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All October long, Cracked is catching up with some of the greatest writers in Simpsons history to discuss the most beloved segments from the “Treehouse of Horror” series. From the cursed monkey’s paw to Krusto the Clown, we’re digging into the making of some real fan-favorites.

Here’s one more “The Simpsons did it first” moment for the pile: A month before Toy Story hit theaters, “Treehouse of Horror VI” featured a 3D Homer in the segment “Homer3,” an utterly mind-blowing feat back in 1995 and possibly the boldest thing the show had done up until that point.

Maybe more impressively, it was a feat pulled off by a couple of newbie showrunners, Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein. They’d written on The Simpsons for several seasons already, but “Treehouse of Horror VI” was just their third episode at the helm — an episode that went on to be a classic.

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger has become a hero to Democrats for turning on Donald Trump, but it’s come at great personal and political cost.

In a new interview for Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, Kinzinger reveals he, his wife, and their toddler have become the target of constant death threats from Trump supporters after he had the audacity to join the January 6th select congressional committee investigating the former president’s role in the capital insurrection. He says even his parents were subjected to abuse from family members and friends angered by Kinzinger’s principled actions.

We recorded our interview with Kinzinger at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he headed for the world premiere of The Last Republican, the documentary directed by Steve Pink that explores Kinzinger’s evolution from rising GOP star to party pariah. The duo – one a Hollywood liberal, the other a proud conservative...

When Imagine Documentaries president Sara Bernstein pitched New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams on making a film about her career, even the veteran journalist didn’t understand why Bernstein was interested. “What do you want to make a doc about me for?” Adams asked the “Jim Henson: Idea Man” producer. “Everybody has a documentary. My dentist has a documentary!”

Good line — and she must have a great dentist.

An incomplete list of this year’s celebrity docs includes Simone Biles, Celine Dion, Steve Martin, Roger Federer, Stevie van Zandt, Brian Eno, Frida Kahlo, Devo, Christopher Reeve, Sue Bird, Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Martha Stewart, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Paul Anka, Pharrell Williams, and Bruce Springsteen.

The appetite seems nearly endless, but producers say it’s increasingly difficult to find famous people whose lives haven’t flashed before our eyes. Said Bernstein, “The challenge today is, who hasn’t had a documentary?...

The fall film festival season may still be kicking right along, but, with the conclusion of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival this past weekend, the film landscape for this season (and beyond) has come into clearer focus.

Big questions, however, remain: What films is everyone going to be talking about in one, two, six months? Who won big and might see even more awards glory come their way soon? Who was there? And how can film fans who couldn’t make it north for the lauded festival see the films we’re all buzzing about? We’ve got you covered, as we run through some of our favorite reviews, stories, and interviews from this year’s TIFF.

Which Film Won the People’s Choice Award?

If you’re at all familiar with TIFF and its main award — the TIFF People’s Choice Award — you’re probably well aware...

Hello Insiders. It’s getting colder in Europe, but the news in TV and film has been hot and spicy in the week Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris. Jesse Whittock here taking you. Let’s go, and don’t forget to sign up here.

TIFF’s Russia Doc Pulled

‘Russians at War’ director Anastasia Trofimova in Venice

War doc shelved: This year’s Toronto Film Festival had been surprisingly quiet until Thursday afternoon when the festival said it had paused upcoming screenings of Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova’s documentary Russians at War “effective immediately” after learning about “significant threats to festival operations and public safety.” The decision was made “in order to ensure the safety of all festival guests, staff, and volunteers,” TIFF said in a statement, adding, “This is an unprecedented move.” Russians at War provides a rare insight into life for Russian soldiers on the frontline in Ukraine.

Paul Anka performed “My Way,” his signature song made famous in 1969 by Frank Sinatra, onstage at a post-premiere dinner for Paul Anka: His Way, a documentary about the Canadian singer-songwriting legend that had its world bow at the Toronto Film Festival.

The celebratory dinner at Union Station in Toronto had Anka, 83, recounting a career over decades and genres. He recalled at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami being told by Sinatra at a dinner that he was about to quit show business.

“I’ve had enough,” Anka said he was told, but not before Sinatra added he needed to complete one last album. With his young wife Mia Farrow at his side, the legendary singer added, “You never wrote me that song.”

Now under pressure, Anka returned to New York City and, seated at his piano after midnight, penned that famous ballad for a performer whose end was near and facing the final curtain.

This can be written with great confidence: You know a Paul Anka song. Right now, you’re either thinking, “Well, yes, of course I do,” or you’re thinking, “I do not.” If you are in the latter group, you are wrong. There are, of course, his big hits like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” But then there are the songs he’s written for others, most notably “My Way,” which he wrote for Frank Sinatra and has been covered by Elvis, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Sid Vicious, and countless others. It’s in the conversation for one of the most famous songs ever written.

That’s kind of the remarkable think about Paul Anka — who is at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, returning to his Canadian roots for the premiere of John Maggio’s documentary “Paul Anka: His Way” — that he’s written so many famous songs for others.

“Screamin’ Scott” Simon, who played piano in the early-rock revival group Sha Na Na for more than a half-century and co-wrote the song “Sandy” that John Travolta crooned in Grease, died September 5 of sinus cancer in Ojai, CA. He was 75.

His daughter Nina Simon announced the news.

“Screamin’ Scott” Simon in an undated family photo

The elder Simon joined Sha Na Na in 1970, the year after its founding as a 1950s/early-’60s rock ‘n’ roll and doo-wop revivalist act and its appearance at Woodstock. He remained with the group, along with original members Donny York and Jocko Marcellino, until it disbanded in 2022. He played piano — banging out energetic covers of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “At the Hop” and others — and was known for his signature shirt whose sleeves bore piano keys, which he often pretended to play.

The group basked in the ’50s and early-’60s nostalgia craze...

Few classic rock songs from the 1990s had an impact comparable to Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” Although the tune has been covered by numerous artists from numerous genres, only one of those artists managed to give us a version that is comparable to the original in terms of quality. Here’s a look at the origin of that cover.

1 cover of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ brings out the insecurity in the original song

The 1990s gave us many rock songs that are still inescapable, such as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Santana’s “Smooth,” and Rob Zombie’s “Dragula.” However, few of those songs became standards. “Wonderwall” was the biggest exception. The tune has been covered by an eclectic range of artists, including Jay-Z, The Mike Flower Pops, Cat Power, Paul Anka, and Brad Mehldau.

The most famous of these was Ryan Adams’ “Wonderwall.” His version gives the track a lonesome, melancholy feel...

Deadline has just unveiled that the Toronto International Film Festival has added twenty more titles to their schedule, which brings their lineup of official selections to a total of 278 films. One of the bigger titles to be added is Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night, which depicts the evening of October 11, 1975, when “a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. It is the true story of what happened behind the scenes that night in the moments leading up to the first broadcast of NBC’s Saturday Night Live.”

Another big feature that will be screened is the already-divisive but anticipated new film from Hollywood legend Francis Ford Coppola — Megalopolis. This will be the film’s North American premiere after its debut in Cannes already gave the movie the kind of buzz that people had expected to come from a mind as mad as Coppola’s. The film would...

And the films just keeping on coming as the 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival has announced 20 movies to its official selection, taking its count to 278 titles.

Chief among them is Jason Reitman’s SNL opening-night pic Saturday Night, from Sony which will get its Canadian premiere in the filmmaker’s homeland. With that deduction, this must mean Saturday Night is going to Telluride.

And you thought Harry Styles was big at TIFF two years ago? Well, here comes Jacob Elordi with Daisy Edgar-Jones in On Swift Horses. The pic also stars Diego Calva. The Daniel Minahan-directed movie follows a woman and her husband who are about to begin a bright new life, which is upended by the arrival of his brother. She embarks on a secret life, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible.

Also, getting their North American premieres are Francis Ford Coppola...

World premieres of hot sales titles including Nick Hamm’s English-language feature William Tell starring Claes Bang and theatre director Marianne Elliott’s debut The Salt Path with Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs are among 20 additions to Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) official selection.

The new arrivals announced on Tuesday bring the total number of films on offer to 278 at the 49th edition of the festival running September 5-15. The entire schedule is now available on the festival’s website.

There are also world premieres in Galas and Special Presentations for Leyline, FirstGen and Peter Spears’ drama On Swift Horses...

The Paris Olympics closing ceremony was full of surprises Sunday and featured performances by Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, H.E.R and Phoenix.

Phoenix, originally from France but now based in the U.S., kicked off the show with their 2009 hit “Lisztomania,” as athletes danced and sang along to the indie classic. Their set featured surprise appearances from French synthwave artist Kavinsky and Belgian singer Angèle for a rendition of “Nightcall,” known from the Drive soundtrack (the original version featured Css singer Lovefoxxx instead of Angèle).

Rapper VannDa joined in for “Funky Squaredance” and fellow French indie icons Air performed their song “Playground Love” with Phoenix. Another surprise was Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, who performed “Tonight,” his collaborative track with the band. The set ended on a sweet note with frontman Thomas Mars jumping off the stage to mingle with the Olympians in the crowd.

After the handover for...

It wasn’t that hard to believe, but last week’s report that Tom Cruise would be performing a stunt to close out this year’s Olympic Games was confirmed today when the thrill-seeker and cinematic legend rappelled into Stad de France to retrieve the Olympic Flag. The sequence began with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accompanied by Team USA gold medalist Simone Biles, accepting the flag in a hand off from the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.

Following Bass’ receiving of the flag, H.E.R. performed a jazzy, rock and roll-inspired version of the Star-Spangled Banner. As she continued to play, the broadcast cut to a shot of Cruise at the top of Stad de France, then followed as he rappelled down into the stadium amongst the crowd. Wading through, he arrived on stage where Mayor Bass and Biles passed the flag off. Cruise then took off out of the stadium on a motorcycle,...

White House residents and Hollywood megastars shared the stage inside Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Saturday night for what turned out to be a record-setting Democratic fundraising haul as President Biden’s reelection campaign netted more than $30 million from the one-night-only event.

But even with all that cash and the glamour of A-list headliners George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel (who moderated a 40-minute chat with Biden and former President Barack Obama), the shadow of Biden’s Republican opponent, Donald Trump, loomed large. During the conversation, the trio took turns ripping Trump’s questionable track record, his history of lying to the American people, a freshly stamped criminal record with 34 felonies, and a recent threat of bloodshed and retribution should he come out victorious in the November election.

“I could have done nothing and done better than him,” Biden said at the top of the conversation, during which much...

Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features drummer Steve Distanislao

By the summer of 2005, drummer Steve Distanislao felt like his career had reached a pinnacle. After years of struggling to earn a living as a musician,...

Mediawan Rights will rep international sales rights and has released a first teaser clip for “My Way,” a documentary about the iconic song that features a star-studded cast including Ol’ Blue Eyes himself and is narrated by Jane Fonda. The film premieres May 16 with a screening at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinema de la Plage.

Directed by Thierry Teston in collaboration with Lisa Azuelos, “My Way” is billed as “a captivating journey into the heart of an iconic song that explores the universal appeal and enduring legacy of a timeless classic.”

Through the lens of performers including Frank Sinatra, Ben Harper, Paul Anka, David Bowie, Claude François, Clara Luciani and Sparks, and full of never-before-heard anecdotes, the documentary aims to paint a vivid portrait of the song’s evolution and impact on different generations and cultures, using rare archival footage to trace the remarkable journey of a single melody...

Michael Jackson was the King of Pop and every king has a court. It’s no surprise he worked with several other megastars across genres over the course of his life. Some of those collaborations are classic and others are tragic.

1. Justin Timberlake

“Love Never Felt So Good” is a posthumous disco duet with Justin Timberlake. It’s not as good as Jackson’s classic disco tracks but it has an infectious, cherry energy. It feels more like a prequel to Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” than anything else.

The song has some great timing. It came out in 2014. 2013 saw a huge revival of disco music with hits like Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” Bruno Mars’ “Treasure.” while it was a song from the vaults, “Love Never Felt So Good” felt practically modern! The tune appeared on the posthumous album Xscape. Xscape is not Thriller,...

Los Angeles, May 2 (Ians) Hollywood star Alec Baldwin has revealed his potential plans for having another baby with his wife Hilaria.

The actor, who appeared on the Our Way with Paul Anka and Skip Bronson podcast, is father to daughters Carmen Gabriela, 10, Maria Lucia Victoria, 3, and Ilaria Catalina Irena, 16 months, as well as sons Rafael Thomas, 8, Leonardo “Leo” Angel, 7, Romeo Alejandro, 5, and Eduardo “Edu” Pao Lucas, 3, with Hilaria.

He also has a daughter named Ireland, 28, with former wife Kim Basinger, 70.

“I’m the only person I know who drops four kids off at school in the morning and comes home, and I still have three kids waiting for me when I get home,” Baldwin said.

Reflecting on his family size, Baldwin humorously added, “I have eight children. I got my oldest daughter. She has a baby, and she and her boyfriend are living in Oregon. I met my wife, and...

‘Friends’ star Jennifer Aniston, though not very active on Instagram, recently offered her followers a glimpse into her busy life. The actress took to her Instagram and shared a carousel of images, including a selfie where she pouted her lips in a car, reports ‘People’ magazine.

Jennifer displayed her grown-out lob hairstyle, which she sported for much of the awards season in support of her series ‘The Morning Show’ this year.

According to ‘People’, several other photos in the carousel featured two of her three dogs, Lord Chesterfield and Clyde, lounging around and giving her some puppy-dog eyes.

Another shot captured Jennifer during a workout session at Pvolve — the celebrity-endorsed workout brand she previously partnered with — posing for a mirror selfie with the company’s director of training, Dani Coleman.

In other images, the actress was seen with friends, including TV writer Molly McNearney (wife of Jimmy Kimmel and producer...

Melania Trump lives a fascinating, opulent life as the wife of former Potus Donald Trump. She is former supermodel and has carved out a niche as a savvy businesswoman.

Today Melania lives with Donald and their only child Barron at their Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Will Melania get a second chance to be a First Lady in 2024?

Only the future knows the answer, but today we have five fascinating facts to share about this glamorous multihyphenate!

1. Melania Trump Is A Celeb Surrounded By Famous Friends

Melania is a gorgeous woman familiar with the world of celebrity. She was in the first Zoolander” movie that debuted in 2001.

Prior to that cameo, her 2005 wedding to Donald Trump had a superstar lineup to entertain their guests. Melania and Donald wed at the Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal church in Palm Beach, Florida and it was star-studded event.

Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul Anka, and Tony Bennett...

Chicago P.D. has finished filming for Season 11. And that means Tracy Spiridakos has filmed her final scenes.

Tracy has been an integral part of the Chicago P.D. cast for years, but the Season 11 finale is her final episode.

Fellow cast members have often shared goodbye messages on social media this spring. That included a comment from Laroyce Hawkins (Officer Kevin Atwater) that read #SaveUpton.

Star Jason Beghe (Hank Voight) also recently stated, “It’s not going to be the same” when Tracy leaves the show. He is 100 percent correct in his assessment that the show must now adapt.

Marina Squerciati also posted about getting as many Tracy hugs as possible. Marina continues to play Officer Kim Burgess – a character who has been with the show since the beginning.

Now, some sweet videos of Tracy on set have been shared by Chicago P.D. producer Brian Luce. He is...

I suppose there’s a more interesting film to be made about the great composer Ennio Morricone, but watching Giuseppe Tornatore’s loving and comprehensive “Ennio” makes it almost impossible to care. An uncomplicated and reverent tribute that was shot before the late maestro’s death in 2020 (and would feel like a two-and-a-half-hour tribute reel if not for the fact that Morricone himself is the film’s most frequent talking head), this straightforward biodoc is almost perversely generic for a movie that’s meant to honor one of cinema’s greatest radicals.

And yet, do you really not want to see Clint Eastwood deadpanning that Morricone’s music “helped dramatize me, which is really hard to do”? Would a less conventional documentary have been able to squeeze Bruce Springsteen, Wong Kar-wai, and James Hetfield into the same film, or include so much of what Bernardo Bertolucci had to say about...

CNN, meet Sin City.

As CNN appears poised to expand its original series offerings, the cable channel has set its next series: Vegas: The Story of Sin City.

The series will premiere Sunday, Feb. 25 at 10 p.m., and will explore “the past seventy years of America’s cultural maturation through the lens of this unique city, featuring the entertainment acts, the visionary entrepreneurs, the infamous mafia figures, and the colorful political history that put it on the map,” per CNN.

That will include interviews with Vegas icons like Wayne Newton and Paul Anka, as well as journalists, showgirls, and historians. The series is produced for CNN by Bungalow Media+ Entertainment.

“Vegas is another of our acclaimed CNN Original Series that brings new life and color to major stories and events in our collective history,” said Amy Entelis, executive VP of talent for CNN Originals, and creative development for CNN Worldwide.

As it turns out, Anderson Cooper getting drunk and giggling uncontrollably on live television at the site of a cat’s butt in John Mayer’s face makes for good television.

The news network announced on Thursday that its New Years Eve special hosted by Cooper and Andy Cohen brought in about 2.33 million viewers this year, a 12 percent bump compared to the year prior, according to the network. This year’s broadcast ended the annual special’s short-lived prohibition, as the network decided to dial back the booze last year...

Paul Anka rang in the new year on across several networks while singing “Imagine” on New Year’s Eve 2024 late Sunday night (December 31)!

The legendary 82-year-old singer performed the song “My Way,” as well as the John Lennon song live from Times Square, and it was aired on all of the major broadcasts airing just before midnight.

While the singer has had a long and illustrious career, many viewers had some mixed reactions to his performance to bring in 2024.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I’m sorry but Paul Anka singing on #Cnnnye seems incredibly outdated. Or is he just here because the audience is actually people who stay home on Nye.

We can’t believe it’s New Year’s Eve and we’re about to ring in 2024 with the iconic Times Square ball drop live from New York City.

If you don’t have the ability to watch the ball drop live on TV via any of the network channels, you’re in luck…because there’s a live stream of the festivities, and we’re bringing you the video right here!

Head inside to watch the live stream…

This year’s webcast will be co-hosted by Jonathan Bennett and Jeremy Hassell. If you watch the stream ahead of the ball drop, you’ll be able to see performancecs by Paul Anka and Flo Rida, among others.

The six hour celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. Et and continue through midnight when the ball drops. Be sure to tune in!

See the embedded video below to catch all the festivities live!

Prefer to ring in 2024 from home? You can still bid adieu to 2023 and tune into live countdowns in New York’s Times Square, California’s Disneyland and beyond. And whether you’re into pop, country or comedy, there’s a show for everyone. Keep reading for the best 2024 New Year’s Eve specials to watch online, from the annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve hosted by Ryan Seacrest to CNN’s countdown with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

How to Watch 2024 New Year’s Eve Specials Online

If you watch the best 2024 New Year’s Eve specials on your TV, smartphone or tablet, you’ll need a subscription to cable or streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) service to livestream the events. Most smart TVs already support SVOD apps, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll need to connect it to a streaming stick or device such as the Amazon Fire Stick,...

Las Vegas’ fall/winter 2023 calendar has been nonstop with major events from the opening of Sphere with U2:uv Achtung Baby Live in September to the long-awaited debut of Fontainebleau with Justin Timberlake and Paul Anka helming the festivities in December. Of course, there was also a little street race called Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix sandwiched in between.

Related: The Best Vegas Residencies to Catch Through 2024: U2 and Adele’s Extended Stays, Usher’s Sin City Finale and More

With New Year’s Eve 2023 falling ideally on a Sunday — making it a four-day holiday weekend — the city hosts a private club and theater christening and residency openings as eight fireworks displays from The Strat to MGM Grand light up the sky above the Strip.

Christina Aguilera opens her show Voltaire in Venetian on Dec. 30.

Below, keep reading for the best New Year’s Eve 2023 parties, concerts and events in Las Vegas,...

It’s almost time to ring in the new year, which means it’s also nearly time for the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square.

But don’t worry because you can also enjoy the festivities from home via live stream. The free live webcast begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, and features backstage access, behind-the-scenes stories, performances and more.

This year, actor and TV personality Jonathan Bennett and Jeremy Hassell return to host the Nye 2024 webcast.

Bennett, best known for his starring roles in Mean Girls and the Hallmark Holiday film The Holiday Sitter, previously hosted the event in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Bennett has also hosted Cake Wars, Halloween Wars and Holiday Wars. As for Hassell, he has been part of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration since 2016. Throughout his career, he has hosted several live events and celebrity interviews.

The event will feature musical performances by Paul Anka,...

Breaking Bad stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston attended the grand opening of Fontainebleau Las Vegas together.

The two men posed on the carpet side by side. Paul wore a maroon suit with a black dress shirt underneath, while Cranston, on the other hand, decided on a classic black and white suit.

The two men have remained close ever since the show ended, as they own the tequila company Dos Hombres Mezcal together and have recently dropped merch promoting the brand.

Paul spoke about their friendship to Fox News, “Bryan, he is my mentor, one of my best friends on the planet. I’ve learned so much from this guy. To be able to tackle something yet again with him, that was really our own brainchild – a dream come true.”

Many other A-listers attended the event, including Tom Brady, Cher, Kim Kardashian, Lenny Kravitz and more. In addition to this,...

Justin Timberlake dusted off his dancing shoes and microphone for one of his first live performances in almost four years on Wednesday night, taking the stage at the grand opening of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

Dressed in a crisp white tux and G.H. Bass loafers, Timberlake performed a 70-minute set of his greatest hits to help christen the Fontainebleau’s new 3,800-seat BleauLive Theater, opening with 2006’s “SexyBack,” before launching into a medley of fan favorites like “LoveStoned,” “Señorita,” “Cry Me a River” and “Summer Love.”

In front of a star-studded crowd that included wife Jessica Biel, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Lenny Kravitz and Cher, Timberlake also performed a mashup of “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” then took to the piano for an acoustic rendition of “Until the End of Time” that he dedicated “to all the lovers out there.” Toward the end of the night,...

Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” has become of of the biggest standards in the history of music. Notably, it didn’t chart as highly as his cover of “Old MacDonald.” Regardless, Sinatra’s “My Way” changed Paul Anka’s career.

Frank Sinatra | Bettmann / Contributor Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ was overshadowed by many of his other 1960s songs at 1st

While “My Way” is possibly Sinatra’s most famous song today, it didn’t even hit the top 10 or the top 20! The tune peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, lasting on the chart for eight weeks. It was outperformed by “Somethin’ Stupid,” “That’s Life,” “Strangers in the Night,” and other 1960s Sinatra songs that get less airplay today.

It was even outperformed by Sinatra’s cover of “Old MacDonald,” which he gave the variant title “Ol’ McDonald.” That tune peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for nine weeks.

Pat Cooper, an acerbic stand-up comedian who later had a career acting in films and TV series including Analyze This, Seinfeld and the original Charlie’s Angels and was a favorite of Howard Stern, died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 93.

His wife, Emily Connor, announced the news.

Born Pasquale Caputo on July 31, 1929, in Brooklyn, he tried to join multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces but was rejected and turned to comedy. He adopted his stage name during an early-’60s stint doing stand-up, which further angered the Italian family he often roasted in his act.

Cooper became estranged from his parents while focusing on his insult-heavy comedy career. His angry onstage persona led to multiple firings from stints opening for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka. By the mid-’60s, he was being booked on many of the era’s most popular variety...

Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” is one of the most moving ballads in the history of pop music. Notably, the tune was penned by songwriter extraordinaire Paul Anka. Subsequently, Anka explained why he gave the tune to Ol’ Blue Eyes.

Frank Sinatra | Joan Adlen Photography / Contributor Paul Anka based Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ on a French song about a boring relationship

“My Way” is based on a French song called “Comme d’habitude,” which means “As Usual.” “Comme d’habitude” is about a couple falling out of love because their relationship become mundane. In his 2013 book My Way: An Autobiography, Anka said the song was average and stereotypically French, but he was intrigued by its melody. He negotiated the rights to the song and wrote new lyrics for it. He gave the track to Sinatra instead of keeping it for himself.

Anka explained this decision. “Hanging out with Sinatra...

Jim Gordon, a drummer who played on Derek and the Dominos’ Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs and the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, died Monday at the age of 77. The musician, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was serving a prison sentence for killing his mother in 1983, died in a state-run medical facility in Vacaville, California. Publicist Bob Merlis confirmed Gordon’s death in a statement, adding that Gordon died of natural causes.

In addition to his incredible catalog of recordings, Gordon is also known for sharing a songwriting credit on “Layla” with Eric Clapton,...

Jay Weston, producer of films like “Lady Sings the Blues” and “Buddy Buddy,” died of natural causes Feb. 28 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was 93.

Weston first met Billie Holiday at the Newport Jazz Festival — a chance encounter that would ultimately lead to Weston producing a biopic about her starring Diana Ross in 1972. “Lady Sings the Blues” marked Ross’ feature debut and went on to score five Academy Award nominations, including best actress for Ross and original screenplay.

“I read the book and I said to [Holiday’s] agent, ‘I want to make a movie out of it,’” Weston said in a 2011 interview with the Los Angeles Business Journal, referring to the jazz singer’s autobiography. “He said, ‘Give me $5,000, and I’ll think about it.’ So I gave him $5,000, and it took 13 years and many $5,000 payments to keep the rights because everybody wanted it.”

The veteran filmmaker...

Jay Weston, a veteran producer of Hollywood films including 1972’s “Lady Sings the Blues” starring Diana Ross and 1968’s “For Love of Ivy” starring Sidney Poitier, has died at the age or 93.

Weston, who also built a respected career as a restaurant critic, died at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California.

Weston’s most notable producing efforts likely came on “Lady Sings the Blues,” which was nominated for five Academy Awards. Other features included “Buddy Buddy” (notable for being Billy Wilder’s final film), “Chu Chu and the Philly Flash” and “W.C. Fields and Me.”

Weston was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 9, 1929, to Phillip and Shirley Weinstein. He went to NYU as a pre-med student, but soon switched to an arts curriculum. After earning a BA, he began a career in publicity before being drafted and sent to Korea in 1952. There he started a newspaper, The Hialean,...

Jay Weston, who was working as a publicist when a chance meeting with Billie Holiday at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival would lead to the producing of her 1972 biopic Lady Sings the Blues, died February 28 of natural causes at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, CA. He was 93.

His death was announced by spokesperson Jeff Sanderson on behalf of the Weston family.

Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story Ricou Browning Dies: 'Creature From The Black Lagoon's Gill-man Was 93 Related Story Brett Radin Dies: Talent Manager With Knitting Factory Management Was 53

A prominent restaurant critic later in life, Weston’s show business career in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s was marked by such high points as producing Billy Wilder’s last film, Chu Chu and the Philly Flash with Carol Burnett and Alan Arkin, W.C. Fields...

Jay Weston, who produced the Diana Ross-starring Lady Sings the Blues and Billy Wilder’s final feature, Buddy Buddy, has died. He was 93.

Weston died Tuesday of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, his family announced.

Weston also served as head of ABC’s feature film division, Palomar Pictures, where his first project was the Sydney Pollack-directed They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969), nominated for nine Oscars.

And he produced the 1969 Broadway drama Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, starring Al Pacino in a career-launching, Tony-winning turn.

A chance meeting with Billie Holiday at the Newport Jazz Festival led him to securing the rights to her autobiography. He then produced Lady Sings the Blues (1972), the Sidney J. Furie-helmed biopic that collected five Academy Award nominations.

Weston followed with films including W.C. Fields and Me (1976), starring Rod Steiger; Chu Chu and...

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was a highly-anticipated sequel series to the iconic early 2000s show Gilmore Girls. The series gave fans a chance to catch up with their favorite characters. And for the actors who inhabited those characters, it served as a bit of a homecoming. Lauren Graham, who played Lorelai in the franchise, has frequently talked about her love for the series, and what it was like to film the sequel show. In a recent interview, Graham discussed one of the celebrity guest stars from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. This unlikely source gave her some fantastic insight into the craft of acting.

‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ featured a lot of celebrity cameos Lauren Graham attends the 2020 NBCUniversal Winter Press Tour 45 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 11, 2020 in Pasadena, California. | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life...

There are classic rock songs about every topic under the sun. For example, some great classic rock songs deal with getting older. Notably, Paul McCartney once produced such a song for another singer.

The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ | Science & Society Picture Library / Contributor 5. The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’

Getting older can be difficult, but The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” makes it seem fun. Paul had a thing for vaudeville music, and this is probably his best stab at the genre. It’s not one of the more experimental classic rock songs on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but it’s still a lot of fun.

Paul turned 64 in 2006. During that year, he told the Los Angeles Times he had a regret about the song: it should’ve been “When I’m Ninety-Four.” He said some listeners don’t even think “When I’m Sixty-Four” is about old age.

Classic rock songs shouldn’t be immune from criticism. Some of the most famous classic rock songs are sexist. For example, one of The Beatles’ songs includes lyrics about a teenager that hasn’t aged well.

The Beatles | Central Press/Getty Images 5. The Beatles’ ‘I Saw Her Standing There’

In The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There,” Paul McCartney says, “She was just 17 if you know what I mean.” Paul would have been 20 when that track was released in the United Kingdom. “I Saw Her Standing There” wasn’t the first or last classic rock song to sexualize a teenage girl, but it’s definitely one of the most prominent examples of this problem.

If you’re being charitable, you can imagine Paul is singing from the perspective of another teenager. However, this is a song that probably would have made more sense in the hands of one of the...

Released by David Bowie’s estate in 2022, Divine Symmetry, subtitled “An Alternative Journey Through Hunky Dory,” is a 4-disc collection chronicling the year’s work leading to David Bowie’s fourth studio album. Demos, previously unreleased tracks, and live recordings capture the sound of a vision in a state of flux.

As its lead single, “Changes,” makes clear, Hunky Dory, released on Dec. 17, 1971, presented a notable metamorphosis for the artist who would go on to define transformation. This worked against Bowie as his label, RCA Records, worried he would reframe his image again, and did not promote the single. Hunky Dory didn’t chart until after the release of Bowie’s 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.

Bowie had only landed one hit during his tenure at Mercury Records, and it would have marked him as a novelty singer. “Space Oddity” charted five days before the Apollo 11 launch in 1969. His third album,...

BMG, the world’s largest international music company outside the three ‘majors’, has struck a sub-publishing agreement for India with Turnkey Music & Publishing, one of the country’s only standalone music publishing companies.

BMG’s music publishing catalogue comprises over three million songs, made up of works by legends including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Roger Waters, Ray Davies, Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Diane Warren, Kurt Cobain and Chris DeBurgh as well as contemporary superstar songwriters, including Lewis Capaldi, Bebe Rexha, Kings Of Leon, Juice Wrld, and thousands of others.

Some of the greatest songs in music history are represented by BMG, such as ‘Another Brick In The Wall’ (Pink Floyd), ‘Walk This Way’ (Aerosmith), ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’ (Tears For Fears), ‘Wild World’ (Cat

Stevens/Yusuf Islam) and ‘Come As You Are’ (Nirvana).

BMG also owns the publishing of catalogues including Virgin, Chrysalis, Stage Three,...

“Just don’t look.”

Those three words mean many things to horror fans when put together in a short but sweet sentence. We utter the phrase when watching our favorite movies with someone squeamish. It’s sometimes what we tell ourselves when something gruesome is happening on screen as we play peek-a-boo from behind our fingers. And it’s something we tell those who criticize our love of the genre and don’t understand why we adore it so. If they don’t like it, just don’t look.

Jordan Peele is interested in another context for the phrase. Nope, like a famous “Treehouse of Horror” segment, explores the fact that no matter what is on screen, we, as horror fiends, can’t help ourselves. Without spoiling the movie for those who haven’t seen it, Nope asks us as horror fans and as a society what it will take...

The appearance of disgraced former New York City mayor and “Borat” co-star Rudy Giuliani on “The Masked Singer” chummed the waters of late-night hosts on Thursday night. The vision of Donald Trump’s disbarred lawyer singing George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone,” was too surreal of a moment to ignore.

When the Fox reality competition revealed that the rainbow-colored chicken in a Jack in the Box was indeed the keynote speaker from the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference, “Masked Singer” judge Ken Jeong realized that whatever they were paying him to stand there and grin wasn’t enough and walked off the set. Robin Thicke reportedly bolted, too, but did not pronounce “yeah, I’m done,” like Jeong did. Nicole Scherzinger and Jenny McCarthy stayed to do some humiliating dance moves.

“Is Jared from Subway and the Zika virus next?” Jimmy Kimmel asked when talking about the incident...

La Lupe never seemed to second-guess herself onstage. The Afro-Cuban singer — who died 30 years ago this week, on Feb. 29, 1992 — was infinitely watchable, unafraid to kick and howl and twitch, as if the music were sending electric jolts throughout her body. In Cuba, where she headlined nightclubs in the early 1960s, she enthralled novelists like Ernest Hemingway and Guillermo Cabrera, both of whom wrote about the rhapsodic fury that seemed to overtake her when she sang. Her first husband Eulogio Reyes once said that the first time he saw her perform,...

I am sitting with Doja Cat in an Airbnb in Universal City, California, in mid-November, listening to a punk cover of “I Saw Her Standing There” and polishing off the toothsome lobster-caviar rolls she made. She’s talking about an ex-boyfriend and puffing on her omnipresent highlighter-colored tobacco vape (“I don’t crave many things other than this stupid thing. That’s pretty much it. Chocolate, sex, and vape”). All of a sudden, after about an hour of chatting about her last album and past relationships, she looks down at...

James Brown’s estate has sold the late singer’s music assets to Primary Wave, the publishing and management company announced on Monday, marking the latest blockbuster deal in the booming song acquisition market.

Primary Wave didn’t comment on the financial details of the deal or how much of a stake it purchased, but a source familiar with the deal tells Rolling Stone Primary Wave bought the entirety of Brown’s publishing, master income stream, and name and likeness rights that were owned by the estate. As the New York Times reports,...