The pain, and joy, of Rachel Eliza Griffiths’ writing journey
NEW YORK (AP) — Rachel Eliza Griffiths is releasing her memoir, “The Flower Bearers,” after enduring profound personal tragedies. Her best friend died on the day she married Salman Rushdie, and a year later, Rushdie was nearly killed in a stabbing. Griffiths initially struggled to write about these events but eventually embraced the memoir as a necessary expression. The book intertwines her experiences with Rushdie and her late friend, poet Kamilah Aisha Moon. Griffiths reflects on her journey through grief and resilience, finding grace amid adversity. She describes herself as transformed by these experiences, embracing the present with newfound joy.
IMAX movie tells Ohio’s environmental comeback story from burning river to top-ranked state parks
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — When you think IMAX, chances are your mind goes to those immersive documentaries that take you inside volcanoes, deep under oceans or to distant planets. Or maybe you envision those widescreen films featuring backstage experiences with iconic rockstars or Hollywood special effects. But, this year, the state of Ohio is using the technology to tell an environmental comeback story closer to home. “Ohio: Wild at Heart” features the state’s top-ranked park system as it highlights wildlife conservation efforts and the restorative power of outdoor recreation. The $2.5 million film is drawing crowds at science museums and heads soon into classrooms.
’60 Minutes’ airs report on Trump deportations that was suddenly pulled a month ago
“60 Minutes” says it will air a report Sunday on Trump administration deportations, a version of which was abruptly pulled from its broadcast a month ago. The network announced less than two hours before its broadcast that correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi’s report about migrants sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison would air, giving no immediate details on how it was changed. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss pulled the report shortly before its planned Dec. 21 broadcast, saying it needed to better reflect the Trump administration’s view. At the time, Alfonsi told her colleagues that she believed that the decision was made for political reasons, not editorial ones.
Box Office: ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ opens behind ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continues to dominate the North American box office, topping charts for the fifth weekend with $13.3 million in sales. Meanwhile, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” secured second place with $13 million. Despite strong reviews and a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, it fell short of expectations. Disney celebrated a milestone as “Zootopia 2” became the highest-grossing animated Motion Picture Association release ever. “The Housemaid” and “Marty Supreme” rounded out the top five. “Lord of the Rings” re-releases also performed well, landing in the top 10.
What to Stream: ‘The Smashing Machine,’ Louis Tomlinson, ‘The Beauty’ and Bruce Springsteen biopic
Dwayne Johnson transforming into MMA pioneer Mark Kerr for “The Smashing Machine” and Louis Tomlinson releasing his third solo album are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time for the week of Jan. 19 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Ryan Murphy’s new series “The Beauty” tackles beauty standards with some horror mixed in, Jeremy Allen White plays The Boss in “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” and Megadeth going out with a bang with their final, self-titled album.
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Celebrity birthdays for the week of Jan. 25-31 includes Alan Cumming and Oprah Winfrey
Celebrities having birthdays during the week of Jan. 25-31 include “The Traitors” host Alan Cumming, singer-songwriter Alicia Keys and “Tracker” actor Justin Hartley. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres turns 68, comedian Patton Oswalt hits 57 and actor Bridget Fonda celebrates 62. Other celebs with big days include “Modern Family” actor Ariel Winter, singer-actor Joey Fatone of ‘NSync and rapper Rick Ross. Singer Adam Lambert turns 44, talk show host Oprah Winfrey reaches 72 and musician Phil Collins hits 75. Others celebrating include “Saturday Night Live” comedian Bobby Moynihan, actor Kerry Washington and singer Justin Timberlake.
Prince Harry says Daily Mail scoops made him ‘paranoid beyond belief’
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry’s legal battle against British tabloids has entered its final round. His lawyer on Monday alleged that the Daily Mail engaged in unlawful information gathering for two decades. Harry claims this left him distressed and paranoid. The case also involves celebrities Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley. The trial in London’s High Court is expected to last nine weeks. Associated Newspapers denies the allegations, arguing that the claims are based on weak inferences. The defense also suggests that articles relied on “leaky” friends as sources. The privacy invasion case is the third lawsuit Harry has brought against the press.
Green Day to open 60th Super Bowl with anniversary ceremony celebrating generations of MVPs
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL has announced that Green Day will kick off the 60th Super Bowl with an opening ceremony at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The performance will celebrate six decades of the league’s championship game history. The band will help usher generations of Super Bowl MVPs onto the field. Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong says he is excited to open the event in the trio’s native San Francisco Bay Area. The ceremony will air live at 3 p.m. Pacific on Feb. 8 on NBC and other platforms. It will come before pregame performances by Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones.
Thousands of fans celebrate life of legendary Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thousands of people gathered at San Francisco’s Civic Center to celebrate Bob Weir, the legendary Grateful Dead guitarist who died last week at 78. Musicians Joan Baez and John Mayer spoke on a makeshift stage. Fans passed around long-stemmed red roses, which are integral to the Dead’s music and art. They wrote appreciative notes of gratitude and love. The San Francisco Bay Area native joined the Grateful Dead in 1965. The Dead played music that pulled in blues, jazz, country, folk and psychedelia in long improvisational jams. Their fans crossed generational divides and often followed them on tours. Weir died Jan. 10.
Snoop Dogg’s NBA analyst role underscores why his on-air presence and global appeal keeps growing
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Snoop Dogg has made a splash as an NBA analyst, joining Reggie Miller and Terry Gannon during the second half of Peacock’s recent Warriors at Clippers broadcast. He also will be involved in NBCUniversal’s coverage of the upcoming Winter Olympics as his role with the broadcaster expands. An AP reporter trailed Snoop through Intuit Dome for an all-access, behind-the-scenes look at his preparation for the Jan. 5 broadcast, including production meetings and pregame interviews. Snoop says this wasn’t a cameo. He aims to bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and new audiences much like he did at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He is eager to continue evolving as an entertainer and embracing opportunities in sports and beyond.
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