RYAN PEARSON

AP Entertainment Writer
This combination of photos shows current and former members of "Saturday Night Live," top row from left, Fred Armisen, Chloe Fineman, Will Forte, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, bottom row from left, John Mulaney, Laraine Newman, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang. (AP Photo)
‘Saturday Night Live’ stars name their favorite sketches and reflect on show’s legacy
Legions of comedic talent have paraded through NBC’s Studio 8H, whether as cast members, writers or hosts of “Saturday Night Live.”
 
Ryan Pearson, a Los Angeles-based entertainment video editor for The Associated Press, sits in front of his home that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Pearson)
He left his LA-area home to cover the wildfires. But the flames were barreling toward his front door
He left his Los Angeles-area home to cover the wildfires, but the flames were barreling toward his front door.
 
Aaron Pierre poses for a portrait on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. Pierre has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Aaron Pierre ends his big year on a high note with ‘Mufasa’
Aaron Pierre is closing out his big year on a literal high note. After playing Malcolm X in the “Genius: MLK/X” series and starring in the Netflix action hit “Rebel Ridge,” the 30-year-old English actor showcases his vocal talents in “Mufasa: The Lion King.”
 
FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club, April 16, 2017, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
Music Review: Kendrick Lamar’s pride, anger and confidence drive ‘GNX’
With his surprise-dropped “GNX,” Kendrick Lamar roars from zero to 60 faster than a turbocharged ’87 Buick.
 
Musician, actor and filmmaker RZA poses for a portrait at his office, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Q&A: RZA on the nostalgic origins of his first classical album, ‘A Ballet Through Mud’
RZA’s hoarding habit led to his newest adventure in music: a ballet and surprisingly traditional classical music album he calls “A Ballet Through Mud.”
 
FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Sunday, April 16, 2017, in Indio, Calif. Kendrick Lamar turned his Juneteenth “Pop Out” concert into a celebration of Los Angeles unity. The 37-year-old rapper curated a three-hour livestreamed concert featuring a mix of up-and-coming LA rappers and stars including Dr. Dre and Tyler, The Creator. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
After Drake battle, Kendrick Lamar turns victory lap concert into LA unity celebration
Not content with merely taking a victory lap after winning his battle last month against fellow rap superstar Drake, Kendrick Lamar turned his Juneteenth “Pop Out” concert into a celebration of Los Angeles unity.
 
FILE - Britney Spears and Sam Asghari appear at the Los Angeles premiere of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" on July 22, 2019. Asghari has filed for divorce from Spears, a person familiar with the filing said late Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The person, who is close to Asghari but not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed the filing happened Wednesday, hours after several outlets including TMZ and People magazine reported the couple had separated. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
Britney Spears’ husband seeks financial support, says in divorce filing their split came weeks ago
Britney Spears’ husband Sam Asghari is seeking financial support from the pop superstar in his divorce filing. The Los Angeles County court document filed late Wednesday says the couple separated nearly three weeks ago.
 
‘Don’t shut up!’ Film spotlights Filipino journalist
A new documentary tracks award-winning Filipino journalist Maria Ressa’s dual life in recent years. She’s seen smiling while accepting international honors and praise from the likes of George Clooney, then grimly facing down online harassment, legal action and real world threats for her news site Ra
 
Kevin Smith crafts his ‘real big cinematic gravestone’
Kevin Smith says he’s crafted his “real big cinematic gravestone” 25 years after the acclaimed debut of “Clerks” at the Sundance Film Festival.
 
Huston not sorry for critical comments on De Niro and others
Anjelica Huston has had some choice words regarding Robert De Niro and more recently, and she’s not sorry for any of it.
 
Herzog says Gorbachev documentary has a ‘subversive message’
Werner Herzog says there’s a “subversive message” to his new documentary “Meeting Gorbachev": Talk to your geopolitical enemies.
 
Werner Herzog praises new ‘Star Wars’ series ‘Mandalorian’
Werner Herzog is calling “The Mandalorian” “a phenomenal achievement” after joining the cast of the streaming series set in the “Star Wars” universe.
 
Kristen Stewart celebrates young stars redefining sexuality
Kristen Stewart says she felt a “huge responsibility” to define her sexuality after finding fame in the “Twilight” movie franchise. But she’s glad today’s young stars don’t have to.
 
Dwayne Johnson goes indie with ‘Fighting With My Family’
Hollywood executives told Dwayne Johnson ‘no thanks’ when he pitched his latest movie. So the industry’s reigning box office champion took a break from action stardom and put on his independent film producer hat, working outside the traditional studio system to make the pro wrestling comedy ‘Fightin
 
Shia LaBeouf turned rehab into a writing room for new film
Shia LaBeouf latest film was born in an unusual place _ court-ordered rehab. The actor spent time writing the script for his semi-autobiographical “Honey Boy” while he was being treated for substance abuse after a 2017 arrest.
 
Q&A: Chris Pratt on running on screen, Tom Cruise, religion
 
In taking on ‘Solo,’ Ehrenreich faced an unenviable task
Co-stars of Alden Ehrenreich say they are in awe of how the actor faced an unenviable, nearly impossible task in taking on the role of Han Solo in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
 
Kathy Griffin warns that her nightmare ‘can happen to you’
Kathy Griffin is ready to laugh about the time a photo got her in hot water with the feds and the president. But she also has this warning: “If it happened to me it can happen to you.”
 
Lupita Nyong’o cheers #Me Too and Time’s Up movements
Lupita Nyong’o is hailing the “public, intimate conversation” about sexual misconduct in Hollywood and elsewhere.
 
Branagh teases return of old friends in ‘Death on the Nile’
Kenneth Branagh is teasing the return of “old friends” in his planned sequel to “Murder on the Orient Express.”
 
Kelly Clarkson ‘cried a lot’ while making new album
 
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher honored as ‘Legends’ by Disney
Mark Hamill says he can’t believe that he has been bestowed one of Disney’s highest honors and Carrie Fisher isn’t there to see it.
 
Music cut from ‘La La Land’ added back in for concert tour
 
Samuel Jackson: Comments about black Brit actors not a slam
Samuel Jackson says he wasn’t trying to slam black British actors when he criticized their casting in American films such as the horror hit “Get Out” and the Martin Luther King Jr. drama “Selma.”
 
Hayek says her new film speaks to America’s divisions
Salma Hayek says her new film, “Beatriz at Dinner,” speaks to the divisions in America today. The actress premiered the movie at the Sundance Film Festival. Hayek said she also is waiting to see what President Trump does on immigration.
 
If there’s a ‘Splash’ remake, Tom Hanks wants in on it
Will Tom Hanks swim off with Channing Tatum? Hanks wants in on the planned ‘Splash’ remake, a gender-flip with Tatum as a mer-man, a role originated by Daryl Hannah.
 
Reunions make Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ especially personal
Two reunions make ‘Black Panther’ an especially personal chapter in the Marvel cinematic universe: Michael B.
 
Q&A: Ziggy Marley on political new album, acting, Snapchat
 
Gordon-Levitt has high hopes for impact of ‘Snowden’
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joseph Gordon-Levitt has big expectations for the impact of “Snowden.”

The 34-year-old actor wrapped filming earlier this month on the Oliver Stone thriller about former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whose 2013 leaks to the media revealed the government’s bulk collection of American calling records. Congress is set for an unusual weekend session t
 
Perry: My female anthems make me ideal Super Bowl performer
“It wasn’t an image problem, it was a problem,” Perry said in an interview last week. “We were all watching and asking ourselves questions about what this year would mean. But I think that the problem that the NFL is dealing with is a global problem ... we need to work out — or educate people on.
 
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