‘Conclave’ leads the pack and struggling ‘Emilia Pérez’ faces a test at Britain’s BAFTA film awards

A plethora of movie stars — including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan — are due on the red carpet at London’s Roya Festival Hall. The awards, known as BAFTAs, will be watched for clues about who will triumph at Hollywood’s Academy Awards next month.

“Conclave” is nominated in 12 categories, including best picture, best director for Edward Berger and best actor for Ralph Fiennes, playing a cardinal corralling conniving clergy as they elect a new pope.

Mexico-set melodrama “Emilia Pérez” has 11 nominations, including best picture and best director for Jacques Audiard.

Best-actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón, who stars as the film’s titular transgender ex-cartel boss, is not expected to attend the ceremony. Gascón has withdrawn from promoting the film, which has 13 Oscar nominations, amid controversy over her social media posts disparaging Muslims, George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars.

Audiard has called the remarks “absolutely hateful.” The musical, shot in France with a largely non-Mexican cast, has also faced criticism from Mexicans for what some see as its cliched and exploitative depiction of the country. Some LGBTQ+ groups have derided its portrayal of trans people.

The British prizes — officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards — may give hints of who will win at the Oscars on March 3, in an unusually hard-to-call awards season.

The best-film contenders are “Conclave,” “Emilia Pérez,” Brady Corbet’s 215-minute architecture epic ” The Brutalist,” Sean Baker’s Brighton Beach tragicomedy ” Anora ” and the James Mangold-directed Bob Dylan biopic ” A Complete Unknown.”

“The Brutalist” has nine nominations, while “Anora,” the sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two” and musical “Wicked” have seven each.

“A Complete Unknown” received six nominations, as did the Irish-language hip-hop drama “Kneecap,” whose nominations include best film not in the English language.

Nominees in the category of outstanding British film include Andrea Arnold’s “Bird,” Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” and “Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” which is also up for best animated feature.

The leading actor favorite is “The Brutalist” star Adrien Brody, who faces stiff competition from Fiennes and Chalamet, who plays the young Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”

The other male actors nominated are Hugh Grant for his creepy role in the horror film ” Heretic,” Colman Domingo in real-life prison drama ” Sing Sing ” and Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of a young Donald Trump in ” The Apprentice.”

Whoever takes the best actress award will be a first-time BAFTA winner.

Nominees are Gascón, Demi Moore for body-horror film ” The Substance,” Mikey Madison for “Anora,” Ronan for “The Outrun,” Cynthia Erivo for “Wicked” and Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Mike Leigh drama “Hard Truths.” Erivo or Jean-Baptiste would be the first non-white performer to win the leading actress BAFTA.

Britain’s film academy introduced changes to increase the awards’ diversity in 2020, when no women were nominated as best director for the seventh year running and all 20 nominees in the lead and supporting performer categories were white

The voting process was changed to add a longlist round in the selection before the final nominees are voted on by the academy’s 8,000-strong membership of industry professionals.

Contenders for the Rising Star award, the only prize decided by public vote, are performers Mikey Madison, Marisa Abela, Jharrel Jerome, David Jonsson and Nabhaan Rizwan.

“Willow” and “Return of the Jedi” actor Warwick Davis will receive the academy’s top honor, the BAFTA Fellowship, for his screen career and work to create a more inclusive film industry.

Last month’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires may cast a pall over the ceremony, hosted by former “Doctor Who” star David Tennant. Jamie Lee Curtis, a supporting actress nominee for “The Last Showgirl,” will be absent because the fires delayed filming on her current work. Co-star Pamela Anderson will accept the prize for Curtis if she wins.

The event will also be without a dash of royal glamour this year. Neither Prince William, who is honorary president of the British film academy, nor his wife Kate are attending.

It will include a performance by grown-up boyband Take That, whose 2008 hit “Greatest Day” features on the “Anora” soundtrack. Jeff Goldblum will play piano during the ceremony’s tribute to people who have died in the past year.

The ceremony airs on BBC in the United Kingdom and BritBox in North America, starting at 1900GMT (2 p.m. EST).

How to watch SNL’s 50th anniversary, who are the special guests and more

Fifty seasons of “Saturday Night Live” sketches, songs and special guests will be celebrated Sunday as the variety show celebrates its landmark anniversary.

The pop culture juggernaut has launched the careers of generations of comedians, from Bill Murray to Eddie Murphy and Tina Fey to Kristen Wiig.

Many of those stars will be on hand for “SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration,” airing live from New York on Sunday beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific.

The three-hour extravaganza comes after months of celebrations of “Saturday Night Live,” which premiered Oct. 11, 1975, with an original cast that included John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner.

It’s become appointment television over the years as the show has skewered presidents, politics and pop culture and been a platform for the biggest musical stars of the moment. As streaming has altered television viewing, “SNL” sketches, host monologues and short comedy films remain popular on social media and routinely rack up millions of views on YouTube.

The Tragically Hip’s mix of weed and improvisation on live TV remembered as SNL turns 50

Each “SNL” episode holds at least some surprises, and Sunday’s special is no different. While NBC has revealed some of the stars who are expected to appear, many of the special’s moments, cameos and music performances remain a surprise.

On Sunday, NBC announced more guest appearances including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Leslie Jones, Billy Crystal, Cher, Mike Myers and Alec Baldwin, who holds the title of the person who’s hosted “SNL” the most times. The network is still promising more surprises.

Here’s what to know ahead of “SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration.”

NBC will air “SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration” on Sunday beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. The anniversary show will also stream on Peacock.

In Canada, Global TV will air the show starting at the same time. It can also be streamed on the Global TV app or website.

A red carpet show hosted by “SNL” alumna Leslie Jones and NBC News’ Willie Geist will precede the special, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock.

Prepare for generations of “SNL” stars to return for Sunday’s special. NBC says in addition to Murphy and Fey, you can expect: Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chris Rock, Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell and Will Forte. Current cast member Kenan Thompson’s appearance was also touted.

Some members of the first “Saturday Night Live” cast, known as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players, will appear, including Chase, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris and Jane Curtin. A publicist for Dan Aykroyd, the lone remaining surviving member, did not respond to a request for comment on whether he would attend.

Which former hosts will appear on ‘SNL50’?

Steve Martin, who has left an indelible comedic mark on “SNL” over the years, will be among the many successful hosts returning for the show’s 50th celebration.

‘SNL50’ anniversary special will have alums join Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and more

Other prolific and returning hosts range from actors like Tom Hanks, Martin Short and Scarlett Johansson (who is married to current “SNL” cast member Colin Jost) to athletes like Peyton Manning. Former “SNL” writer John Mulaney will appear, as will Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Kim Kardashian, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro and Woody Harrelson.

How will ‘SNL’ honour its musical legacy?

In some ways, it already has. Radio City Music Hall on Friday hosted the star-packed “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” with a lineup that included Cher, Miley Cyrus, Arcade Fire, David Byrne, Post Malone and Nirvana.

Sunday’s special will include appearances by Paul McCartney, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Cyrus and other music stars, though the show hasn’t said whether all will perform. McCartney has used New York’s Bowery Ballroom as a warm-up spot, hosting three surprise shows this week.

The musical legacy of “SNL” is also explored in the documentary “Ladies and Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music,” from the Oscar-winning Questlove. It’s currently streaming on Peacock.

Who is Ellie Beers Fallon? David Harbour’s rumoured model girlfriend following Lily Allen split

Many corners of the internet have been on a sleuthing mission this weekend, to discover who the young woman is in paparazzi pictures released by the pop culture content curators Deuxmoi. The grainy snaps showed David Harbour, the actor of Stranger Things fame, and separately (but clearly close behind David) a younger woman with blonde bangs.

She is the model Ellie Beers Fallon, who is said to be 27-years-old to Harbour’s 49. And the snaps seem to confirm their romance after they’ve been previously been sighted together in India.

The pair are said to have spent New Year’s Eve together in the Himalayas, and this time were seen in Georgia, where Harbour has been living for around a year to film the final series of Stranger Things. It implies they’ve been hanging out for several months, amid news of a split between him and Lily Allen.

So what do we know about her? Other than that Fallon is a model and lives in New York, she is pretty under the radar, with around 10K followers on Instagram, where she has just five photos. The latest of which shows she turned a year older last month, as she posted a close-up of her in a veil with winged eyeliner and the caption “Birthday glam.”

The pair are said to have met on dating app, Raya, where in December, Allen was said to have been seen with a profile. A source then claimed she was looking for her husband on there: “Lily was looking for women that were on Raya and cross-referencing them with women David follows on Instagram to try to figure out who he was seeing. She was doing her Wagatha thing,” they told Mail On Sunday, referring to the famous Rooney-Vardy case.

Despite residing in the US, many Brits on TikTok have been fast to draw comparisons between Beers Fallon and a UK star from the 1990s, saying she is spitting image of a young Daniella Westbrook.

Another picture on Beers Fallon’s feed has drawn particular attention for showing her smoking a cigar. No, not just as someone in their mid-20s doesn’t seem like a likely candidate for puffing on one, but because the photo from October is said to show her enjoying one of Harbour’s favourite brands.

The MailOnline says a source tells them that: “Lily is aware of the romance and is very upset. Seeing the picture Ellie posted of herself smoking a cigar, taken weeks before Lily and David called it quits, has convinced her that Ellie and David had been seeing each other before they split.”

The pair are thought to have split in December, and Harbour attended the Critics Choice Awards in LA on 8 February minus a wedding ring.

Lily Allen meanwhile has just returned to her podcast Miss Me? following a hiatus which she said was to focus on her mental health and she has attended a treatment centre. Of the experience she told her co-host Miquita Oliver: “It wasn’t easy by any stretch and it’s a journey. It’s a lifelong journey of healing. It’s not a quick fix, but I’ve started meditating. I meditate every day now, at least two or three times a day. That’s really helping me.”

Allen and Harbour began dating in 2019 after meeting on Raya themselves, and marrying in Las Vegas in 2020.

“The White Lotus” luxuriates in the spiritual malaise of the rich and dissatisfied

Morgana O’Reilly, Arnas Fedaravičius, Christian Friedel, Dom Hetrakul and Lalisa Manobal in “The White Lotus” (Fabio Lovino/HBO)

Is the parent company of The White Lotus luxury resorts publicly traded? Mike White may not have the answer to that question, or perhaps he does. Either way, the overthinkers are right to wonder how it is that three of its hotels can become separate murder scenes within a brief timespan without the brand’s stock taking a reputational hit.

Then again, has anyone noticed these crimes? Not likely. Every season of “The White Lotus” studies Western solipsism, the American strain in particular. Bad things happen, that mode of thinking goes, and as long as it’s not happening to me, it’s somebody else’s mess to clean. Tragedies are for small people. The world keeps turning regardless. This is a selfish way to glide through life, and it also describes the dominant philosophy of the idle rich, especially when the ruling class goes on vacation with their princes and princesses in tow.

We love watching the rich behave badly and get their just desserts for abusing the help. But that dynamic can grow tiresome, even with more than a year’s pause between new seasons. Wisely, White evolves this viewpoint with each fresh turn, fine-tuning parts to fit each new environment and lending additional insight and sympathy to those catering to their underappreciative visitors.

Setting the third season in Thailand allows him to rectify previous shortcomings in his story arcs or, conversely, risks tumbling into old traps. The Hawaiian season, its first, minimizes the individual personality of the island’s Indigenous employees to focus on the white vacationers. Natasha Rothwell’s spa manager Belinda is the sole character whose emotional trials are explored with nuance and intricacy.

In Thailand, it’s mostly the white guests who are in the minority and out of step with the environment despite its intoxicating beauty and serenity. Even Belinda, who returns this season to participate in a management exchange program, gets a good jump-scare from a chance encounter with one of the locale’s four-legged denizens. This shock vanishes as quickly as it comes since Belinda immediately melds with the Thai staff’s dedication to caring and connecting with people.

At the Hawaiian branch, that focus drains her. Here we see how the staff’s service to each other and their guests can be nourishing in ways beyond the implied requirements of their uniform.

“Thai people believe that spirits are everywhere, so we give them offerings for good luck and protection,” explains Pornchai, Dom Hetrakul’s welcoming spa manager, to his American counterpart as they consider one of the hotel’s spirit houses. These shrines laden with incense, flowers and other offerings sanctify its gardens, waters and the surrounding landscape, and they highlight the psychic malaise dominating most of its visitors.

Dom Hetrakul and Natasha Rothwell in “The White Lotus” (Fabio Lovino/HBO)

White has trained viewers to hold certain expectations for each new season, and six out of the eight episodes made available for review exceed the elevated bar of its Italy season. You can get as drunk on the cinematography as the cocktails everyone’s enjoying, which is on purpose; the artwork, accessories and even the walls tell a story. The waters surrounding each resort tell the place’s unique tale and steadily scrub the veneers off each person. In Thailand, the action is veiled in the jungle’s mist and lush greenery visitors see as magical, or perhaps threatening, but are a part of life for the people who live there.

Blessedly, Season 3 makes room for glimpses into the locals’ lives beyond the hotel, augmenting the personal stakes for workers beyond the usual administrative staff whose prickliness co-stars in previous seasons.

Instead, we empathize with the accommodating and humble security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong), a polite local villager who holds a torch for the kindhearted Mook (Lalisa Manobal), one of the spa’s many “health mentors,” its version of premium guest concierges. Gaitok’s crush on Mook isn’t entirely unrequited, but next to the burly security guards constantly flanking the hotel’s glamorous owner Sritala (Lek Patravadi) he’s a scrawny underdog.

You might notice the meta-layer White injects into their courtship story by casting Manobal, a member of Blackpink colloquially known as Lisa. She might be the most familiar Thai performer in the cast, although Thapthimthong’s character is more thoroughly developed than Manobal’s dream girl. But recognizing the K-pop superstar’s status automatically puts a thumb on the compassion scale for Thapthimthong’s front gatekeeper. The story scripts them as social equals, but the audience knows Lisa’s well out of this man’s league.

White has honed his vacationers’ personalities to a scientific formula, with this season’s terrible family played by the Ratliffs, a brood of North Carolinians headed by wealthy businessman Timothy (Jason Isaacs) and blithely self-medicating wife Victoria (Parker Posey, affecting a drawl that’s half southern patrician and half wine-drunk).

They’re the type of couple convinced that their way of life is a universal standard, thinking to which their arrogant eldest Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) wholeheartedly subscribes without any false politesse. Their younger son Lochlan (Sam Nivola) and daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) are somewhat embarrassed by their parents and brother, but mainly Saxon, who views the world as an endless buffet of things and people waiting to be screwed.

Aimee Lou Wood, Charlotte Le Bon and Patrick Schwarzenegger in “The White Lotus” (Fabio Lovino/HBO)

Meeting Aimee Lou Wood’s Chelsea bewilders him since he can’t understand how this attractive, scantily clad British girl would turn her nose up at his beefcake in favor of Rick (Walton Goggins), a bedraggled middle-aged guy perpetually stewing in a sour mood.

These types are one means by which the third season solidifies a few unifying constants across the series. Surely as the problems its families and couples think they’ve left behind catch up to them, others that have been long-gestating are coaxed into view by the warm atmosphere and relaxed inhibitions. These materialize in ways that lend unexpected mournfulness to some figures and, to others, a squeamishness that’ll make your skin crawl.

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The setting allows White to indulge in commentary about misguiding Western hierarchal assumptions, primarily turning up in the form of old bald white men shacking up with young women from Thailand or elsewhere. The main arcs mostly steer clear of this version of exoticizing, even in this subplot, by focusing on a couple of grudging vacation buddies who brought their younger halves to Asia with them, Rick being one.

White also reprises some of the giddy crankiness he enjoys writing for his female characters, this time through a reunion between three lifelong friends played by Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan.

They claim to share a sisterhood but whose dissimilar economic and social statuses rocket to the surface like freshly uncorked champagne bubbles. Their envy does pour out immediately but strains forth bit by bit, pressing through the narrow gaps in their bleached smiles.

Like everyone else, they eventually have a motive to kill, or a reason to be killed, but before converging on that inevitable when a body shatters this placid bubble, the story takes us on a gratifying pleasure tour inviting us to smell the blossoms and note how gorgeously they’re wilting under the weight of self-indulgent egomania.

“Everyone runs from pain towards pleasure, but when they get there, only find more pain,” somebody observes. “You cannot outrun pain.” True. But this new season of “The White Lotus” helps to blunt ours with an alluring, thoughtful excursion into privileged people’s problems, including whatever it is that’s passing for their souls.

The ‘Saturday Night Live’ 50th anniversary celebration is finally here. Here’s how to watch

NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — Fifty seasons of “Saturday Night Live” sketches, songs and special guests will be celebrated Sunday as the variety show celebrates its landmark anniversary.

The pop culture juggernaut has launched the careers of generations of comedians, from Bill Murray to Eddie Murphy and Tina Fey to Kristen Wiig.

Many of those stars will be on hand for “SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration,” airing live from New York on Sunday beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific.

The three-hour extravaganza comes after months of celebrations of “Saturday Night Live,” which premiered Oct. 11, 1975, with an original cast that included John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner.

It’s become appointment television over the years as the show has skewered presidents, politics and pop culture and been a platform for the biggest musical stars of the moment. As streaming has altered television viewing, “SNL” sketches, host monologues and short comedy films remain popular on social media and routinely rack up millions of views on YouTube.

Each “SNL” episode holds at least some surprises, and Sunday’s special is no different. While NBC has revealed some of the stars who are expected to appear, many of the special’s moments, cameos and music performances remain a surprise.

Here’s what to know ahead of “SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration.”

NBC will air “SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration” on Sunday beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. The anniversary show will also stream on Peacock.

A red carpet show hosted by “SNL” alumna Leslie Jones and NBC News’ Willie Geist will precede the special, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock.

Prepare for generations of “SNL” stars to return for Sunday’s special. NBC says in addition to Murphy and Fey, you can expect: Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chris Rock, Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell and Will Forte. Current cast member Kenan Thompson’s appearance was also touted.

Some members of the first “Saturday Night Live” cast, known as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players, will appear, including Chase, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris and Jane Curtin. A publicist for Dan Aykroyd, the lone remaining surviving member, did not respond to a request for comment on whether he would attend.

Steve Martin, who has left an indelible comedic mark on “SNL” over the years, will be among the many successful hosts returning for the show’s 50th celebration.

Other prolific and returning hosts range from actors like Tom Hanks, Martin Short and Scarlett Johansson (who is married to current “SNL” cast member Colin Jost) to athletes like Peyton Manning. Former “SNL” writer John Mulaney will appear, as will Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Kim Kardashian, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro and Woody Harrelson.

In some ways, it already has. Radio City Music Hall on Friday hosted the star-packed “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” with a lineup that included Cher, Miley Cyrus, Arcade Fire, David Byrne, Post Malone and Nirvana.

Sunday’s special will include appearances by Paul McCartney, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Cyrus and other music stars, though the show hasn’t said whether all will perform. McCartney has used New York’s Bowery Ballroom as a warm-up spot, hosting three surprise shows this week.

For more coverage of the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” visit: https://apnews.com/hub/saturday-night-live

Kim Sae-ron, Korean Star of ‘A Brand New Life’ and ‘The Man From Nowhere,’ Dies at 24

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South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron, celebrated for her compelling performances from a young age, was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on February 16. She was 24.

A friend discovered her body after Kim failed to attend a scheduled meeting, according to Reuters. Authorities have found no signs of foul play and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Born in 2000, in Seoul, Kim embarked on her acting career at the tender age of nine. She gained international recognition with her role in “A Brand New Life” (2009), which was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, making her one of the youngest actors to be invited to the event. Her portrayal in “The Man From Nowhere” (2010) further solidified her status as a rising star in Korean cinema.

The actor transitioned seamlessly from child roles to more complex characters. Notable performances include “The Neighbor” (2012) and “A Girl at My Door” (2014). She also made significant contributions to television, with roles in series such as “The Queen’s Classroom” (2013) and “Hi! School-Love On” (2014) and 2016 period fantasy series “Mirror of the Witch.” She also made a mark with 2018 action-thriller film “The Villagers.”

In May 2022, Kim faced a personal and professional setback due to a driving under the influence incident in Seoul’s Gangnam District. The accident resulted in property damage and a subsequent fine of KRW20 million ($13,815). Following the incident, she took a hiatus from acting to reflect and address health concerns.

The actor was to resume her career with a role in the 2023 Netflix series “Bloodhounds,” but most of her role was edited out after the DUI incident. She withdrew from series “Trolley.” Kim was due to make her acting comeback with the play “Dongchimi” in 2024 but stepped back from that as well.

‘SNL’ 50th anniversary: Everything you need to know about the special

And “Saturday Night Live” viewers are gearing up for the sketch comedy show’s 50th anniversary special airing on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

The “SNL 50: The Anniversary Special” is a three-hour live telecast from Studio 8H, which will celebrate the long-running series’ half-centennial on air. Iconic cast members from past and present are set to make an appearance, including Jane Curtin, Amy Poehler, Chevy Chase, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, and more.

Production designer Keith Raywood, who has been with “SNL” for 40 seasons since 1985, revealed just how big the special episode will be.

“We [will] have about 450 people in the studio, which is essentially about 200 people more than we would normally have,” he told The Post.

Raywood noted that the audience will be full of the special guests’ friends and family.

“Imagine all the people who have been on the show – those cast members and hosts. It’s a lot of people [there to see them]. And, those seats don’t normally exist,” he continued.

It’s sure to be a star-studded evening to commemorate everything that made the NBC variety show the pop culture phenomenon that it is.

Keep reading for all the details on “SNL 50: The Anniversary Special.”

The special will air live at 8 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC and Peacock.

Red carpet coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET on NBC with “SNL” alum Leslie Jones, “Sunday Today” host Willie Geist and comedian Matt Rogers interviewing the stars.

Creator and host of the viral chat show “Chicken Shop Date,” Amelia Dimoldenberg, will be the correspondent for the red carpet livestream.

Viewers can watch on all “SNL” social and digital platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

The milestone moment in comedy will bring together some of the greats.

Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman, four of the surviving original cast members, are set to return.

Other alums set to return include Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell and Will Forte.

“It’s so exciting,” Shannon said of the special on “Today” Thursday. “But I also forget I get nervous. There’s nothing like live performance. … I forget the adrenaline. So it’s so exciting. But it feels like coming home.”

Current cast members will also join in on the special. The roster will be: Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Michael Longfellow, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Devon Walker and Bowen Yang.

The star-studded celebration will be packed with a slew of A-listers.

Among the confirmed celebrities are Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson.

Mikey Day has hinted that “SNL 50” has been years in the making, sharing how big the celebration would be back in June 2023.

In an interview on “Today,” the comedian said executive producer Lorne Michaels was already preparing.

“Oh, my gosh, it’s going to be insane,” Day gushed. “I haven’t heard that much, but I know Lorne’s slowly putting it together.”

As far as potential guests, he teased, “I believe every famous person in the universe will be there. It’s wild.”

The last major “SNL” anniversary special aired in 2015 and celebrated the show’s 40-year legacy.

Sunday night’s special is the end of weekend-long programming celebrating the milestone.

On Friday, Peacock aired a special, “SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert,” a live concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, executive produced by Michaels and music producer Mark Ronson.

The show was hosted by Jimmy Fallon and included performances by Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Cher, Chris Martin, Dave Grohl, David Byrne, Devo, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, Snoop Dogg, St. Vincent, the B-52s, the Roots and Wyclef Jean.

On Saturday, NBC re-aired the very first episode of “SNL.”

The show was originally titled “NBC’s Saturday Night” and taped on Oct. 11, 1975.

Viewers can also watch the film titled “Saturday Night,” which followed the 90 minutes leading up to the first-ever live broadcast of the show.

However, not everyone on the show was a fan of the flick.

Chevy Chase told the director he shouldn’t be too proud of his work.

While on the “Fly on the Wall” podcast hosted by “SNL” alums Dana Carvey and David Spade, Jason Reitman shared what the 81-year-old actor said.

“So, Chevy comes in to watch the movie,” he recalled. “And he is there with [his wife] Jayni and they watch the film, and he’s in the group, and he comes up to me after and he pats me on the shoulder and goes, ‘Well, you should be embarrassed.’”

However, the crew was far from surprised.

Spade, 60, said with a laugh, “What an exact Chevy thing. You couldn’t even write it better.”

Max George says he had ‘second operation’ in major health update

The Wanted singer Max George has revealed he had a second operation weeks after getting fitted with a pacemaker after it caused a “flickering sensation” in his chest. The 36-year-old had the device, which helps control the heart rate, fitted in December.

Speaking to The Sun On Sunday, George said: “I thought I was on the road to recovery but when I was told I needed a second operation I was nervous, as pulling the pacemaker wires out of the heart wall risks bleeding on the heart. I didn’t have a choice, though. I had to have it done.”

He added: “I was trying to get back to good health but was still having a flickering sensation for weeks after I had my pacemaker fitted and it was gradually getting worse and worse. When my heart rate went up, it was causing a shock in my heart which was making me jump all the time. My chest was shaking.”

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George said he felt “really nervous” the night before the surgery, adding: “I didn’t sleep much. I was worried it could go wrong again and felt anxious that it could bleed out.”

He said he was not allowed to listen to music during the first operation, when he had the pacemaker fitted, but was able to during the second.

“Obviously an operation is a scary thing, but the music really helped and the nurse was reassuring,” he said. “Slide Away (Oasis) started to play and I tried to take myself into my own world. Afterwards I was just pleased it had gone successfully.”

George previously revealed he would be having a lung biopsy, a procedure that involves a small piece of lung tissue being removed and sent to a laboratory to be examined and checked for abnormal cells, according to the NHS.

Speaking about this, he said: “The doctor did warn me there is a small chance that I could lose my voice. That was pretty worrying, but I decided I needed to take the risk.

“The biopsy was pretty gnarly, it’s a camera with prongs on the end that goes down your throat. It was painful. The recovery was tough, I had chest pain and was coughing up blood for five days.”

The singer has also spoken about the support he has received from friends and family as well as his partner, Maisie Smith, whom he met while competing on Strictly Come Dancing.

“The worst part for me is seeing my parents go through this,” he said. “My mum has found it traumatic. I’ve tried to hold back from being upset in front of them. I feel helpless and responsible.

“It’s been lovely to have Maisie here with me at home. She got me an Apple watch for Christmas so I can monitor my heart rate.

“She’s been a great nurse and is very affectionate. Recovery has been a slow process, I’m trying to increase my walking every day – taking my dog Albert out and doing an hour on the treadmill daily. I was really fit before this all happened and now I’m the least fit I’ve ever been.”

Reflecting further on the health issues he has faced, he said: “It plays on my mind, why this happened to me. I had a full heart scan a year before for a TV show I was doing and it was fine, so it doesn’t make sense.

“I don’t drink alcohol and I don’t smoke, so it’s mind-boggling. It’s been four-and-a-half years since I last drank alcohol – it was life-changing for me, it just suited me better.

“Don’t get me wrong, sometimes when I’m down the pub watching football I am absolutely gasping for a pint, but I think it’s become a way of life now. Since this happened, though, I have thought, as long as I am balanced there is nothing wrong with me having a couple of pints of Guinness now and again. I have said to my dad that when I’m better we should go to the pub – I think I’ve earned it.”

The singer previously said his pacemaker was the “the best Christmas present” and shared a photo on Instagram of his scar. It sits just below a “special tattoo” on the left side of his chest that says 04/08/1998, in reference to the birthday of his late bandmate Tom Parker, who died in 2022.

Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper reuniting for new Doctor Who adventures

The pair first appeared in the beloved BBC sci-fi series in 2005 as The Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler respectively.

Eccleston left his role after one series, while Piper played Rose for another year alongside David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.

Related: Removed Doctor Who episode returns to BBC iPlayer following scandal

Twenty years after their short time on-screen together, the actors will reprise their roles for a brand new series of full-cast audio dramas from Big Finish Productions, the BBC has confirmed.

They will appear in 12 new hour-long episodes together, which are due to start being released from August 2025.

Addressing the news, 28 Days Later star Eccleston said he was “so happy” to be recording more adventures with his former co-star.

“I don’t think my Doctor exists without Rose,” he said. “He’s a ‘one man, one companion’ kind of alien.

“We’ve explored him on his own at Big Finish, as a loner. But there’s a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose, that’s why I do this. They complete each other.”

Related: Doctor Who star confirms character mystery will be solved very soon

Scoop actor Billie added that she “can’t think of a better time” for Rose to reunite with “her first Doctor.”

“Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe – and the monsters – together,” she continued.

Producer Matt Fitton teased what fans can expect from the new series, titled Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures.

“Twenty years after the Ninth Doctor and Rose burst onto our screens, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are back with that brilliant dynamic – the Doctor showing Rose the universe, and Rose showing him the best of humanity,” he began.

Related: Doctor Who boss shares disappointing response to popular fan hope

“Across twelve episodes, slotting neatly into that 2005 series, we have more Jackie Tyler, more Powell Estate, plus friends and enemies old and new through time and space.

“Our writers have done an amazing job recapturing the spirit of that very special season, and Chris and Billie have embraced these scripts with delight and gusto.

“They’re having a blast, back on that trip of a lifetime – and they sound fantastic!”

Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures can be pre-ordered on CD and download or download only from bigfinish.com.

Nirvana reunite, enlist Post Malone for vocals for ‘SNL50’ concert

Nirvana came back together Friday night, but with a new vocalist filling in for Kurt Cobain.

Post Malone joined the surviving members of the seminal grunge band for an electric performance of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” at SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The “Sunflower” singer played guitar and delivered an intense vocal performance alongside bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Dave Grohl, and touring guitarist Pat Smear.

Adam Sandler, who was a cast member on SNL when Nirvana first performed on the show in 1991, introduced the musicians. “These next guys played while my cast was there, and it was an explosive moment for all of us,” Sandler said. “It changed it all. Three guys rockin’ out in a way no one had ever seen before, led by a young badass who we will never forget. But the music will live on forever. Ladies and gentlemen: Post Nirvana.”

Nirvana’s first SNL appearance saw the band play “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Territorial Pissings.” They returned to the show in 1993 to perform “Heart-Shaped Box” and “Rape Me.”

Grohl has returned to the show nine times with his band Foo Fighters. Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear also reunited alongside Paul McCartney to perform the song “Cut Me Some Slack,” which they wrote with the former Beatle, on SNL in 2012.

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Malone is a lifelong Nirvana fan, having recorded a song called “Kurt Cobain,” and he has performed the band’s music on numerous occasions throughout his career. In 2016, he covered “Lithium” from Nevermind at Coachella during an impromptu set with producer Andrew Watt. He also sang “All Apologies” from In Utero at a Boston show in 2017.

Most notably, Malone performed 15 of the band’s songs during a 2020 livestream that raised funds for COVID-19 relief. His set list included tracks like “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Drain You,” and “Something in the Way.”

Novoselic reacted to the livestream in real time on social media. “So proud of @PostMalone and crew,” he wrote. “I don’t think these fellows can play any better. They are on fire!!!!”

Courtney Love, who was married to Cobain until his death in 1994, also praised Malone’s set. “GOOSEBUMPS! F— YES. Go have a margarita, @postmalone. Nothing but love from here,” she wrote at the time.

Novoselic, Grohl, and Smear also reunited at the FireAid concert in Los Angeles last month, performing “Breed” with St. Vincent, “School” with Kim Gordon, and “Territorial Pissings” with Joan Jett. All three women had previously performed with the band at their 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The group ended their four-song set at that show with “All Apologies,” featuring vocals from Grohl’s 18-year-old daughter, Violet.