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'Banshees,' 'Fabelmans' get SAG nods

Steven Spielberg's drama "The Fabelmans" and dark comedy "The Banshees of Inisherin," two big winners at Hollywood's Golden Globes ceremony, were nominated on Wednesday for the top movie honor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

 The films will compete for best movie cast with "Women Talking," "Babylon" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

 "Banshees" and "Everything Everywhere" led all movie contenders with five SAG nominations each.

Winners will be chosen by members of the SAG-AFTRA acting union. The awards are closely watched because actors form the largest group that will vote for the Academy Awards in March.

 "Banshees," the story of feuding friends on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, received SAG nominations for lead actor Colin Farrell and supporting cast Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon.

 The film was named best movie musical or comedy on Tuesday at the Golden Globe awards.

 SAG also nominated Michelle Yeoh for her lead role in dimension-hopping action movie "Everything Everywhere." Her co-stars Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu also landed nominations.

 "The Fabelmans," the Golden Globe winner for best movie drama, earned a SAG nomination for lead actor Paul Dano. The coming-of-age story was inspired by Spielberg's real life as a teenager facing family strife and anti-Semitism.

 Other movie actors nominated included Austin Butler for "Elvis," Cate Blanchett for "Tar" and Adam Sandler for "Hustle."

 In television categories, "Better Call Saul," "The Crown," "Ozark," "Severance" and "The White Lotus" were nominated for best drama cast.

 The TV comedy cast contenders are "Abbott Elementary," "Barry," "The Bear," "Hacks" and "Only Murders in the Building."

 Awards are scheduled to be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, two weeks ahead of the Oscars. The show will be streamed live on Netflix Inc's YouTube channel.

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Golden globes witnesses tiny audience

About 6.3 million viewers watched the return of the Golden Globes on Comcast Corp's (CMCSA.O) NBC network, according to ratings data released on Wednesday, a roughly 9% drop from the last televised ceremony two years ago.

 In 2021, 6.9 million people tuned in to the Hollywood awards show. The Globes were not televised last year because of a diversity and ethics scandal at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the group that votes on the winners.

 NBC's viewership figures for Tuesday night's ceremony do not include people who watched on Comcast's Peacock streaming service.

 The Globes were pushed to a Tuesday this year, instead of the traditional Sunday, so they would not clash with an extended National Football League season. Tuesday night viewership is typically lower than Sundays during the NFL season.

 All of Hollywood's major awards shows have seen their TV ratings sink in recent years, along with most viewership on traditional television.

 Back in January 2020, the Globes attracted 18.3 million TV viewers. The 2021 show was hampered by COVID-19 restrictions that forced many nominees to appear via video.

 NBC agreed to air the 2023 ceremony under a one-year contract after HFPA diversified its membership, which had no Black journalists in 2021, and made other changes.

 While TV viewership declined, the network said Golden Globes content on E! News and NBC Digital platforms recorded nearly 11 million views, a 54% increase from 2021.

 Major Hollywood stars turned out for the event as Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical tale "The Fabelmans" and dark Irish comedy "The Banshees of Inisherin" won top awards.

 The show received mixed reviews from TV critics. Some praised the loose, alcohol-fueled atmosphere that has become a hallmark of the Globes. Several winners acknowledged they had been drinking.

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2023 TV Premiere Dates

Celebrity Name That Tune (Fox) - Jan. 11

Name That Tune gets a celebrity twist when the new season premieres Jan. 11.

 Vikings: Valhalla (Netflix) - Jan. 12

Dust off your ax, Vikings: Valhalla returns Jan. 12.

 Break Point (Netflix) - Jan. 13

From the producers of Drive to Survive, the docuseries Break Point follows a new generation of tennis pros as they compete on the ATP tour.

 Hunters (Prime Video) - Jan. 13

The hunt is over. That's right, Prime Video's Hunters will debut its second and final season Jan. 13.

 Servant (Apple TV+) - Jan. 13

Servant's fourth and final season will hit Apple TV+ on Jan. 13.

 Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount+) - Jan. 15

Mayor of Kingstown returns with a new season Jan. 15.

 Your Honor (Showtime) - Jan. 15

Your Honor heads back to Showtime for its second and final season.

 The Last of Us (HBO) - Jan. 15

The highly anticipated TV adaptation of The Last of Us will premiere Jan. 15.

 Miracle Workers: End Times (TBS) - Jan. 16

Check out the latest Miracle Workers chapter, titled Miracle Workers: End Times.

 That '90s Show (Netflix) - Jan. 19

Hello, Wisconsin! That '90s Show arrives on Netflix Jan. 19.

 Accused (Fox) - Jan. 22

Brace yourselves for Fox's newest drama Accused, which tells 15 different stories about crime and punishment.

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Noma to reinvent Michelin-starred restaurant

In order to assure a long-term existence, Noma will cease operation as a full-time restaurant in 2025 and will instead concentrate on pop-ups and innovation.

 Noma in Copenhagen, which has three Michelin stars and was founded in 2003 by Danish chef Rene Redzepi, is well known for its avant-garde approach to Nordic cuisine and has frequently ranked at the top of lists of the greatest restaurants in the world.

 "In 2025, our restaurant is transforming into a giant lab - a pioneering test kitchen dedicated to the work of food innovation and the development of new flavors," Noma said in a posting announcing the move on its website.

 "Our goal is to create a lasting organization dedicated to groundbreaking work in food," said Noma, whose name is a play on the Danish words "nordisk mad", meaning "Nordic food".

 Even prior to the introduction of its new "Noma 3.0" incarnation, reservations for a meal at Noma were difficult to come by. The restaurant is now offering its Game and Forest Season menu through February 18 for a fee of 3,500 Danish crowns ($505) per person.

 "We will still serve guests in Copenhagen for shorter seasons, and through pop-ups, but the details are still to be worked out," said a spokesperson for Noma.

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On making amends with family: Prince Harry

Prince Harry is expressing hope of healing his rift with the royal family.

Journalist Tom Bradby warned the Duke of Sussex that some might feel his new tell-all memoir, Spare, has damaged any possibility of reconciliation with his loved ones in England in an interview with U.K. network ITV, broadcast Jan. 8. In the book, Harry discusses his past, his and Meghan Markle's departure from the royal family as working members in 2020, and their disagreements with the family.

Harry said he "100 percent" believes there is a chance of reconciliation. However, he said his family has "shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile up until this point."

He added, "I'm not sure how honesty is burning bridges. You know, silence only allows the abuser to abuse. Right? So I don't know how staying silent is ever gonna make things better."

The royal family has declined to comment.

"Though I would like to have reconciliation, I would like accountability," Harry said. "I've managed to make peace over this time with a lot of things that have happened. But that doesn't mean that I'm just gonna let it go."

The duke said, "Forgiveness is 100 percent a possibility because I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back. At the moment, I don't recognize them, as much as they probably don't recognize me."

He last travelled with Meghan to his native England in September to witness the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. He put up a united front while he and brother Prince William, whom he alleges in his book of physically assaulting him after a disagreement, were present for memorial services with the siblings' father King Charles III and other family members.

"I love my father. I love my brother. I love my family. I...will always do," Harry said in the ITV interview. "Nothing of what I've done in this book or otherwise has ever been [with] any intention to harm them or hurt them."

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Three 6 Mafia Rapper Gangsta Boo Dead at 43

Gangsta Boo, rap pioneer and member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, has died at the age of 43.

"Gangsta Boo, born Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, was pronounced dead on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 in her hometown of Memphis, TN at the age of 43," her rep said in a statement on Jan. 2. "She was a pioneer of female rap collaborating with artists such as Eminem, E-40, OutKast, Lil Jon, Krayzie Bone, Gucci Mane, GloRilla, Latto and many other huge names in hip hop and R&B."

Due to the ongoing investigation, specifics regarding her cause of death have not been released. An autopsy is being performed, her rep confirmed.

Gangsta Boo's mother, Veronica Mitchell, and her family added, "The Mitchell family would like to thank everyone for their condolences regarding the untimely death of Lola ‘Gangsta Boo' Mitchell. The family is asking for your continued prayers and privacy as we process the loss of our loved one."

Gangsta Boo's label mate DJ Paul posted a photo of the late star as a tribute, prompting many music icons to send condolences.

"MAN WE WAS JUS TOGETHER 3 WEEKS AGO," Lil Jon commented. "REST WELL QUENN."

Ludacris, 2 Chainz, Big Boi and many others also shared sentiments in the comment section following the tragic news of her passing.

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Prince Harry Makes Shocking New Allegations Against Royal Family

Harry the Prince is speaking the truth.

The Duke of Sussex is expected to take part in two new interviews before the Jan. 10 release of his memoir Spare, in which he will be frank about his tense relationship with his family and his choice to speak out against false tabloid claims about him and wife Meghan Markle.

"Every single time I tried to do it privately, there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife," Harry told Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes, airing on Jan. 8. "You know, the family motto is 'never complain, never explain' it's just a motto and it doesn't really hold."

Harry continued by pointing out the various ways in which the royal family is frequently shielded from untrue stories in the media, echoing a previous assertion made in the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan.

"Through leaks, they will speak or have a conversation with the correspondent and that correspondent will literally be spoon-fed information and write the story," he continued, "and at the bottom of it they will say they reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment, but the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting."

The Archewell founder added, "So when we're being told for the last six years we can't put a statement out to protect you, but you do it for other members of the family, there becomes a point when silence is betrayal."

In a forthcoming interview with ITV, Prince Harry updated the public on his relationship with his brother Prince William and father King Charles III in advance of the release of his much-anticipated memoir.

"It never needed to be this way," Harry told ITV's Tom Bradby in a preview for the Jan. 8 interview. "I want a family, not an institution."

"They feel as though it is better to keep us somehow as the villains," Harry added, though it is unclear who he is referring to. "They've shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile."

The teaser concludes with Harry saying, "I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back."

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Jennifer Lopez Shares Never-Before-Seen Ben Affleck Wedding Photos

On Jan. 1, Jennifer Lopez, who wed Ben Affleck in July after their second engagement, shared a heartfelt year-end homage on Instagram with never-before-seen images from their nuptials in Las Vegas and Georgia.

"2022 was one of the best years yet!!!" the Marry Me star wrote. "I cannot wait for all that's to come next year… #HappyNewYear #ImJustGettingStarted #WaitingForTonight #ThisIsMeNow."

Along with business milestones like unveiling new music, recording in the studio, performing at award shows, and spending days on set, Lopez also gave viewers a close-up peek at her personal life with Affleck and her children, twins Max and Emme, who are 14 years old. Her engagement, which she and Ben announced in April, was also chronicled.

The actress even provided a close-up view of her magnificent, enormous green engagement diamond from Affleck.

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Kourtney K and Travis Barker make daughter’s birthday memorable

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are making sure Alabama Barker has the best birthday.

The influencer turned 17 on Dec. 24, and so, both her father and his wife showered the teen with love. The Kardashians star celebrated Alabama on social media, posting several throwback photos of her and the now 17-year-old.

"Happy happy birthday," Kourtney wrote alongside one selfie of herself and Alabama at the Poosh founder's May wedding to the Blink-182 drummer. The tribute continued with an additional selfie and other blended family photos. In fact, Kourtney shared a sweet throwback snap of her own daughter Penelope Disick, 10, and Alabama.

Alabama revealed the special present Travis got her: a diamond necklace.

"Thank you dad," Alabama noted as she gave a closer look at the necklace on her Dec. 24 Instagram story.

Kourtney—who shares sons Mason, 13, and Reign, 8, as well as daughter Penelope with ex Scott Disick—and Travis—who shares Landon, 19, and Alabama and stepdaughter Atiana with ex-wife Shanna Moakler—have made blending their families a priority in their relationship.

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Prince Louis’ first Christmas walk

Prince Louis, for the first time, joined parents Kate Middleton and Prince William as well as siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte for the royal family's annual Christmas walk at Sandringham Dec. 25. And, it should come as no surprise that he stole the show.  

Dressed in a navy jacket, shorts and knee socks, Louis held his mom's hand as they walked to church services. And while the Princess of Wales greeted members of the public, the young royal was photographed trying to tug her along.

Louis wasn't the only one to step out in style, either. While William and George, 9, looked dapper in navy suits, Kate and Charlotte, 7, made statements in olive and cranberry coats, respectively.

This year marks the family's first Christmas without Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September at age 96.

In a pre-recorded address from St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the monarch was laid to rest, King Charles paid tribute to his mother. "Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones," he said. "We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition."

"In the much-loved carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem' we sing of how ‘in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.'" the 74-year-old continued. "My mother's belief in the power of that light was an essential part of her faith in God, but also her faith in people and it is one which I share with my whole heart. It is a belief in the extraordinary ability of each person to touch, with goodness and compassion, the lives of others, and to shine a light in the world around them."

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BTS star Jin begins South Korea army duty

On Tuesday, a new recruit joined the South Korean military: The oldest member of the K-pop sensation BTS, Jin, started his 18-month mandatory national duty with a freshly shorn head.

At his bootcamp, where frontline troops are stationed to defend against North Korea, in the eastern county of Yeoncheon, dozens of fans braved the bitter cold and snow to hurry him along.

"I wish it was a warm day," Lee Jin, 24, said outside the camp, where about 300 military, police and fire officials maintained tight security. "I hope he will be treated well without discrimination."

Jin, who turned 30 on December 4 after delaying his service for the maximum amount of time permitted, will be the first member of BTS to enlist for his required military service, according to plans made public in October.

"He is so skinny," said Mandy Lee, a 30-year-old fan from Hong Kong. "I want him to eat more and stay healthy and safe."

The band will get back together in 2025 after taking on separate projects.

Jin will be deployed to an unnamed unit following five weeks of training at the camp, which is located approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.

"Now it's time for a curtain call," Jin wrote on BTS fan platform Weverse early on Tuesday before entering the camp in a car. His shaved head was "cuter" than he imagined, he joked when he posted a photograph of it the previous day.

Big Hit Music, BTS' management company, announced that there would be no official event and urged supporters not to go to the boot camp out of safety reasons.

All physically capable men in South Korea between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to serve in the military for around two years, but the country changed the rule in 2019 to allow internationally renowned K-pop singers to wait until they are 30 before enlisting.

A bill is still waiting despite some parliamentarians' calls for a shorter term, which is given to medal winners at the Olympics and Asian Games as well as some classical musicians.

Another member of BTS, Suga, was found to be unfit for active duty and will instead perform community service, according to the Yonhap news agency on Tuesday.

Due to privacy concerns, Big Hit declined to confirm the rumour but assured that everyone in the band will perform their tasks.

Many performers have been given the title of "entertainment soldier," which enables them to stay actively involved by giving performances for the troops or participating in propaganda.

According to South Korea's defence minister, BTS will be authorised to perform abroad while serving in the armed forces.

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Prince Harry implies royals lied to protect his brother

In a new trailer released on Monday for the remaining episodes of a Netflix documentary series on him and his wife Meghan, Prince Harry seemed to imply that the British royal family was willing to tell lies to protect his elder brother Prince William.

The first three episodes of the much awaited documentary, which aired last week, were mostly concerned with how the couple had been treated by the British tabloid press and how that had affected their relationship.

Since the couple launched scathing criticisms against several members of the royal family, most notably his father King Charles and heir William, most notably in an interview with TV personality Oprah Winfrey last year, the family has been prepared for fresh criticism.

While the first few episodes did not reveal any new shocking information about the royal family, Harry mentions "institutional gaslighting" in the most recent trailer, which Netflix published on Twitter before the release of the final three episodes on Thursday.

"They were happy to lie to protect my brother, they were never willing to tell the truth to protect us," Harry later says.

At one point, Meghan also says: "I wasn't being thrown to the wolves, I was being fed to the wolves."

According to its statement, Buckingham Palace won't be commenting on the show. Despite the fact that a royal source denied that the palace or the representatives of Prince William or other royals had been contacted, Netflix claimed that members of the royal family had declined to comment for the series.

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Harry and Meghan defend documentary after privacy criticism

British Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have responded to criticism of a documentary about their lives by claiming that they never cited privacy as a justification for leaving the royal family, according to a statement from their spokesman.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed a number of revelations in the first three episodes of the eagerly awaited documentary. Meghan recalled receiving her first death threat, Harry discussed dressing up for dates, and there was new video of their son Archie.

Some have criticised the pair as a result of the premiere, which, according to statistics provided by the BBC, attracted 2.4 million TV viewers in Britain for the first episode on the day it was published. The couple has previously protested vehemently about press intrusion.

The couple's press secretary, however, refuted this charge in a statement.

"The Duke and Duchess have never cited privacy as the reason for stepping back. This distorted narrative was intended to trap the couple into silence," the statement said, according to a report by the BBC.

"They are choosing to share their story, on their terms, and yet the tabloid media has created an entirely untrue narrative that permeates press coverage and public opinion."

The letter emphasised that Harry and Meghan had stated a wish to maintain their public roles and responsibilities and had not mentioned privacy when stepping down from their royal responsibilities in January 2020.

The reasoning behind their decision to step down as senior royals was not stated in their 2020 announcement.

They issued a warning on paparazzi photographer harassment a few days following the ruling.

That echoed accusations from 2019 when Harry said his wife had experienced "bullying" from some newspapers, akin to what his mother Princess Diana experienced before she was killed in a car accident in 1997 while attempting to elude paparazzi cameras.

The pair has severed relations with the four biggest tabloids in Britain and has successfully sued several publications. Additional legal action is still ongoing.

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Taylor Swift to make film directorial debut

Taylor Swift, a Grammy-winning musician, will make her movie directorial debut with a story she wrote, Searchlight Pictures announced on Friday.

The subject matter and release date of Swift's movie were both kept a secret by Walt Disney Co.-owned Searchlight, which also produced the 2022 drama "The Banshees of Inisherin" and Oscar best picture nominees "The Shape of Water" and "Nomadland."

“Taylor is a once in a generation artist and storyteller. It is a genuine joy and privilege to collaborate with her as she embarks on this exciting and new creative journey,” Searchlight Presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield said in a statement.

At the 2022 MTV Video Music Honors, the "Shake it Off" singer became the first person to win three Video of the Year awards, and Swift's 2021 "All Too Well: The Short Film" made her the second woman to direct a Best Longform Video winner.

Swift is the first female artist in Grammy history to have won the coveted Album of the Year award three times. She has won 11 Grammy awards overall.

The 10-minute version of "All Too Well," which is eligible for the Best Live-Action Short category at the 2023 Oscars, received a recent Grammy nomination for Song of the Year.

The 2023 Oscar nominations will be revealed on January 24.

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Elton John quits Twitter

The most prominent celebrity to leave Twitter since the social media network was purchased by billionaire Elon Musk on Friday was British artist Elton John.

John, who is now on his final-ever world tour, cited the most recent Twitter rules change as the cause of his departure.

"All my life I've tried to use music to bring people together. Yet it saddens me to see how misinformation is now being used to divide our world," John tweeted to his 1.1 million followers.

"I've decided to no longer use Twitter, given their recent change in policy which will allow misinformation to flourish unchecked."

The activist and veteran singer of popular songs like "Tiny Dancer" and "Rocket Man," who is 75 years old, joins a lengthy list of famous people who have recently stopped using Twitter, including supermodel Gigi Hadid, author Shonda Rhimes, and ex-White Stripes guitarist Jack White.

"I love your music. Hope you come back. Is there any misinformation in particular that you're concerned about?" Musk said in a reply to John's tweet on Friday.

Since the CEO of Tesla Inc. acquired control of Twitter in a $44 billion deal, a number of changes, including the introduction of a "blue tick" fee, the reversal of a COVID-19 misinformation policy, and the reinstatement of some previously suspended accounts, including that of the former US President Donald Trump, have drawn strong criticism.

In addition, Musk has drastically reduced the trust and safety team's staff, which is in charge of halting the spread of hazardous content and misinformation, and slashed the company's employment in half.

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Khloe Kardashian's Look at 2022 People's Choice Awards

The Kardashian-Jenners solidified their position as red carpet royalty on December 6 at the 2022 People's Choice Awards. Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner showed some of their most stylish looks to date at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, where they won The Reality Show of 2022 for their Hulu series The Kardashians.

Khloe looked amazing in a black off-the-shoulder gown with big blowout hair styled in an '80s-inspired style. In fact, she was "trying to fix my hair" when she almost missed her opportunity to accept the award on stage. Kris made jokes on stage "Khloe was sitting next to me. Oh, here she comes!"

It's also clear where Kris' daughters get their sense of style from because the matriarch attended the show wearing a dark suit with a ruffled neckline.

The famous family scored numerous victories at the PCAs last year. Khloe won the prize for The Reality TV Star of 2021 in addition to Kim receiving the Fashion Icon Award for her avant-garde sense of fashion.

And in June 2021, when the 20th and last season of their long-running series Keeping Up With the Kardashians concluded, the show won The Reality Show of 2021, an honour Kim referred to as "bittersweet" in her speech of acceptance with Khloe and Kris.

"It's been an incredible 14-year ride, and all of the memories we have can never be replaced," Kim said during the Dec. 7 award ceremony. "We started the show with an idea of bringing our crazy family into your homes, and we could not have imagined that it would have lasted this long."

Khloe went on to thank their fans "old and new," saying, "We read the comments, we see the social posts, and it's awesome. A big shout-out to all of our fan accounts. You all never miss a beat."

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'Avatar' sequel finally premieres 13 years after original

On Tuesday, James Cameron finally gave the sequel to "Avatar," the highest-grossing movie of all time, its long-awaited premiere in London.

Audiences were transported back to the enchanted land of Pandora in "Avatar: The Way of Water," where in the original movie the indigenous blue Na'vi people fought against human colonists for control of the moon's natural riches.

In "The Way of Water," which takes place more than ten years later, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri, who are now parents to five kids.

The "Sky People," as the Na'vi refer to humans, have returned and are hunting Sully, disrupting their tranquil existence in the paradise-like jungle. Sully, Neytiri, and their kids migrate to a remote area in search of safety with the oceanic Metkayina clan. They do this because they want to protect their family and their tribe.

The family, whose bodies and skills are more suited to living in the jungle, must quickly learn how to survive while fending off the threat of their approaching enemy.

"This was a labour of love spread out over a decade, so it's great to finally be able share it," Worthington said at the film's world premiere.

"This is a heart-wrenching story, it's mighty, it's very powerful, you hope that it connects (with audiences) but it's not just the carbon copy of the first one, we've really expanded the world, we've expanded this family unit."

Saldana said reprising her role was "emotional".