What to stream this week: Ariana Grande, ‘Wonka,’ Garth Brooks, animal queens and ‘Poor Things’

A new album from Ariana Grande and Garth Brooks taking viewers behind the scenes to the opening of his bar in Nashville are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: John … Read more

They are TV’s ghosts — networks that somehow survive with little reason to watch them anymore

NEW YORK — The list of memorable characters and personalities who entered popular culture through cable television is long: Honey Boo Boo. Tony Soprano. Lizzie McGuire. Don Draper. Jon Stewart. Beavis and Butt-Head. Chip and Joanna Gaines. SpongeBob SquarePants. Pick your own favorites. Chances are there won’t be many more to join them. Few cable … Read more

The SAG Awards will stream Saturday live on Netflix. Here’s what to know

Since Netflix launched into original films, the streaming service has been an annual force in Hollywood’s awards season. On Saturday, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, it will play host, too. The 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards will for the first time stream live on Netflix, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. The ceremony, taking place … Read more

Sony’s profit rises on growing sales of music, games, pictures, sensors

TOKYO — Japanese electronics and entertainment company Sony’s profit rose 13% in October-December on growing growing sales of music, image sensors and video games, the company said Wednesday. Tokyo-based Sony Corp.’s quarterly profit totaled 363.9 billion yen, or $2.4 billion, up from 321.5 billion yen the year before. Quarterly sales for the maker of the … Read more

Jon Stewart’s return to ‘The Daily Show’ felt familiar to those who missed him while he was away

NEW YORK — No, Jon Stewart really wasn’t sitting at his desk at Comedy Central for the last nine years, waiting for someone to turn the lights back on. Yet it almost felt that way during Stewart’s return to “The Daily Show” Monday night. His signature moves — blunt satire, facial grimaces, incisive use of … Read more

Is ‘Dune: Part Two’ Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Empire Strikes Back’? Christopher Nolan thinks so.

LOS ANGELES — Denis Villeneuve doesn’t feel like he came back to Arrakis for “Dune: Part Two.” In his mind, he never left. The sequel, which opens in theaters on March 1, is the culmination of a six-year filmmaking journey, preceded by 40 years of dreaming about it. Realizing Frank Herbert’s novel for the big … Read more

Before Usher hits the Super Bowl halftime stage, Apple Music builds anticipation ahead of big show

LAS VEGAS — In a short film shown at the end of the Super Bowl halftime performer news conference, the show’s headliner Usher comes up missing. The singer’s sudden absence prompts instant panic from his friends including Ludacris, Lil Jon and Taraji P. Henson, sparking a search at various Las Vegas landmarks. Ultimately, Usher is … Read more

Jon Stewart changed late-night comedy once. Can he have a second act in different times?

NEW YORK — As host of “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015, Jon Stewart changed comedy — and arguably journalism, too — with sharp, satirical takes on politics and current events. He became an essential part of the nation’s conversation. Now let’s see if he can turn back time. Stewart, who walked away from … Read more

Jon Stewart will return to ‘The Daily Show’ as host — just on Mondays

NEW YORK — Comedian Jon Stewart is rewinding the clock, returning to “The Daily Show” as a weekly host and executive producing through the 2024 U.S. elections cycle. Comedy Central on Wednesday said Stewart will host the topical TV show, the perch he ruled for 16 years starting in 1999, every Monday starting Feb. 12. … Read more

Netflix’s gains 13M new global 4Q subscribers as it unwraps its best-ever holiday season results

SAN FRANCISCO — Netflix registered its third-consecutive quarter of accelerating subscriber growth in the final three months of 2023, closing out a comeback year that included a crackdown on viewers freeloading on the video-streaming service and a smattering of price hikes. The fourth-quarter results announced Tuesday provided further evidence that Netflix was able to come … Read more