WASHINGTON — Elton John said Friday that he’d played in some beautiful venues, but the stage in front of the White House, beneath a massive tent on a perfect autumn night, was “probably the icing on the cake.” Then he kicked off the show with “Your Song,” his first big international hit. President Joe Biden … Read more
LOS ANGELES — Annette O’Toole is reveling in her “Virgin River” role as the unpredictable mayor of a small town whose woodsy, peaceful setting belies its residents’ roller-coaster lives. Her character is older but not always wiser, including in love. That goes against Hollywood’s tendency to view midlife-plus as past the sell-by date for nuanced … Read more
MILAN — Milan Fashion Week’s third day, mostly womenswear previews for next spring and summer, was all about transformation. Sometimes inner transformation, like at Gucci, or brand transformation, like at Missoni. And sometimes it was about upgrading the style game, like at Sunnei. Here are some highlights from Friday’s shows. GUCCI’S ‘TWINSBURG’ Gucci’s creative director … Read more
BANGKOK — A model from Myanmar who denounced her country’s military rulers last year from the stage of a beauty pageant in Thailand said Friday she fears she may be forced back home. Thaw Nandar Aung, also known as Han Lay, told The Associated Press by phone that she was stuck at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport … Read more
WINDSOR, England — The silence was palpable when the imperial state crown was removed from the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II and placed on the altar of St. George’s Chapel — the first time in 70 years the dazzling symbol of Britain’s monarchy was separated from the sovereign. My assignment covering a nation in mourning … Read more
LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Kimmel celebrated his 20th anniversary as ABC’s late-night host early, signing a three-year contract extension for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “After two decades at ABC, I am now looking forward to three years of what they call ‘quiet quitting,’” Kimmel fitted in a statement Tuesday. His show debuted in January 2003, and … Read more
LONDON — The cannons have sounded, the bells have rung and the mourners have paid their respects. Now King Charles III faces the task of preserving a 1,000-year-old monarchy that his mother nurtured for seven decades but that faces an uncertain future. The challenge is immense. Personal affection for the queen meant that the monarchy’s … Read more
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In director Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up,” a 2021 satire about two scientists who try in vain to warn the world about a planet-destroying comet, the scientists’ desperate plea for action ultimately doesn’t work. But don’t take that as McKay’s view on the power of activism to change the course of the … Read more
Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 25-30: Sept. 25: Newswoman Barbara Walters is 93. Singer Ian Tyson of Ian and Sylvia is 89. Polka band leader Jimmy Sturr is 81. Actor Josh Taylor (“Days of Our Lives,” “Valerie’s Family”) is 79. Actor Robert Walden (“ Lou Grant”) is 79. Actor Michael Douglas is 78. … Read more
A Russian mega-pop star’s criticism of President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has set off intense reactions on social media, posing a critical question: Will the iconic singer’s disapproving Instagram post mark a turning point in Russian public opinion? At the risk of being branded a traitor, Alla Pugacheva used her famous voice over the … Read more
