News

Olive Sturgess, who appeared on about two dozen TV Westerns and got to act alongside Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson in the Roger Corman 1963 cult horror spoof The Raven, died Feb. 19, her family announced. She was 91.

Through two decades starting in the mid-1950s, the fresh-faced Sturgess showed up on (by her count) about 300 episodes of television, including 12 from 1956-59 as the girlfriend of Dwayne Hickman’s character on the NBC-CBS sitcom The Bob Cummings Show.

The Canadian-born starlet also was seen on such series as West Point, Perry Mason, Panic!, The Donna Reed Show, Hawaiian Eye, The Danny Thomas Show, Petticoat Junction, Dr. Kildare and Ironside, but TV Westerns dominated her résumé.

Sturgess appeared on Tales of Wells Fargo, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, U.S. Marshal, Rawhide, Have Gun — Will Travel, Lawman, Laramie, The Rebel, The Tall Man, Bronco, Whispering Smith, Maverick, Wide Country, Destry,...

You know Netflix is popular, and you know several different series, especially original series, have an immense global appeal. In the second half of 2024 alone, 20 series had at least 25 million views each. 77 movies had at least 25 million views, based on the results Netflix released this week.

But one series stands out above all others. That would be Squid Game Season 2. It led all series in views (and also amassed 619.9 million viewing hours). The magic is that the second season was not released until December 26, which means, of course, that Squid Game got all those views in six days. Clearly, people were ready for the release.

The show coming in second might be a bit more surprising. The first season of The Perfect Couple, starring Nicole Kidman, finished in second place. Sure, we knew it was popular, but that popular? Now we know.

What were the most-viewed movies and series on...

Here’s 3 Reasons Why You Should Watch Netflix’s Cassandra ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Cassandra might be the perfect pick if your Netflix queue feels stale and you’re craving something fresh yet thrilling. With Squid Game’s final season still months away and Stranger Things’ return shrouded in uncertainty, this fresh German sci-fi effortlessly fills the void and does so in spectacular fashion.

Unlike the countless AI-gone-wrong stories flooding Hollywood, Cassandra delivers a uniquely eerie take by setting its rogue AI drama in an alternate past, where futuristic technology was already thriving in the 1970s. To share a glimpse of what the show offers, we have listed three reasons why you shouldn’t miss the Netflix thriller. Continue reading!

The Unique Retro-Futuristic Concept Of Cassandra

One of Cassandra’s biggest draws is its setting. Rather than relying on the usual sleek, modern aesthetic of artificial intelligence thrillers, Cassandra leans into retro-futurism,...

Rekhachithram’s Unique Inspiration ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Rekhachithram was the only financially successful Malayalam film released in January 2025. The film stood out for its unique premise, blending historical fiction with an alternate take on real events, seamlessly intertwining fact and imagination.

One of the film’s biggest talking points was its use of artificial intelligence to recreate Mammootty from the 1980s. While the attempt was impressive, something was slightly off—the digital recreation wasn’t convincing enough and couldn’t fully capture the essence of the legendary actor.

The story of Rekhachithram revolves around the exhumation of a decades-old skeleton, which turns out to be that of a girl who appeared in a song sequence from the 1985 film Kathodu Kathoram. The discovery sparks an investigation decades later, unraveling a mystery deeply connected to the classic film.

Trending Controversial Director Pa Ranjith To Launch Janhvi Kapoor In Tamil Web Series?

Aishwarya Rajesh...

Here’s a trivia question for you: Who was the first person to win the Grammy for Album of the Year? It was legendary composer Henry Mancini, who won for the soundtrack to the television show “Peter Gunn.” Let’s take a look back at all of the albums that have claimed this coveted prize in music history.

The attributes of what makes a great album always vary but a well made album will always be viewed as a work of art. Great albums can just be an amazing collection of songs that flow together musically or they can be songs that collectively make a statement. The albums that have won Album of the Year have encompassed all of these areas. They have ranged from some of the most revered classics, from “Sgt. Pepper” by The Beatles and “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, to the biggest achievements in recent years, from...

The Weeknd‘s new album Hurry Up Tomorrow has arrived and it opens with the song “Wake Me Up.”

The song seemingly interpolates the Michael Jackson hit “Thriller” as there are some similar synth sounds in the track.

The Weeknd sings in the chorus, “Wake me up, come find me / It feels like I’m dying / Wake me up, these demons / Keep creeping, don’t fear ‘em / Wake me up.”

Hurry Up Tomorrow is the final and most personal chapter of The Weeknd‘s trilogy series that began with 2020′s After Hours and 2022′s Dawn FM.

The Weeknd will star in an upcoming feature film inspired by his new album. The movie Hurry Up Tomorrow, also starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, will be released in theaters on May 16.

Head inside to listen to the song and read the lyrics…

Listen to the song below and download it now on iTunes.

How Did Sukumar Respond To Haters Calling Pushpa ‘Anti-National?’ (Photo Credit – Facebook)

The Pushpa franchise has garnered widespread viewership, making the story of the eccentric sandalwood smuggler, portrayed by Allu Arjun, familiar to most. However, the character has not been without its share of criticism. Even before the release of Pushpa 2, the franchise had already stirred debate, especially after Allu Arjun received the National Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Pushpa.

Some critics raised concerns that the recognition could be interpreted as a government endorsement of sandalwood smuggling, potentially negatively influencing society. With the release of Pushpa 2, the criticism has only intensified. Sukumar, the director of both Pushpa films, has responded to the criticism surrounding the franchise.

According to the director, the films are intended solely for entertainment and are not meant to promote or encourage criminal behavior. He expressed concern over accusations that the movies...

Everything you need to know about Fubar 2(Photo Credit – YouTube)

Fubar, the spy thriller series received a good response from the audience when it first released in May 2023. The success led to its renewal and now the second season of the show is slated for release soon.

Only a month after its release, Fubar was officially renewed for a second season. The action comedy series had eight episodes and the audience enjoyed seeing Arnold in another badass role. Here’s what we know about the upcoming second season of Fubar including cast and filming details.

Fubar Season 2: Returning & New Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger will be back as Luke Brunner. Fubar was his first television series and The Terminator superstar has returned for the second edition of the series. Monica Barbaro plays Luke’s daughter Emma Brunner and the Top Gun: Maverick star will also be back for the second season.

Game Changer Release Delay Issue (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Game Changer might not hit screens in Tamil Nadu on January 10, 2025, during the Pongal/Sankranti festival season. Reports suggest that Lyca Productions, the studio behind Indian 3, has approached the Tamil Producers Council, requesting them to intervene and delay the release of Game Changer in the state until an agreement is reached regarding Indian 3.

The root of the issue seems to be that, according to unconfirmed reports, Shankar has yet to complete certain portions of Indian 3, including a song. Lyca Productions reportedly wants the pending work to be finished before Game Changer is released in Tamil Nadu. Titled Indian 3: War Mode, the film is expected to continue directly from the cliffhanger ending of Indian 2.

Game Changer is a highly anticipated political action thriller scripted by Vivek from a story by Karthik Subbaraj. The film boasts an impressive cast,...

Chiranjeevi’s Family Film Industry Success(Photo Credit – YouTube)

Megastar Chiranjeevi is working on several exciting projects. His upcoming film is Vishwambhara with director Mallidi Vassishta. After this, he will start shooting for a gangster drama directed by Srikanth Odela.

At a recent event, Chiranjeevi spoke about his family’s success. He expressed his pride in their achievements in the film industry.

Chiranjeevi described his brother Pawan Kalyan and son Ram Charan as his most significant accomplishments. He said, “Pawan Kalyan is my achievement. Ram Charan is my achievement. All the kids in my family are my achievements. I feel proud when I see them.”

Trending Pani: Joju George’s Directorial Debut Officially Gets Ott Release Date

Wamiqa Gabbi Joins Adivi Sesh In Spy Thriller G2; New Poster Promises Action-Packed Pan-India Spectacle

Chiranjeevi was the first in his family to join the film industry. Later, his brothers Pawan Kalyan and...

George Folsey Jr., the longtime producer and film editor for director John Landis, has died at the age of 85, according to his family.

The son of 13-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer George J. Folsey, whose credits included “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “Forbidden Planet,” Folsey Jr. got his start in editing at Kabc in Los Angeles, where he edited documentaries and news reports for broadcast in the 1960s.

He then moved into cinema by learning the trade at MGM, where his father had worked, alongside “Grand Prix” Oscar-winning editor Henry Berman. His first feature film project was Alexander Singer’s “Glass Houses,” a 1972 film in which Folsey was editor, cinematographer and producer.

A year later, Folsey was hired to edit John Landis’ debut feature film “Schlock,” a sendup of “King Kong” in which an ape man chased out of his cave wanders into a Southern California neighborhood and develops an unrequited crush on a teen girl.

George Folsey Jr., the film editor and producer who collaborated with director John Landis on such films as Animal House, The Blues Brothers, Coming to America and An American Werewolf in London, has died. He was 85.

Folsey died Sunday in Los Angeles of complications from pneumonia, his son, fellow film editor Ryan Folsey (Cabin Fever, Renfield), told The Hollywood Reporter.

His father was George J. Folsey, the famed 13-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer whose credits included The Cocoanuts (1929), Animal Crackers (1930), Thousands Cheer (1944), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Clock (1945), Green Dolphin Street (1947), Adam’s Rib (1949), Million Dollar Mermaid (1953), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Forbidden Planet (1956).

George Folsey Jr. also edited Shawn Levy’s Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) and The Pink Panther (2006) and Eli Roth’s Hostel (2005) and Hostel: Part II (2007).

After cutting Landis’ directorial debut, Schlock (1973), Folsey edited the Landis-helmed The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), Animal House (1978), The Blues Brothers (1980) and Coming to America (1988), which he also produced.

Creating an enticing story that remains relevant for almost 30 years is almost impossible unless you are Eiichiro Oda. The One Piece manga creator has been at the top of the game for almost three decades, and he is only getting better with every arc. However, the secret behind One Piece’s success is also the reason why the series gets so much hate.

One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

One Piece fans know very well that although every arc follows a unique storyline, the main structure is almost similar and has been this way since the beginning. The thing that makes every arc intriguing is the introduction of new characters, an eccentric plot, and an unexpected twist that is connected to the main story going on in the background.

Oda has cracked this formula to the core and makes sure that almost every arc follows the same formula, no matter how much the story differentiates.

The bond between Luffy and Usopp is one of the most humorous highlights of One Piece. The two characters are the best of friends, and they are often considered the notorious ones of the group, always playing pranks and using their goofiness to make everyone else laugh. However, their bond has more to it than fun and games.

Usopp and Luffy in One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

While Luffy has helped Usopp multiple times, there was one instance where Usopp literally saved Luffy’s life. Fans might not remember this, but Luffy had a near-death experience during the Thriller Bark arc, and he was saved by Usopp. This was when the entire Straw Hat crew faced the dangerous Devil Fruit powers of Perona, one of the Mysterious Four of the Thriller Bark Pirates.

That near-death experience traumatized Luffy so much that its effects were even seen during the Egghead Island arc.

The fandoms of Naruto and One Piece are two vying forces that have been at war for years, each trying to determine which one is objectively superior. Both series have their strengths and weaknesses that appeal to their massive fanbases. However, there’s one thing One Piece fans often criticize about Naruto which doesn’t make much sense.

A still from the infamous swing flashback in Naruto | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

They believe Naruto is a child of privilege and that everything he has accomplished is due to his background and his connections. Without even delving too deeply into the topic, it becomes quite clear that Naruto and Luffy aren’t that far apart in this respect. Even then, One Piece fans calling Naruto a gifted child is just a result of their bias towards Luffy.

One Piece Fans Calling Naruto a Child of Privilege is the Peak of...

As music critic and writer Steve Huey once explained, “from 1976 to 1984, the radio airwaves were dominated by really smooth music.” Once known as soft rock, since the mid-2000s pretty much everyone has called it Yacht Rock.

We’re talking of course about the music of people like Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross — pop songwriters at the intersection of soul, jazz and disco who were defiantly uncool for their day but are now recognized as the legends they are. And as an early Christmas president, HBO is giving people a crash course via “Yacht Rock: A Documentary,” which debuts Nov. 29.

Directed by Garret Price, the film features commentary from legends like McDonald, Loggins, Cross and more, plus some of the people they influenced — like Thundercat, Mac DeMarco and Questlove.

Watch the trailer below now:

And as you can see in the trailer, thankfully it also finally...

After the Egot died at age 91 earlier this month, Quincy Jones‘ cause of death has been determined.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health revealed in Jones’ death certificate that he died of pancreatic cancer, with no other contributing factors, according to TMZ.

Jones’ publicist Arnold Robinson previously announced that he died on Sunday, Nov. 3 at his Bel-Air home.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” said Jones’ family in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

The musician, composer, producer and songwriter was behind such Michael Jackson albums as Thriller, Off the Wall (1980), Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987), as well as decades of work with Frank Sinatra, conducting his and Count Basie’s It Might as...

Exclusive: Remember when geeky tween Jenna Rink was magically transformed into glamorous Jennifer Garner in the classic rom-com 13 Going on 30? That was two decades ago. Now that role’s being played by West End star Lucie Jones in a stage musical adapted from the beloved 2004 movie.

The show is headed for an out-of-town-tryout at the Manchester Opera House, where it will run for a limited season from September 21, 2025.

Just this past April, Garner joined fellow stars from the film — Mark Ruffalo, who played Matt Flamhaff, the boy next door who Jenna doesn’t realize holds a candle for her, and Judy Greer as Lucy Wyman, once her childhood nemesis and now an editing colleague at the fictional Poise magazine — for a 20th anniversary reunion on Zoom that spread far and wide on social media.

Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, who wrote the film’s screenplay, have penned the musical’s book,...

Quincy Jones was laid to rest in a private ceremony in Los Angeles a week following his death. The family of the revered music producer, who died at 91 at his home in Bel Air, California, told AP that the “intimate ceremony included Mr. Jones’ seven children, his brother, two sisters, and immediate family members.”

The family did not confirm in which cemetery the funeral took place, but affirmed they are “enormously grateful for the outpouring of condolences and tributes from his friends and fans from around the world.” In the statement,...

Michael Jackson fans need to wait longer for Antoine Fuqua’s highly-anticipated biopic about the King of Pop to rock their world after Lionsgate announced delays for two of its films. The studio’s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is moonwalking to a 2025 Easter window (April 18-20 to October 3) while looking to dominate the box office during the bunny-themed holiday. In addition to telling Michael to “Beat It” to later next year, Lionsgate dated Aziz Ansari’s upcoming comedy, Good Fortune, for October 17, 2025. According to Deadline, Good Fortune stars Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen. It focuses on “a well meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Reeves) who meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Ansari) and a wealthy capitalist (Rogen).”

“Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop,” reads the official description. “The film presents...

Paul McCartney remembered the “supremely talented” Quincy Jones in a tribute to the late musician and producer shared on Instagram.

“Dear Quincy Jones has passed and left those of us who knew him feeling sad,” McCartney wrote. “He was supremely talented, and I felt privileged to have known him for many years.”

As McCartney noted, his connection to Jones began with Beatles producer, George Martin, who’d met and befriended Jones in the early Sixties. Decades later, McCartney would work with Jones and Michael Jackson on Thriller, appearing on the duet,...

Quincy Jones, the iconic songwriter and producer behind some of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits, has died at the age of 91. His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that Jones died peacefully at his Bel Air home on Sunday night, surrounded by family.

Jones is set to receive an honorary Oscar from the Academy Awards later this month.

Born in Chicago, he eventually settled in Seattle, where his passion for jazz flourished. After earning scholarships to Seattle University and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Jones left his studies to tour with bandleader Lionel Hampton in 1952, marking the start of a storied career.

window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-mid', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' });

Throughout the 1950s, Jones toured extensively and served as music director for the French label Barclay Disques. Then, he returned to the U.S. to work with Mercury Records. His breakthrough as...

What couldn’t Quincy Jones do?

He wrote, composed and arranged music for your favorite artists and even produced films and TV shows that launched some of your favorite actors. He not only changed careers — he changed lives.

Here we break down some of the biggest acts and projects Jones worked on, from Michael Jackson’s seminal Thriller album to “We Are the World” to winning 28 Grammys, an Emmy and a Tony.

Michael Jackson

Before he met Jones while working on The Wiz, Jackson had been known for the Jackson 5 and released four solo albums that had mild success. Then they made Off the Wall and the King of Pop fully arrived. Released in 1979 around the time Jackson turned 21, the album helped him transition from young singer to critically acclaimed, matured artist. The album’s disco, funk and R&b sound resonated on the charts, helped Jackson win his first...

It is impossible to overstate Quincy Jones' influence on music and the music business throughout the second half of the 20th century. There wasn't a genre that Jones, who passed away yesterday at the age of 91, couldn't master as a composer, producer, performer, or all three. He kicked off his career playing trumpet for vibraphone god Lionel Hampton, served as trumpeter and music director for Dizzy Gillespie, and produced effervescent pop hits like "It's My Party" for Lesley Gore while expanding his range compositionally via jazz LPs and, perhaps most importantly, film music -- a field where the African-American artist stood out among a sea of white men.

Curiously, there isn't as much serious scholarship on the work of Jones, which is rather astounding considering his seismic 1970s and '80s impact as a producer for Michael Jackson on two of the top-selling LPs of all time ("Off the Wall...

Quincy Jones is dead at 91. There has simply never been an American artist better in touch with the pulse of popular culture than this producer, arranger, and composer whose work spanned nearly 70 years, every genre imaginable, and crossed all media as well. Jones is best known for his work producing Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson, or his lifelong friendship with Ray Charles, but his film scores, bouncing with energy and groove, helped inspire a rethink of what was possible with movie music. (Associated Press first reported his death.)

Multiracial but the very definition of a 20th-century Black artist, Jones was born on the South Side of Chicago on March 14, 1933. His paternal grandmother was an ex-slave; his paternal grandfather, from Wales. His maternal grandmother was born a slave on a Kentucky plantation, as well — through the institutionalized rape of slavery, she was a distant relation of Tennessee Williams and the poet Sidney Lanier,...

Quincy Jones’ countless friends, fans, and peers have started sharing tributes to the legendary musician and producer following his death on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the age of 91.

On Instagram, the estate of Michael Jackson called Jones “a legendary talent whose contributions to music spanned generations and genres,” and celebrating his “unmatched” collaborations with Jackson, from their hit albums to the seminal charity single, “We Are the World.”

“But it was Quincy’s role as a father that was the most important to him,” the Jackson estate added. “Condolences to all of his children.

Music legend, Quincy Jones has sadly passed away. He was 91 so he lived a very full and colorful life in an amazing industry. So, is there a cause of death, and how are his beloved Hollywood friends and followers reacting to the news? Keep reading for more details.

Music Legend Quincy Jones Dead At 91

It is a sad day as legendary music producer, Quincy Jones has passed away at the age of 91. He has had an illustrious career and worked with incredible legends. They included the likes of Michael Jackson, Will Smith, and “Old Blue Eyes,” Frank Sinatra. According to TMZ, Jones died on Sunday, November 3rd in his Bel-Air home.

Quincy Jones-YouTube

He was surrounded by loved ones on that sad night with his publicist, Arnold Robinson, releasing a heartbreaking statement:

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing.

Quincy Jones, producer of several of the best-selling albums of all time, died at his home in Bel Air on Sunday as per his publicist. Though his work covered all genres, Jones will forever be best known for helping coronate the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, by helping craft Jackson’s infectious and highly lucrative sound across three classic albums: Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. In 1985, he produced the “We Are The World” session, arguably the apex of 1980s pop music.

Jones, who in 1968 became the first African-American nominated for a Best Original Song Academy Award with “The Eyes of Love,” received an astonishing 80 Grammy nominations and 28 Grammy Awards throughout his career. His wins were for arranging, producing, and performing, and he won the 1988 Album of the Year prize for Back on the Block, an R&b-pop-hip hop cross-generational collaboration including artists like Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, Ice-t, Kool Moe Dee,...

Legendary music producer and composer Quincy Jones, who amassed 28 Grammy Award wins across his multi-decade career, died on Sunday at the age of 91.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the Jones family said in a statement obtained by our sister site Variety. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him. He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense...

Quincy Jones, the legendary musician and producer who amassed 28 competitive Grammys over his staggering career, has passed away. He was 91.

With collaborations with the likes of Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and countless others, it’s hard to put into words just what sort of legacy Quincy Jones left behind. Working consistently since the 1950s, Jones made his mark almost immediately on the music world, getting his start in Chicago before tagging along for a European tour where he could showcase his jazz talents.

But it was the 1960s when Quincy Jones truly emerged as an artist, not only producing Sinatra’s classic It Might as Well Be Swing album, but lending to film soundtracks as well. His breakout on that front was for Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker, but it would be for In Cold Blood that Jones earned his first Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. He...

Quincy Delight Jones, Jr., a renowned musician and producer who shaped popular music for seven decades, died on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 91 years old. Jones leaves behind an unmatched legacy that broke down barriers and introduced millions of fans around the world to a variety of genres.

Jones was born in Chicago and raised in Seattle, where he learned to play trumpet and arrange music from a young age. He studied at the Berklee School of Music and started his career arranging and performing with jazz legends like Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. By age 25, Jones had established himself as one of the top arrangers and trumpet players in jazz music.

In the 1960s, Jones made history as the first Black person to compose a major movie score, for the 1964 film “The Pawnbroker.” This opened doors for other Black artists in Hollywood. He went on...

Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Will Smith and the Estate of Michael Jackson were among the prominent Hollywood figures to pay tribute to Quincy Jones following news of his death early Monday.

Jones died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.

A giant in the music industry, Jones had a phenomenal career that spanned more than 60 years. He produced Michael Jackson’s best-selling albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad; helmed the historic recording sessions for the 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” the best-selling single of all time; and produced Lesley Gore’s 1963 chart-topping hit “It’s My Party.”

Jones received the Motion Picture Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, an honorary Oscar in 2024 and the Grammy Legend Award in 1991 and reeled in 28 Grammys from an all-time best 80 nominations.

The Estate of Michael Jackson said in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter,...

Quincy Jones, the musical giant who did it all as a record producer, film composer, multi-genre artist, entertainment executive and humanitarian, has died. He was 91.

Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, said that he died Sunday night at his Bel-Air home surrounded by his family.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Jones received the Motion Picture Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, the Grammy Legend Award in 1991 and 28 Grammys from an all-time best 80 nominations. He was to be presented with an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards on Nov. 17.

Survivors include one of his seven children, actress Rashida Jones.

In a phenomenal career that spanned more than 60 years,...

Quincy Jones, who distinguished himself over the course of a 70-year career in music as an artist, bandleader, composer, arranger and producer, has died. He was 91.

Jones died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to a statement shared with Variety by his rep Arnold Robinson. A cause of death was not disclosed.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him,” the Jones family said in the statement. “He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the...

Hallmark stars Ashley Williams and Nikki DeLoach hosted the seventh annual Dance Party to End Alz: Halloween Edition on Sunday, Oct. 27 at Avalon in Hollywood, which raised $250,000 and counting for the Alzheimer's Association research grant program.

The event founded by Kimberly Williams-Paisley was emceed by Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman.

Williams and DeLoach opened the evening with a surprise performance of “Thriller.” The duo welcomed guests and shared why co-hosting the event meant so much to them after both losing a parent to dementia. Williams’ mom, Linda, passed away with Alzheimer’s in 2016, and DeLoach’s dad, David, passed away with Pick’s disease, a rare form of dementia, in 2021.

Dressed in a variety of Halloween costumes, performers took to the stage covering their favorite hits. Accompanied by house band Casual Encounters, performances included:

Caleb Polaha’s versions of “Friends In Low Places”

Charles Esten's take on “Break on Through,...

The hip-hop world almost got the ultimate crossover, but ego and some serious shade put it to rest. Picture this: Tupac Shakur and Michael Jackson teaming up on a track, blending Pac’s raw grit with Mj’s iconic vocals. But it didn’t happen, and word is, it’s because Pac wasn’t about to let anyone—even the King of Pop—disrespect him.

Michael Jackson in the Beat It music video | Credits: Billboard Music

Rumor has it, that the collaboration fizzled not due to creative differences but because Shakur reportedly felt Jackson just wasn’t bringing the same level of respect to the table. And, in classic Pac style, he wasn’t about to back down, even if it meant losing the chance to work with the King of Pop. Imagine what could’ve been if only they had found common ground.

Tupac Shakur Walked Away from Michael...

Universal-owned animation studio Illumination surprised fans with a Halloween special based on its popular Sing franchise. The special, Sing: Thriller, was released on Netflix this Wednesday and announced the day before.

The 11-minute short sees the cast and characters reenact scenes from the music video for the famous 1983 Michael Jackson song “Thriller.” Many of the actors, such as Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Nick Kroll, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly, return for the special. Garth Jennings, director of the first two films, also returns to direct and voice the character Ms. Crawly.

So is Sing: Thriller full of spooky songs and terrifying tunes? Let’s find out.

The special begins with the theater troop performing a play at the theater. We see many cameos in the crowd, including a surprise return of fan-favorite Mike the Mouse from the first Sing movie, who was originally voiced by Seth McFarlane. They put...

"Treat yourself."...

Just in time for Halloween, the crew behind animated blockbuster Sing is putting together a spooky new take on Michael Jackson’s classic song “Thriller.” In an animated short film based on Jackson’s own game-changing music video, the animal musicians are tasked with putting on another showstopper. But as the song says, they may have to contend with creatures crawling around the neighborhood — in this case, though, that crawling looks a lot more like dancing. Directed by Garth Jennings, and produced by Chris Meledandri, this is one party you won’t want to miss.

“I don’t know if it is possible to enjoy making anything as much as I have done while working on Sing: Thriller,” Jennings tells Tudum. “Our awesome cast and team of geniuses at...

The Sing franchise is returning, just in time for Halloween.

Netflix announced that the spooky short film Sing: Thriller is set to debut Wednesday on the streaming service. Hailing from Illumination and Universal Pictures, the project returns franchise director Garth Jennings and voice actors Matthew McConaughey (playing Buster Moon), Tori Kelly (Meena), Nick Kroll (Gunter), Scarlett Johansson (Ash), Taron Egerton (Johnny) and Jennings (Miss Crawly).

Sing: Thriller follows Buster (McConaughey) and his friends staging an elaborate version of the Michael Jackson hit “Thriller” for a Halloween party. The crew later realizes that a mysterious ooze has transformed the attendees into dancing freaks.

The short film is based on the 1983 music video for the smash single “Thriller.” Rod Temperton wrote the music and lyrics for the song that is featured on Jackson’s album of the same name, which remains the best-selling album of all time.

Sing: Thriller was written and directed by Jennings,...

It’s close to midnight, and something evil’s lurking from Illumination and Universal Pictures. Illumination’s Sing series is getting spooky with Sing: Thriller this Halloween season, inspired by Michael Jackson’s classic short film Thriller. The latest installment in the Sing franchise shuffles onto Netflix tomorrow, October 16, with Sing and Sing 2 director and writer Garth Jennings at the helm.

Here’s the official logline for Sing: Thriller courtesy of Netflix:

After staging a spectacular version of Thriller at the New Moon Theatre, Buster Moon and the cast of Sing leave to celebrate at Clay Calloway’s Halloween party. But when our heroes arrive at the party they discover a mysterious, multi-colored ooze has transformed Clay and his guests into dancing freaks.

The Sing: Thriller cast includes familiar faces like Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon, Tori Kelly as Meena, Nick Kroll as Gunter, Scarlett Johansson as Ash, Taron Egerton as Johnny,...

Netflix is expanding its annual "Netflix & Chills" line-up with a brand new installment into the popular Sing universe! Starting on October 16, subscribers will be able to watch a spooky short film titled Sing: Thriller, based on Illuminations animated movies Sing and Sing 2. Catch up with some of your favorite characters as they team up for a Halloween surprise based on Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller" music video.

And the best part is that the original cast is returning to reprise their roles as characters like Buster Moon, Ash, Johnny, and Miss Crawly.

Cast list (in order of appearance)

Matthew McConaughey as Buster MoonTori Kelly as MeenaNick Kroll as GunterScarlett Johansson as AshTaron Egerton as JohnnyGarth Jennings as Miss Crawly

"Thriller" by Jackson is one of the most iconic songs of all time, so it seems like a very fitting way to reunite the Sing crew to honor a timeless pop culture moment.

The “Sing” gang is returning, but probably not in the way you’d expect.

“Sing: Thriller,” an all-new, original short film set within the world of Illumination’s popular features – 2016’s “Sing” and 2021’s “Sing 2” — premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Writer/director Garth Jennings returns for the short, which features voice work by Matthew McConaughey, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton and Jennings himself.

The logline reads: “After staging a spectacular version of Thriller at the New Moon Theatre, Buster Moon and the cast of ‘Sing’ leave to celebrate at Clay Calloway’s Halloween party. But when our heroes arrive at the party they discover a mysterious, multi-colored ooze has transformed Clay and his guests into dancing freaks.”

The press release notes that the new short is based on the original short film “Michael Jackson’s Thriller,” which was directed by John Landis and written by Jackson and Landis.

Get ready to dive into one of the most mind-bending conspiracy theories surrounding Michael Jackson’s death! This isn’t just any tale; it’s a deadly game of chess linking Sony and The Beatles in a plot thicker than a thriller. Picture this: the King of Pop, the music industry’s golden boy, owning half of the iconic Beatles catalog. Sounds epic, right?

Michael Jackson wanted to play Spider-Man (image credit: ‘Beat it’ single/ Billboard Music)

But wait—what if this power move turned into a game of sabotage? Some say Sony wasn’t thrilled about Jackson’s massive success and went to extreme lengths to keep him in check. As we peel back the layers of this conspiracy, prepare for a wild ride filled with twists, turns, and jaw-dropping revelations! Let’s unravel this musical mystery!

Michael Jackson’s High-Stakes Battle with Sony: A Deadly Game of Chess...

Michael Jackson is a name that echoes in the hearts of music lovers around the world. It all started during the ’60s when the “King of Pop” was barely a teenager; he joined the famous Jackson 5, a group formed around him and his brothers. Things eventually took their own course when Mj started to get recognized for his unique voice.

Michael Jackson in the “Beat It” music video | Credits: youtube.com/@MichaelJackson

Before tragically passing in 2009, Michael Jackson had released multiple albums and hit songs such as Thriller, They Don’t Care About Us, Billie Jean, and many more. The multi-platinum singer-songwriter inspired musicians across a vast set of genres, despite being the greatest pop singer ever.

However, Jackson was put under the spotlight for several reasons, one of them being his unique voice, which never changed even after puberty. And Joe Rogan never backs down from discussing highly controversial topics.

Music has kept our culture alive through better and worse while musicians like Michael Jackson and Elvis have left an indelible mark on our society. However, there has never existed a celebrity devoid of some form of scandal or controversy, and the Billie Jean singer perhaps ranks very high on that list.

Michael Jackson performing live at the Dangerous Tour in Monza, Italy in 1992 [Photo by Daniele Dalledonne licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons]

Through the decades, the music industry has never faltered in delivering one golden genre after another. Whether it was jazz, rock, disco, metal, grunge, hip-hop, techno, or pop – music evolved its way through the years until the Moonwalker effectively took over the industry, crowning himself the King of Pop in the process.

Not long after, rap entered the picture as artists like Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., and Eminem began to rage against the world.

The World of Pop...

The American TV-movie has gained a bad rap over the years, but there was a time when folks looked forward to these flicks — and not in an ironic sense or a need to hate-watch.

That period of kinder and less cynical viewership was surely in the 1970s and ’80s when the made-for-television movie became more widespread. The “movie of the week” format took off in the former decade, with the major networks at the time devoting blocks in their schedules to these standalone, small-screen features. And one of the more revisited genres was horror. Duel, The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Trilogy of Terror, Are You in the House Alone?, The Initiation of Sarah. These are just a few of the classic telefilms that scared a whole generation of viewers.

There have been great strides to archive and restore these past horror TV-movies,...

Tito Jackson, the founding guitarist of iconic ’70s hitmakers The Jackson 5 that featured a young Michael Jackson and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died Sunday after reportedly having a heart attack while driving. He was 70.

His sons Tj, Taryll and Taj Jackson, who make up the band 3T, posted the news on social media.

“We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken,” the trio wrote on Facebook. “Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being. Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito’ or some know him as ‘Poppa T. Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously.”

Also featuring brothers Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie and later Randy, the group blasted out of Indiana in 1969 with its first four singles all hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100: “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The...

By the time MTV held its first Video Music Awards (VMAs) ceremony on Sept. 14, 1984, music videos had really come into their own as a cinematic art form. There were increasingly big budgets to produce them; creative visuals and special effects helped bring the popular songs they accompanied even more to life; and they were increasingly drawing in big Hollywood names to direct them, as John Landis did with the landmark video for Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller,” with some of these videos even having high-profile premieres like movies. The “Thriller” video was among the nominees across 16 categories at the first VMAs ceremony, which recognized the best videos released between May 2, 1983, and May 2, 1984. This timespan encompassed the release of what are still some of the best remembered videos of all time, works of art that are also highly entertaining, and not just for the generation that experienced them the first go-round: Many have racked up millions — and,...

It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a great thriller set in space. Sure, the Dune‘s and Star Wars of Hollywood have given us plenty of spectacle over the years but sometimes I want a smaller story. One that connects on a more human level. And Slingshot does just that, providing a look at a possibly compromised mission to Titan. We follow these three astronauts as they deal with paranoia both about the mission and the intentions of the other astronauts on board. It’s quite the thrill ride and you can check out my glowing review of the film Here.

I chatted with both Laurence Fishburne as well as director Mikael Håfström about the film. While it took everything in me not to mention 1408 to Mikael, you know I had to mention Event Horizon to Mr. Fishburne. Those opportunities only come along so much, after all.