In reviewing Laufey’s August concert with the LA Philharmonic, Variety wrote, “Laufey feels like she was born to play the Hollywood Bowl, with her rapturously received pop/jazz/classical set.” Something else she might have been born for: the big screen. She’s on Imax screens across America this weekend (and some slightly less massive-scale ones as well) with “Laufey’s […]

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers from the “Outlander” Season 7, Part 2 episode, “A Hundredweight of Stones,” now streaming on Starz, and the Diana Gabaldon’s book, “A Echo in the Bone.” David Berry recalls that penciled into the margin of the scripts for this week’s episode of “Outlander” was a reminder of the tone […]

“It’s the ho, ho, ho-iest special of all!” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Nonsense Christmas” show arrived on Netflix on Friday. Highlighting her 2023 “Fruitcake” EP, the 49-minute show was chock-full of celebrity appearances, sketch comedy and a blend of her festive tunes and Christmas classics with Carpenter’s signature remixed lyrics. While some of Carpenter’s holiday tracks are […]

Laura Benanti may have led the Broadway revival of “She Loves Me” with Zachary Levi in 2016, but the actress certainly doesn’t share the sentiment of the title. Benanti opened up about the ill feelings she maintains about her former co-star this week on the That’s a Gay Ass Podcast, hosted by Eric Williams. “I […]

“The Madness” was the most-watched streaming original in the U.S. by far during the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 5, per Luminate. The Colman Domingo-led limited series was watched for 2.2 billion minutes in that timeframe, which marked its first full week on Netflix. This is the first time a title has crossed 2 billion minutes […]

CBS moved on Friday to throw out Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over the editing of Kamala Harris’ interview on “60 Minutes.” Trump sued in the waning days of the presidential campaign, claiming that Harris’ interview had been deceptively edited to make her appear “coherent and decisive.” In its motion to dismiss, CBS argued that […]

Mark Withers, a television actor known for portraying Ted Dinard in the original “Dynasty” series, died Nov. 22. He was 77. Mark Withers’ death was confirmed by his daughter, Jessie Withers. The cause was pancreatic cancer. His daughter remembered him fondly, writing: “He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to […]

Reed Birney and Kieron Moore will star in “Blue Film,” a provocative indie about a fetish camboy who agrees to spend the night with an anonymous client, only to discover a disturbing tie to his past. The film is the feature debut of writer and director Elliot Tuttle. It wrapped production this year and is aiming […]

Looking back seems to offer a prescient look ahead in “The Hungarian Dressmaker,” Iveta Grófová’s compelling adaptation of Peter Krištúfek’s novella “Emma and the Death’s Head,” set in Slovakia during World War II. At the time, locals had to navigate the uncharted territory of authoritarianism, when the far-right Hlinka Slovak People’s Party rose to power […]

Margo Martindale has a long history of playing characters that are raw, memorable and slightly unhinged. In Prime Video’s new series “The Sticky” however, the three-time Emmy-winner is stepping into the lead with one of her meatiest roles yet: a desperate maple syrup farmer. “This is a woman at the end of her rope who […]

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have been holding space for the concept of “holding space.”  While being interviewed alongside their “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu for a forthcoming Variety feature, the actors reflected on their experience of being part of the funniest and most inscrutable meme to come out of awards season so far. Last […]

Decades after “When Harry Met Sally” asked audiences if adult men and women can be friends, yet another romantic comedy poses the same question of a contemporary collegiate crowd. However, in director Jordan Weiss’ “Sweethearts,” which revolves around two besties breaking up with their hometown romances over a holiday weekend, the time-honored query waits until […]

“Bauryna Salu” is a rare, naturalistic gem that one can experience in two wildly different modes. The first involves going in completely cold — no pun intended — and observing the understated drama of its frigid, nomadic setting. The second involves experiencing its intricacies through the eyes of 12-year-old protagonist Yersultan (an impeccable Yersultan Yerman), […]

In crafting a quietly affectionate film about a man who thinks he might be an alien, “Sky Peals” director Moin Hussain manages to make an allegory about solitude and isolation with a deft and steady hand. The film’s lead character, a 30-something British man of Pakistani origin, could be a stand-in for millions who feel […]

Those who grew up watching FX-heavy seriocomic mainstream creature features of the 1980s and ’90s may enjoy the nostalgic fun had at their expense in “The Invisible Raptor.” Viewers resistant to a landslide of scatological humor, however, may find the laughs pretty slim in this overlong, uninspired monster spoof. Director Mike Hermosa’s indie feature is […]

TMZ is taking a former executive to small claims court, alleging that he embezzled at least $99,509 from the company. According to the suit, Alex “Woody” Wood worked for the media outlet from January 2023 to February 2024. The complaint accuses him of “exploiting his position of trust” by siphoning money out of petty cash. […]

A breakup song and a love letter to his home state of Vermont, Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” had a longer road to chart glory than most. The story begins deep in the pandemic, when Kahan teased the opening verse on Instagram, instantly striking a chord with lonely and isolated followers. He performed the song live […]

“The Marvels” and “They Cloned Tyrone” star Teyonah Parris is jumping into the world of Mattel’s matchbox cars for Apple Original Films’ upcoming movie, “Matchbox.” The live-action film, based on the die-cast toy vehicle line, stars John Cena and Parris joins an expanding cast that also includes Jessica Biel and Sam Richardson.  “Extraction” filmmaker Sam […]

Keira Knightley admitted in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times that she told “Love Actually” director Richard Curtis while filming the infamous cue card scene with Andrew Lincoln that it was all “quite creepy.” Knightley was 17 years old when she was filming the Christmas romance. Both “Love Actually” and “Pirates of the […]