Steve Lawrence, singer, entertainer and half of popular stage duo Steve & Eydie, dies at 88

Steve Lawrence, singer, entertainer and half of popular stage duo Steve & Eydie, dies at 88

NEW YORK — Steve Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Eydie Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Thursday. He was 88. Lawrence, whose hits included “Go Away Little Girl,” died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, said Susan … Read more

Oscars producers promise cameos and surprises for Sunday’s (1 hour earlier) show

Oscars producers promise cameos and surprises for Sunday’s (1 hour earlier) show

LOS ANGELES — With just a few days to go until the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, the show’s producers are feeling good about what they’ve put together. The nominees are some of the best the Oscars have seen, including some true blockbusters like “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.” Ryan Gosling is singing “I’m Just Ken” during … Read more

Veteran broadcaster Martinez soaks up information

Veteran broadcaster Martinez soaks up information

With trusty black notebook and pen in hand, Buck Martinez covers a wide expanse at the Toronto Blue Jays’ player development complex during spring training in Dunedin, Fla. Sometimes the veteran broadcaster watches batting practice from the visiting dugout bench. An up-close perch from behind the bullpen fence is ideal for observing pitchers. Martinez will … Read more

Guy Ritchie serves up a meaty thriller-comedy series on Netflix with ‘The Gentlemen’

Guy Ritchie serves up a meaty thriller-comedy series on Netflix with ‘The Gentlemen’

NEW YORK — When we first meet the hero of Guy Ritchie’s new Netflix series, he’s not exactly what you’d expect from a Guy Ritchie hero. He’s a peacekeeper for the United Nations, under orders to de-escalate tensions. Can that really last, this being a Guy Ritchie series? Doubtful. “The Gentlemen,” a captivating mix of … Read more

Q&A: Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the Oscars again. This time, it’s an election year

Q&A: Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the Oscars again. This time, it’s an election year

NEW YORK — Through one of the most tumultuous periods in Oscar history, through flub and slap, Jimmy Kimmel has emerged as the steadying hand and abiding face of the Academy Awards. When Kimmel hosts the 96th Oscars on Sunday, he’ll be emceeing the telecast for the fourth time. Only three people — Bob Hope … Read more

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

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

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

Disney’s Reliance merger is a streaming wars win

Disney’s Reliance merger is a streaming wars win

Disney+ Hotstar logo is seen on a smartphone and flag of India on a pc screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Walt Disney and Indian conglomerate Reliance‘s media merger will give back highly valuable cricket streaming rights to the U.S. firm in a country absolutely … Read more

Humorously morose comedian Richard Lewis, who recently starred on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ dies at 76

Humorously morose comedian Richard Lewis, who recently starred on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ dies at 76

NEW YORK — Richard Lewis, an acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain,” has died. He was 76. Lewis, who revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday … Read more

Wendy Williams documentary producers: Didn’t know she had dementia while filming

Wendy Williams documentary producers: Didn’t know she had dementia while filming

If you watched Lifetime’s Wendy Williams docuseries that premiered over the weekend and felt uncomfortable, you weren’t alone. “Where is Wendy Williams?” premiered over the weekend and featured numerous scenes of the former talk show host unsteady, belligerent, confused and also drunk. Her manager would regularly find liquor bottles hidden throughout her apartment, behavior that … Read more