Here’s what’s new and interesting in the world of entertainment and the arts today:
- Cubs and Indians are a World Series ratings hit for Fox
- CNN accepted Donna Brazile’s resignation after interactions with Clinton campaign revealed
- ‘Madea’ burns ‘Inferno’ at the box office
- How Kim Kardashian’s social media silence could affect ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’
- ‘Rambo’ will return but without Sylvester Stallone
This 91-year-old screenwriter can no longer vote in the Oscars. He just wants to know why.
Robert Bassing, a 91-year-old screenwriter, opened the letter from the motion picture academy, his resentment building as he read the words in the opening paragraph.
“As of today, your Academy membership will be changed to emeritus (non-voting) status,” read the letter dated Oct. 26 and signed by writers branch governors Billy Ray, Phil Robins and Robin Swicord.
The membership changes were part of a sweeping reform announced in January aimed at diversifying the organization, then embattled in controversy over a second consecutive year in which all 20 acting nominations went to white actors.
“It’s very upsetting. It’s a big injustice to older people in the academy.”
— Robert Bassing
Internet treats to binge on before the Halloween tricksters arrive
It’s Halloween, kids! And people dressed as kids! And kids dressed not as people! And everybody! While you wait for the trick-or-treaters to come or while you arrange your candy by size later tonight, why not take in these spooky-comic, Internet-available delights — as sweet as candy and better for you, too. The first two are personal favorites from a couple of years back that I am happy to find an occasion to share and promote. And the third is a nearly 50-year-old, L.A.-based afternoon series, nominally for children, from the twilight of local television. (If you can’t fit them in tonight, they’re good anytime.)
“Ghost Ghirls”
Created by stars Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci and director Jeremy Konner (“Drunk History”), with Jack Black as an executive producer, “Ghost Ghirls” began as a Syfy project before finding shape late in 2014 as a Yahoo Screen Web series consisting of a dozen 10-minute episodes. (Its general premise — a comedy about addled humans helping restless spirits move on into the light — was, not long after, the coincidental basis for the Tyler Labine-starring Hulu comedy “Deadbeat.”)
Cubs and Indians are a World Series ratings hit for Fox
The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians are making the World Series a ratings hit for Fox.
The Fox telecast of the fifth game of the World Series, in which the Cubs staved off elimination with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians, had an average audience of 23.6 million viewers on Sunday.
10 horror films to watch this Halloween
Favorite movies, in any genre, are rarely etched in stone. In coming up with a list of all-time horror greats, I have shamefully omitted any number of acknowledged classics — “Halloween,” “Carrie,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” for starters. The goal is not to be completist, but honest: These are the 10 movies that have terrified me most over the years, and continue to terrify me still. In alphabetical order:
“Alien.” It may be a sign of how much blockbuster standards have eroded that critics once panned Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi/horror landmark as the epitome of soulless, mechanical junk. Today it plays like an art film — astonishingly quiet, daringly slow, a work of unnerving elegance that (with apologies to John Hurt) takes its sweet time slithering its way into your chest.
CNN accepts Donna Brazile’s resignation after interactions with Clinton campaign revealed
CNN distanced itself from interim Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazile after supposedly hacked emails said she gave Hillary Clinton’s campaign advance word about a question for a March 6 primary debate with Bernie Sanders.
“We are completely uncomfortable with what we have learned about her interactions with the Clinton campaign while she was a CNN contributor.”
— From a CNN statement
Jenna Bush Hager dresses up as Barbara Bush for Halloween on the ‘Today’ show
The “Today” show’s Halloween celebration on Monday was an homage to the ‘90s, with hosts dressing up as some of the most iconic figures of the decade.
Jenna Bush Hager chose to dress up as one of her favorite first ladies, her grandmother Barbara Bush.
But the surprise was on Hager when First Lady Barbara Bush made a video appearance on “Today” in a costume of her own.
“I heard she was going to dress up like a witch, so I did too,” said Bush.
World Series and ‘Madea’ take down ‘Inferno’ at weekend box office
The trailer for Ron Howard’s “Inferno,” starring Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones.
Director Ron Howard’s “Inferno” — the third installment in Sony’s franchise based on author Dan Brown’s bestselling series that kicked off with “The Da Vinci Code” — came into this weekend with predictions it would easily claim the top spot at the box office. In the end, however, the film had all the spark of a soggy match, landing in second place after “Boo! A Madea Halloween.”
Despite the dismal domestic opening of “Inferno,” which was hampered by largely stinging reviews, the film has proven more appealing to audiences overseas. With a successful launch in China and Japan this weekend, the film is already approaching $150 million globally.
Kim Kardashian’s month off social media has led to introspection for the reality show family
In September, Kim Kardashian tweeted 162 times, posted 40 pictures on Instagram and sent out more than 200 Snapchat clips. But since Oct. 3, when five robbers held her at gunpoint in her Paris hotel and made off with $11 million worth of her jewels, she’s been silent on social media.
How will her new habits affect the Kardashian brand?
Bob Dylan says he’ll turn up for the Nobel Prize ceremony ‘if it’s at all possible’
In what was considered a “radical” choice, Bob Dylan was announced as the winner of the Nobel Prize in literature on Oct. 13.
After weeks of radio silence, music legend Bob Dylan, the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in more than 20 years, has decided to accept the honor.
Dylan spends much of his time on the road, including recent gigs at the Desert Trip festival in Indio, Calif., but is relatively elusive when it comes to interviews. Since the Oct. 13 announcement, Dylan has been silent about his selection by the Nobel committee, leading many to believe that he’d ignore the award indefinitely.
But that all changed today.
Speaking with the Telegraph, the ‘60s icon revealed that he plans to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm on Dec. 10. When asked if he’ll make the trip, the singer responded with the somewhat cryptic, “Absolutely. If it’s at all possible.”
“It’s hard to believe,” Dylan added. “Whoever dreams about something like that?”
Commentary: Why Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize is the best thing that can happen to the book world
‘Rambo’ being rebooted without Sylvester Stallone
Rambo is coming back to defend freedom once again.
But he may look a bit different.
After four films starring Sylvester Stallone as the greased-up, muscle-bound patriotic warrior named John Rambo, Millennium Films has announced that it’s rebooting the action franchise with a new star in place of Stallone.
The film will be called, appropriately, “Rambo: New Blood,” as confirmed by Millennium Films publicist Elizabeth Wolfe.
Ariel Vromen (“Criminal,” “The Ice Man”) will direct from a script by Brooks McLaren. The cast, including the titular hero, has yet to be revealed. The film’s plot is likewise a question mark at this point.
Stallone first appeared as the traumatized Vietnam vet in 1981’s hit “First Blood,” based on a 1972 novel by David Morrell. The stoic icon returned in two increasingly over-the-top sequels – “Rambo: First Blood – Part II” in 1985 and “Rambo III” in 1988, as well as in an animated 1986 TV series, several comic books and multiple toy lines.
After the franchise went dark for two decades, Stallone directed and starred in a fourth film, simply titled “Rambo,” in 2008, which was a Nu Image/Millennium Films production.
Queen Elizabeth pays a visit to the grocery store
Royals: They’re just like us!
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was in Poundbury, Dorset, for the unveiling of a statue of her mother in Queen Mother Square. She made a couple of local stops, including at the local Waitrose supermarket, as part of her visit.
She also visited the local pub.
The statue of the Queen Mother, who died in 2002, was unveiled during a ceremonial event attended by the queen, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of York.
Kevin Jonas and wife Danielle welcome second daughter
A Jonas brother is now a father of two.
Kevin Jonas, one of the members of the former pop trio the Jonas Brothers, announced Thursday that his wife, Danielle, gave birth to their second child, a girl. Baby Valentina joins big sister Alena Rose, who was born in 2014. The couple wed in 2009.
“Valentina is happy and healthy,” the proud dad reported on Twitter. “I’m so in love.”
Early Friday morning, he added, “This has been an awesome 24 hours.”
Younger brother Nick Jonas, who’s had a breakout career as a solo artist since their group disbanded in 2013, also posted about the happy news.
“I am on set here in Hawaii,” he said in a video posted to Instagram. (He’s currently filming “Jumanji.”) “I just got the best news ever: My brother and his wife had their baby. I’m overjoyed.”
Amy Schumer won’t apologize for her Beyonce imitation video
Upon releasing an imitation of Beyonce’s “Formation” video Oct. 21, Amy Schumer faced criticism that her homage missed much of the point of “Formation” and “Lemonade,” the album that featured the song, largely seen as a celebration of black womanhood.
On Thursday, Schumer responded to critics of her video in an essay published on Medium, pointing out that she had the approval of Beyonce herself to release the video, adding “It was NEVER a parody. It was just us women celebrating each other.”
‘Thor’ star Chris Hemsworth protests Dakota pipeline, apologizes for Native American costume
Activists are continuing to protest in North Dakota over a planned pipeline. Now, they have a new ally: Thor.
Actor Chris Hemsworth posted a photo, alongside his “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi, on Instagram on Thursday that showed him in his Thor costume holding a sign that reads “We stand with Standing Rock” along with the hashtags #noDAPL, #waterislife and #MniWiconi.
He also took the opportunity to apologize for an insensitive costume he wore at a “Lone Ranger”-themed party.
“Some of us, myself included, wore the traditional dress of First Nations people,” he said. (A photo of it landed on his wife’s Instagram in a now-deleted post.) “I was stupidly unaware of the offence this may have caused and the sensitivity around this issue. I sincerely and unreservedly apologise to all First Nations people for this thoughtless action.”
The North Dakota protests have received national attention this week. Activists say police are using rubber bullets against protesters.
James Corden’s ‘Candy,’ set to Ginuwine’s ‘Pony,’ is your new Halloween slow jam
James Corden and Stephen Colbert are looking to expand your Halloween playlist.
Corden, “The Late Late Show” host, teamed up with One Direction’s Niall Horan to debut a music video for “Candy,” the sultry Halloween-themed slow jam you didn’t know you needed.
Over on “The Late Show,” Colbert lamented the lack of good Halloween novelty songs. So the host turned to the music group everyone thinks of when they think of wholesome holiday fun: Run the Jewels. Warning: It’s really not so wholesome!
Lady Gaga tries to return to her roots with a tiny Silver Lake club show
One of the biggest pop stars on the planet, Lady Gaga was in Silver Lake on Thursday night for an unlikely gig at the Satellite, a tiny room that typically hosts scruffy indie rock bands. The concert was part of the singer’s so-called Dive Bar Tour: three shows in three media capitals (Nashville, New York, Los Angeles) designed to promote last week’s release of her album “Joanne.”
The singer came up playing grimy spots in her hometown of New York, so now she’s gone back to the well to remember what music is all about, man.
Only this was nothing like those early gigs, of course.
With just $800,000 at the box office Thursday, ‘Inferno’ won’t match ‘Da Vinci Code’s’ opener
The trailer for Ron Howard’s “Inferno,” starring Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones.
Ron Howard’s “Inferno,” the latest Dan Brown adaptation starring Tom Hanks as adventurous Harvard professor Robert Langdon, is off to a slow start at the box office.
The film, which also stars Felicity Jones, opened to the tune of $800,000 on Thursday night, according to Boxofficemojo, which doesn’t bode well for the weekend.
Although it will more than likely emerge in the top spot, box office prognosticators predict “Inferno” will gross $20 million to $25 million, placing it significantly behind its predecessors’ opening numbers. “The Da Vinci Code” unlocked an impressive $77 million in 2006, while its 2009 sequel, “Angels & Demons,” debuted to $46 million.
“Code” went on to earn over $217 million domestically, while “Angels” topped out at $133 million.
While “Inferno” is the weekend’s only major wide release, it faces competition from holdovers like “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,” “The Accountant” and “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” which was last weekend’s No. 1 film.
19 haunted houses and other Halloween screams to check out this weekend
Looking to get scared witless this Halloween weekend? Here’s your guide to select haunted houses, escape rooms and other frights to tickle your terror bone. Events run through the weekend unless otherwise noted.
Blackthorne Screamfest: Two mazes, plus live music and DJs; for ages 13 and up. Pico Rivera Sports Arena, 11003 Sports Arena Drive, Pico Rivera. Friday and Saturday only. $25-$80. www.blackthornescreamfest.com
BOO-tanicum: Family-friendly event with ghost stories, haunted house and more. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Saturday only, 4 to 10 p.m. $15; children 5 and under, free. www.theatricum.com
Creep L.A.’s Entry: A 1970s-era artist descends into madness in a series of interconnected vignettes in this terror tale inspired by the films of David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick; includes an interactive pre-show lounge. Creep LA, 2316 N. San Fernando Road, L.A. $40-$50. www.creepla.com
23 feature films, $3.6 billion in box office: We rank Ron Howard’s work
When Ron Howard falters as a filmmaker, it’s not for lack of skill, it’s when we the audience sense that he doesn’t quite empathize with his characters. When he doesn’t feel for them, neither do we.
So when looking back at Howard’s filmography as his latest, “Inferno,” hits theaters, and attempting to rank something so inherently subjective as art, that was the lens we chose.
Dead last? “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) for being the polar opposite of a film that will live in the hearts and minds of a civilization for eons to come.
What do we think is best? Here’s our take on Howard’s work.
Jennifer Lopez to star in a live NBC version of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’
It’s a classic musical about a recently drafted rock ‘n’ roll music star, named Conrad Birdie, who stages a publicity stunt on “The Ed Sullivan Show” by agreeing to kiss a teen fan before reporting for duty.
The inspiration for “Bye Bye Birdie”? Elvis Presley’s induction into the Army.
Now NBC has tapped Jennifer Lopez to star next year as Rosie in a live television version of the 1960 musical.
Rosie is the girlfriend and assistant of Birdie’s manager, Albert, and she’s the one who comes up with the publicity stunt.
The original Rosie was played by Chita Rivera, now 83. Rivera also originated the role of Anita in “West Side Story,” which made her a Broadway star.
Would Elvis Presley be on Twitter today?
No. No. No, no, no. He wouldn’t. He didn’t even write a letter. Elvis was very private. He didn’t go around telling what he had for dinner or taking pictures in front of stores with particular outfits that he liked.
— Priscilla Presley to Times music writer Mikael Wood
Lady Gaga live from Los Angeles
Lady Gaga went live for fans on her Facebook page last night from the Satellite bar in Silver Lake. The appearance, billed as the final in her “Dive Bar Tour,” drew an overflow of fans.
Is Lady Gaga playing in Silver Lake tonight? Sure looks like it
Lady Gaga is wrapping up her Dive Bar Tour to promote her new album “Joanne.” According to Bud Light’s Twitter, she’s in town tonight for the final performance:
That sign is at the Satellite, a live music venue in Silver Lake. So if you’re a monster Gaga fan, stop by there at 7 p.m. tonight to try to get in. Good luck though: It only holds a few hundred people. You can also stream it on her Facebook page via Facebook Live.
Chrissy Teigen shows off baby Luna’s Halloween hot dog costume
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are celebrating their first Halloween as parents -- and baby Luna is dressed for the occasion.
Teigen, who gave birth to Luna in April, posted an Instagram with her baby forlornly modeling her Halloween costume: A hot dog.
“Have you ever seen a more ‘why me?’ face,” the model and cookbook writer captioned it.
‘Pokemon Sun’ and ‘Moon’ starters’ final evolutions revealed in new trailer
A new trailer for “Pokemon Sun” and “Moon” has revealed the final forms and types of the game’s starter Pokemon.
The newest “Pokemon” installment takes place in the brand new Alola region and various trailers have teased new Pokemons and region-specific forms players can expect to encounter in the game.
The starter Pokemon for “Sun” and “Moon” are Rowlet, Litten and Popplio, and their final forms are Decidueye, Incineroar and Primarina.
The trailer also reveals that unlike the regions explored in previous “Pokemon” games, Alola does not have a Pokemon League. Plus, players can look forward to encountering familiar characters.
Mel Gibson says he’s ‘never discriminated against anyone’
Mel Gibson is making the publicity rounds for his new film, “Hacksaw Ridge.” In an interview with Variety, he addressed his 2006 DUI arrest in Malibu that more or less exiled him from Hollywood for the better part of a decade.
“It was an unfortunate incident,” Gibson said on the “Playback” podcast. “I’ve never discriminated against anyone.”
He said the amount of alcohol he’d consumed that night was responsible for his tirade. (The actor said he is now sober.)
“For one episode in the back of a police car on eight double tequilas to sort of dictate all the work, life’s work and beliefs and everything else that I have and maintain for my life is really unfair,” he said.
I’ve never discriminated against anyone.
— Mel Gibson
In July 2006, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy pulled him over at 2:30 a.m. in Malibu. A report from the deputy detailed what transpired during the arrest, during which a breathalyzer test showed the actor/director’s blood-alcohol level to be 0.12% (the legal limit is 0.08%).
“The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,” he allegedly told the deputy, then asked him, “Are you a Jew?”
Gibson ultimately took a plea deal that involved a fine, public service and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He issued a public apology, calling the whole thing “a moment of insanity.”
Read more at Variety.
‘Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix’ headed to PlayStation 4
While fans are awaiting more news about “Kingdom Hearts III,” Square Enix has announced that a remastered collection of previous installments of the Disney-infused RPG series will be made available for PlayStation 4.
The compilation consists of six previously released titles including “Kingdom Hearts Final Mix,” “Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories,” “Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days,” “Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix,” “Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix” and “Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.”
“Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX” and “2.5 ReMIX” were previously released for Sony’s PS3.
“Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix” for the PS4 will be released March 28, 2017.
Square Enix also released a new video for “Kingdom Hearts 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue,” which is scheduled for a Jan. 24, 2017, release.
J.K. Rowling has a new favorite NFL team, thanks to Richard Sherman’s ‘Harry Potter’ costume
Reporters could be forgiven if they thought they’d stumbled into a quidditch news conference instead of one for NFL’s
Seattle Seahawks
The team’s star cornerback Richard Sherman arrived at Seahawks headquarters in Renton, Wash., for a media session, but instead of wearing a team jersey, he was dressed as Harry Potter, complete with wand and those distinctive glasses.
Sherman explained that his son asked him to wear a Halloween costume.
“Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling took to Twitter to voice her approval, although she apparently doesn’t know as much about American football as she does quidditch.
More TV shows and movies are filming in California because of expanded tax breaks
“Veep,” “Scream Queens” and “American Horror Story” are among the six TV shows that have relocated to California to take advantage of the state’s expanded tax-incentive program.
The California Film Commission said in a new report issued Thursday the shows were among 55 film and TV projects that benefited from the enhanced incentives during its latest fiscal year, which ended in June. The number represents a twofold increase from the previous year, according to the commission.
Other TV projects that benefited from the incentive include David Lynch’s new “Twin Peaks” series for Showtime, HBO’s “Westworld” and Amazon’s journalism-themed series “Good Girls Revolt.”
Movies that recently received tax credits include the upcoming comedy “Why Him,” starring Bryan Cranston and James Franco, the horror sequel “Annabelle 2” and the big-screen version of “CHiPs.”
Apple’s new MacBook Pro is more like a smartphone, including new keyboard touch functions
Apple is announcing long-awaited updates to its Mac computers, aiming to spark consumer interest in a product line that often seems overshadowed by newer gadgets such as the iPad and iPhone.
As widely speculated, Apple will add a new touch-sensitive panel to the MacBook Pro, its top-of-the-line laptop. The touch panel will enable new keyboard functions. The Pro will also come with a fingerprint sensor, similar to one in the iPhone, to unlock the device.
Dr. Luke’s lawyer responds to Kesha interview: ‘She exiled herself’ from the music business
Music producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald’s lawyer issued a statement responding to a New York Times magazine interview with Kesha, saying it had “many innaccuracies.”
The interview was headlined “The Exile” and detailed the pop star’s public dispute with Dr. Luke. In 2014, Kesha alleged the producer drugged and raped her and subjected her to emotional abuse. She asked to be released from her contract with Sony Music. Dr. Luke countersued, and courts declined to release her from the contract. Her civil complaints were also dismissed.
She exiled herself.
— Christine Lepera, Dr. Luke’s lawyer, in a statement
The statement alleges Kesha’s suit was a “shock and awe complaint” and that “she exiled herself” from the music business.
“Kesha was always free to move forward with her music, and an album could have been released long ago had she done so,” the statement read.
Read the full statement over at Billboard.
Twitter is shutting down Vine and laying off hundreds of employees
Twitter is streamlining its business as the social network attempts to turn a profit for the first time.
The company announced Thursday that it’s laying off hundreds of employees, mostly in sales and marketing. It’s also shutting down Vine, the six-second video app that’s spawned its own celebrities (including Nash Grier and Shawn Mendes) and platform-specific memes.
Vine will be shuttered “in the coming months,” Twitter said. Existing videos will be preserved.
The new trailer for ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ emphasizes its technical ambition and star-filled supporting cast
Ang Lee’s new film, centering on a traumatized war vet (Joe Alwyn) being celebrated during a football game for his heroism, is dividing critics and audiences. Some are onboard with the Oscar-winning director’s decision to shoot the film in 3-D, with 4K resolution and the ultra-fast 120 frames-per-second rate, while others have found it a distraction.
Watch the new trailer above to get a glimpse of the film’s technical advances, intense battlefield sequences and supporting stars Vin Diesel, Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin and Chris Tucker.
For now, it’s still in the Oscar conversation, although it’s sure to remain one of the year’s most debated movies.
‘Haven’t I been here before?’: Tom Hanks’ new thriller ‘Inferno’ feels like a relic of the past
The trailer for Ron Howard’s “Inferno,” starring Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones.
Tom Hanks’ renowned Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon has been at the center of two previous films, 2009’s “Angels & Demons” and the franchise originator, 2006’s “The Da Vinci Code.”
Given that those two pictures grossed a total of $1.2 billion and that “Inferno” was the bestselling adult book of 2013, it’s no surprise that its been brought to the screen, even though the whole endeavor feels like a relic of the past.
Amazon’s ‘Good Girls Revolt’ intelligently tracks the rise of women in the newsroom
Unlike such short-lived, mid-century knockoffs as ‘The Playboy Club’ or ‘Pan Am,’ ‘Good Girls Revolt’ manages to tell a broadly appealing tale about social change without dumbing it down.
“Good Girls Revolt” follows three young women as they fight to dismantle the old boys’ network at the office and reconcile their professional ambitions with their personal desires.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan thinks Negan’s charismatic, but even he had a hard time watching ‘Walking Dead’
Jeffrey Dean Morgan: From breaking hearts on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to breaking bad on ‘The Walking Dead’. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Everybody hates Jeffrey Dean Morgan. And he’s all right with that.
Morgan understands that when your first order of business as the newest cast member of AMC’s monster hit “The Walking Dead” is to bash in the skulls of two beloved characters with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, there’s bound to be a little backlash.
For me, it wasn’t even the gore. It was what [Andrew Lincoln] did, seeing it all through his eyes, seeing our hero break.
— Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Raven-Symoné is leaving ‘The View’ to work on a ‘That’s So Raven’ spinoff with Disney
During Thursday’s episode of “The View,” host Raven-Symoné announced she will leave the ABC daytime talker later this year to develop a Disney Channel spinoff of her onetime popular series “That’s So Raven.”
The 30-year-old actress will relocate to Los Angeles to develop the untitled sitcom. She will be an executive producer and reprise her role as Raven Baxter in the offshoot of her hit comedy.
The original series, which ran from 2003 to 2007, told the story of a teen whose ability to glimpse flashes of the future provided for amusing situations. In the pilot for the spinoff, viewers catch up with Raven, who is now a divorced mother to two preteen kids, one of whom has inherited her psychic powers.
Why some people protested making Wonder Woman an honorary U.N. ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls
I think it’s shocking and absurd. And definitely a detriment to women worldwide and to the United Nations.
— Margaret C. Snyder, founding director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women
As part of her 75th anniversary celebration, Wonder Woman was recently made an honorary United Nations ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls. On Friday, a ceremony was held at the U.N. headquarters in New York City with speeches from the star of Wonder Woman’s first feature film, Gal Gadot, plus original TV superhero Lynda Carter, and President of DC Entertainment Diane Nelson.
But behind the pomp and circumstance, past the little girls in yellow tiaras, a number of adults stood at the top of the auditorium with their backs to the ceremony in silent protest of Wonder Woman’s new title.
The protesters were “concerned United Nations staff members” who had started an online petition asking the U.N. to “reconsider the choice of Wonder Woman as the U.N.’s honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls.”
The request argued that although Wonder Woman was created with the intent of showcasing strong feminism, “the character’s current iteration is that of a large-breasted white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee-high boots — the epitome of a ‘pin-up’ girl.”
The petition declared her to be an inappropriate representation to the rest of the world of gender equality.
Springsteen calls Trump a ‘con man.’ But the blue-collar heroes of his songs are Trump’s core supporters
For many of the machinists, miners and laborers who embody Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics from the Rust Belt to the Appalachian coal fields, Donald Trump’s swagger offers a long-denied bid for redemption.
Springsteen’s 1995 song “Youngstown,” a poetic elegy in a vast working-class canon, is still revered here in the city that inspired it
But while Springsteen’s politics may have stayed liberal since he played Youngstown’s Stambaugh Auditorium two decades ago, economic decline, foreign competition, crime and abandoned mills have turned many here — notably blue-collar white men — toward the right-wing, isolationist politics of a billionaire reality-TV show star.
I call it the pissed-off steel workers party. A lot of people like someone who causes trouble. That’s why Trump is so popular.
— Bob Wilson, auto mechanic
Will L.A. or S.F. get the George Lucas museum? Here are the competing designs
George Lucas is unveiling two different designs for his proposed Museum of Narrative Art, for different locations, simultaneously this week.
One is for a site on Treasure Island, in San Francisco Bay.
The other is in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, near the Natural History Museum and just west of the Coliseum.