Tag: entertainment

‘Tonight is for Kobe’: Lizzo dedicates Grammys to late NBA legend

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Top nominee Lizzo kicked off the 2020 Grammys on Sunday with a tribute to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, before launching into a rousing medley of her hits. “Tonight is for Kobe,” shouted the 31-year-old, who has already won two awards in the pre-gala event that led into music’s marquee night. Bryant — a hero for Los Angeles who played for the Lakers in the Staples Center, where […]

‘Parasite’ invades Oscars race with stunning SAG award win

by Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Parasite” shocked the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday by landing the night’s top prize, a historic win which thrusts the South Korean black comedy into Oscars contention. The critical smash hit film overcame the language barrier to win an outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, the SAG equivalent of a best film Academy Award. “I’m a little embarrassed feeling like we’re the […]

Hollywood prepares to toast winners at Golden Globes

by Andrew MARSZAL Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, Unites States (AFP) — Hollywood’s biggest party, the Golden Globes, kicks off the showbiz awards season Sunday, with streaming giant Netflix expected to be popping champagne corks through the night. Stars will don couture gowns and extravagant jewels before they hit the red carpet at the luxury Beverly Hills hotel where the calendar’s second-most important — but rowdiest — prize-giving gala takes place. Victory at the Globes ensures […]

Golden Globes rev up award season with Netflix in pole position

by Javier TOVAR / Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Hollywood’s biggest stars gather Sunday for the glitzy Golden Globes, the first major awards show of a packed season that looks set to mark Netflix’s coming-of-age in Tinseltown. The celebrity-filled gala in Beverly Hills is billed as the most raucous event in the showbiz calendar, where success helps create buzz ahead of next month’s Oscars. Netflix garnered an overwhelming 34 Globe nominations across […]

‘Star Wars’ TV series ‘Mandalorian’ confirmed for season two

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “The Mandalorian,” the live-action “Star Wars” television series which introduced the world to Baby Yoda, has been confirmed for a second season. Creator Jon Favreau posted the news on Twitter Friday, the same day the first season drew to a close on streaming platform Disney+. “Season 2 of #TheMandalorian coming Fall 2020,” wrote Favreau, along with an image of a troll-like green space alien. While a second installment was […]

Force is still with ‘Star Wars,’ which has a big N.America opening

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The force is clearly still with the galactic good guys, as “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” opened with a massive estimated take of $175.5 million in North America, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. The Disney film scored the third biggest December debut ever, behind only the two earlier chapters in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi,” according to Variety. “Rise of […]

Star Wars fans camp outside LA theater week before film opens

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Star Wars fans with sleeping bags and a portable movie projector have started camping outside Hollywood’s Chinese Theater, more than a week before the blockbuster begins playing. Roughly 20 sci-fi lovers were in place Thursday, seven days before doors swing open for the first preview screening of the much-hyped, saga-concluding “The Rise of Skywalker.” Organizers expect that number to swell to 150 in the coming days, with fans of […]

‘It Must Have Been Love’ Roxette singer dies aged 61

by Gaël BRANCHEREAU Agence France-Presse STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — The lead singer of Swedish pop duo sensation Roxette, Marie Fredriksson, who shot to global fame in the 1990s with hits like “It Must Have Been Love”, has died aged 61 after a long fight with cancer, her manager said Tuesday. The mother of two, who died on Monday, had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002 but went into remission and made a musical […]

‘Frozen 2’ holds top spot at N.American box office

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Disney blockbuster “Frozen 2” held top spot at the North American box office over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, taking in an estimated $85.2 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday. The animation adventure movie follows beloved characters from 2013 hit “Frozen” as they travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest in search of the origin of the magical ice powers of Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel). “Frozen 2,” which […]

‘Frozen 2’ ices out competition at N. American box office

  LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Disney’s new release “Frozen 2” iced out competitors to top North American box offices over the weekend, taking in $130.2 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday. The film follows the beloved characters from 2013 hit “Frozen,” as they travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest in search of the origin of Queen Elsa’s (voiced by Idina Menzel) magical ice powers. “Frozen 2,” which has come out just in […]

Disney bets streaming launch on new ‘Star Wars’, past classics

by Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The star of Disney’s hugely ambitious new Star Wars television series remembers the moment he first stepped into a galaxy far, far away. Pedro Pascal was trying on his character’s helmet for “The Mandalorian” — the mega-budget, live-action show which launches the Disney+ streaming platform this Tuesday — when he caught a glimpse in the mirror. “If you grow up playing with Star Wars toys, and […]

3 performers stabbed on stage in Saudi capital: state TV

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Three performers were stabbed during a play in the Saudi capital Monday and the alleged assailant was arrested, state television said, in the first such incident since the kingdom opened its doors for entertainment. “Riyadh police have arrested an Arab resident in possession of a knife after he stabbed two men and a woman who were members of a theatrical group,” Al-Ekhbariya television reported. It said the injured were in […]