Entertainment News | DC News Now | Washington, DC https://www.dcnewsnow.com News, Weather, Traffic, Sports, Entertainment Sun, 07 Jan 2024 02:21:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.3 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/07/cropped-fav.png?w=32 Entertainment News | DC News Now | Washington, DC https://www.dcnewsnow.com 32 32 Binny, the trash-can mascot of the Disney World drinking club, has disappeared https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/binny-the-trash-can-mascot-of-the-disney-world-drinking-club-has-disappeared/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 18:54:41 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/binny-the-trash-can-mascot-of-the-disney-world-drinking-club-has-disappeared/ (NEXSTAR) – One person’s trash is another group’s beloved mascot, apparently.

A group of Disney World fans belonging to the unofficial Disney Day Drinkers Club have lost their silly mascot — a trash can nicknamed “Binny” — after staffers at Walt Disney World seemingly removed it from its longtime spot at Epcot last week.

The Disney Day Drinkers Club, also known as Club D3, was founded in 2021 to bring together Disney fans who shared a love for the park and (as the club’s name would suggest) alcoholic beverages.

“We were coming out of COVID, so we were drinking around the World [Pavillion],” Club D3 founder and president Skip Sher told Nexstar. “We were just having fun, and we thought, this [trash can] would be fun to have as a mascot.”

At the time, restrictions on indoor capacities forced the group’s first members to congregate outside, often around something that had a hard, flat surface to rest their beverages on.

“So that’s why the trash can made sense,” Sher said.

One of the group’s members, a priest, even blessed the trash can during a meet-up — albeit with Smithwick’s instead of holy water.

Since then, Binny the trash can (who is “always trashed”) has been one of the club’s most popular members. Fans belonging to the club’s Facebook group (which boasts 85,000 members) also post photos of themselves with Binny when they’re not organizing meet-ups or sharing cocktail recipes.

A member of the Disney Day Drinkers Club poses with Binny. (Skip Sher)

Then, one day, Binny wasn’t there.

In September 2023, Sher said the trash can was suddenly removed from its longtime spot in front of the Rose & Crown at the United Kingdom pavilion and placed across the street. The Wall Street Journal, which recently reported on Binny's disappearance, said staffers were forced to move the trash can because it was causing crowds and becoming a safety hazard, citing a Disney spokesperson.

Some members were a little miffed, of course, but Sher said there wasn’t much of a controversy at the time. And there certainly wasn’t any “feud” with Disney, despite reports to the contrary.

“I’m not sure it was intentional,” he said. “You know, Disney moves things around. It’s Disney’s property. … Maybe they didn’t know the significance of the trash can for the club.”

In any case, Sher said he never asked Disney to put Binny back. But about three weeks ago, the group's beloved trash-scot suddenly reappeared. And members were able to confirm it was the same Binny by its recognizable scratches and rivets.

“People were immediately making plane reservations, and they wanted a picture with the original Binny,” Sher claims.

Only about a week later, however, Binny was gone again. But this time, most of the members were unfazed.

“Some people were really passionate about it … we had to kick a few people out [of the Facebook group],” according to Sher. Otherwise, it wasn't that big of a deal, he said.

Now, Sher is hoping the club’s members — and the media — start focusing on the reasons he started the group in the first place. He’s also keen to keep up the group’s charitable efforts, including a recent fundraiser that gathered $7,000 for the Kellsie’s Hope childhood cancer foundation, and meet-ups where members donate back-to-school items.

“We’re a positive group,” he says. “It’s really about the friendships. And the drinks and the bartenders.”

The club's Facebook group has around 85,000 members. (Skip Sher)

A representative for Walt Disney World did not respond to Nexstar’s request for comment on Friday. But Sher told Nexstar he harbors no ill will. The park has already provided so many memories for the club, and Disney World doesn’t need to provide an explanation.

“I would love to hear from them,” he said. “But my biggest thing is, you know, we love Disney. We’re big fans. … And there is absolutely zero feud.”

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2024-01-06T21:16:30+00:00
Michael Bolton says he had brain tumor, needed 'immediate surgery' https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/michael-bolton-says-he-had-brain-tumor-needed-immediate-surgery/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 00:12:38 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/michael-bolton-says-he-had-brain-tumor-needed-immediate-surgery/ (NEXSTAR) – Michael Bolton is recovering, the singer said Friday, after discovering he had a brain tumor that required an emergency operation.

"Just before the holidays, it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery," he said on Instagram. "Thanks to my incredible medical team, the surgery was a success."

Bolton said he planned to take a break from touring for the next few months as he focused on recovery. At the time of his announcement, his website still showed tour dates planned for Florida, California, Ohio, Illinois and Ontario, Canada, in February, as well as additional concerts through spring. It's not clear how many shows Bolton will cancel or reschedule.

"It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but have no doubt I am working hard to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon," he wrote.

FILE -- Michael Bolton performs on stage during Starlite Occident 2023 at Cantera de Nagüeles on June 30, 2023 in Malaga, Spain. (Photo by STARLITE/Redferns via Getty Images)

The 70-year-old singer has been nominated four times for the Grammy Award for best male pop vocal performance. He won in the category twice: once in 1990 for "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" and then again two years later for "When A Man Loves A Woman."

On Friday he thanked his fans for their support over his long career. "I am beyond grateful for all the love and support you have so generously shown me through the years," he wrote. "Know that I'm keeping your positive messages in my heart, and I'll give you more updates as soon as I can."

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2024-01-07T02:21:48+00:00
'Starsky and Hutch' star David Soul dies https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/starsky-and-hutch-star-david-soul-dies/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:50:20 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/starsky-and-hutch-star-david-soul-dies/ (WJW) – Actor David Soul, best known for his role in the TV series “Starsky & Hutch,” has died at the age of 80.

The Daily Mail reported that his wife, Helen Snell, confirmed the news in a statement.

“'David Soul - beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother - died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family. He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched,” the statement read.

David Soul is photographed at an event in Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 1983. Soul, who hit fame as half of the crime-fighting duo “Starsky and Hutch” in the popular 1970s television series, has died. He was 80. (AP Photo/Wally Fong, File)

Soul got his big break when he was cast as Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson alongside Paul Michael Glaser’s Detective Dave Starsky.

“Starsky and Hutch” aired from 1975 to 1979 on ABC and grew so popular it spawned a host of children's toys.

Soul appeared on several other shows, including “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law” and “The Yellow Rose.”

Soul also had several hit singles in the 1970s, including “Don’t Give Up on Us.”

Soul had lived in Britain for many years, performing in several stage roles. In 2001, he won a libel case against a journalist who called “The Dead Monkey,” a play that Soul was in, the worst production he had ever seen - without having seen it.

Soul also played the titular talk-show host in “Jerry Springer - The Opera" in London's West End.

Soul and Glaser had cameos in the 2004 big-screen remake of “Starsky & Hutch,” starring Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch.

No cause of death has been released.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2024-01-05T17:12:08+00:00
Legendary country singer Loretta Lynn played a role in the origin of the Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/virginia/legendary-country-singer-loretta-lynn-played-a-role-in-the-origin-of-the-salem-stampede-championship-rodeo/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:36:52 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/?p=1687695 SALEM, Va. (WFXR) -- The Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo has a rich tradition. The 56th edition gets underway Friday night at the Salem Civic Center. The birth of the Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo is credited with country music legend Loretta Lynn.

"A lot of people don't realize that Loretta Lynn was involved with the inception of this rodeo or the fact that there was many of times she would come in on a trailer and perform right here in this arena during the rodeo itself but as it grew, and her career grew," said rodeo spokesperson Kevin DeBusk.

When the Salem Civic Center came into existence in 1967, the Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo also was born. Over the more than 5 decades of the event, it is a special partnership.

"The Civic Center and the rodeo have really grown over the years together and that goes back to embracing each other and building those relationships this facility. This city has great leadership. They have people who are wanting to see the community grow and see community activities grow that they can bring in and continue to bring in and because of their passion for their community and the passion that we've developed for this community with the perfect team. Because we're looking for the end product to be the same one that at the end of the day. Anyone that attends in here leaves feeling that they've got their monies worth they've had a great time and they just wanna know when they can come back and do it again," said DeBusk.

Organizers say the rodeo will go on this weekend, no matter the weather conditions. On Friday and Saturday the event gets underway at 7:30pm. It starts at 2pm on Sunday. The gates open an hour before. You can get your tickets at the Salem Civic Center box office or online.

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2024-01-05T15:36:57+00:00
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson addresses In-N-Out flub https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-addresses-in-n-out-flub/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:19:57 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-addresses-in-n-out-flub/ (KTLA) – Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson knows his role — and he's addressing his recent remarks about his history with In-N-Out.

It all started in late December, when the "Black Adam" star took to Instagram with a video documenting his "first ever" experience at the popular hamburger chain.

“Rolled up in my pick up and tried to be cool af with my order,” Johnson wrote. “But I didn’t know the lingo, didn’t know who to pay, where to pay, didn’t know s—."

However, fans were quick to point out a discrepancy in his tale.

"What a strange lie to tell. Especially when his previous visit to In-N-Out was immortalized on social media. Like what was his goal here?" commented one Instagram user.

“This is a lie,” wrote another fan who claimed to have seen Johnson share a similar video in the past.

Indeed, Johnson has documented other "experiences" with In-N-Out on at least two previous occasions, according to his own social-media activity.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has acknowledged that his most recent claims about In-N-Out were inaccurate. (Joel C. Ryan/Invision/AP)

In 2022, Johnson posted a video to Instagram documenting his alleged "first time ever eating In-N-Out." In the video, Johnson filmed himself getting ready to eat two double-double burgers with two servings of fries and, of course, wash it down with two types of his Teremana tequila.

In 2017, the WWE superstar-turned-actor also posted a selfie at an In-N-Out window with two employees. He claimed that he didn't order anything for himself, however, and was picking up some items for his wife and daughter.

"I've never been to IN-N-OUT before (I know, what an a-----e;), but when my lovely ladies @laurenhashianofficial & @simonegjohnson wanted late night grub, I happily obliged and pulled in the drive-thru," he wrote.

He also said in the 2017 post that if his film "Moana" won an Oscar at the then-upcoming Academy Awards, he'd be back to "destroy multiple burgers and fries to celebrate."

After this evidence was stacked against him, Johnson decided to rectify his remarks at the start of the new year and updated the caption to his latest In-N-Out post.

"My first ever @innout burger experience — AGAIN (thanks to the fans who reminded me that I went to In and Out years ago and totally forgot about it)," he wrote in the edited caption.

Johnson's edit also comes the same week he returned to the squared circle. On Monday evening, the wrestler-turned-actor made a surprise return to the WWE on Monday Night Raw.

After dropping The People's Elbow on Jinder Mahal, the "Jumanji" star teased a match with current WWE champion Roman Reigns, who also happens to be a distant cousin of Johnson's.

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2024-01-04T20:57:41+00:00
What’s new on Netflix in January 2024? https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/whats-new-on-netflix-in-january-2024/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 22:27:10 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/whats-new-on-netflix-in-january-2024/ (KSWB) -- With a new year comes newly released movies, limited series, and a variety of old favorites on Netflix.

The popular streaming service is adding a wave of fresh content to kick off 2024, which means the winter just got a little more entertaining for those choosing to hibernate at home.

This month, users can find movie collections such as "Jurassic Park," "Meet the Fockers," "John Wick," and more.

For crime-drama junkies, there's "Griselda.” This Netflix original series starring Sofia Vergara depicts the story of an infamous Colombian drug lord -- known as Griselda Blanco.

Prefer action-packed? Press play this January for “The Brothers Sun," another original series on the platform starring Michelle Yeoh as character Mama Sun -- a bold family matriarch.

From plane crashes in the Andes Mountains to grand heists and laughable comedies, here's a look at movies and shows that will be released on Netflix in January 2024:

Available Jan. 1

  • "Annabelle"
  • "Annie" (1982)
  • "Antz"
  • "Aquaman"
  • "Beethoven"
  • “Bitconned” — Netflix documentary
  • "Black Sails"
  • “Bruce Almighty”
  • "BOWKYLION Lanta Concert"
  • “The Croods”
  • “Dawn of the Dead”
  • "The Equalizer 3"
  • “The First Purge”
  • "The Flintstones"
  • "Fool Me Once" — Netflix series
  • “Gravity”
  • “How to Train Your Dragon”
  • “It’s Complicated”
  • “Jackie Brown”
  • "John Wick" Movie series
    • “John Wick”
    • “John Wick: Chapter 2”
    • “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum”
  • "Jurassic Park" movie series
    • “Jurassic Park”
    • "The Lost World: Jurassic Park"
    • “Jurassic Park III”
  • "Justice League"
  • “Loudermilk” seasons 1-3
  • "Malignant"
  • "Mamma Mia!" movie series
    • “Mamma Mia!”
    • “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”
  • "Meet the Fockers" trilogy
    • “Meet the Fockers”
    • "Little Fockers"
    • “Meet the Parents”
  • “The New Americans: Gaming a Revolution”
  • “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
  • “ONE PIECE: Marineford”
  • "Orange Days"
  • “Peppa Pig” seasons 3-6
  • “The Purge: Election Year”
  • “School of Rock”
  • “Survivor” season 33
  • “Survivor” season 7
  • “This Is 40″
  • “Those Who Wish Me Dead”
  • “Training Day”
  • “This Is 40″
  • “The Wonder Years” seasons 1-2 (2021)
  • "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment"

Available Jan.3

  • "Prime"

Available Jan. 4

  • “The Brothers Sun” season 1 — Netflix series
  • "Delicious in Dungeon" season 1 — Netflix series
  • "Money Heist: Ultimate Choice" — Netflix series
  • “Society of the Snow” — Netflix film

Available Jan. 5

  • “Good Grief” — Netflix series
  • “Gyeongseong Creature” Ppart 2 — Netflix series

Available Jan. 6

  • “The Florida Project”

Available Jan. 8

  • "Mighty Bheem’s Playtime"
  • “This Is Us” seasons 1-6

Available Jan. 9

  • "Di4ries" season 2, part 2 — Netflix series
  • "Teen Titans Go! To The Movies"

Available Jan. 10

  • “Break Point” season 2 — Netflix series
  • “The Trust: A Game of Greed” season 1 — Netflix series

Available Jan. 11

  • “Boy Swallows Universe” season 1 — Netflix series
  • “Champion” season 1 — Netflix series
  • "Detective Forst" season 1 — Netflix series
  • “Sonic Prime″ season 3 — Netflix series

Available Jan. 12

  • "Adire"
  • “Lift” — Netflix film
  • “Love Is Blind: Sweden” season 1 — Netflix series

Available Jan. 15

  • “CoComelon” season 9
  • “Holey Moley” seasons 3-4
  • “Maboroshi” season 1 — Netflix series

Available Jan. 16

  • “Cats” (2019)
  • "Dusty Slay: Workin’ Man" — Netflix comedy

Available Jan. 17

  • “End of the Line”
  • “Freaks”
  • "Queen Bees"

Available Jan. 18

  • "Arkansas"
  • "Cowboys & Aliens"
  • "Down With the King"
  • "Escape Plan: The Extractors"
  • "Escape Plan 2: Hades"
  • "From the Ashes" — Netflix movie
  • "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta"
  • "Merry Men 3: Nemesis"
  • "Rachid Badouri: Les fleurs du tapis" — Netflix comedy
  • "Skam Italia" Season 6 — Netflix series
  • "The Circle"
  • “Rachid Badouri: Les fleurs du tapis”

Available Jan. 19

  • "Full Circle"
  • “Love on the Spectrum: U.S.” Season 2 — Netflix series
  • "My Loneliness Has Wings" — Netflix film
  • “Mi soledad tiene alas”
  • “Sixty Minutes” — Netflix film
  • "The Bequeathed" season 1 — Netflix series
  • "The Kitchen" — Netflix film

Available Jan. 20

  • “Captivating the King” season 1 — Netflix series
  • “The Real World” season 16

Available Jan. 22

  • “Not Quite Narwhal” season 2 — Netflix series

Available Jan. 23

  • “Jacqueline Novak: Get on Your Knees” — Netflix comedy
  • "Love Deadline" season 1 — Netflix series
  • "Open Wide"
  • “Train to Busan”

Available Jan. 24

  • “American Girl: Corinne Tan”
  • “Queer Eye” season 8 — Netflix series
  • “Six Nations: Full Contact” — Netflix documentary

Available Jan. 25

  • “Griselda” season 1 — Netflix series
  • “Masters of the Universe: Revolution” season 1 — Netflix series
  • “The UnXplained with William Shatner" season 4

Available Jan. 26

  • "Badland Hunters" — Netflix film
  • "Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go" season 2

Available Jan. 27

  • “Doctor Slump” season 1 — Netflix series

Available Jan. 29

  • “Mighty Bheem’s Playtime” — Netflix animation

Available Jan. 30

  • “Jack Whitehall: Settle Down” — Netflix comedy

Available Jan. 31

  • “Alexander the Great” season 1 — Netflix series
  • “Baby Bandito” season 1 — Netflix series
  • “The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse″ season 1 — Netflix series
  • “WIL” — Netflix film
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2024-01-03T23:40:35+00:00
The Oak Ridge Boys' Joe Bonsall announces retirement from touring https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/the-oak-ridge-boys-joe-bonsall-announces-retirement-from-touring/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 20:08:59 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/the-oak-ridge-boys-joe-bonsall-announces-retirement-from-touring/ NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Joe Bonsall, tenor singer for The Oak Ridge Boys, has announced his plans to retire from touring, according to a release.

Bonsall, 75, shared an explanation with Oak Ridge Boys fans, saying he has been battling a "slow onset" of a neuromuscular disorder for over four years.

"I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road," he said. "It has just gotten too difficult."

Joe Bonsall (Courtesy: Photo by Brandon Wood/Indie Bling Studio)
Joe Bonsall (Courtesy: Photo by Brandon Wood/Indie Bling Studio)

He continued by saying, "It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all the Oak Ridge Boys, band, crew, and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all. I will never forget, and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer, I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying."

Bonsall started singing when he was about 4 years old, and in his mid-teens, he fell in love with Southern Gospel music harmony, according to the band's website. He joined the group in 1973 and served as their principal spokesman on stage. He is also the author of several books.

Bonsall said he will not finish the Oak Ridge Boys' Farewell Tour. His replacement, 27-year-old singer and songwriter Ben James, was announced on Dec. 30 by bandmembers Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban during a concert in Greenville, Mississippi.

"There is a young man named Ben James singing for me out there, and he needs your love and encouragement … his sound is different than mine, but he brings a ton of talent to the table!" Bonsall said. "Rest assured, I am good with all of it! God’s Got It!!!"

James was introduced to The Oak Ridge Boys in 2022 during a concert in Wheeling, West Virginia.

“Joe handed me the mic and said, 'You've got the next verse,’ James said. “And I'm not sure I will ever get over that moment. ‘Elvira’ was always on repeat when I was growing up. It’s still one of those timeless songs that never grow old."

The Oak Ridge Boys live, with Ben James Photo by Jon Mir
The Oak Ridge Boys live, with Ben James, left (Photo by Jon Mir)

Bonsall and his wife, Mary, have two daughters, two grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

The Oak Ridge Boys are planning a full touring calendar through June and anticipate returning to the studio in late January.

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2024-01-03T21:23:42+00:00
The new 'Mean Girls' is a musical — and people are surprised https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/the-new-mean-girls-is-a-musical-and-people-are-surprised/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:47:50 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/the-new-mean-girls-is-a-musical-and-people-are-surprised/ (NEXSTAR) — The latest incarnation of "Mean Girls," the now-iconic 2004 teen comedy, finally hits theaters next week, and based on its trailers, the film promises "a new twist" on the story. But so far, the film's marketing hasn't explicitly shown what that means.

On Wednesday, the film's final trailer was released and while it gives slightly more of a hint, there's still some obfuscation around the fact that "Mean Girls" (2024) is a musical. If that's shocking to you, you're not alone.

"What's the point of remaking 'Mean Girls'? .... This advert doesn't make it seem like it's being changed in any serious way," one user opined on X, formerly Twitter, in early November. He quickly learned the answer as more and more people responded with the news.

"OK, turns out there is an answer to this. It's a musical now — which for some reason the advert makes completely opaque?" he said in a follow-up. "I don't understand what went into this decision."

Others everywhere appear to be just as surprised.

Jaquel Spivey, Angourie Rice and Auliʻi Cravalho in "Mean Girls" (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

"I've had four friends tell me they're going to see 'Mean Girls' next Friday night and none of them knew it was a musical," writer Trace Thurman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, two days ago.

Despite the fact that it bears the same name as the 2004 film starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams, this year's "Mean Girls" is actually not a remake of that movie. Instead, the new film is an adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical based on the 2004 movie. The musical, which ran through 2020, also featured singer Reneé Rapp in the role of antagonist Regina George. Rapp reprises the role for the movie.

But unless you followed movie news or knew of the musical, you, like many, might not have even suspected the new movie was based on a Tony Award-nominated show. The film's trailers have only featured a semi-sung lyric from one of the songs (Rapp speak-sings the words "I am Regina George...") and its poster's only major hint at its musicality is a music note inside the "A" in "Mean."

As confusing as the marketing might be, it's actually quite common for studios to disguise movie musical adaptations. A few more recent examples — which have actually been slightly less cagey than the"Mean Girls" trailers — were the movie musicals "Wonka" and "The Color Purple," which minimally featured their music in trailers.

Despite the fact that in the past five years, "Frozen II," "Aladdin," "The Little Mermaid," "Sing 2," "Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!" and "Encanto" have collectively grossed billions, studios seem hesitant to advertise a movie musical if they don't have to. That's also ignoring the fact that aside from financial success, films like "La La Land" and "Chicago" have been huge awards draws.

Trailer editor Jeff Gritton recently told The Ringer that "at some point, [studios] decided people won't see a musical." He pointed to recent big-budget musicals with poor box office showings, including "West Side Story," "Dear Evan Hansen" and "In the Heights."

While it's important to remember these films were released during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bottom line that several recent movie musicals tanked at the box office likely hasn't instilled confidence that the next film they green light will be the next "Frozen II."

But as Screen Crush writer Matt Singer wondered in November: "If studios don’t want to tell potential customers that a movie is a musical because they think audiences might not see it as a result… why are they making musicals in the first place?"

Many online have pointed out that the only thing non-musical fans will hate more than a musical is being fooled into seeing one.

All of this aside, could the tide be turning for movie musicals? "Wonka," which is still in theaters, has grossed $384 million worldwide so far, according to Box Office Mojo. "The Color Purple" has performed less favorably at the box office, though it has received some critical acclaim, including a Best Picture nomination at the 29th Critics' Choice Awards.

"Mean Girls" opens nationwide Jan. 12.

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2024-01-03T18:51:13+00:00
'Black Panther' actor seriously injured in NYC crash on New Year's Day https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/us-and-world/black-panther-actor-seriously-injured-in-nyc-crash-on-new-years-day/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 22:17:58 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/black-panther-actor-seriously-injured-in-nyc-crash-on-new-years-day/ MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX) — "Black Panther" actor Carrie Bernans was pinned under a food truck early Monday morning when she was hit by a wrong-way driver during a police chase in Manhattan, her mother announced on social media.

Bernans' mother, Patricia Lee, shared several updates on her daughter's condition via her Instagram account, including several graphic photos of her injuries. She called the crash "traumatic," and said her daughter was knocked unconscious and suffered broken bones, fractures, and chipped teeth.

The social media post ended with a note that Bernans' son was not with her and was safe with his family.

"I'm in so much pain," Bernans said in a video posted to her Instagram story Monday, adding that she "still can't really walk right now." In another post to her story later in the day, Lee said Bernans "was able to walk a few steps assisted."

Nine people, including Bernans and a police officer, were injured in the incident, which spanned several blocks in Midtown, officials said. Another woman who was with Bernans at the time of the crash, Julie Hansson, shared on Instagram that she had been hospitalized as well.

Police said the man behind the wheel sent them on a wild chase just after 1 a.m. Monday. Several cop cars were struck, as well as the food truck, before the driver crashed into Chirp restaurant on West 34th Street near Ninth Avenue, police said.

Cellphone video obtained by Nexstar's WPIX shows the driver trying to make a getaway after the crash.

The driver was taken to a hospital in critical condition and was expected to be charged, police said. Charges have not been formally released by the NYPD as of Tuesday afternoon.

Bernans, 29, had an uncredited role as a member of the Dora Milaje fighting force in “Black Panther” and performed stunts in the musical version of “The Color Purple” released last month.

This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press and PIX11's Amy Yensi.

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2024-01-02T22:23:49+00:00
'Hooliganism': Actor Ian Ziering addresses Hollywood mini-biker brawl https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/entertainment-news/hooliganism-actor-ian-ziering-addresses-hollywood-mini-biker-brawl/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 20:14:07 +0000 https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/hooliganism-actor-ian-ziering-addresses-hollywood-mini-biker-brawl/ (KTLA) — Actor Ian Ziering described a physical confrontation between himself and a group of mini-bikers on Hollywood Boulevard Sunday as "hooliganism" in a social media post.

Ziering, best known for his role in “Beverly Hills 90210,” was caught on camera in a fight with a group of people riding motorized mini-bikes in Hollywood on New Year’s Eve, according to a report from TMZ

Video posted by the tabloid outlet appeared to show the actor pushing one of the mini-bike riders, who was right in front of what seemed to be Ziering's SUV just before an all-out fight broke out.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Nexstar’s KTLA that officers responded to the area of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue at around 3 p.m. on Sunday for reports of a fight that broke out after the group of bikers were driving recklessly in the area. While it wasn't immediately clear what prompted the interaction, Ziering addressed the altercation on Instagram Monday.

"While stuck in traffic, my car was approached aggressively by one of these riders, leading to an unsettling confrontation," Ziering explained in the Instagram video.

The actor said he got out of his car to assess any damage when the situation escalated into a physical altercation.

Video of the skirmish obtained by TMZ shows Ziering confronting and shoving one of the mini-bikers who was blocking his vehicle. A short time later, several of the mini-bikers surround Ziering when one of them throws a punch that appears to hit the actor in the face.

Ziering is seen fighting off several of the bikers as he runs toward safety across the street.

He is seen in another video consoling his daughter in the street when the group eventually backs off and leaves the scene.

"I am relieved to report that my daughter and I are both completely unscathed, but the incident has left me deeply concerned about the growing boldness of such groups who disrupt public safety and peace," Ziering stated.

The 59-year-old “Sharknado” star described the incident as "hooliganism" and called for "effective law enforcement" to help solve what he thinks is a larger issue.

"We must address the underlying issues that lead to such disruptive behavior and ensure that our streets are safe for everyone. I urge city officials and law enforcement to take decisive action against such lawlessness and provide the necessary resources to prevent future occurrences," Ziering stated.

He closed his post by thanking his family, friends, and fans, and wishing them a Happy New Year.

It’s unknown if anyone else involved in the scuffle was injured. Police told KTLA that the incident remains under investigation and have not said whether anyone was arrested. Ziering was listed as a victim in the incident, police told TMZ.

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2024-01-02T21:59:55+00:00