Entertainment

The devastating wildfires still raging in the Los Angeles area have brought about several new changes and updates to the 2025 awards season.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced more updates to its 97th annual Oscars season on Monday, including an extension to its voting period and shifting the date of the Oscars nominations announcement.

The Oscars nominations voting period has been extended through Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. PT, while the nominations announcement will now take place on Jan. 23 at 5:30 a.m. PT. The Academy also canceled its Oscars Nominees Luncheon, which was previously scheduled for Feb. 10.

The Scientific and Technical Awards, which were originally set for Feb. 18, will be rescheduled for an unspecified, later date.

The 97th Oscars ceremony is still scheduled for March 2 as originally planned.

“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community. The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement. “Due to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members.”

Additionally, The Recording Academy has announced that the 2025 Grammys will still take place on Feb. 2.

The live telecast of the awards ceremony, which will take place in LA, will raise funds to support wildfire relief efforts for the city.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Board of Trustees Chair Tammy Hurt said in a letter to Recording Academy members. “In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else. The GRAMMYs will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.”

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Ryan Dorsey is remembering his late ex-wife, Naya Rivera, on her birthday, over four years after her death at age 33.

The Big Sky actor took to Instagram on Sunday to share a poem he wrote to Rivera, who died in an accidental drowning while swimming in Lake Piru in Southern California in July 2020.

“Happy Heavenly Birthday,” Dorsey began his post. “5 birthdays since you’ve been gone. Thoughts everyday about how it went wrong. The memories attached to places, Still see all the things, see all our faces.”

“Visions of happiness and sadness, 15 years flash by when I hear a certain song. I shake my head often still in disbelief, They say time heals all, but all is not grief,” Dorsey continued.

Next, Dorsey shared his commitment to the pair’s son, 9-year-old Josey Hollis Dorsey.

“Doing the best I can for our JoJo Binx, As the time goes by, Im often alone and sit and think. I think more of our better times, Like this picture from the past, but it still f****** stings,” he wrote.

Dorsey concluded his tribute, “So give Emmy and Lucy one good rub, And if you’re reading this, Be kind to the one’s you love, You’ll never know when you give your last hug.”

Dorsey and Rivera were married for four years before divorcing in 2018.

At the time of her death, the Glee actress was alone on a boat with her son, who was then 4 years old. Josey told authorities that he and his mother went for a swim and that afterward, he got back in the boat, but his mother did not.

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The release date for Meghan Markle‘s new lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, has been pushed back due to the wildfires in Southern California. 

On Sunday, Netflix announced it was moving the lifestyle show’s original Jan. 15 release date to a new date of March 4. 

The delay was made “at the request” of the Duchess of Sussex, according to the announcement, and supported by the streamer “due to the ongoing devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires.” 

“I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” read a statement from Markle. 

Netflix released a trailer for the upcoming show in January. It featured Markle baking in the kitchen, designing flower arrangements at home and sharing moments with famous friends including Mindy Kaling and Roy Choi. 

The new show “blends practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old,” the release states.

 In each episode of the series, “we join Meghan in the kitchen, garden — and even at the beehive — as she prepares to host friends both old and new,” according to the release. 

“Whether Meghan is sharing personal tips and tricks, or taking the opportunity to learn something new, it’s a time for connection,” it says of the show, which is produced by the Duchess of Sussex. 

The Los Angeles County wildfires have burned through tens of thousands of acres, leveling homes, businesses and landmarks. 

Several awards season events — including the 2025 Oscar nominations and multiple LA-based television shows — have been affected by the fires, which have left at least 16 people dead and many more injured as of Sunday.

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Will Ferrell has explained why he appeared in costume as Buddy the Elf at a Los Angeles Kings game in December. “That was just — I get these weird ideas every now and then,” Ferrell said while guesting on the New Heights podcast. “I said, ‘Gosh, over the break, it’d be funny if I just got a Buddy the Elf costume and didn’t shave for like a week and I’m just sitting there with a candy cigarette — it’s just a candy cigarette! — and I’m just gonna sit there for a period and see how people react,’” he recalled. “And that was it.” …

Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho‘s latest movie, Mickey 17, will premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Deadline confirmed that the film, which stars Robert Pattinson as a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize an ice world in space, will premiere at the festival, but that it will likely have a South Korean premiere prior to the festival …

Warwick Davis is going to be awarded the BAFTA Fellowship, the British Academy’s highest honor. The Star Wars and Harry Potter actor will receive the honor at the BAFTA film awards on Feb. 16. “I accept this Fellowship in honor of everyone living with dwarfism or any form of difference, reminding us that our uniqueness can be our greatest asset,” Davis said. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this incredible honor. I look forward to continuing to champion fresh perspectives, advocate for better representation, and inspire the next generation of storytellers to dream big.” …

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Den of Thieves 2: Pantera sneaks to the #1 spot at the weekend box office, according to Box Office Mojo.

The heist film, the sequel to 2018’s Den of Thieves, hauls in a getaway of $15.5 million in its debut week. A pair of former #1s, Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, come in second and third place with a respective $13.2 million and $11 million.

The horror movie Nosferatu scares up an extra $6.8 million for fourth place, while Moana 2 lands in fifth with $6.5 million.

Here are the top 10 film at the box office:

1. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera – $15.5 million
2. Mufasa: The Lion King – $13.2 million
3. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – $11 million
4. Nosferatu - $6.8 million
5. Moana 2 – $6.5 million
6. Wicked – $5 million
7. A Complete Unknown – $5 million
8. Babygirl – $3.1 million
9. Game Changer – $2.1 million
10. The Last Showgirl - $1.46 million

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Timothée Chalamet is going to pull double duty on Saturday Night Live.

The actor will host and perform as the musical guest on the Jan. 25 episode of the sketch comedy show. While it’s unknown if Chalamet will sing as Bob Dylan during the broadcast, the announcement comes after he was nominated for a Golden Globe for playing the singer in the biopic A Complete Unknown.

The first show of 2025 will be hosted by Dave Chappelle on Jan. 18 with musical guest GloRilla. This will be Chappelle’s fourth time hosting the program, while Chalamet will mark his third hosting gig and first time as musical guest.

SNL made the announcement in a post shared to its social media on Friday.

“first 2 shows of the year!” SNL captioned the post.

The hosting announcements come as SNL prepares for its 50th anniversary celebration. SNL50: The Anniversary Special, a live primetime special, debuts on Feb. 16, while the four-part docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night comes to Peacock on Jan. 16.

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Cue the wedding bells!

A Wheel of Fortune contestant received the surprise of her life when her boyfriend popped the question on the set of the hit game show.

Rhea Susan Mathew returned to play Wheel of Fortune under the assumption that she was there to celebrate the longtime show’s 50th anniversary, as co-host Vanna White explained in a behind-the-scenes YouTube video.

In the video, Mathew solves a phrase puzzle with the correct answer of “Will you marry me?” before the show’s set opens up and her boyfriend, Robin Kuriakose, steps out.

When Mathew starts connecting the dots, her eyes grow wide and her jaw falls open before she approaches her boyfriend and he gets down on one knee.

“Rhea Susan Mathew, will your marry me?” he asks as he holds out an engagement ring.

Mathew, with her hands over her mouth in shock, nods yes before the couple share a kiss.

In a behind-the-scenes Instagram video post, Mathew told Wheel of Fortune social correspondent Maggie Sajak she had no idea her now-fiancé, whom she described as “one of her biggest supporters,” would propose on set.

“I”m still in shock,” she said.

Kuriakose added, “I’m so happy that she got this moment, so thank you guys all for accommodating us and making it happen.”

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Hoda Kotb hosted her final episode of Today on Friday.

The host celebrated 17 years as part of the NBC morning program in what was dubbed as a Hoda-bration.

The on-air celebration included special goodbye messages from fellow NBC News personalities Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Keith Morrison and Maria Shriver. Celebrities Jamie Lee Curtis, Oprah Winfrey and Simone Biles also paid tribute to Kotb by sharing goodbye messages.

“I know what making this decision feels like,” Winfrey told Kotb. “I want to assure you that yes, you have made the right move, even though it was hard to do.”

Kotb’s longtime former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford also returned to the studio to send her off with a special toast. Large glasses of wine were brought out for Kotb, Gifford and the other current host of Today‘s fourth hour, Jenna Bush Hager.

“May you walk into the most joyful, prosperous, purposeful time in your life with those precious daughters that I watched come into your life, what a blessing that was,” Gifford said in her goodbye toast.

To top off the special broadcast, Kermit the Frog appeared in studio to sing “Rainbow Connection” to Kotb, who cried and sang along. Kotb’s daughters sat on her lap during the performance.

She ended her final broadcast as permanent host of the program by thanking the fans.

“Can I say thank you to every person who came out here? I read your cards, I got your bracelets, I got the scarves you crocheted, I read the texts, I got everything,” Kotb said. “So, I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for coming out, for being here, and for everything you did. I love you!”

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CBS has postponed the premiere of the revamped Hollywood Squares due to the devastating wildfires raging in Southern California, according to Variety. The show, which features Drew Barrymore in the center square, was originally scheduled to air Thursday night. It will now premiere on Jan. 16. Insiders told Variety it felt inappropriate to air such a lighthearted show at this time …

Colman Domingo has landed a role in Edgar Wright‘s reimagining of The Running Man. Deadline reports that Domingo will play the host of the world’s most dangerous game show in the new Paramount film, which will be based on the 1982 novel by Stephen King. It was previously announced that Glen Powell will play the titular role in the film, with a cast that also includes Josh Brolin, Karl Glusman, Katy O’Brian and Daniel Ezra. The Running Man is set to release on Nov. 7 …

A Complete Unknown, The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two and Wicked are among the films nominated for the Art Directors Guild’s 29th annual Excellence in Production Design Awards, the guild announced Thursday. A Complete Unknown and The Brutalist are nominated in the period feature film category, while Dune: Part Two and Wicked find themselves in the fantasy category, respectively. All the winners will be announced in a ceremony in LA on Feb. 15 …

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Get ready for more ghostly haunts with Goosebumps: The Vanishing.

The new season of the anthology series arrives on Disney+ and Hulu on Friday. David Schwimmer stars as Anthony Brewer, a recently divorced botanist whose twin children come to live with him just as dark secrets reveal a spooky mystery.

Schwimmer told ABC Audio it was incredibly fun to join such an iconic franchise.

“I didn’t realize just how loved this series is because I was 25 when it came out, so I didn’t grow up with the books,” Schwimmer said. “Of course, I had heard of Goosebumps and I saw the first [TV] series … but I just didn’t know how many people love the series and are looking forward to it.”

He found acting in a project full of “fun frights” to be really enjoyable and said that, luckily, he doesn’t scare easily.

“I really love going to scary movies and especially seeing them in a movie theater. Although, I think this series, if you turn off the lights at home and watch it, or, you know, stream it on whatever device … I think it’ll be equally satisfying and equally scary,” Schwimmer said. “You can always pause it if you need to shake it off, you know what I mean? I’m guilty of doing that on occasion, watching a scary movie at home.”

Even though he says he’s been known to pause a scary movie and “just take five” minutes to collect himself before starting it back up, Schwimmer says he’ll always finish watching it.

“I do like a good scare,” he said. 

All eight episodes of Goosebumps: The Vanishing will be available to watch on Disney+ and Hulu on Jan. 10.

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