By MARK KENNEDY, AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — When Cheslie Kryst won the Miss USA crown, it marked more than a personal triumph: It meant that for the first time, three black women are the reigning Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America. The North Carolina lawyer completed the historic triple Thursday […]
Author Archives: Mark Kennedy
AP Drama Writer
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, TV and Film
Review: ‘Creed II’ Goes More Than the Distance. It’s a KO
By MARK KENNEDY, AP Entertainment Writer The weight of legacy hangs heavily over “Creed II.” Not just for most of the characters, who must come to grips with their own family histories. But also for the filmmakers, tasked with making a sequel to a successful spin-off of a beloved franchise. It would put any film on […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Fox Invites Viewers ‘Inside’ the Mind of O.J. Simpson
NEW YORK (AP) — Fox TV is offering viewers a chance to go “inside” O.J. Simpson’s head when it airs a previously unseen 2006 interview in which he theorizes about what happened the night his ex-wife was murdered. Airing Sunday, “O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?” will include the ex-football star’s fictionalized “confession” to the 1994 […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
John Mellencamp Takes a Knee for Black Lives Matter
NEW YORK (AP) — Just days before the Super Bowl, John Mellencamp sank to his knees in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after performing a political ballad on the “Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” FILE – In this Sept. 22, 2014 file photo, singer-songwriter John Mellencamp poses for a portrait to promote his […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Producer of Live Events Drops Ties to Tavis Smiley
NEW YORK (AP) — Tavis Smiley’s career has taken another hit as live producer Mills Entertainment pulled out of backing the TV host’s theatrical production focusing on the last year of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. Tavis Smiley presents the founders award at the 33rd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards at the Dolby Ballroom on […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
John Legend on Fatherhood: ‘You Want People to have Justice’
NEW YORK (AP) — The Nobel Peace Prize winners will be serenaded by John Legend on Monday and for that they can thank Legend’s infant daughter — and a second baby on the way. FILE – In this June 30, 2017 file photo, John Legend performs at the 2017 Essence Festival at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Sonja Sohn, ‘The Wire’ Star, Makes Documentary ‘Baltimore Rising’
NEW YORK (AP) — Sonja Sohn has gone from being in front of the camera to behind it. The actress, who played a Baltimore detective on “The Wire,” has become a documentary filmmaker and her debut offering is a powerful look at her beloved adopted city. In this Nov. 14, 2017 photo, Sonja Sohn poses […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Ludacris Promises ‘A Lot of Tears’ on YouTube Music Series
NEW YORK (AP) — Ludacris is hoping the new music competition series he’s hosting on YouTube will take an aspiring artist and “catapult them to superstardom.” The “Money Maker” rapper is host of “Best.Cover.Ever,” which pairs budding musicians with established stars for a shot at performing a duet on the online giant. The 10-episode series […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, InstantArticles
Sasheer Zamata Finds Her Voice Away from ‘SNL’ in New Show
FILE – In this Aug. 28, 2016 file photo, Sasheer Zamata arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York. Zamata, a former member of the Upright Citizens Brigade who plays a mean Beyonce and Rihanna on “SNL,” is debuting her first special, called “Pizza Mind,” on the internet platform Seeso on Thursday, March […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Drake’s New CD ‘More Life’ Breaks a New Streaming Record
NEW YORK (AP) — Drake, who was the most streamed act on Spotify last year, has started 2017 strong — his new album, “More Life,” has broken the U.S. record for the number of online streams from a single album in one week. FILE – In this Oct. 8, 2016 file photo, Drake performs onstage […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Mike Tyson Suffers Rare Loss in Noisy Latin America Bout
NEW YORK (AP) — Over his career, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson recorded 50 wins and six losses. But he recently notched another big loss in Latin America — this time as a coach of a bird. Tyson traveled to Suriname as part of the new Fusion TV documentary series “Outpost ” and was soundly […]
Posted inInstantArticles
Obama Returns to Broadway to See Arthur Miller’s ‘The Price’
NEW YORK (AP) — The Obamas just can’t quit Broadway. Former President Barack Obama and his daughter Malia Obama have caught a new revival of Arthur Miller’s “The Price.” They attended the play starring Danny DeVito, Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub and Jessica Hecht at the American Airlines Theatre on Friday. FILE – In this April […]