Conan O’Brien accepts Mark Twain Prize for humor as politics roils the Kennedy Center

WASHINGTON (AP) — On a night when half a dozen people made jokes about this being the last-ever Mark Twain Prize, Conan O’Brien made sure the ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ended on a high note.

O’Brien accepted the award for lifetime achievement in comedy Sunday night while acknowledging the backstage turmoil that hangs over the future of the cultural center in Washington.

O’Brien, 61, was named the 26th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize in mid-January, about three weeks before President Donald Trump upended the Kennedy Center by ousting longtime president Deborah Rutter and board chairman David Rubenstein. Trump dismissed the board of trustees and replaced them with loyalists, who then elected him as chairman.

On Sunday, O’Brien specifically thanked Rubenstein and Rutter — drawing an extended round of applause — and also Kennedy Center staffers who, he said, were “worried about what the future might bring.”

He said the example of Mark Twain’s own life and career was particularly resonant at this moment in American history.

“Twain hated bullies. … He punched up, not down, and he deeply empathized with the weak,” O’Brien said. “Twain loved America, but he knew it was deeply flawed.”

A Mark Twain impersonator then emerged from the audience. After a back-and-forth debate with O’Brien, he joined him on stage and the pair slow danced for a while. They were then joined by a dozen more Twain impersonators and previous Twain Prize recipient Adam Sandler for a raucous rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin in the Free World.”

That musical ending capped off a night when the uncertain fate of the Kennedy Center itself was woven through the multiple tributes and testimonials to O’Brien.

“I think it would be insane not to address the elephant in the room,” comic Nikki Glaser said on the red carpet before the ceremony. “It’s in the air tonight. This night is about Conan, but it can be both.”

Once the festivities began, Stephen Colbert joked that the Kennedy Center had announced two new board members: Bashar Assad, the ousted president of Syria, and Skeletor, a fictional supervillain.

John Mulaney quipped that the entire building would soon be renamed “the Roy Cohn Pavilion” after one of Trump’s mentors. And Sarah Silverman made multiple Trump jokes that were too vulgar to print.

Trump, in announcing the Kennedy Center changes, posted on social media that those who were dismissed “do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”

How that vision takes shape remains to be seen, but Trump has spoken about wanting to book more Broadway shows there and floated the idea of granting Kennedy Center Honors status to actor Sylvester Stallone and singer-songwriter Paul Anka.

Into this maelstrom stepped O’Brien, whose comedic persona has never been particularly political. The comic has always tended more toward goofiness and self-deprecation. But he has also leaned into sensitive societal issues at times. In 2011, O’Brien officiated a gay wedding live on his show, overseeing the marriage of his longtime costume designer Scott Cronick and his partner David Gorshein.

O’Brien vaulted into the spotlight from near-total obscurity in 1993 when he was chosen to replace David Letterman as host of “Late Night” despite no significant on-camera experience. The former Harvard Lampoon editor had spent the previous years as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons,” appearing on camera only as an occasional background extra in “SNL” skits.

He went on to host “Late Night” for 16 years, longer than any other host. O’Brien was later tapped to replace Jay Leno as host of “The Tonight Show,” but that experiment ended in public failure. After seven months of declining ratings, NBC executives brought Leno back for a new show that would bump “The Tonight Show” back. O’Brien refused to accept the move, leading to a public spat that ended with a multimillion-dollar payout for O’Brien and his staff to exit the network in early 2010.

O’Brien went on to host another talk show on the cable station TBS, while launching successful podcasts and travel shows. He is currently on a late-career elder statesman hot streak. His travel series, “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” drew popular and critical acclaim, with a second season coming. His recent gig hosting the Academy Awards was so well received that the producers announced they are bringing him back next year.

In the wake of Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center, several artists, including the producers of “Hamilton” and actress and writer Issa Rae, announced they were canceling appearances at the venue.

Others have chosen to perform while making their sentiments known from the stage. Leftist comic W. Kamau Bell directly addressed the controversy in his performance just days after the shake-up. Earlier this month, cellist Erin Murphy Snedecor ended her set with a performance of the Woody Guthrie protest anthem “All You Fascists Bound to Lose.”

Other comedians receiving the lifetime achievement award include both Letterman and Leno, along with George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett, Bill Murray and Dave Chappelle.

BBC Radio 1 legend Andy Peebles dies aged 76 as famous colleagues pay tribute

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles has died at the age of 76, with his colleagues paying tribute to the popular broadcaster.

Peebles was best known for presenting on BBC Radio 1 from 1978 to 1992, but he also hosted episodes of iconic TV show Top of the Pops during that time and was also a cricket commentator.

His fellow presenter Mike Read shared the news on X on Sunday morning, tweeting: ‘Devastated to hear the news about our chum Andy Peebles. He was about to join us at Heritage. We joined Radio One together.’

Read continued: ‘Knew his music & cricket inside out. Raise your bat & enjoy a long rest in the pavilion. We lunched recently with DLT & Adrian Juste. Great innings.’

The Heritage Chart radio DJ shared the photo from that meal in November 2023, which showed Peebles standing behind a seated Juste, with Dave Lee Travis next to him behind the table as well.

BBC Radio legend Tony Blackburn also tweeted his condolences, sharing: ‘So sorry to hear that fellow DJ from Radio 1 when I was there Andy Peebles has passed away. He was a lovely man and a great broadcaster, very sad news. R.I.P. Andy.’

Peebles started his career as a nightclub DJ in the late 1960s before kicking off his radio career with BBC Radio Manchester in 1973.

He then co-founded Piccadilly Radio in Manchester, where he worked for four years before heading down to London and BBC Radio 1.

The radio star also presented for the BBC World Service and the BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service), but he was most famous for conducting the final interview John Lennon ever gave.

The Beatles star and his wife Yoko Ono recorded a three-hour chat with Peebles in New York City on December 6, 1983, just two days before Lennon was shot and killed by Mark Chapman.

It had been planned as a five-part series for Radio 1 as Lennon relaunched his career with new album Double Fantasy having taken a five-year hiatus, but was subsequently broadcast across the world.

Later the interview became the subject of the 2020 documentary Lennon’s Last Weekend, directed by Brian Grant.

Peebles spoke to some of the biggest musical stars of the twentieth century during his time at Radio 1, where he presented a variety of daytime shows including his own one about soul and My Top Twelve which was later renamed My Top 10.

Among his legendary guests over the years were David Bowie, Huey Lewis, Roger Taylor, Paul Simon, Debbie Harry, Cliff Richard, Phil Collins, Sting and Peter Gabriel.

Peebles also acted as commentated on cricket for the BBC for over 20 years and later worked at Manchester’s Smooth FM and London’s Jazz 102.4.

‘RIP Andy Peebles, famously the last man to interview John Lennon. We used to work in adjoining studios at Real Radio,’ shared broadcaster Wes Butters on X. ‘I always remember him telling me what he said to the boss when offered a new contract: “I asked him, do you know what the word derisory means?”‘

‘So sad to hear the news about Andy Peebles passing,’ added John Simons. ‘I’ll miss our long conversations about football and soul music, of which he was far more knowledgeable. There’s going to be a Quiet Storm in heaven tonight. RIP Andy.’

‘I can still hear His John Lennon Interview in my head. R.I.P Andy Peebles,’ added fan @laurelaitken007, while listener Glenn Wilson added: ‘Listening to his show in November 1980, he introduced me to this band called U2. I still have his voice on a separate mixtape recorded Christmas 1981 where his closing song was Dan Fogelberg’s Same Old Lang Syne and listen to it every year. RIP Andy.’

Another fan shared his own fond memory of Peebles, writing: ‘I remember one Christmas Day in 2011 listening to him play Christmas carols on Smooth FM while I was cooking. I thanked him for it afterwards and Andy being Andy duly responded. A lovely man!!! May he RIP.’

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Garage Rock Legend Larry Tamblyn, Voice of Boston’s ‘Dirty Water,’ Dies at 82

The garage rock world lost one of its founding fathers last week — Larry Tamblyn, the pioneering keyboardist of The Standells, passed away at 82. His death on March 21 marks more than just the end of a career; it closes a chapter in American music history that helped birth the raw, unvarnished sound we now call garage rock.

Back in the early ’60s, Tamblyn wasn’t dreaming of becoming a rock pioneer. He started out crooning doo-wop tunes, probably never imagining he’d help spark a musical revolution that would echo through decades of rock and roll. But that’s exactly what happened when he formed the band that would become The Standells in 1962.

The story behind the band’s name? Pure happenstance — the kind that seems to define so many great moments in rock history. “We spent endless hours just standing around booking agents’ offices, trying to get work,” Tamblyn once explained to Classic Bands. “You know, stand, standing, Standells. Sometimes the simplest explanations are the best ones.”

Their defining moment came in ’65 with “Dirty Water” — a gritty love letter to Boston that, oddly enough, was written by their LA-based producer Ed Cobb. Talk about musical irony: a West Coast band somehow created the ultimate Boston anthem. These days, you can’t attend a Red Sox or Bruins home victory without hearing those familiar opening chords echo through the stadium.

The connection between band and city culminated in what must’ve felt like a fever dream back in 2004. Dennis Tamblyn, Larry’s nephew, shared the story: The Red Sox called out of the blue, inviting the band to play during their historic World Series run. At first, Larry thought someone was pulling his leg. But there they were, standing on hallowed ground at Fenway Park, playing for 50,000 screaming fans. Some things you just can’t make up.

Tamblyn’s roots in entertainment ran deep — his brother Russ made waves in “West Side Story” and later “Twin Peaks.” But Larry carved his own path. The Standells were among the first American bands to catch that British wave, growing their hair long after spotting early photos of The Beatles. Sometimes being ahead of the curve means taking risks that others aren’t ready for yet.

Even as the years rolled by, Tamblyn kept the music alive. His nephew Dennis recalls a recent gig at Tucson’s Hotel Congress: “Larry crashed at my place. Even then, well into his later years, he was still all about the music.” That’s the thing about true pioneers — they never really lose that spark.

In a touching bit of timing, Tamblyn’s final public appearance came last December, when brother Russ inducted him into the California Music Hall of Fame. One last bow for a musician who helped write an unforgettable chapter in American rock and roll. Sometimes the universe has a way of bringing things full circle.

Looking back now, as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of modern music, Tamblyn’s contribution feels more significant than ever. He helped create something authentic in an era before focus groups and social media algorithms started shaping our musical tastes. Maybe that’s why those old Standells tracks still hit so hard — they capture something real, something that can’t be manufactured.

Larry Tamblyn, founding member and singer of the Standells, dies at 82

The musician, who was the brother of Russ Tamblyn and uncle of Amber Tamblyn, also appeared in several B movies.

Larry Tamblyn, a founding member and singer of the pioneering garage rock group the Standells, has died at 82.

Tamblyn’s nephew, Dennis Tamblyn, announced his death in March 21 Facebook post. “My uncle Larry Tamblyn passed away today. I have very fond memories of him and his family over the years,” he wrote. “He lived an incredible life. He was in a band called the Standells, whose hit song ‘Dirty Water’ is still played to this day whenever the Red Sox or the Bruins win a home game. They also played on an episode of The Munsters.”

The official Standells Facebook page shared three posts following Standell’s death on Friday: the first announcing his death and inviting fans to “leave your messages here”; the second a recent photo of Standell inscribed with his name and dates of birth and death; and the third a heartfelt post which read, “In life, we are given two dates. Our start date and our end date. In the middle there is a dash. Judging from the overwhelming show of love and support to Larry’s memory and that of his family, Larry made the very most of his dash. RIP Boss.”

Tamblyn was born February 5, 1943, in Los Angeles to Eddie Tamblyn, an actor with several dozen credits in Hollywood films of the 1930s, and Sally Triplett. His brother Russell “Russ” Tamblyn would follow in their father’s footsteps to even greater heights, earning an Oscar nomination for his role as Riff in West Side Story and appearing later on Twin Peaks.

Larry Tamblyn was also creative from the jump, but he veered into music, forming the proto-punk garage rock group the Standells with drummer Tony Valentino, bass guitarist Jody Rich, and drummer Benny King in 1962. Tamblyn claimed in an interview with Gary James that with their matching, floppy haircuts and rough-around-the-edges style, the band was billed early on as “America’s answer to the Beatles.”

Rich and King departed the band after only a couple of years, and in 1964 they added Dick Dodd, a drummer who sang lead vocals on the hit that would define the band in perpetuity, 1966’s “Dirty Water.” Though the snarling, blues-inflected track would seal the band’s place in rock n’ roll history (“Dirty Water” is still played to this day whenever the Boston Red Sox win a home game, thanks to the lyric, “Boston you’re my home”), the band was already a huge success by the time of its release.

Tamblyn and his bandmates provided music for and appeared in several B movies and exploitation films of the era, including Get Yourself a College Girl and the notorious Riot on Sunset Strip, which features the band playing the title song in a raucous underground club.

Several members of the Standells reformed in the 1980s as the Fleshtones, and Tamblyn, Dodd, and Valentino would get the band back together every now and then for a mini tour or benefit concert in the years that followed. Dodd died of cancer in 2013, three months after the band released its last album, Bump, its first since 1967’s Try It. Tamblyn released the memoir From Squeaky Clean to Dirty Water: My Life with the Sixties Garage Rock Trailblazers the Standells in 2023, and was inducted that same year into the California Music Hall of Fame by his brother Russ.

Tamblyn’s niece, the actress Amber Tamblyn, shared her reaction to her uncle’s passing in story posted to her Instagram account on Sunday. “Thank you everyone for their condolences to our family during this difficult time,” she wrote. “I’m hoping to write a tribute to my uncle very soon. He was a brilliant songwriter and I loved him very much.”

In 2011, gearing up for their comeback album and accompanying tour, Larry Tamblyn reflected on the enduring popularity of the music he made nearly five decades previously: “It goes to show you that music is timeless, it appeals to all ages, all genders, nationalities, political parties…. I am absolutely thrilled with the interest we’re receiving from new generations of garage/punk aficionados. Back in the ’60s I never would have dreamed that our sound would live on like it has.”

‘The White Lotus’ Season 3, Episode 6 recap: What happened last night?

“The White Lotus,” Mike White’s black comedy anthology series, is back on HBO for a third season. Times staffers love an escape, but since we can’t take a trip to Thailand to stay at a luxury resort, the next best thing is to immerse ourselves in the new season. Follow along with us for each episode as we discuss theories, observations and our favorite moments leading up to the finale.

(Read our recaps: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4 and Episode 5. Please note this week’s recap contains language about suicide attempts.)

Another blue-hued Ratfliff nightmare sets in motion an episode that delves into worst-case scenarios for some of the show’s characters.

The episode opens with Tim (Jason Isaacs) raising a gun to his head and pulling the trigger, leaving his wife and daughter in hysterics. But Tim comes out of his daydream, seated at the patio table where things left off in last week’s episode. He stashes the weapon he took from the guard booth in a nearby apothecary cabinet before popping another lorazepam and climbing into bed. Victoria (Parker Posey), thinking he’s preoccupied with Piper’s (Sarah Catherine Hook) recent news, attempts to ease his worry. But his panic only intensifies when Victoria makes it known, in no uncertain terms, that she’d rather die than live a potential life of poverty: “I just don’t think, at this age, I’m meant to live an uncomfortable life. I don’t have the will.” It prompts Tim to have another hallucination, this time a murder-suicide of him and his wife. But any gun action from Tim is now thwarted because Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) successfully retrieved the gun from the cabinet while the Ratliff’s are away.

Piper, meanwhile, is trying to prove to her mother that she’s serious about her decision to move to Thailand. When Victoria challenges her spiritually curious daughter to spend the night at the Buddhist center to get a sense of what she’s in for long term, Piper hesitantly accepts.

But Tim’s secret and whatever shame Victoria has about Piper’s decision are hardly the biggest family scandals now. Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) is grappling with whatever dirty deeds went on between him and his younger brother. The memories of his drug-fueled night hit him in spurts. It isn’t until Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) fill him in on their escapades that Saxon learns he and Lochy (Sam Nivola) did more than kiss. Saxon tries to blame the drugs, which gives Chelsea the opportunity to say what we’re all thinking: “God, I don’t think there’s a drug in the world that would make me get with my brother.” Lochy, on the other hand, comes to his own realization about the extent of his full moon shenanigans while in a meditation session with Piper at the center.

And because this episode is really putting the question “What would be my worst nightmare?” to the test, over in Belinda’s (Natasha Rothwell) corner, her son Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) arrives to find her in bed with Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul). But there’s no time to worry about the imprint that’s left on his brain because Pornchai suggests they open a spa together in Thailand, and then Greg/Gary (Jon Gries) invites Belinda and her son to a party at his home. (The sketchy widower also encourages Chloe to invite Saxon after she denies anything happened between them.) If that’s not cause for a head massage, what is?

Then there’s the matter of the three frenemies. After witnessing Valentin’s (Arnas Fedaravičius) walk of shame, Kate (Leslie Bibb) tells Laurie (Carrie Coon) about Jaclyn’s (Michelle Monaghan) late-night rendezvous. Noticeably peeved and continuing the trio’s vacay ritual of talking behind each other’s back, Laurie calls out the pick-me girl behavior: “She has not changed at all … It’s sad. She’s an aging actress. You saw her yesterday. She literally lives off male attention. It’s one thing when you’re 25. But now you’re 45, and guess what? It’s pathetic,” Laurie says. When she confronts Jaclyn about it, the actress denies anything happened. But the tension is set.

Meanwhile, our new favorite pair of friends, Rick (Walton Goggins) and Frank (Sam Rockwell), are about to give us the buddy comedy (or buddy true crime drama) that we didn’t know we needed. After last week’s truth bomb, Frank again delivers one of the most masterful moments in this week’s episode with his first spoken line — “That’s a brutal story, man” — as Rick shares the background on his father and why he’s concocted this plan about a fictional Hollywood movie to entice Sritala (Lek Patravadi) to give them access to the home she shares with her husband, who Rick is convinced is responsible for his father’s death. Frank reluctantly agrees to help play the fictitious producer, so long as things don’t get messy. The episode closes with their arrival at the home.

And surely things are about to get messy.

Now it’s time for Greg Braxton, Mary McNamara and Yvonne Villarreal, platinum-status members of “The White Lotus” frequent guest program, to break it all down.

Who do we think is the corpse this week? Does Gaitok’s retrieval of the gun change things?

McNamara: Between Tim’s suicidal ideation, Victoria’s “I’d rather be dead than poor” speech and the potentially life-ruining revelations of drunken incest between Saxon and Loch, it certainly feels like the Ratliff family is a “put the gun down” powder-keg. A struggle between Tim and Gaitok for said gun, now in Gaitok’s possession again, is certainly possible, but I still believe monkeys will be involved. The victims of the past two seasons have been beloved characters killed in tragically absurd circumstances, so I still think Tim is out. I was hoping White would leave the younger siblings alone, but I suppose Loch, especially after the incest thing, and Piper are fair game. But pending developments on the Rick front (please, please don’t let the body be Chelsea!), I’m going to go with Gaitok. Though the “do you think you’re a killer” comment by his boss during target practice could be key — if he winds up killing Mook (while shooting at monkeys), that would be sufficiently absurd and terrible.

Villarreal: We haven’t seen Pam (Morgana O’Reilly) lately and I’m worried that when we do, the resort wellness mentor will get caught in the crosshairs of one of the Ratliff scandals and meet her death.

Braxton: I’m going to continue my stance on not speculating about whose corpse it is. In the previous seasons, the characters were extremely flawed and troubled, but White’s genius was making them layered and even relatable. This season seems stacked with so many self-absorbed, one-dimensional characters it’s hard for me to root for most of them to survive. (Yes, I’m looking at you, Ratliff family.)

What do we make of the Ratliff brothers’ flashbacks? And is Saxon soulless, as Chelsea suggests?

McNamara: Never mind the flashbacks. Chloe straight up told them what happened. Honestly, I have never felt worse for two TV characters in my life — cruel and unusual punishment by White! I mean, it even made me feel bad for Saxon — he didn’t want to take drugs in the first place. (And the moral, children, is … do not take rando pills handed to you by a stranger.) Saxon is a classic entitled frat boy a — , but even he doesn’t deserve this.

Villarreal: This is not the will they/won’t they I need from “White Lotus.” Even though I knew White would hit us with more than a kiss, and the red flags were there all along, I was not prepared for what appeared on my screen — and this is coming from someone who watched the recent birthing scene from “The Pitt.” I know the producers have said that this is not for shock value, and I believe them, but holy moly, someone better make sure Victoria is appropriately medicated by then.

Braxton: If there were truly an exploration of the Ratliff brothers dealing honestly with their feelings about each other, I think that could get beyond the “ick” factor and enter territory that could be risky but revelatory. But there are too many other traumas for this show to explore, so I’m not holding my breath for the series to go there. As for Saxon, I don’t necessarily find him “soulless,” just clueless, like the kind of guy at a party who would say, “Well, enough about me. What do you think of me?”

What are you expecting from Greg/Gary’s party? Do you think Belinda will show up? Would you?

McNamara: Absolutely not. And if she does, I will be very disappointed. Frankly, I’m already disappointed that she hasn’t called the police, Interpol or whichever agency is seeking Gary. What’s wrong with an anonymous tip? As for Gary’s motivations, well, he is, and always has been, the least believable character in the “White Lotus” universe so pretty much anything is on the table, including Tom Hollander, having somehow survived the Season 2 shootout, showing up to take revenge.

Villarreal: As a real estate voyeur, I am curious to see more of Greg/Gary’s posh pad up on the hills. But judging from his yacht party, whatever this shindig is won’t be very lively (unless Chloe is passing out more of her pills). I do think Belinda will be intrigued enough to engage in some detective work and scope it out. But I’m telling you now, if anyone puts their hands on Belinda, I will send White a box full of poisonous fruit from a pong pong tree.

Braxton: Are you asking whether Belinda, who almost collapsed in fright after seeing a lizard in her room, would attend a party hosted by a guy she suspects might be trying to kill her? Of course she would. Duh!

Does Pornchai’s suggestion to help Belinda open a spa seem suspicious?

McNamara: Not really. If anything, the fact that Tanya was, essentially, the reason Belinda asked Pornchai to spend the night would make it a wonderful way for Tanya to sort of deliver on her initial promise. And for Belinda to have a happy ending, which I think we all want.

Villarreal: I, too, want Belinda to enjoy some romance. But my head did tilt to the side when Pornchai brought up opening a spa together. I’m not saying it isn’t possible the man is down that hard for her after one night, but I would think he’d be more concerned with helping her reach authorities to tip them off on Greg/Gary. So, yes, I’m wary of his intentions.

Braxton: It wasn’t the most romantic “we had a wonderful night” morning-after convo. Plus, Belinda has the right to be suspicious of any business proposition after what happened with Tanya. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice …

Beyond helping Rick carry out his plan, do you think there is more to Frank’s presence with that storyline?

McNamara: I certainly hope so — Sam Rockwell is too big a treasure to waste. I wonder if Jim Hollinger will turn out to be one of the men Frank encountered during his sexual escapades. It feels like someone should be; otherwise, why deliver that instantly iconic monologue?

Villarreal: Yes, I want to go down this rabbit hole. I have spent too much time trying to figure out what Frank’s head-spinning life update was trying to signal. I saw a theory that suggested it might be setting the stage for Rick to discover that his father might actually be Sritala.

Braxton: You mean Sam’s obvious Emmy-bait moment? I’m sorry. All the shock-and-awe hoopla over Frank’s “journey through Asian ladyboy hell and back” monologue skipped over a logical point. Frank has turned his decadent life around and has found peace with Buddhism and is so clean that he won’t let his lips touch alcohol, preferring chamomile tea. But securing a gun to Rick to commit a crime? No problemo, man. I don’t think that would be in the Buddhist guide of living a good life. Isn’t he concerned of his possible implication in a crime? When it comes to that exchange, I’ll stick with my “all for shock value” opinion.

Let’s dissect Victoria and the “fear of poverty” scene.

McNamara: First, let’s dissect her use of the term “comfortable life.” Talk about an understatement, but very revealing of the 1% mindset. I find Victoria very problematic — for an addict, she appears remarkably calm about her missing benzos. It would make more sense for her to be screaming down the place for a replacement prescription, not to mention a more thorough search of where they might have gone. Remember “Nurse Jackie” nearly tearing apart her car when her pills fell between the seats?

Villarreal: What struck me about this conversation was Tim’s reaction to it — as if he hadn’t been aware just how much his wife’s identity is tethered to their wealth and status, or at least their perceived wealth and status. I would have thought the pressure to maintain his grip on their lifestyle by engaging in fraudulent business dealings was at least partly motivated by that, so wouldn’t he expect their world crumbling down — especially with how she’s struggling to process Piper’s plan — to be so devastating that she’d take drastic measures, just as he’s tempted to do? And, sure, it could just be that her matter-of-fact, unequivocal delivery that she’d rather be dead than poor is so halting to him, considering his state of mind. There was also something both weirdly sinister and calming in how Victoria spoke while raising a bottle of essential oils to her nose — but maybe that’s just the Southern drawl at work.

Do you think Jaclyn will finish the Barbra Streisand memoir on this trip?

Who gets your Best Facial Expression award this week?

McNamara: Chelsea, after the incestuous hand-job revelation. Never has the word “what?” been infused with such a broad spectrum of emotion.

Villarreal: With a book of Rumi’s poetry splayed across her stomach, no less. The bulging eyes truly carried the moment.

Braxton: Rick’s death-eyes glare when finally seeing his father’s suspected killer.

Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ Nears Sale to Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate

Box Office: ‘Snow White’ Leads With Sleepy $43 Million, Robert De Niro’s Mob Drama ‘Alto Knights’ Misfires With Disastrous $3 Million Debut 9 hours ago

“Kiss of the Spider Woman,” a musical remake from director Bill Condon and star Jennifer Lopez, is finally close to finding a buyer after its buzzy Sundance Film Festival premiere.

Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate and LD Entertainment are circling domestic rights, though a deal has yet to close.

This adaptation of Manuel Puig’s novel was one of higher profile projects to debut at Sundance. Set in an Argentinian prison in 1981, the film centers on queer hairdresser Luis Molina is serving an eight-year sentence for allegedly corrupting a minor. To escape the horrors of his imprisonment, he dreams up vivid stories about the cinematic exploits of his favorite on screen diva, an actress name Ingrid Luna, including a role of the spider woman, who kills her pray with a kiss. Molina’s life is upended after forming an unlikely bond with his new cellmate. Tonatiuh plays Molina while Diego Luna portrays his fellow prisoner.

“It’s probably my favorite movie experience,” Lopez told Variety prior to Sundance. “It’s a film about how love transcends everything — the hardest circumstances, gender, social prejudices. Everything.”

It’s the second film adaptation of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” following the acclaimed 1985 feature from director Héctor Babenco, which won an Oscar for William Hurt’s portrayal of Molina. John Kander and Fred Ebb’s stage version opened on Broadway in 1993 and won seven Tony Awards, including best musical and best performances by Chita Rivera, Brent Carver and Anthony Crivello.

Condon has become a preeminent filmmaker for movie musicals, having worked on “Chicago,” “Dreamgirls,” Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” remake and “The Greatest Showman.” Lopez’s filmography includes “Selena,” “Out of Sight,” “Hustlers” and last year’s inspirational “Unstoppable.”

‘Snow White’ opens with a sleepy $43 million at box office

‘Snow White’ opens with a sleepy $43 million at box office

JAKE COYLE

Updated March 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM

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Film Review – Snow White

This image released by Disney shows Rachel Zegler in a scene from “Snow White.” (Disney via AP)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK (AP) — The Walt Disney Co.’s live-action, controversy-bedeviled “Snow White” opened in theaters with a sleepy $43 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

With a budget above $250 million, “Snow White” had set out with higher ambitions, particularly since it returns Disney to its very origins. The 1937 original “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was the company’s first animated feature, and paid for its Burbank studio lot.

But this “Snow White” struggled to find anything like a fairy tale ending. The runup to release was plagued by controversies over the film’s handling of the dwarfs, who are rendered in CGI, and backlashes over comments by its star, Rachel Zegler. The PR headaches prompted Disney to pull back on its premiere.

Also working against the film, directed by Marc Webb: poor reviews. Critics were largely not impressed with Disney’s latest live-action remake, with reviews coming in just 43% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.

There’s been a wide variance between the box-office performance of other “live-action” Disney remakes, but “Snow White” might mark a new nadir. Jon Favreau’s photorealistic “The Lion King” (2019) didn’t have great reviews, either, but grossed more than $1.6 billion worldwide. “Snow White” opened worse than “Dumbo” (a $46 million opening in 2019) and well shy of “Cinderella” territory ($67.9 million in 2015).

Overseas, “Snow White” added $44.3 million for a global launch of $87.3 million. But going into the weekend, “Snow White” had been eyeing a worldwide total closer to $100 million – and a few weeks back, expectations were significantly higher.

The result will surely add to questions over Disney’s long-term strategy of mining its vault for live-action remakes. In the pipeline are upcoming new versions of “Moana” and “Tangled.” A live-action “Lilo & Stitch” launches in May.

Efforts to modernize “Snow White,” though, quickly ran afoul. In 2022, actor Peter Dinklage criticized the remake plans as “backward.” Disney ultimately opted to drop “and the Seven Dwarfs” from the original’s title, and animate the dwarfs. Some right-wing commentators targeted “Snow White” and Zegler’s casting as an overly “woke” production. Delays and reshoots also ran up costs.

Disney, though, has recently steered a handful of films from modest starts to enviable final hauls. The Barry Jenkins-directed “Mufasa: The Lion King” opened with $35.4 million domestically, but ultimately surpassed $717 million worldwide. “Snow White” will face little direct competition in the coming weeks. Audiences gave it a “B+” CinemaScore.

Warner Bros.’ “Alto Knights,” a period gangster film starring Robert De Niro in both lead roles, was a total misfire. The Barry Levinson-directed film, which cost about $45 million to make, opened with just $3.2 million from 2,651 theaters. The flop of “Alto Knights” followed another misfire for Warner Bros. with Bong Joon Ho’s big-budget sci-fi “Mickey 17.” In three weeks, it’s tallied $40.2 million domestically against a $118 million budget.

“Magazine Dreams,” starring Jonathan Majors as a disturbed aspiring bodybuilder, opened with $700,000 for Briarcliff Entertainment in 815 locations. The film was dropped by Searchlight Pictures after Majors was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment against Grace Jabbari, his ex-girlfriend. Majors avoided jail time but was given a year of probation.

The disappointment-filled weekend added to a rough 2025 so far for Hollywood. The box office is down 6.9% from last year, according to data firm Comscore, and 38.6% from 2019.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures releasing Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. “Snow White,” $43 million.

2. “Black Bag,” $4.4 million

3. “Captain America: Brave New World,” $4.1 million.

4. “Mickey 17,” $3.9 million.

5. “Novocaine,” $3.8 million.

6. “The Alto Knights,” $3.2 million.

7. “The Day the Earth Blew Up,” $1.8 million.

8. “The Monkey,” $1.5 million.

9. “Dog Man,” $1.5 million.

10. “The Last Supper,” $1.3 million.

Impractical Jokers” star Joe Gatto denies sexual assault allegation but admits to ‘poor judgment’

“Impractical Jokers” star Joe Gatto denies sexual assault allegation but admits to ‘poor judgment’

Shania Russell, Wesley Stenzel

March 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM

Former Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto has spoken out after being accused of sexual assault.

Following a March 20 video from TikTok user Joozyb, who claimed, “I got sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto, the Impractical Joker,” the comedian has denied the allegation.

“I have used poor judgment and, as a result, have violated the trust of the people I love most,” Gatto said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn’t assault anyone. Working on myself is an ongoing process, and I am now going to take some time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to.”

Gatto, a founding member of truTV’s hit prank show Impractical Jokers, departed the series in 2021, citing “some issues in my personal life” and noting that he and his wife Bessy had “decided to amicably part ways.” The couple later reconciled in 2023.

In a series of TikTok videos, Joozyb detailed meeting Gatto at a Milwaukee restaurant in September 2023 and claimed that he gave her two meet-and-greet tickets to his show at the Pabst Theater that night.

Offering screenshots of their conversation, she claimed that after the show they continued communicating throughout the night, eventually putting their messages in vanish mode, a setting that allows Instagram users to send each other “disappearing messages, photos, videos” that go away when someone leaves the chat or turns the mode off.

She alleged that in those temporary messages, he provided directions to his hotel, where she met him later in the night. In a separate post, she shared a graphic photo of bruises on her backside, writing, “Yes, he did S.A me. Yes, he had JUST gotten back together with his wife. I’m sorry you guys don’t want to hear it, but…”

Gatto was at one point a mainstay of the comedy series, co-starring alongside fellow founding members James Murray, Brian Quinn, and Sal Vulcano. The quartet even took their show to the big screen with Impractical Jokers: The Movie before Gatto’s departure.

Related: From friendship to international cruises: How Impractical Jokers expanded their comedy empire

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Impractical Jokers is currently on its 11th season and now airs on TBS. Earlier this year, Gatto told The Wrap that he has no plans to return to the show, either permanently or as a guest host.

“I am not going to guest on my own show. It does not feel right, and I cannot commit to coming back to it,” Gatto said in January. “I’ve moved on from the show; the show has moved on from me. I am so removed from it. We are still friends, just not friends from work anymore. But I am so out of that mindset.”

Additional reporting by Wesley Stenzel.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly

Larry Tamblyn, Keyboardist for ‘Dirty Water’ Garage Rock Pioneers the Standells, Dead at 82

Pope Francis to Be Discharged From Hospital Sunday, Doctors Announce

Larry Tamblyn, founding member and keyboardist for the pioneering garage rock band the Standells, has died at the age of 82.

Tamblyn’s nephew Dennis first confirmed his uncle’s March 21 death on social media, with the Standells also announcing Larry’s death on Facebook; no cause of death was provided.

When the Standells formed as a doo-wop band in the early Sixties, Tamblyn initially served as their lead singer, including on their debut 1964 single “Girl In My Heart.” After the band signed with Liberty Records, they shifted toward rock music and enlisted Dick Dodd as their drummer and lead vocalist; Dodd died in 2013.

While the Standells formed in Los Angeles, their producer Ed Cobb hailed from Boston; it was Cobb who penned the band’s 1965 single “Dirty Water,” which would later become both an unofficial Boston anthem (thanks to references to the city laced into the lyrics) as well as a garage rock classic (thanks to its inclusion on the acclaimed 1972 Nuggets compilation).

“‘Dirty Water’ is still played to this day whenever the Red Sox or the Bruins win a home game,” Dennis Tamblyn wrote of his uncle; the Standells notably performed the song at Fenway Park during one of the Red Sox’s curse-ending World Series games in 2004.

:At 3:00 pm, Larry received a call from the Red Sox office. At first, he thought it was a joke, especially when he was told the group needed to be there the following day,” the band said of the performance. “The following day at 1:00 pm, all of the Standells were on the plane headed for Boston. It really didn’t set in until we walked on the field at Fenway Park for sound check. That evening, we performed for 50,000 screaming fans. It will be an evening we won’t forget.”

“Dirty Water” has also since been adopted by Liverpool in the English Premier League, as that team is also owned by the Fenway Sports Group.

Larry was also the younger brother of actor Russ Tamblyn, of West Side Story and Twin Peaks fame.

In the half-century that followed “Dirty Water,” the Standells remained an active touring unit, albeit with an ever-changing lineup, but Tamblyn remained a constant member of the band.

“A few years ago, The Standells played at Hotel Congress here in Tucson, Ariz., and Larry stayed with me,” Dennis added. “It was so great to hang out with him and catch up. He was still making music well into his later years. You will be missed, Uncle Larry.”

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos’ FINALLY send out wedding invites

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos have reportedly sent out invitations to their upcoming nuptials – with the wedding destination also officially revealed.

The Emmy-winning journalist, 55 – who recently celebrated her close pal Eva Longoria’s birthday – became engaged to the Amazon founder, 61, nearly two years earlier in May 2023.

Invitations have now been sent out for the ceremony that will take place during the summer in Venice, Italy – which was first reported by Dylan Byers on X on Saturday.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Lauren and Jeff’s representatives for comment.

Italy has been a popular destination for weddings among A-list celebrities in the past, including George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Jessica Chastain, Chrissy Teigen and Kourtney Kardashian.

The exact date of the nuptials is not known – but the couple have often spent time in Italy. Not long after becoming engaged, Sanchez and Bezos notably celebrated the milestone with a glitzy bash on his yacht in Positano.

Lauren Sanchez, 55, and Jeff Bezos, 61, have reportedly sent out invitations to their upcoming nuptials – with the wedding destination also officially revealed; seen earlier this month in Beverly Hills

The Amazon CEO and Lauren were first romantically linked in 2019, and became engaged in May 2023.

He notably popped the big question to Sanchez with a $2.5 million ring nearly five years of dating.

Read More What to expect from Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos’ wedding of the year

During a past interview with Vogue, the author briefly recalled the special moment and remembered he had hid the ring under a pillow which she found while getting ready for bed.

She then admitted to the outlet, ‘When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit.’

When asked if she would be taking Jeff’s last name upon tying the knot, Sanchez replied with, ‘Uh, yes, one hundred percent. I am looking forward to being Mrs. Bezos.’

And in regards to marrying the billionaire, Lauren expressed, ‘I think there are a lot of opportunities that come with that, and I take those opportunities very seriously. We always look at each other and go, “We’re the team.’ So everything’s shared.’

When it came to a possible designer for wedding gown, she listed off some brands such as Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana while adding, ‘There’s so many incredible designers.’

Late last year in November, Sanchez briefly discussed wedding plans during an interview on Today.

The Emmy-winning journalist became engaged to the Amazon founder nearly two years earlier in May 2023

Invitations have now been sent out for the ceremony that will take place during the summer in Venice, Italy – which was first reported by Dylan Byers on X on Saturday

When asked if she would be taking Jeff’s last name upon tying the knot, Sanchez replied with, ‘Uh, yes, one hundred percent. I am looking forward to being Mrs. Bezos’

‘Very excited about it, thinking about the dress. I have to say, I do have a Pinterest. I’m just like every other bride,’ she expressed.

‘I never thought at 54 – I’m going to be 55 – that I’d be an author, that I’d be getting married. I mean, life is just beginning.’

New York-based bridal stylist and designer Barbara Letizia also offered her thoughts to DailyMail.com about what Sanchez might wear on the big day.

She suggested that the journalist could possibly opt for a ‘mermaid-style gown’ and added, ‘I see her in a gown that accentuates her curves.

‘I think it will have some sort of beading and crystals. She may even have a corseted bodice with a sheer or lace element because she has worn similar styles to past events.

‘Either a very thin strap or a strapless neckline would look great on her – especially a sweetheart neckline!’

Letizia also suggested Lauren would have an outfit change for the reception and could don an ensemble that was ‘fitted and sparkly’ or have a ‘leg slit.’

Kate Loscalzo – the lead bridal stylist and founder of Something White Styling – also told DailyMail.com that Lauren could perhaps wear a gown from Oscar de la Renta.

She suggested that the journalist could possibly opt for a ‘mermaid-style gown’ and added, ‘I see her in a gown that accentuates her curves’

‘I could also see her going with a unique textured gown by Vera Wang, but there is no doubt that she’ll have an impeccable lineup of looks and outfit changes throughout the wedding weekend.’

She added, ‘Based on her personal style, she seems like she is willing to try new things and make a statement with her outfits, and her wedding wardrobe will be no exception.’

In regards to what she would personally dress Sanchez in for her wedding, Kate said she would choose a ‘corseted, liquid satin gown with a fitted or column skirt and a subtle slit.

‘This would accentuate her petite figure and define her waistline without overwhelming her. A dramatic veil or cape could add a touch of drama for the ceremony. Later, she could change into a glitzy mini dress for the reception.’

Makeup artist Brielle Bahr told DailyMail.com that Sanchez could opt for a ‘polished’ and ‘glamorous’ look.

Claims arose late last year that Lauren and Jeff had plans to tie the knot during a $600 million Christmas wedding in Aspen.

Makeup artist Brielle Bahr told DailyMail.com that Sanchez could opt for a ‘polished’ and ‘glamorous’ look; seen in 2023 in L.A.

Claims arose late last year that Lauren and Jeff had plans to tie the knot during a $600 million Christmas wedding in Aspen

However, Bezos took to X to slam the speculation and shared, ‘This whole thing is completely false – none of this is happening. The old adage “don’t believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been.’

‘Now lies can get ALL the way around the world before the truth can get its pants on,’ the businessman added.

‘So be careful out there folks and don’t be gullible. Will be interesting to see if all the outlets that “covered” and re-reported on this issue a correction when it comes and goes and doesn’t happen.’

After Bezos shut down reports that both he and Lauren would marry in Aspen, a source recently told DailyMail.com that their nuptials were still ‘on.’

The insider confirmed that the couple would say ‘I do’ later this year during the summer season.

Plans for the big day have already been ‘inked in’ with the source adding that, ‘You won’t miss this one when it happens.’

Plans for the big day have already been ‘inked in’ with the source adding that, ‘You won’t miss this one when it happens’; seen in 2024 in NYC

It is not known who will be in attendance at the wedding, but both Lauren and Jeff have often been pictured with celebrity pals such as Leonardo DiCaprio.

Bezos was previously married to MacKenzie Scott from 1993 through 2019 – and the former couple share four children.

Sanchez was also married to Patrick Whitesell from 2005 until their divorce was finalized in 2019.

They welcomed two children during the course of their relationship and Lauren is also mother to son Nikko – whom she shares with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez.