Entertainment

If you don’t have a fireplace for you and the kids to gather ’round this holiday season, Disney+ has you covered with another Frozen-inspired Yule log.

Inspired by her work on Frozen 2 — particularly the charades scene — as well as her work on Myth: A Frozen Tale, Disney artist Brittney Lee used the ancient art of paper cutting to bring this year’s pyrotechnic production to life. So Disney fans can cozy up by the fire with Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven — and some snow courtesy of Elsa — to help set the mood.

Lee says of the annual project, “I sort of knew that it was out there, that it had been worked on, but I had no idea that it was pretty popular with people, you know, I had no clue.”

“So it was exciting to hear that and to then have the pressure of like, ‘Well, I shouldn’t screw this up!” she says with a laugh. “We better do this right! Better do it justice for its third year!”

Lee says of the unique medium, “When most of our time is spent in front of screens now, I like to have the time to be touching something and be working with something that I can feel and sort of mold and not be looking at a screen. So that’s part of why I just enjoy it so much.”

She adds, “I think there is also an element of fantasy and sort of drawing you in, especially with the pieces that have depth, the feeling of looking into something. There’s something magical about that!”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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The trailer for the star-studded murder mystery film Death on the Nile has been released.

The film, based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also reprises his role as detective Hercule Poirot from 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express.

While on an Egyptian vacation aboard a luxury river steamer, Poirot finds himself at the center of a murder mystery where all the passengers could be suspects.

The ensemble cast includes Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Gal Gadot, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright. It also features embattled actor Armie Hammer, who shot the film before sexual assault allegations surfaced against him earlier this year. While Hammer denied the allegations, he was dropped by his agents and exited numerous TV and movie projects.

Death on the Nile was previously made into a 1978 film also featuring what was then an all-star cast.

Death on the Nile is from 20th Century Studios, which is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News. The film hits theaters February 11.

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Tom Daley grabbed headlines for two reasons at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He won his first gold medal for diving, and he also would knit between events.

The British Olympian told ABC Audio he “never” anticipated to be recognized for his knitting over his diving — especially since he’s been doing one much longer than the other.

“I’ve only been doing [knitting] for 18 months now, but it was something that I found that was my mindfulness… It was my way of just being able to have a healthy distraction where I could just be completely present and in the moment,” Daley explained.

The 27-year-old is thrilled his passion has inspired others to pick up his hobby, and has launched Made With Love by Tom Daley, where he sends knit kits — complete with yarn, needles and instructions — to those who want to learn how to make their own handmade crafts.

Tom understands learning a new skill takes time and practice, so he urges those who are struggling with not to give up, because “the satisfaction of being able to make something for someone else” is worth the wait. 

That said, the athlete firmly believes that there is one “old-fashioned” skill everyone should know — no excuses.  “Everybody should know how to cook,” he remarked, and noted that everyone should have at least one hobby because “everybody should be able to have that little moment of escape.”  

Inspiring others to try new things also gave him the idea to broaden his scope and learn other “old-fashioned” activities via Daley’s new Pinterest series, Tom Tries, where individuals from the baby boomer generation teach him skills such as bonsai tree gardening, pottery and more.  It airs Wednesdays at 6 p.m. ET on Pinterest TV.

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Sunday’s premiere episode of the Yellowstone prequel 1883 wrangled some big ratings for Paramount+.

The series, starring Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, broke the record for the most-watched original series premiere ever on the streaming service. It also delivered 4.9 million total viewers during its special airing on Paramount Network following Yellowstone, making it the biggest new series premiere on cable since 2015.

Created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan, 1883 centers on America’s often brutal westward expansion, following the Dutton clan “as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America…Montana.”

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

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The Broadway lights are permanently going dark for the Alanis Morissette musical Jagged Little Pill, based on her landmark 1995 album of the same name.

Amid the new COVID-19 surge caused by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, producers confirmed the sad news on Tuesday.

“We are dismayed by what appears to be another substantial public health crisis, and – due to the detection of multiple positive Covid-19 cases within the company – need to prioritize the health and safety of the cast, crew, and entire team working on Jagged Little Pill,” the statement read. “In light of the extreme uncertainty ahead of us this winter, and forced to choose between continuing performances and protecting our company, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our doors.”

The producers assured the two-time Tony Award-winning musical will live on by other means and referenced a production that recently opened in Australia.  “We also hope and intend to find a way to bring this vibrant and vitalizing musical back to the Broadway stage, once the current crisis is past, but at this time we are in the unfortunate position to determine Friday, December 17, 2021 as the final Broadway performance of Jagged Little Pill,” they added.

Jagged Little Pill is currently the only musical to permanently dim its lights on the Great White Way amid this new COVID-19 surge, but other musicals have announced temporary closures, including Hamilton, Aladdin, Hadestown and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

pic.twitter.com/E6sRyQ5aK9

— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) December 20, 2021

Important information regarding performances through December 24. Please visit https://t.co/RhcWqZ6LMo for more information pic.twitter.com/iZtbmPLmah

— Aladdin the Musical (@aladdin) December 20, 2021

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— Hadestown (@hadestown) December 21, 2021

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Harry Potter on Stage US (@cursedchildus)

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The Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala, set to take place in-person at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 6, has been canceled for the second straight year “out of an abundance of caution” over COVID-19 concerns and the Omicron variant of the virus, the Palm Springs International Film Society announced in a statement on Monday. “The Palm Springs Film Awards are one of the largest events in the film world with 2,500 guests and more than 1,000 staff in the room.” Instead, the statement continues, “The Film Awards will partner with Entertainment Tonight to celebrate this year’s honorees with details to follow…We hope to return to the Film Awards to an in-person event in 2023.” The screening portion of the Palm Springs International Film Festival will take place January 7 through January 17, 2022…

The official trailer for Euphoria‘s anxiously-awaited second season dropped on Monday, offering a peek at what’s on tap for the show’s main characters. In the aftermath of her relapse, Zendaya‘s Rue gets mixed up in a dangerous drug-dealing scheme, creating new concerns for Jules, played by Hunter Schafer. Meanwhile, Nate and Cassie — played respectively by Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney — enter into a dangerous relationship, while Alexa Demie‘s Maddy wonders how sexy she’d look pregnant and Fez — portrayed by Angus Cloud — is also troubled by Rue’s “amazing plan.” Euphoria season 2 premieres January 9 on HBO… (Trailer contains uncensored profanity.)

Bravo on Monday released a teaser trailer for The Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s 12th season, the tone of which is perfectly set up by its soundtrack — Bananarama‘s 1983 hit, “Cruel Summer” — which plays under a montage of heated exchanges between between cast members Teresa Giudice, Margaret Josephs, Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Jennifer Aydin and Jackie Goldschneider. Traci Johnson, wife of former NFL star Tiki Barber – long-rumored to be a new Housewife, according to Entertainment Tonight — joins the group as a “friend of.” The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 12 premieres February 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo…(Trailer contains censored profanity.)

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Jeff Garlin, who exited the The Goldbergs last week following multiple misconduct allegations, will reportedly continue to appear in the show’s current season through the magic of editing.

The plan for now is that Garlin will appear on the ABC sitcom through the use of off-camera dialogue pulled from earlier episodes and unused takes, as well as previously shot images of Garlin, sources tell Variety. There won’t be deep fake images, nor any face replacement. Garlin will continue to appearon the show in some form for now, which means the actor will continue to be paid, even though he technically won’t be working, Variety reports.

Garlin will not film any new episodes of The Goldbergs, but his stand-in has already been used, shot from the back, in group scenes since his departure, adds the industry trade. Additionally, Garlin’s stand-in has appeared in promotional materials for the show in the past, with the actor’s head superimposed on the other man’s body.

Garlin has played the character of Murray since The Goldbergs premiered in 2013. However, over the years, his character has become less central to the ABC sitcom, with Garlin working only one day a week this season, according to Variety.

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Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon have issued a statement addressing allegations against their co-star Chris Noth. 

On Monday, the stars of the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That…, released the same statement on their respective Instagram Stories, expressing their support for the victims accusing Noth of sexual assault. 

“We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth,” the statement reads. “We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences. We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we comment them for it.”

The statement comes after detailed stories from two women accusing the 67-year-old actor of sexual assault was published last week. The two women — one now 40, and another, now 31 — “approached The Hollywood Reporter separately” and claimed that the actor allegedly forced himself on them. The incidents allegedly took place, respectively, in Los Angeles in 2004 and in New York in 2015. 

Since the allegations emerged, Peloton dropped its brand new advert starring Noth, and most recently, he was dropped from the CBS series The Equalizer.

CBS and Universal Television said in a statement on Monday, “Chris Noth will no longer film additional episodes of The Equalizer, effective immediately.”

The Law & Order star has denied the accusations, explaining in a statement, “The encounters were consensual. The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago, are categorically false.”

“These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago — no always means no — that is a line I did not cross,” he continued. “It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”

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Oscar winner Halle Berry received the People’s Choice Icon Award on December 7, and her “choice” for who’s “Up Next” in Hollywood is the female star of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Zendaya.

“She’s wildly talented, young and already has an Emmy,” the 55-year-old actress tells Variety. “I see her as an actress who will fight to be greater than her beauty. She’s not relying on it. I can’t wait to see all the ways that she will surprise us and defy her beauty with her talent.”

The 25-year-old Dune star is humbled by Berry’s praise. “Incredibly honored,” Zendaya says. “She’s always taken the time to stop and talk to me — and share love and words of encouragement. It means the world to me.”

In other news, Taraji P. Henson celebrated the 20th anniversary of her 2001 breakout film, Baby Boy, directed by the late John Singleton, by posting her audition with her co-star, Tyrese, on Instagram. She portrayed Yvette, the main love interest of Jody, played by Tyrese. The coming-of-age film set, in South Central Los Angeles, also featured Snoop Dogg, Ving Rhames, Omar Gooding and AJ Johnson.

In the one-minute clip, Yvette accused Jody of cheating, slaps him and kicks him out.

“OMG!! Our #BabyBoy audition @tyrese The movie that changed it ALL!!,” the Oscar nominee commented. “I remember this like it was yesterday…And of course, RIP to the one and only John Singleton.”

Finally, The Jasmine Brand reports that Real Husbands of Hollywood is returning February 10, 2022 on BET+. Now titled Real Husbands of Hollywood — More Kevin, More Problems, the original stars are back, including Kevin Hart, Nick Cannon, Boris Kodjoe, Duane Martin, J.B. Smoove, Nelly and Robin Thicke.

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Bradley Cooper may have been the one person out of a hundred in the room that believed in Lady Gaga, as she’s often said, but she believes in him, too. She took to Twitter specifically to promote his new movie, Nightmare Alley.

“Nightmare Alley is an amazing film with an amazing cast, congratulations to [director Guillermo del Toro],” she wrote, “Bradley is spectacular, Cate [Blanchett] and Rooney [Mara] beyond powerful!I loved it so much. Go see it!”

The psychological thriller stars Cooper as Stan, a con man who takes a job with a traveling carnival.

Nightmare Alley could use Gaga’s help: Despite being directed by an Oscar-winner, getting solid reviews and featuring a star-studded cast that — in addition to Cooper, Mara and Blanchett — also includes Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins and David Strathairn, the movie only earned $2.95 million over its opening weekend.

Fans praised Gaga for standing by her A Star Is Born director and co-star, but others seem to be obsessed with the idea of Gaga working with Blanchett at some point.

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