From ‘Sesame Street’ to ‘Alma’s Way’: How Sonia Manzano continues to break ground and elevate Latino stories on US television
After 44 years as the loveable Maria on Sesame Street, Sonia Manzano thought she was finally ready to move to a quieter, non-puppet inhabited neighborhood where she could spend her days writing children’s books. “I didn’t think I was going to continue in television,” said Manzano, 71, who was on Sesame Street from 1971 until…
How two friends learned to talk honestly about race while writing a book
There is a moment in the beginning of the new book from Christine Pride and Jo Piazza that is written from the perspective of a 14-year-old Black boy. He is having a nightmare about being shot by police officers and imagines the school picture his mom would use when he dies and his death would…
When Gene Simmons isn’t performing with KISS, you can find him painting
Gene Simmons is getting serious about art. And we’re not talking about his music. The co-founder of KISS spoke to CNN about how he began painting during the Covid-19 pandemic as a hobby to decompress, and, now, he’s actually selling his artwork. “My family and I were up in Whistler self-quarantining and staying away from…
TV OT: The aliens are coming! The aliens are coming! Plus: ‘Curb’ and ‘Insecure’ return
Chalk it up to the government’s revelations in recent years about UFOs, or maybe just the pendulum swinging back, again, after “The X-Files” inspired a host of imitators in the 1990s. Whatever the reason (including possibly happenstance), to paraphrase a great patriot, “The aliens are coming! The aliens are coming!” This week saw the finale…
Hollywood’s tragic history of on-set accidents
Hollywood is the land of make believe, but the very real specter of death can hover over television and movie sets. The death of 42-year-old director of photography Halyna Hutchins while working on the movie “Rust” in New Mexico after actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun is just the latest on-set tragedy. There have…
Peter Scolari, ‘Bosom Buddies’ and ‘Newhart’ star, has died
Peter Scolari, a veteran actor who rose to fame alongside Tom Hanks on “Bosom Buddies,” died Friday morning. Scolari had cancer and had been ill for two years, his manager Ellen Lubin Sanitsky told CNN. He was 66. Scolari appeared in numerous films and television series over the years, including “Newhart,” “Murphy Brown,” and “The…
Alec Baldwin says he’s ‘fully cooperating with police’ after fatal shooting on ‘Rust’ set
Alec Baldwin has made his first public statement since a fatal shooting on the set of his new film on Thursday. “There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours,” Baldwin tweeted on Friday.…
Prop guns: What they are and how they can kill
The goal of movies and TV series is to make scenes look realistic. When it comes to prop guns, they don’t just look dangerous. Such was the case in the death Thursday of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust” in New Mexico. The 42-year-old director of photography died after actor Alec Baldwin…
‘Becoming Cousteau’ sings an ode to the ocean explorer and his 20th-century climate warnings
Jacques Cousteau was a man ahead of his time in multiple respects, which provides the backbone of “Becoming Cousteau,” a documentary devoted to both the ocean explorer’s life and his early environmental advocacy. Brought to life by his own words and appearances, the film touches on various themes while letting its lovely images and music…
Brandon Lee’s family speak out after fatal prop gun shooting on set
The family of late actor Brandon Lee has spoken out following the news that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza injured after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of the movie “Rust.” According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Hutchins, 42, was pronounced dead by medical personnel…
Who was Halyna Hutchins? Tributes paid to director of photography killed by prop gun
The film industry has been left shocked and in mourning after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on set when actor and producer Alec Baldwin discharged a prop firearm. Hutchins, who was 42, was director of photography for Baldwin’s latest movie, “Rust,” a Western which was being filmed in New Mexico and stars Baldwin, Travis Fimmel…
Director of photography killed, movie director injured after Alec Baldwin discharged prop firearm on movie set
On the set of the movie “Rust” in New Mexico, its director of photography was killed and movie director injured after actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop firearm on Thursday, according to a law enforcement statement provided to CNN. Director of photography Halyna Hutchins, 42, was transported to the hospital via helicopter and pronounced dead…
Jamie Spears hires new attorney after being suspended as Britney Spears’ conservator
As Britney Spears prepares to return to court next month to try to bring her 13-year conservatorship to an end, her father Jamie Spears has a new lawyer. Vivian L. Thoreen, Jamie Spears’ former attorney, announced the change in counsel in a statement to CNN on Thursday. “We are proud of our work on behalf…
Lego recreates the house from ‘Home Alone’
Lego has created a nostalgic replica just in time for the holiday season. Lego’s latest fan-designed set is a replica of the house from the classic 1990 movie “Home Alone,” about the problems that arise when burglars attempt to rob the house while young Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is, fittingly, home alone after being left behind…
Ruby Rose alleges unsafe working conditions on ‘Batwoman’ set
Ruby Rose says unsafe working conditions and a toxic culture on the CW series “Batwoman” led to their departure from the show in 2020. Rose played superhero Kate Kane for one season. The Australian actor, who identifies as gender fluid and uses they/them and she/her pronouns, took to Instagram Wednesday to recall their experience on…
‘Insecure’s’ Yvonne Orji is going to miss Molly too
Yvonne Orji has some words of wisdom for the character she plays for the upcoming fifth and final season of “Insecure.” “I would tell Molly, take a deep breath,” Orji told CNN.”Just take a deep breath, Boo.” Fans of the HBO series will need to breathe as well with the ending of the dramedy. (HBO…
Hollywood keeps retelling ‘Dune.’ Why this latest adaptation may be the one that takes off
Get ready for the spice to flow. After a number of pandemic-induced delays, the latest movie adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi classic novel “Dune” is landing in theaters and on HBO Max this weekend. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, with its stars including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Oscar Isaac, the film is among this year’s…
Cardi B and Penn Badgley are the Twitter friendship we didn’t know we needed
What’s the relationship status when you swap Twitter avis? That’s what Cardi B and “You” star Penn Badgley did after sharing some mutual appreciation on that platform. The rapper tweeted an old video in which Badgley talks about social media and praises Cardi B for how she uses it, saying she has an “authentic relationship”…
Olivia Newton-John offers cancer update
Olivia Newton-John says she has her good days and her bad days as she once again battles cancer. In an interview with “Today’s” Hoda Kotb which aired Wednesday, the singer talked about living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She said these days she’s “feeling pretty good.” “I have my days, I have my pains,”…
Cara Delevingne’s father suggests she was named after in-flight magazine
Origin stories are a powerful part of celebrity culture that can help fans identify with the stars. Now it appears that one global star shares a curious connection with Ireland, and the country’s flag carrier airline in particular. Charles Hamar Delevingne, father of model and actress Cara Delevingne, has suggested that his daughter was named…