Amazon MGM Studios got to unwrap a Christmas gift early this year: The streaming numbers are in, and Eddie Murphy‘s holiday film, Candy Cane Lane,had the studio’s biggest debut yet.
Released December 1, the movie is in the top slot worldwide on Prime Video and among the top 10 worldwide movie debuts on the service ever.
Candy Cane Lane also earned the highest reported viewership among streaming movie releases for the weekend ending December 3, in both free streaming and paid video on demand.
The film has Eddie Murphy playing a dad so determined to win his street’s Christmas lights display that he falls in with Jillian Bell‘s mischievous elf named Pepper, whose assist comes with a holiday threatening curse.
Director Reginald Hudlin told ABC Audio that all the flowers for the film’s success belong to leads Eddie and Tracee Ellis Ross, who plays Eddie’s spouse. They partner with a team of tiny magical characters —voiced by Chris Redd and Nick Offerman, among others — to save Christmas.
“You know, two of the most talented comedians finally together for the first time, their chemistry is ‘click,'” Hudlin enthuses. “You believe them as a couple. You believe them as parents.”
Hudlin adds, “They make the most implausible situations they’re in, ‘You go, okay, I believe they’re talking to who they’re talking to.’ As crazy as this is, they maintain a grounded reality that is hilarious throughout the entire film.”
XochitlGomez is reflecting on her big Dancing with the Stars win with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
“It feels crazy,” she told Good Morning America Wednesday, the morning after she and Chmerkovskiy took home the first Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy on season 32, adding that the reality of it all hasn’t fully sunk in for her yet.
Gomez, who played America Chavez in 2022’s hit Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, admitted she never envisioned herself making it this far in the competition, to which Chmerkovskiy hilariously chimed it was “disrespectful” to him.
“It wasn’t you, it was me, bruh,” she replied.
All jokes aside, Chmerkovskiy said it “feels amazing” to have now won the show three times. He also praised everyone who helps bring their dances to life each week and “make the numbers look as beautiful” as they do.
“This season’s been a blast and we feel so grateful,” he added.
Kimmel and Lear with ‘Live In Front of a Studio Audience’ cast — Eric Mccandless/ABC via Getty Images
The word of Norman Lear‘s death is reverberating through Hollywood, with stars publicly mourning the passing of the TV titan, who died of natural causes at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday.
George Clooney noted, “It’s hard to reconcile that at 101 years old, Norman Lear is gone too soon. The entire world of reason just lost its greatest advocate and our family lost a dear friend.”
Jimmy Kimmel, who collaborated with Lear to bring live adaptations of Lear’s shows All in the Family and Good Times, among others, said, “It is obviously silly to want more time with a person who outlived a whole century but losing Norman Lear, even at 101 years old, feels unfair.”
“His bravery, integrity and unmatched moral compass were equaled by his kindness, empathy, and wit,” Kimmel continued, noting, “The privilege of working alongside Norman and the opportunity he gave me and my wife to get to know him and his beautiful family has been among the great honors and pleasures of my life.”
Billy Crystal called Lear “a giant” and “a man of great humor and dignity,” noting their nearly-50-year friendship was “a blessing.”
Rob Reiner called the producer his “second father,” expressing, “I loved Norman Lear with all my heart.”
Jane Fonda noted Lear “changed the face and soul of American comedy.”
Tyler Perry called the producer “one of my heroes” and expressed that Lear’s shows “were the only thing that brought laughter and joy to me as a child, who was living a daily nightmare.”
For its part, ABC Entertainment mourned the “icon and the brilliant mind behind countless timely and meaningful shows that were full of heart and humor,” adding, “Norman, we thank you for the beautiful stories that have transformed our industry and for making us laugh along the way.”
In an Instagram Story, Ryan Reynolds — and co-star Hugh Jackman, more on that in a second — pleaded with photographers not to spoil scenes from Deadpool 3 by creeping into their shooting locations.
Reynolds began the message saying, “Surprises are part of the magic of theatrical movies. It’s important for us to shoot the new DEADPOOL film in real natural environments using practical effects as opposed to making the movie indoors and digitally.”
He continued, “Telephoto lenses continue to spoil surprises and create difficult situation for everyone. Here’s hoping some of the websites and social channels hold back from showing images before they’re ready.”
Ryan pleaded, “The film is built for audience joy and our highest hope is to preserve as much of that magic as possible for the finished film and the big screen. Part of the reason people post spoilers is because they’re excited.”
He added, “I realize these aren’t real world issues and it’s firmly in the ‘good problems’ bucket,” before closing with: “I love making this movie.”
For his part, Hugh Jackman copied the same note, but he crossed out “DEADPOOL” and corrected it to read, “What he said, but it’s a new WOLVERINE movie.”
As reported, Jackman is back in action as fan favorite X-Men member Logan/Wolverine in the third Deadpool film, both characters’ first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Deadpool 3 hits theaters July 26 from 20th Century Studios, which, like ABC News, is owned by Disney.
Former Dancing with the Stars pro Mark Ballas and his wife, singer/songwriter BC Jean welcomed their first child together, a son, on November 5, 2023.
“Welcome to Earth my son Banksi Wylde Ballas 11 / 5 / 23,” Ballas shared on Tuesday, December 5, alongside a photo of the baby grabbing onto his mother’s thumb, and Ballas’ cupping his wife’s hand.
Jean, 36, shared the same pic on her Instagram with the caption, “Banksi Wylde Ballas
Joined us earthside 11•5•23.”
“Happy one month sweet boy You are so loved,” the “If I Were a Boy” songwriter added.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2016, received well wishes from from a number of his DWTS family, as well as his season 31 partner Charli D’Amelio, who wrote, “CONGRATULATIONS!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU BOTH!”
“Ohhhhh simply the best!!! Congratulations!!” Duck Dynasty star Korie Robertson added.
Ballas, 37, and Jean, 36, announced they were expecting in June, a year after revealing they suffered a miscarriage.
Apple TV+ has renewed its sprawling sci-fi series Foundation for a third season. Based on Isaac Asimov‘s seminal book, and starring Lee Pace and Jared Harris, Lou Llobell, and Leah Harvey, the second season of the show debuted July 14. Showrunner and executive producer David S. Goyer said in a statement, “I’m thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue chronicling Asimov’s pioneering galactic saga.” He hints of the third season, “This time, the stakes for Foundation and Empire are even higher as the Mule takes center stage, along with fan-favorites Bayta, Toran, Ebling, and Magnifico Giganticus.”…
HBO’s Max has revealed it has renewed the spin-off Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake for a second season. Based on characters from the beloved, Emmy-winning Adventure Time franchise, “the series is set in the land of Ooo and follows the alternate universe versions of Finn and Jake on a multiverse-hopping journey towards self-discovery,” the streamer notes. In a statement, Executive Vice President, Original Comedy and Adult Animation, Max and Adult Swim, Suzanna Makkos trumpeted, “As proud stewards of the beloved Adventure Time brand, we have been delighted to dig deeper into the world through the Fionna and Cake lens. We look forward to following them on the next chapter of their journey!”…
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has been renewed for three more seasons, carrying it through its 13th season in 2026, HBO announced on Tuesday, December 5. The show — which takes a comical look at political social, and cultural issues — has received 26 Emmys since its premiere in 2014. “We’re very happy to get to keep making this show with our fantastic staff,” host John Oliver said in a statement. “We will continue trying to stretch the term ‘entertainment’ to the breaking point”…
Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance will return for its 18th season March 4, with a new team of judges. Former Dancing with the Stars pros Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy and former SYTYCD contestant Comfort Fedoke will join Nigel Lythgoe at the judges table. Kat Deeley will return as host…
Norman Lear, one of the most prolific producers in television history, has died at 101.
Lear’s official website confirmed the news, saying “Lear transformed television and shaped American culture” — and that’s not hyperbole.
Lear shepherded television classics like All in the Family and its spin-offs Maude and The Jeffersons, as well as hits like Sanford and Son and Good Times.
When Lear turned 100 in 2022, much of Hollywood turned out to celebrate his life and legacy, with the special Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Lear dropped out of Boston’s Emerson College in 1942 to join the military, serving in the Mediterranean theater in World War II as a B-17 radio operator and gunner. He flew 52 combat missions, for which he was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.
He was discharged from the Army, and in 1950, his television career began. He and his writing partner Ed Simmons got a job writing for The Ford Star Revue, but after just four shows, Jerry Lewis snatched up to the duo to write for him and Dean Martin on The Colgate Comedy Hour.
Lear also wrote for the big screen, snagging an Academy Award nomination in 1967 for Divorce, American Style.
However, 1970s television belonged to Lear: 1971 saw the launch of All in the Family; 1972, its first spin-off Maude as well as the Redd Foxx show Sanford and Son; in 1974, the Chicago-set Good Times, and in 1975 the Family spin-off The Jeffersons, as well as One Day at a Time.
On January 12, 1971, CBS debuted his comedy All in the Family, and the show soon broke ground. In what would become a Lear trademark, it used comedy to broach hot-button issues like race relations, the war in Vietnam, abortion, gay rights, and rape.
As Archie Bunker, a cantankerous, bigoted World War II veteran, Carroll O’Connor clashed weekly with Rob Reiner as his onscreen liberal son-in-law Mike Stivic. One of the secrets of the show’s success, experts have said, was that each side of the political divide had someone to cheer for. All in the Family earned Lear a shelf full of awards, including four Emmy Awards for Best Comedy series as well as the Peabody Award in 1977.
All in the Family led to the spin-offs Maude and The Jeffersons, Archie Bunker’s Place and later the short-lived Gloria, starring Family‘s Sally Struthers as a now single mom.
Maude starred Bea Arthur as Maude Findlay, Edith Bunker’s cousin, who clashed with Archie on the occasions she visited 704 Hauser Street. The spin-off continued the Lear tradition of infusing social commentary into a sitcom format; in one much talked-about episode, Arthur’s character debates the fate of an accidental pregnancy and ultimately decides to get an abortion.
The Jeffersons centered on the Bunkers’ African American neighbors, after they “moved on up” from Queens to the East Side. To a de-luxe apartment in the sky, point of fact. Like Bunker, Sherman Hemsley’s equally hard-headed self-made man George Jefferson clashed with his more progressive son Lionel, and a world that was changing around him.
In 1974, Lear created Good Times, about an African American family in Chicago; the series tackled issues like poverty, drug use, and inner-city crime. Lear’s Midas touch also brought a British import, Steptoe and Son — here titled Sanford and Son — to small screen success.
1976 birthed another Lear creation, the satirical soap sitcom Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Lear was also an activist, and in 1980 created the non-profit People For the American Way, which was dedicated to supporting the Bill of Rights and to monitor violations of constitutional freedoms. According to his personal website, Lear also founded the non-profit charity Business Enterprise Trust and the Environmental Media Association, designed to get the entertainment industry more “green.”
In 1999, President Clinton bestowed the National Medal of Arts on Mr. Lear, expressing, “Norman Lear has held up a mirror to American society and changed the way we look at it.”
Still thriving as he approached 100, Lear in recent years shepherded both a Latina-skewing remake of One Day at a Time for Netflix, and successful, star-studded stagings of both All in the Family and The Jeffersons on ABC’s well-received LIVE From a Studio Audience specials. He also hosted a podcast called All of the Above with Norman Lear.
Married three times, Lear is survived by his third wife, Lyn, and his six children — Ellen, Kate, Maggie, Benjamin, Brianna, and Madeline — as well as grandchildren Daniel, Noah, Griffin, and Zoe.
“Norman lived a life of curiosity, tenacity, and empathy,” his family said in a statement. “He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all. He began his career in the earliest days of live television and discovered a passion for writing about the real lives of Americans, not a glossy ideal.”
Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Xochitl Gomez and her pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy are the winners of Dancing With the Stars season 32.
Gomez and Chmerkovskiy took home the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy in the season 32 finale Tuesday night, the first finale in DWTS history to feature five couples. Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach came in second.
This is Chmerkovskiy’s third time winning the Mirrorball trophy. He previously won with actress and singer Rumer Willis in 2015 and gymnast Laurie Hernandez in 2016.
Before the winners were announced, Gomez, along with Ariana Madix, Jason Mraz, Charity Lawson and Alyson Hannigan, hit the dance floor a final time with a redemption dance and a freestyle dance with their pro partners.
The evening also included fun performances, including a Ray Leeper-choreographed opening dance number to “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton, which saw all season 32 couples returning to the ballroom.
Additionally, season 31 mirrorball champs Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas returned to the ballroom for a routine to “Give it to Me Baby” by Rick James.
Mraz took the stage to perform his song, “I Feel Like Dancing.” He was joined by the dance pros of the DWTS LIVE 2024 Tour, who performed a routine choreographed by Mandy Moore.
The television nominations for the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards were announced Tuesday, and Apple TV+’s The Morning Show took the lead with six nominations, followed by HBO’s Emmy magnet Succession, which received five.
There was a six-way tie for third place, with Disney+’s Loki, FX’s The Bear, ABC’s Abbott Elementary, Netflix’s acclaimed Beef, Apple TV+’s Lessons In Chemistry, FX’s Reservation Dogs and National Geographic’s A Small Light all earning four nominations each.
Here’s a list of the nominees in the main categories. All contenders are posted on the organization’s website. The film nominees will be announced on December 13.
Chelsea Handler returns to host the 29thannual Critics Choice Awards, airing live at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 14, live on The CW.
BEST DRAMA SERIES
The Crown (Netflix) The Diplomat (Netflix) The Last of Us (HBO) Loki (Disney+) The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) Succession (HBO) Winning Time: The Rise of the Laker Dynasty (HBO)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kieran Culkin – Succession (HBO)
Tom Hiddleston – Loki (Disney+)
Timothy Olyphant – Justified: City Primeval (FX)
Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us (HBO)
Ramón Rodríguez – Will Trent (ABC)
Jeremy Strong – Succession (HBO)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jennifer Aniston – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Aunjanue Ellis – Justified: City Primeval (FX)
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO | Max)
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Sarah Snook – Succession (HBO | Max)
Reese Witherspoon – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Khalid Abdalla – The Crown (Netflix)
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Ron Cephas Jones – Truth Be Told (Apple TV+)
Matthew MacFadyen – Succession (HBO)
Ke Huy Quan – Loki (Disney+)
Rufus Sewell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown (Netflix)
Sophia Di Martino – Loki (Disney+)
Celia Rose Gooding – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)
Karen Pittman – The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Christina Ricci – Yellowjackets (Showtime)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC) Barry (HBO) The Bear (FX) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video) Poker Face (Peacock) Reservation Dogs (FX) Shrinking (Apple TV+) What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bill Hader – Barry (HBO)
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Kayvan Novak – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Drew Tarver – The Other Two (HBO)
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear (FX)
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai – Reservation Dogs (FX)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear (FX)
Bridget Everett – Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
Devery Jacobs – Reservation Dogs (FX)
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Phil Dunster – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Harrison Ford – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Harvey Guillén – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
James Marsden – Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear (FX)
Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Paulina Alexis – Reservation Dogs (FX)
Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Meryl Streep – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Jessica Williams – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Beef (Netflix) Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video) Fargo (FX) Fellow Travelers (Showtime) Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+) Love & Death (HBO) A Murder at the End of the World (FX) A Small Light (National Geographic)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime) Finestkind (Paramount+) Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock) No One Will Save You (Hulu) Quiz Lady (Hulu) Reality (HBO)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Matt Bomer – Fellow Travelers (Showtime)
Tom Holland – The Crowded Room (Apple TV+)
David Oyelowo – Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+)
Tony Shalhoub – Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)
Kiefer Sutherland – The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime)
Steven Yeun – Beef (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kaitlyn Dever – No One Will Save You (Hulu)
Brie Larson – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Bel Powley – A Small Light (National Geographic)
Sydney Sweeney – Reality (HBO)
Juno Temple – Fargo (FX)
Ali Wong – Beef (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jonathan Bailey – Fellow Travelers (Showtime)
Taylor Kitsch – Painkiller (Netflix)
Jesse Plemons – Love & Death (HBO)
Lewis Pullman – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Liev Schreiber – A Small Light (National Geographic)
Justin Theroux – White House Plumbers (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Maria Bello – Beef (Netflix)
Billie Boullet – A Small Light (National Geographic)
Willa Fitzgerald – The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
Aja Naomi King – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Mary McDonnell – The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
Camila Morrone – Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)
SAG-AFTRA members voted to ratify the deal that successfully ended the historic 118-day strike, the union announced on Tuesday.
The contract was approved with 78% voting in favor of the deal. SAG-AFTRA didn’t reveal the exact number of members who voted but said it was 38.15% of the union.
The three-year agreement is effective retroactively to November 9, and expires June 30, 2026, the union said in a press release.
The deal provides a 7% increase in minimum rates in the first year and the first-ever protections against the use of artificial intelligence to replicate performances, requiring compensation and consent guardrails to protect performers from generative AI technology.
As part of the new deal, streaming services will pay bonuses to shows that reach a certain level of success, bonuses that the union estimates will be about $40 million per year.
“This contract is an enormous victory for working performers, and it marks the dawning of a new era for the industry. Getting to this point was truly a collective effort,” union president Fran Drescher and national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a joint statement Tuesday night.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios, congratulated the union shortly after the announcement.
“The AMPTP member companies congratulate SAG-AFTRA on the ratification of its new contract, which represents historic gains and protections for performers. With this vote, the industry and the jobs it supports will be able to return in full force.”
Actors began striking on July 14, joining the picket line alongside writers who went on strike on May 2, effectively leaving most of Hollywood at a standstill all summer.
