comes during a critical moment in the industry, with several projects up in the air and the future of some television and film productions hanging in the balance.

The negotiations have been ongoing for months, but intensified in recent days. Just last week, the studios presented what they were calling their "best and final" offer. Some actors voiced their displeasure with the terms of this offer and the union took several days to offer a response.

It's unclear if the two sides have been meeting to iron out the specifics, but statements from SAF-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are expected soon.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, NBC Studios head Donna Langley and Warner Bros. Discovery's David Zaslav were among those negotiating on behalf of the film studios, while SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and the union's chief negotiator fought for the hundreds of actors the union represents.

Although the writers' strike had immediate, visible effects on viewers, including the months-long suspension of late-night talk shows and “ Saturday Night Live,” the impact of the actors’ absence was not as immediately apparent. But its ripple effects — delayed release dates and waits for new show seasons — could be felt for months or even years.

Actors could quickly return to movie sets where productions were paused, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and “Wicked.” Other movies and shows will restart shooting once returning writers finish scripts.

And beyond scripted productions, the end of the strike would fully free actors to return to red carpets, talk shows and podcasts, as Hollywood’s awards season approaches.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

]]>
2023-11-09T03:09:54+00:00
TikTok says ‘beige Christmas’ is over — and gaudy holidays are back https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/tiktok-says-beige-christmas-is-over-and-gaudy-holidays-are-back/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:21:31 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1647378 BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.

Down with beige Christmas décor

Time to bust out the rainbow lights and mismatched ornaments. TikTok, the place to discover what’s trending this year, has declared that “minimalist beige Christmas” is over. Instead, we’re going back to our early 2000s roots and embracing the gaudy, over-the-top, colorful holiday décor of our youths.

It all started with a viral TikTok video, which now has well over a million views, in which a creator named Avery declares how done she is with the carefully curated aesthetic that’s been all the rage the last few years.

“I have decided that I will not be participating in minimalist, beige Christmas this year,” she says in her video, before it cuts to a picture of a teetering tree trimmed in rainbow lights and absolutely loaded with mismatched ornaments. “The theme this year is nostalgic, early 2000s Christmas. I think it’s the coziness that comes with decorating in a way that it looks like someone lives there and it’s not a Crate and Barrel showroom that just draws me to the colorful lights and the random wrapping paper.”

Think “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Think “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” These are the vibes this year.

Shop this article: Peyton Christmas WreathOasisCraft 6.5ft Prelit Christmas Tree with Color Changing LED LightsHoliday Home Lighted Blow Mold Santa Claus Sculpture Decoration

Everything you need for a nostalgic, maximalist Christmas

Ceramic Vintage Multicolor Lights with 27 Colorful Incandescent Bulbs

Ceramic Vintage Multicolor Lights with 27 Colorful Incandescent Bulbs

These vintage ceramic bulbs are styled straight out of the ’90s, and they come in very nostalgic colors: red, green, orange and blue. You can use them indoors or outdoors to create the perfect holiday display.

Clever Creations 24 Pack Mixed Christmas Ball Ornament Set

Clever Creations 24 Pack Mixed Christmas Ball Ornament Set

Want that mismatched look for your tree? This 24-pack of shatterproof ball ornaments will get you started. They come in a mix of colors and patterns, so you can give your tree a one-of-a-kind look.

Peyton Christmas Wreath

Peyton Christmas Wreath

This lighted wreath also features brightly colored ornaments in purple, orange and gold (no traditional Christmas colors here) to welcome visitors with just the right touch of maximalist style.

OasisCraft 6.5ft Prelit Christmas Tree with Color Changing LED Lights

OasisCraft 6.5ft Prelit Christmas Tree with Color Changing LED Lights

Save some time with this pre-lit tree. Equipped with color-changing LED lights, you can choose the look you want: warm white lights or multicolor, depending on what’s in style from year to year.

Holiday Home Lighted Blow Mold Santa Claus Sculpture Decoration

Holiday Home Lighted Blow Mold Santa Claus Sculpture Decoration

This light-up Santa sculpture is pure nostalgia — he looks right out of the ’90s. Set him up in your yard or on your front porch to create a holiday display that will have every passerby feeling the holiday spirit.

Best 13 Inch Ceramic Christmas Tree

13 Inch Ceramic Christmas Tree

If you can look at this ceramic, pre-lit Christmas tree and not feel nostalgic, who even are you? Is there anyone whose mom didn’t own one of these? Now you can, too.

Kurt Adler Mistletoe Ball Christmas Ornament

Kurt Adler Mistletoe Ball Christmas Ornament

Add to your tree’s mismatched vibe with a mistletoe and bell ornament — or hang it during a holiday party for some extra nostalgic fun.

FANPROMS Rainbow Christmas Tree Skirt

FANPROMS Rainbow Christmas Tree Skirt

There is no décor piece more maximalist than this tree skirt, which is made from iridescent, multicolored sequins that will add a holographic touch to your tree. If you’re going all out, you need this.

Christmas Tinsel Garland

Christmas Tinsel Garland

Complete the look with a tinsel garland in shiny red and green. It couldn’t be further from the beige aesthetic.

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.

Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.

Christina Marfice writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

]]>
2023-11-08T20:21:33+00:00
Patrick Dempsey named Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine for 2023 https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/patrick-dempsey-named-sexiest-man-alive-by-people-magazine-for-2023/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 10:53:38 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/patrick-dempsey-named-sexiest-man-alive-by-people-magazine-for-2023/ LOS ANGELES (AP) — He's not just “McDreamy” anymore — Patrick Dempsey is now also People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

Patrick Dempsey poses for photographers upon arrival for the premiere of the film "Ferrari" during the 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival, Aug. 31, 2023, in Venice, Italy. On Tuesday, Nov, 7, People magazine named Dempsey as its Sexiest Man Alive. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

The “Grey's Anatomy” star and race car driver takes the mantle from “Captain America” star Chris Evans, who was 2022's selection. The pick was revealed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Tuesday night.

"I’ve always been the bridesmaid!” Dempsey, 57, told the magazine about his initial reaction. “I’d completely forgotten about it and never even contemplated being in this position. So my ego is good.”

The actor stars in the upcoming Michael Mann film “Ferrari.” He told The Associated Press last year that he did all the driving himself, calling it “the best role I’ve ever had."

Dempsey has driven in several professional races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and is part of the Wright Motorsports racing team, according to its website.

Dempsey said his three children are bound to tease him about his People magazine selection and “pick on me and figure out every reason why I shouldn’t be.”

The People edition with Dempsey’s cover story will be out Friday.

In addition to racing and acting, he founded the Dempsey Center, a Maine-based organization that provides care and resources for cancer patients, in honor of his late mother.

Dempsey achieved heartthrob status as Dr. Derek Shepherd — nicknamed “McDreamy” — on “Grey's Anatomy,” appearing in more than 250 episodes.

He plays Italian race car driver Piero Taruffi in “Ferrari,” which arrives in theaters later this year. The film has received a waiver so that its stars can promote it without breaking the rules in the ongoing actor's strike.

Other Sexiest Man Alive recipients include Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, Paul Rudd, Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson, who was the magazine's first recipient in 1985.

]]>
2023-11-08T12:37:12+00:00
Nintendo is developing a live-action film based on its hit video game 'The Legend of Zelda' https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/nintendo-is-developing-a-live-action-film-based-on-its-hit-video-game-the-legend-of-zelda/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 04:03:49 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1646636 TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo is developing a live-action film based on its hit video game “The Legend of Zelda,” the Japanese company behind the Super Mario franchise said Wednesday.

The film, with financing from Sony Pictures Entertainment as well as its own investment, will be directed by Wes Ball, the American director of the upcoming “Planet of the Apes” film. It’s being co-produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions Inc., which is behind the live-action Spider-Man films and headed by Avi Arad.

The move highlights Kyoto-based Nintendo’s strategy to leverage various aspects of its business, including theme parks, merchandising and movies, to boost machine and software sales, and vice versa.

That strategy has met success. Its animation film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” released earlier this year, has raked in more than $1.3 billion and drew nearly 170 million people worldwide.

President Shuntaro Furukawa, briefing reporters online, said the company was pleased with the success of the Super Mario animation film, the first movie of which Nintendo was a direct producer.

The planned release date of the Zelda movie was not announced. Shigeru Miyamoto, the Nintendo executive who has spearheaded the creative innovations at the company for decades, said it will be released only when it’s ready, while stressing that work on the project has been going on for a decade.

“I realize there are so many Zelda fans, and we cannot betray their expectations. That is a big hurdle. But we are ready,” said Miyamoto.

Nintendo reported Tuesday an 18% rise in net profit for its first fiscal half, totaling nearly 271.3 billion yen ($1.8 billion), up from 230 billion yen a year earlier.

Nintendo officials said the success of the Super Mario film has translated into bigger sales for its Switch machines, as well as for game software with Super Mario themes.

The “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” game software, on sale since last month, has been selling at a record brisk pace, they said, totaling 4.3 million games sold in just two weeks.

The latest Zelda game called “Tears of the Kingdom,” has been selling well, and Nintendo is hoping the planned movie will benefit from the popularity of the game, which stars a hero and a princess fighting against evil.

The Switch machine, already in its seventh year after its debut, is still doing well in sales, according to Nintendo.

Nintendo is banking on having more people come in contact with its intellectual property through official stores, including pop-ups, theme parks and special events, and now movies.

In the U.S., Nintendo World has opened in Universal Studios in Hollywood, and the company is planning another in Orlando. The area for the park it already has in Japan will grow next year to include a section devoted to Donkey Kong, another Nintendo character, officials said.

Nintendo is also opening a museum devoted to its history and legacy in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto in March next year.

]]>
2023-11-08T04:03:50+00:00
WWE NXT is moving to the CW Network in 2024 https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/wwe-nxt-is-moving-to-the-cw-network-in-2024/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:42:22 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/wwe-nxt-is-moving-to-the-cw-network-in-2024/ (KTLA) -- The WWE announced that its television program NXT is headed to the CW Network in October 2024 as part of a new five-year deal.

NXT is one of WWE's most important weekly properties and showcases the company's "up-and-coming" entertainers, known as WWE Superstars.

The CW will broadcast 52 live weekly events as part of the agreement, according to a joint statement from the network's parent company, Nexstar Media Group, and the WWE.

The program currently airs on the USA Network and has also operated as a digital-exclusive property in the United States.

Dennis Miller, president of The CW Network, said NXT will play an integral role in the company's continued expansion into live sporting events.

WWE Superstars are pictured in this promotional image from World Wrestling Entertainment. Beginning in October 2024, WWE NXT will be broadcast exclusively on the CW. (CW/WWE)

"WWE NXT is a perfect fit for The CW thanks to its dynamic young talent featuring the hottest rising stars in the sport and exhilarating, unpredictable weekly events," Miller said. "The passion and engagement of WWE’s fanbase is unmatched, and we are eager to grow that audience as WWE NXT’s new home on broadcast television."

NXT is something of a development program for WWE's flagship shows, "Raw" and "Smackdown." According to the company, nearly 90% of the participants in last year's WrestleMania — equivalent to the Super Bowl of sports entertainment — were developed under the NXT banner.

"WWE Superstars, such as Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, have come up through NXT," an official news release reads.

The program is particularly popular among younger audiences and is the No. 1 cable primetime show on Tuesday nights among critical demographics, according to CW officials.

"The CW has made impressive moves over the past year with its live sports programming schedule," said Nick Khan, WWE President. "It’s a truly exciting opportunity to expand NXT’s audience by bringing the show to broadcast television for the first time in NXT’s history."

The CW is continuing to expand into sports broadcasting, recently inking deals with the NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for college football and basketball games. The company also hosts "Inside the NFL" and will broadcast NASCAR Xfinity Series races beginning in 2025.

In 2022, The CW Network was acquired by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns this news station.

]]>
2023-11-07T23:40:47+00:00
Gannett hires Taylor Swift reporter https://www.wspa.com/news/gannett-hires-taylor-swift-reporter/ Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:22:57 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/gannett-hires-taylor-swift-reporter/ *Video of previous Taylor Swift coverage.

(The Hill) -- Gannett, the parent company of USA Today and local media outlet The Tennessean, announced it has hired a reporter to cover pop megastar Taylor Swift. 

The Tennessean shared on Monday that veteran journalist Bryan West was the top choice in a pool of hundreds of candidates who applied for the position.

Michael A. Anastasi, Gannett’s vice president of local news and the editor of The Tennessean, told Variety that applicants for the position included fans of the artist, who refer to themselves as “Swifties,” and veteran hard news reporters, including one “very established White House reporter.”

West is a seasoned journalist, having won two Emmy Awards as a television producer, as well as the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for investigative work.

He is also a passionate Swift fan.

“I have been a fan-slash-expert of Taylor even when she was canceled during Reputation,” West said, according to The Tennesseean, referring to the period surrounding the release of Swift's sixth studio album. “It almost feels like all the roads I’ve been on are merging for this position.”

West, 35, said his appreciation for the Grammy-winning artist's work developed further in recent years as he recovered from struggles with depression and alcohol addiction, the outlet reported. 

“The past five years have taught me so many valuable lessons, like always clean your side of the street — which is a Taylor lyric, but it’s from the sober community,” he said. “I learned to take things one day at a time.”

The announcement comes two months after Gannett listed the position. 

USA Today reported that “West will explore Swift's influence on music, business and social issues, while also chronicling the latest news from the superstar's tour stops, her album releases and all the Easter eggs she drops along the way.” 

West’s work on the Swift beat will also be shared across the entire USA Today Network, which includes more than 200 local websites and newspapers across 43 states. 

“Taylor Swift is a singular cultural force who is shaping our world in arguably unprecedented fashion,” Anastasi said. “Chronicling her story, her impact, her influence takes unique expertise and experience and we’re confident Bryan is the right journalist for this moment.”

This comes amid a whirlwind period for Swift, who has topped both the box office and the charts with the releases of her Eras Tour concert film and her latest rerecorded albums. She is set to continue her record-breaking tour over the coming year, traveling to stops around the world.

]]>
2023-11-08T10:47:33+00:00
Tennis legend Serena Williams honored as 'fashion icon' at fashion industry's big awards night https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/ap-serena-williams-is-being-honored-as-fashion-icon-at-fashions-big-awards-night/ Tue, 07 Nov 2023 06:00:12 +0000 NEW YORK (AP) — Tennis legend Serena Williams told a glittery fashion industry audience how fashion became a favored mode of expression as she grew up in the public eye, with the tennis court serving as her runway.

“I knew when I was a little girl that I was different, so I explored fashion and style as a way to distinguish myself,” Williams said as she accepted the Fashion Icon award Monday night from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. “In many ways for me, the tennis courts became my runway, and the U.S. Open was my own New York Fashion Week.” Reimagining the traditional tennis outfit became a way, she said, to express “my individuality and my confidence and most importantly, my culture. ”

Williams, who retired from tennis last year, is the first athlete to win the Fashion Icon award, and it was presented to her by Kim Kardashian, a CFDA honoree last year. Kardashian called Williams “fearless, heroic, authentic, iconic — the greatest of all time.”

The fashion industry’s equivalent of Oscar night was held at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and hosted by Anne Hathaway. In top designer awards, Catherine Holstein of the label Khaite was named womenswear designer of the year, and Willy Chavarria won for menswear. The award for accessories went to Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen of the label The Row.

Among other honors: Gwyneth Paltrow accepted the Innovation Award for goop, her 15-year-old lifestyle brand, presented by Demi Moore. Vanessa Hudgens presented a tribute from the CFDA board of directors to Vera Wang, for her impact on the bridal industry. Designer Maria Cornejo won a lifetime achievement award, presented by Laura Linney.

There was also a tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a short film by director Hype Williams, introduced by Mary J. Blige and with music by Pharrell.

When Williams, now 42, retired from tennis, she said she needed to make the tough choice to focus on motherhood. She gave birth in August to a baby girl, almost exactly a year after her last match as a tennis star. Adira River Ohanian is the second child — and second daughter — of Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Their first, Olympia, was born in 2017.

In her speech, she spoke fondly about how she'd learned to express her creativity on the court. “I designed skirts out of denim and I wore purple tutus and bodysuits,” she said, “and put beads in my hair, and braids. It was really just a fun time for me.”

Williams studied fashion during her playing career, and in 2018, launched her “S by Serena” clothing line, which she said in her speech was intended “to inspire women to embrace their bodies and love who they are no matter their size, race or income.”

Among her many thank-yous, she saved her last for her mother, “for actually making those first tennis outfits when I was young." Watching her sew, she said, ”created this creativity in me that I still have to this day."

The CFDA awards are presented by Amazon Fashion. Other honors: Alina Cho received a media award, Domenico De Sole won the founder's award, Mara Hoffman won a sustainability award, and the international award went to Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and Loewe.

]]>
2023-11-07T14:54:00+00:00
Fortnite maker challenges Google's ability to take a cut of in-app purchases https://www.wspa.com/news/top-stories/fortnite-maker-challenges-googles-ability-to-take-a-cut-of-in-app-purchases/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 20:04:45 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1644859 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google on Monday will try to protect a lucrative piece of its internet empire at the same time it’s still entangled in the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century.

The latest threat will unfold in a San Francisco federal court, where a 10-person jury will decide whether Google's digital payment processing system in the Play Store that distributes apps for phones running on its Android software has been illegally driving up prices for consumers and developers.

The case targeting Google's Play Store is being brought by Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, which lost in a similar 2021 trial focused on many of the same issues in Apple's iPhone app store.

Although a federal judge sided with Apple on most fronts in that trial, the outcome opened one potential crack in the digital fortress that the company has built around the iPhone.

The judge and an appeals court both determined Apple should allow apps to provide links to other payment options, a change that could undermine the 15% to 30% commissions that both Apple and Google collect on digital purchases made within a mobile app. Apple is appealing that part of the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Epic is also challenging most elements of the case that it lost.

Epic is now taking aim at Google's commission system, even though Android software is already set up to allow other stores, such as Samsung's installed on its phones, distribute apps that work on the operating system. Even so, Epic maintains that Google still maintains a stranglehold on the Android app ecosystem and the payment system attached to it — and has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to stifle competition.

Much like Apple did in its trial, Google defends its commissions as a way to be compensated for all money that it invests into its Play Store and asserts that the controls over it are a way to protect the security of the tens of millions of people in the U.S. who download apps for phones powered by Android.

The trial before U.S. District Judge James Donato is scheduled to last until just before Christmas and include testimony from longtime Google executive Sundar Pichai, who is now CEO of the company’s parent, Alphabet Inc.

Pichai recently took the witness stand in Washington D.C. during an antitrust trial pitting Google’s long-running dominance of internet search against the U.S. Justice Department’s attempt to undercut it on the grounds the the company has been abusing its power to stifle competition and innovation.

Google initially was going to have to defend itself against multiple foes in the trial, but in September it settled allegations that had been brought against the Play Store by state attorneys general and just last week resolved a case being pursued by Match Group, the owner of Tinder and other online dating services.

The Match settlement prompted Google to switch from its original request for a jury trial to a proceeding to be decided by the judge, but Donato rebuffed the bid.

Match is receiving a refund $40 million in fees that had been placed in an escrow account earlier this year and adopting Google's “user choice billing" system in its settlement. The terms of the resolution with the state attorneys general is expected to be revealed during Google's trial with Epic.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney skewered the “user choice billing” option as a sham in a social media post vowing to fight Google in court. Sweeney also is expected to take the witness stand during the trial.

Wilson White, Google's vice president of government affairs and public policy, accused Epic of trying to get “something for nothing” in a blog post. After pointing out that Epic already lost the crux of its case against Apple, White blasted the game maker for “trying their luck with Android by bringing a case that has even less merit.”

]]>
2023-11-06T20:04:46+00:00
Hootie & the Blowfish announce summer tour dates in SC, NC https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/hootie-the-blowfish-announce-summer-tour-dates-in-sc-nc/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:35:55 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1644453 (WSPA) - Hootie & the Blowfish upcoming tour will bring the band to South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia in the summer of 2024.

The Summer Camp with Trucks Tour marks the first full tour since 2019 for the band.

The tour will hit arenas in more than 40 cities, including the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on August 29th, PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on September 19th and Ameris Bank Amphitheatre on September 20th in Alpharetta, G.A.

Collective Soul and Edwin McCain will be special guests on all tour dates.

Tickets for the tour will go on sale on November 10th at 10 a.m. VIP packages and experiences, which include exclusive gift items information can be found here.

View all tour dates here.

]]>
2023-11-06T15:36:19+00:00
Rewatching 'Gilmore Girls' for fall? Here's why it's the perfect autumn show https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/rewatching-gilmore-girls-for-fall-heres-why-its-the-perfect-autumn-show/ Sat, 04 Nov 2023 18:58:26 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/rewatching-gilmore-girls-for-fall-heres-why-its-the-perfect-autumn-show/ (NEXSTAR) — "Fall is for Gilmore Girls."

In case you didn't know, the internet says there's one signature show to rewatch come autumn and it's the hit 2000s comedy-drama "Gilmore Girls." But did you know the show has a Texas connection? More on that below.

But first: what's with "Gilmore Girls," which premiered on the now-defunct network The WB in October 2000, and autumn?

One needs not to search too far for "Gilmore Girls" x fall content, the concept has been named for years — but this year, the idea seems to have gone more mainstream. Aside from this article you're reading, here are just a few recent stories/videos about the seasonal pairing:

Now that everyone seems to be taking notice, here's a little rundown of all the fall-ness of the beloved teen show.

Where is summer?

For starters, in general, as noted by several 'GG' watchers, the show's timeline seems to skip over the summer months, instead favoring cool, breezy days and leaf-dotted yards as its primary setting.

The show's setting, the fictional hamlet of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, is also quintessentially New England in fall — those above brown and orange leaves, pumpkins, and a wreathed gazebo in the town square.

Also, because much of the show's plot revolves around Rory's school life, it makes sense that the majority of the show would take place during the fall when school is just beginning.

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham star in Warner Bros. TV series "Gilmore Girls." (Photo by Warner Bros./Delivered by Online USA)

#Autumncore

There are also some non-tangible elements of "Gilmore Girls"' fall vibes — it's just a feeling you can't quite grasp.

"I never thought about it, but this is an excellent question," one Redditor replied to a question about the show's fall connection in the "Gilmore Girls" subreddit. "It's always fall when I get the urge to rewatch GG and I have no idea why. Something about the vibe just says 'fall.'"

A few of the reasons some Redditors have posited include the small-town feel of Stars Hollow and its various familiar faces conjure feelings of home or at least a basic outline of the concept. It's comforting.

There's also the show's central mother-daughter relationship. The core of the show is a family, which also invites feelings of holidays and festivities.

Additionally, though this is not a signature to "GG," each season of the series' original run typically premiered in late September or early October.

Series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino is aware of the show's autumnal reputation.

Sherman-Palladino, who most recently created Amazon's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," recently discussed the show's aesthetic with Rolling Stone, saying that she thinks the show has a "festive" feel, mostly due to the decor and location, which were, according to Sherman-Palladino, more due to budget constraints and the time of year in which they were shooting than deliberate choices. At least originally.

The creator told Rolling Stone's Krystie Lee Yandoli that ultimately she became inspired after visiting Mark Twain's house in Hartford, Connecticut, and realizing that the town (which was decked out for October) had the feel of Stars Hollow.

In 2016, the show's limited revival "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" cycled through four seasons of the character's lives, though it wrapped up with a finale in the fall — thoroughly cementing its place within what's known as #Autumncore.

"Fall is for Gilmore Girls," one user of X, formerly Twitter, recently wrote ahead of a rewatch.

"Gilmore Girls" and "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" are currently streamable on Netflix and available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime.

]]>
2023-11-05T11:05:55+00:00
Taylor Tomlinson to host new CBS late-night show in James Corden's old time slot https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/taylor-tomlinson-to-host-new-cbs-late-night-show-in-james-cordens-old-time-slot/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:25:49 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/taylor-tomlinson-to-host-new-cbs-late-night-show-in-james-cordens-old-time-slot/ (NEXSTAR) – Comedian Taylor Tomlinson has been tapped to host CBS’s upcoming series “After Midnight,” a new late-night show scheduled to air in the time slot previously filled by “The Late Late Show With James Corden."

“After Midnight,” which is based on the former MTV series “@Midnight,” will debut in early 2024.

Tomlinson, 29, announced the news alongside late-night host Stephen Colbert during a taping of “The Late Show” on Wednesday.

“I’ve never had a real job,” Tomlinson told Colbert. “I’ve been doing stand-up since I was 16, which is not a job.”

Taylor Tomlinson Getty IMages
Taylor Tomlinson performs on "The Tonight Show" in 2020. (Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Colbert, who will also be producing “After Midnight,” revealed during the segment that he had helped pick Tomlinson for the gig.

“Happy birthday,” he told Tomlinson, who celebrates her 30th birthday on Saturday. “I got you a network show.

In a CBS Entertainment press release, the network described Tomlinson as a “critically acclaimed comedian,” noting her popular Netflix stand-up specials “Look at You” and “Quarter Life Crisis.”

“She continues to sell out shows across the country and worldwide for her recent ‘Have It All Tour,’ including four nights at Boston’s Boch Center Wang Theater, which tied for the most sold-out comedy shows in one run at the venue,” the release added.

The release did not include any additional details of “After Midnight” or its format. The MTV version “@Midnight,” which aired between 2013 and 2017, featured a panel of guests competing in a loose game-show format. The show was hosted by former “Singled Out” and “Talking Dead” host Chris Hardwick.

]]>
2023-11-02T15:44:41+00:00
'Ferris Bueller,' 'Succession' actor crashes into Hollywood pizza shop: TMZ https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/ferris-bueller-succession-actor-crashes-into-hollywood-pizza-shop-tmz/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 22:55:06 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/ferris-bueller-succession-actor-crashes-into-hollywood-pizza-shop-tmz/ HOLLYWOOD (KTLA) — Actor Alan Ruck, who starred in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Succession," was behind the wheel of a truck that slammed into other cars and a pizza shop in Hollywood on Halloween night, TMZ reported.

The collision happened around 9 p.m. at the busy intersection of La Brea Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, at the west end of the Walk of Fame.

Surveillance video obtained by TMZ shows Ruck’s Rivian rear-end a car stopped at a traffic signal before careening into another vehicle and slamming through a wall at Raffallo’s Pizza shop.

Officials confirmed to Nexstar's KTLA that the vehicle was Ruck's.

Alan Ruck Crash
Actor Alan Ruck is seen at the crash scene. Oct. 31, 2023. (KTLA)

A 32-year-old man was hospitalized, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The building also sustained structural damage. Two other damaged cars ended up in the middle of the intersection.

Footage from the scene shows Ruck, who portrayed Cameron Frye in the 1986 John Hughes classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” talking to authorities at the scene, apparently uninjured.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Alan Ruck Crash
At least one person is hospitalized after a three-vehicle collision sent a truck crashing through a pizza shop in Hollywood on Oct. 31, 2023. (KTLA)

Citing sources, TMZ reported that there was no indication Ruck was driving under the influence.

In addition to his iconic "Ferris Bueller" character, Ruck has also acted in dozens of television and film productions over the decades, including starring as Connor Roy on the hit HBO series “Succession.”

]]>
2023-11-01T21:53:30+00:00
Mary Lou Retton says she's 'overwhelmed' with love and support as she recovers from rare pneumonia https://www.wspa.com/news/national/mary-lou-retton-says-shes-overwhelmed-with-love-and-support-as-she-recovers-from-rare-pneumonia/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:33:08 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1637655 American gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton says she is “overwhelmed with all the love and support” she has received and is slowly recovering with family after being hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia earlier this month.

Retton, 55, posted a statement Monday on Instagram in her first public comment since being in intensive care in a Texas hospital. Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, said then that the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title in 1984 was “fighting for her life” and unable to breathe on her own.

Retton said she was “beyond blessed for the opportunity to make this statement” and is staying positive through what she knows is a long and slow recovery process. She requested privacy and added that she will share more information about her health when the time is right and hopefully help others facing the same battle.

Retton ended the post saying, “I love you all. – MLR.”

Kelley started a fundraising campaign on Retton’s behalf to cover medical expenses because she does not have health insurance. The campaign has generated more than 8,300 donations totaling nearly $460,000.

Retton was 16 when she became an icon of the U.S. Olympic movement during her gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Retton, who grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia, also won two silver and two bronze medals at those Olympics to help bring gymnastics — a sport long dominated by eastern European powers like Romania and the Soviet Union — into the mainstream in the U.S.

]]>
2023-10-30T21:33:49+00:00
He’s Kenough: Mattel launches Ryan Gosling’s ‘Ken’ doll https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/hes-kenough-mattel-launches-ryan-goslings-ken-doll/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 20:54:44 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1637376 BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.

He’s just Ken … and now he’s a doll

Summer 2023 was the Summer of Barbie. Halloween 2023 was the Halloween of Barbie. Get ready for the upcoming holiday season to be the Holidays of Barbie. Or, should we say, the Holidays of Ken? Because a new Ken doll just dropped, and it’s going to be an absolute must-have this holiday season, as we all celebrate knowing that we are Kenough, just as we are.

Shop this article: Barbie The Movie — I Am Kenough Tie Dye Logo Pullover HoodieExpression Tees I Am Kenough Barbenheimer Mens T-shirtMoonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Vanilla Breeze Scented Handmade Candle.

The latest doll inspired by ‘Barbie the Movie’ is Ryan Gosling’s Kenough Doll

Mattel

Before this summer, Ken was always just Ken. But now we know that he is Kenough, and he has the hoodie to prove it. The latest doll to drop in Mattel’s “Barbie the Movie” collection is modeled in Ryan Gosling’s likeness (and we’d buy it based on that fact alone), wearing the “I am Kenough” hoodie that Ken wears in the movie after he learns to love himself as a whole person separate from Barbie.

This is your chance to match your doll — because “I am Kenough” sweatshirts are also the must-have accessory this fall. You and your Ken Doll can have matching Kenergy — no Barbie needed.

Ken Doll Wearing “I Am Kenough” Hoodie — Barbie The Movie on white background

Ken Doll Wearing “I Am Kenough” Hoodie — Barbie The Movie

This posable Ken Doll comes in his iconic “I am Kenough” hoodie from “Barbie the Movie.” He completes the look with sweatpants and boxing sneakers, plus a lightning headband and a horse charm necklace leftover from his days of running the Barbieland patriarchy. You can preorder this Ken doll now, with a ship date in 2024.

More products and accessories that show you are Kenough

black hoodie with words "I am Kenough" in tie dye text

Barbie The Movie — I Am Kenough Tie Dye Logo Pullover Hoodie

This comfortable cotton-and-polyester-blend hoodie will proclaim to the world, just like Ken did, that you are Kenough — in bright tie-dye colors, just like the hoodie from the movie.

pink tie-dye t-shirt with black text, "I am Kenough" on it

Expression Tees I Am Kenough Barbenheimer Mens T-shirt

If a hoodie is too warm for your climate, here’s an option for you: a tie-dye T-shirt that proclaims the same message of self-love and acceptance. It is available in multiple colors and patterns.

small white vanilla scented candle in pink tin that says "you are kenough"

Moonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Vanilla Breeze Scented Handmade Candle

Bring your Kenergy into your home for cozy season with a vanilla-scented candle that will remind you every time you light it that you are, indeed, Kenough.

white square pillow case that says "You are Kenough" on it in hot pink letters

Moonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Decorative Pillow Case

You are Kenough, even when you spend all day on the couch — and this throw pillow cover will remind you of that every time you sit down. Made of 100% cotton for 16.5-inch throw pillows.

tan canvas tote bag that says "You are Kenough" on it in hot pink letters

Moonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Natural Canvas Bag

You are Kenough and you’re great at doing stuff — so take this bag and show it off out in the world, where everyone will see your Kenergy wherever you go.

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Christina Marfice writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

]]>
2023-10-31T15:44:37+00:00
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd announce joint tour date in the Upstate https://www.wspa.com/entertainment-news/zz-top-and-lynyrd-skynyrd-announce-joint-tour-date-in-the-upstate/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:27:52 +0000 https://www.wspa.com/?p=1637025 GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) - American classic rock titans ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd are coming to the Upstate.

The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, co-headlined by ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd, kicks off in Savannah, Georgia on March 8 before making its way to South Carolina.

The tour stops at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville on March 14. They are also scheduled to headline at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on March 16.

Black Stone Cherry is scheduled to open all shows from March 8 to April 20 before handing over duties to The Outlaws who will open all tour dates from August 15 to September 22.

Presale begins from October 31 at 10 a.m. until November 2 at 10 p.m.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, November 3 at 10 a.m. and can be found on the Lynyrd Skynyrd tour website.

]]>
2023-10-30T14:38:58+00:00