Entertainment category, Page 100
Story of the Year guitarist Ryan Phillips on 20 years of ‘Page Avenue,’ new album ‘Tear Me to Pieces’Video
Story of the Year guitarist Ryan Phillips is a huge fan of bands playing full albums out on tour, having seen quite a few over the years. ”One of my favorite bands in the entire world, the Deftones, I’ve seen shows where they do ‘White Pony’ or ‘Adrenaline,’ ‘Around the...
Ian Ziering goes off on ‘hooliganism on our streets’ after biker brawl leads to battery reportVideo
LOS ANGELES — Actor Ian Ziering was involved in a battery incident in Los Angeles on Sunday during what appeared to be a street brawl involving several people on mini bikes. Although the “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum said he was “completely unscathed,” the New Year’s Eve altercation left him concerned...
‘Wonka’ ends year No. 1 at box office; 2023 sales reach $9 billion in post-pandemic best
NEW YORK — Hollywood closed an up and down 2023 with “Wonka” regaining No. 1 at the box office, strong sales for “The Color Purple” and an overall $9 billion in ticket sales that improved on 2022’s grosses but fell about $2 billion shy of pre-pandemic norms. The New Year’s...
Books we read in 2023 to prepare us for the future
It has been an overwhelming 12 months in the technology world. Rapid developments in artificial intelligence, which went into overdrive in late 2022 with the release of ChatGPT, have generated countless column inches, panel discussions and political debate. For those who want to contribute to the discourse, understanding the core...
Marsha Warfield, bailiff Roz Russell on ‘Night Court,’ returns to the show that has a ‘big heart’
NEW YORK — Fans of the rebooted hit NBC sitcom “Night Court” might have been forgiven for tuning in all season long and asking “Where’s Roz?” Roz Russell — played by comedian Marsha Warfield — was the salty, no-nonsense bailiff alongside Bull Shannon who had a world-weary view of the...
TV Talk: Morning local newscast launches on WPGH-TV next week; Fox readies ‘Grimsburg’Video
WPGH-TV, Channel 53, will launch a 7 to 8 a.m. weekday newscast on Jan. 8, per promos that are airing and TV listings. As reported last month, this 7 a.m. newscast, like the 10 p.m. news on WPGH, will be produced and staffed by personnel from WPXI-TV. Channel 11’s morning...
Paula Abdul accuses ‘American Idol’ producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault in lawsuitVideo
LOS ANGELES — Paula Abdul has accused former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the reality competition show, according to a new lawsuit. The lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles also accuses Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul...
Mickey Mouse will soon belong to you and me — with some caveats
LOS ANGELES — M-I-C-K-E-Y will soon belong to you and me. With several asterisks, qualification and caveats, Mickey Mouse in his earliest form will be the leader of the band of characters, films and books that will become public domain as the year turns to 2024. In a moment many...
British actor Tom Wilkinson, known for ‘The Full Monty,’ ‘Michael Clayton’, dies at 75
LONDON — Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in “The Full Monty,” “Michael Clayton” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” has died, his family said. He was 75. A statement shared by his agent on behalf of the family said Wilkinson died suddenly at home on...
Zakk Sabbath, Creed Bratton, Three Dog Night among January’s top Pittsburgh concerts
An alum of “The Office” with a deep musical background, a veteran heavy-metal guitarist and a long-running rock band known for its three-part harmonies will be in Pittsburgh in January. Here’s a look at the most notable shows coming to the area this month: Top shows Jan. 9: Zakk Sabbath,...
2023 in books: Protests, bannings and the rise of AI helped shape the story of publishing
NEW YORK — Book publishing in 2023 was a story of cooling sales and rising conflict, marked by legal action, protests, censorship and the impact of forces well beyond the industry. Print book sales continued to recede following the pandemic-era surge, but fiction remained strong, thanks in part to the...
The year in review: Influential people who died in 2023
Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2023 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available): JANUARY Fred White, 67. A drummer who backed up his brothers Maurice and Verdine White in the Grammy-winning ensemble Earth, Wind & Fire. Jan. 1. Ken Block, 55....
2023 (Taylor’s Version): The year in pop culture
In weather terminology, they call it “rapid intensification” — the process by which a storm strengthens dramatically in a short period. In pop culture terminology, they call it Taylor Swift. It’s not like Swift didn’t have big — huge! — years before this. But 2023? This was ridiculous. From the...
Pop culture in Pittsburgh: A look back at 2023
There was no shortage of news in 2023 throughout the region’s arts and entertainment scene. From Taylor Swift to Kennywood, here are the region’s biggest cultural stories of 2023. ‘Swiftburg’ Arguably the concert of the year and the 2023 version of Beetlemania, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour sold out both nights...
The Golden Globes: How to watch, who’s hosting and other key things to know
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Golden Globe Awards are back on the first Sunday in January with plenty of behind-the-scenes changes aimed at cementing a yearslong comeback effort. The show is known for its boozy celebration of film and television and as an early stop for awards season contenders. Scandals...
First Night Pittsburgh: What you need to know
Pittsburgh will host a double celebration Sunday evening — welcoming 2024 and recognizing a special anniversary. Highmark First Night Pittsburgh turns 30. “I was looking at the dates earlier this year, and I realized Highmark First Night Pittsburgh started 30 years ago,” said Sarah Aziz, director of programming and manager...
Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve sentence for rape convictions
DELANO, Calif. — “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson has been sent to a California state prison to serve his sentence for two rape convictions. Authorities said Wednesday the 47-year-old Masterson has been admitted to North Kern State Prison, and they released his first prison mug shot. The photo shows...
Comedian Tom Smothers, one-half of the Smothers Brothers, dies at 86
Tom Smothers, half of the Smothers Brothers and the co-host of one of the most socially conscious and groundbreaking television shows in the history of the medium, has died at 86. The National Comedy Center, on behalf of his family, said in a statement Wednesday that Smothers died Tuesday at...
Best movies of 2023: ‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Fallen Leaves,’ ‘May December’Video
The Associated Press’ Film Writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle’s picks for the best movies of 2023: LINDSEY BAHR 1. ‘Oppenheimer’ Christopher Nolan has had so many major films in a relatively short time, that “Oppenheimer” might seem like a given, rather than the triumphant fusion of everything he’s passionate...
TV Q&A: Should local TV stations avoid ‘Hey, Martha’ stories?
Q:Can you explain why our local news stations cover frivolous topics that deliver no value to a Pittsburgh viewer? Below is just a sample of topics that have been covered specifically by WTAE, although the other local news stations do this as well. These topics are either non-local events, not...
From novices to experienced musicians, Western Pa.’s open stages offer chance to shine in the spotlight
When Riley Galloway gets up to sing at the weekly acoustic open stage at Yellow Bridge Brewing in Delmont, you’d never know that she’s been playing in public for only a few months. The 16-year-old Irwin resident’s voice fills the space with the confidence of someone who has been performing...
Actor Lee Sun-kyun of Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’ dies
SEOUL, South Korea — Lee Sun-kyun, a popular South Korean actor best known for his role in the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite,” was found dead in a car in Seoul on Wednesday, authorities said, after weeks of an intense police investigation into his alleged drug use. Police and emergency officers initially...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast finale: Myron Cope sings; ‘American Rust’ switches platforms, David ‘Mr. McFeely’ Newell honored
In this final episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast (alas, we’ve been canceled), host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment including WTAE-TV’s new local special, “Holiday Flashback” (7 p.m. Dec. 30, repeating at 5 p.m. Dec. 31), which will include...
56 French stars defend actor Gerard Depardieu despite sexual misconduct allegations
PARIS — More than 50 French performers, writers and producers published an essay Tuesday defending film star and national icon Gerard Depardieu amid growing scrutiny of his behavior toward women during his five-decade career. Advocates for sexual abuse victims expressed dismay at the outpouring of support. Depardieu was handed preliminary...
Taylor Swift, Pink, Ed Sheeran among Pittsburgh’s biggest concerts in 2023
Taylor Swift broke attendance records with two shows this summer at Acrisure Stadium — and that doesn’t even include the tens of thousands of ticket-less fans who partied along outside the stadium. Swift’s pair of mega-shows were the highlight of Pittsburgh’s 2023 concert schedule, which also drew stadium shows from...
