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Vince Calandra, the charismatic Ed Sullivan Show talent booker who graduated from gofer and cue-card guy to bringing such talent as The Beatles, Julie Andrews, Alan King and Jackie Mason to the legendary CBS variety hour, has died. He was 91.

Calandra died Saturday of natural causes at his home in Woodland Hills, his daughter, Christine Calandra Farrell, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Survivors also include his son, Vince Calandra Jr., a writer and/or producer on The Ren & Stimpy Show, Sharp Objects, Dark Winds and many other shows.

A street-smart Brooklyn native, Calandra Sr. started out in the mailroom at the Sullivan show in 1957 — nine years into the Sunday night program’s run — and stuck around through its final episode on March 28, 1971. The show was recorded live.

In a 2003 chat with Jeff Abraham for the Television Academy Foundation website The Interviews, Calandra said he always followed Ed Sullivan’s philosophy...

On Friday July 18 2025, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

Marcella Season 39 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Masters,” titled “Marcella,” will explore the life and legacy of renowned chef Marcella Hazan. This episode will air on PBS and promises to take viewers on a journey through the culinary world that Marcella helped shape. Her influence on American cooking is significant, and this episode will highlight how her cookbooks and teaching methods transformed the way people approach Italian cuisine.

Marcella Hazan is often credited with bringing authentic Italian cooking to the American kitchen. The episode will delve into her early life in Italy, her passion for food, and how she became a beloved figure in American culinary circles. Through interviews and archival footage, viewers will learn about her unique approach to cooking and the philosophy that guided her work.

The impact of Marcella’s cookbooks cannot be understated. Millions of home...

On Monday July 14 2025, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

Marcella Season 39 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Masters,” titled “Marcella,” will shine a light on the life and legacy of Marcella Hazan, a beloved figure in the world of Italian cooking. This episode will explore how her cookbooks and teaching transformed the way many Americans approach Italian cuisine. Marcella’s dedication to authentic Italian traditions helped bring the flavors of Italy into countless homes across the United States.

Viewers can expect to learn about Marcella’s early life in Italy and how her passion for cooking developed. The episode will delve into her journey as she moved to the U.S. and began sharing her culinary knowledge. Through interviews and archival footage, the program will highlight her unique approach to cooking and how she emphasized the importance of using fresh, quality ingredients.

“Marcella” will also showcase the impact of her influential cookbooks,...

On Friday July 11 2025, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

Marcella Season 39 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode titled “Marcella” of the series “American Masters” on PBS promises to explore the life and legacy of Marcella Hazan, a beloved figure in the culinary world. Known for her dedication to Italian cooking, Marcella’s influence can be seen in kitchens across America. This episode will highlight her journey and the significant impact she had on how people approach Italian cuisine.

Viewers will learn about Marcella’s beginnings and how her passion for cooking blossomed into a remarkable career. Through her cookbooks and teaching, she shared her knowledge of Italian traditions and techniques. Her recipes became staples for many home cooks, making Italian food more accessible and authentic.

The episode will also feature interviews with chefs and food enthusiasts who were inspired by Marcella. They will reflect on how her work changed the way Italian dishes are prepared and appreciated.

The lights are going down and the orchestra is tuning up — it’s time for Maestroto take the stage.

Maestro is directed by Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born), who co-wrote the script with Josh Singer. Cooper also stars as cultural icon Leonard Bernstein; the film focuses on Bernstein’s lifelong relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). You can catch a glimpse of their very first meeting and the ensuing love story in the trailer for the film above.

Find out more about Maestro below.

Maestro is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.

“I think people will see the complexity of marriage and the many forms love can take,” co-writer Singer said. “I think those...

Mark Snow, the veteran television composer who turned “The X-Files” theme into an unlikely chart hit in the 1990s, died Friday at his home in Connecticut. He was 78.

A 15-time Emmy nominee, he not only scored more than 200 episodes of Chris Carter’s spooky Fox series, he also provided the music for other series including “Hart to Hart,” “T.J. Hooker,” “Smallville,” “The Ghost Whisperer” and “Blue Bloods.”

Six of his 15 Emmy nominations were for “The X-Files,” but five others were for such high rated TV movies and miniseries, including “Something About Amelia,” “An American Story,” “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All,” “Children of the Dust” and “Helter Skelter.”

The Juilliard-trained composer started out, like most TV composers in the 1970s, writing for full orchestra, but Snow was among the first to transition to the all-electronic milieu in the late 1980s, working alone in his home studio. All of the...

Brad Pitt recently praised Bradley Cooper’s film “Maestro,” calling it one of the best movies of the decade. Even though they have a friendly rivalry over their favorite NFL teams, Pitt supports the Kansas City Chiefs while Cooper is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, their friendship stays strong. Pitt joked about their football rivalry while celebrating Cooper’s work as the director, writer, producer, and star of the movie.

On the “New Heights” podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Pitt talked about giving Cooper an award for “Maestro” in 2024. He shared a funny moment about Cooper’s many Oscar nominations.

Pitt said, “I have a confession: I’m friends with Bradley Cooper. He was getting an award for ‘Maestro,’ [which] is still probably one of the best movies of this decade. And I was giving him this award and he’s been nominated like 18 times for the Oscars. And I closed with,...

Brad Pitt recently gave a shoutout to Bradley Cooper’s movie “Maestro,” calling it one of the best films of the decade. Despite their well-known friendly rivalry over football teams, Pitt supports the Kansas City Chiefs while Cooper roots for the Philadelphia Eagles, the two actors remain close friends. Pitt joked about their different team loyalties while praising Cooper’s work as a director, writer, producer, and actor in the film.

On the “New Heights” podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Pitt talked about giving Cooper an award for “Maestro” in 2024. He shared a funny moment when he joked about Cooper’s many Oscar nominations.

Pitt said, “I have a confession: I’m friends with Bradley Cooper. He was getting an award for ‘Maestro,’ [which] is still probably one of the best movies of this decade. And I was giving him this award and he’s been nominated like 18 times for the Oscars.

Brad Pitt called Bradley Cooper’s Maestro “one of the best movies of this decade” during a conversation published by IndieWire on 2 July, adding that the Leonard Bernstein portrait “stays with me in every frame.” The endorsement revives praise Pitt first voiced onstage at the 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where he presented Cooper with the Outstanding Performer award and described the film as a “masterwork.”

Cooper’s second feature as director premiered at the New York Film Festival in October 2023 and reached Netflix two months later after a limited theatrical run that generated an estimated $300,000, the streamer’s strongest specialty debut in four years. It went on to secure seven Academy Award nominations—including picture, actor, actress and screenplay—though prizes ultimately eluded the production. Critics broadly commended Cooper’s physical performance and Carey Mulligan’s turn as Felicia Montealegre, with The Guardian praising the “head-flingingly heartfelt” energy of the character study.

Brad Pitt is putting his football differences with Bradley Cooper aside to praise the writer/director/producer/star’s sophomore directorial effort, “Maestro.” Pitt, who is good pals with Cooper, joked that their friendship is still intact despite their differing NFL fandoms

During the “New Heights” with Jason and Travis Kelce podcast (in the below video), Pitt admitted that he couldn’t help but throw some shade at Cooper when celebrating “Maestro” in 2024. Pitt also praised the Leonard Bernstein biopic for being one of the best films of the 2020s; Pitt implied that an Academy Award for Cooper is even long overdue. “Maestro” was nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actress for Carey Mulligan, and Best Actor for Cooper.

“I have a confession: I’m friends with Bradley Cooper,” Pitt said. “He was getting an award for ‘Maestro,’ [which] is still probably one of the best movies of this decade.

Karl E. Held, a Tony Award-nominated Broadway producer whose wide-ranging career in the performing arts spanned more than four decades, died on June 23 in New York City. He was 63. The cause was a heart attack suffered shortly after attending a performance at Carnegie Hall. A native of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. Held split his time between New York City, Hollywood, and his beloved hometown. As both a performer and independent producer, he worked with some of the most renowned artists and institutions of our time. His impressive roster of collaborators included Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, the Spoleto Festivals, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, Frank...

Karl E. Held, a longtime arts advocate who was a producer on the Tony Award-nominated 2009 Broadway production of Ragtime and most recently on the Off Broadway hit Kowalski, died of a heart attack June 23 in New York City shortly after attending a performance at Carnegie Hall. He was 63.

His death was announced by a spokesperson for Kowalski. Gregg Ostrin’s comedy, about the first meeting between Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando, ran in January and February at Off Broadway’s Duke on 42nd Street. Producers recently announced their intentions to move Kowalski to Broadway.

Karl Edward Held was born on June 7, 1962, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 1990 he joined Emmy Award-winning producer Roger Englander and Freddie Gershon of Music Theatre International to create an acclaimed video series capturing the conception and creation of Broadway shows with their original creators.

On Friday June 27 2025, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny Season 39 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Masters,” titled “Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny,” promises to explore the life and influence of one of the 20th century’s most significant political thinkers. This episode will delve into Arendt’s unique perspectives on power, totalitarianism, and the human condition, making it a compelling watch for those interested in political philosophy and history.

Viewers can expect to learn about Arendt’s early life, her experiences as a Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi Germany, and how these events shaped her thoughts on the nature of evil and authority. The episode will highlight her most famous works, including “The Origins of Totalitarianism” and “The Human Condition,” which continue to resonate in today’s political landscape.

The program will feature interviews with scholars and experts who will provide context and analysis of Arendt’s ideas.

On Friday June 20 2025, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence Season 39 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Masters,” titled “Janis Ian: Breaking Silence,” promises to be an insightful look into the life of the celebrated singer-songwriter. This episode will explore Janis Ian’s journey from her early days as a young artist to her emergence as a folk icon. It will highlight her unique voice and the powerful lyrics that resonated with many during her career.

Viewers can expect to learn about Ian’s significant contributions to music and her role as a gay rights advocate. The episode will delve into the challenges she faced in both her personal and professional life, showcasing her resilience and determination. Ian’s story is one of breaking barriers and speaking out, making her a pivotal figure in both the music industry and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Through interviews, archival footage,...

Think The Bard is boring? If you're one of the millions forced to slog your way through William Shakespeare's plays during high school, you may think his language is too flowery, his style is too dated (despite the fact he wrote in Modern English), and his stories are out-of-touch with our day-to-day lives. Respectfully, dear reader, you are wrong. We bet you have seen and loved a Shakespeare story without even realizing it, as his plays have inspired numerous movies.

We're not talking word-for-word adaptations, like 2015's "Macbeth" starring Michael Fassbender; or even movies that use more...shall we say... "creative license," like Joel Coen's "The Tragedy of Macbeth", Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet," or your average theatre director's revisionist steampunk-in-space version of "Cymbeline."

No, Shakespeare has inspired not just adaptations, but inspirations. "Original" movies spanning a host of genres that borrow heavily from The Bard. How heavily?...

Varda Bar-Kar’s documentary, “Janis Ian: Breaking Silence,” invites us not merely to observe a life, but to confront the dissonant echoes of a voice that chose, from its inception, to articulate the uncomfortable. Janis Ian emerges less as a folk singer and more as a conduit for those societal fractures we often prefer to ignore, her career a long, unblinking gaze into the abyss of human experience.

The film itself, a chronicle spanning precocious youth to the stark silencing of a seasoned artist, charts a course through decades of creation and tribulation. Ian’s celebrated candor, the film suggests, was never simple honesty; it was a necessary rebellion, a giving-voice to the shadows, forcing a reckoning with the often-bleak truths she so unflinchingly translated into song. The work beckons one into a space where music becomes a philosophical inquiry into the very nature of being.

A Voice Forged in...

Carey Mulligan is in talks to star in Greta Gerwig’s “Chronicles of Narnia” adaptation at Netflix.

If the deal closes, Mulligan will join the previously announced cast of Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep and Emma Mackey. Otherwise, the project is still in the midst of the casting process according to The Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news of Mulligan’s hiring.

In her much-anticipated “Barbie” follow-up, Gerwig is writing and directing the fantasy adventure, which reportedly follows “The Magician’s Nephew” — the sixth novel in the series by author C.S. Lewis. The story serves as a prequel to “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and centers on the creation of Narnia by Aslan the lion (voiced by Streep). Two children, Digory and Polly, are the first to discover the “Wood between the Worlds” after an uncle (Craig) gives the two friends a magical ring. Mackey is playing the Jadis,...

Jk Simmons delivered one of his career’s best performances in Whiplash. Many have hailed the Damien Chazelle psychological drama as a modern masterpiece for its performances, screenplay, direction, and sound-mixing. Besides this, Whiplash is also known for earning three Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for Simmons.

Whiplash stars Miles Teller as a Jazz drummer named Andrew Neiman, who is pushed to his limits by his instructor, Terence Fletcher. A primary part that made Whiplash such a hit was its realism. Jk Simmons shared that his actual music background played a major role in his unforgettable performance.

Jk Simmons’ lifelong dream aided him in his Whiplash role A still from Whiplash | Credits: Sony Pictures Classics

Damien Chazelle stands among the youngest filmmaking talents in Hollywood. He is behind some of the finest movies made in recent times. Even the much-criticized Babylon has some praiseworthy technical details, unlike many recent movies.

Charles Strouse, the famed Broadway composer who received Tony Awards for his scores for Bye Bye Birdie, Applause and Annie, died Thursday at his home in New York City, his family announced. He was 96.

A member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Theater Hall of Fame, Strouse wrote music for more than a dozen Broadway shows.

He and lyricist Martin Charnin were responsible for the immortal tunes “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life” from Annie, and he and his most frequent collaborator, lyricist Lee Adams, partnered on such classic show tunes as “Put on a Happy Face” from Bye Bye Birdie, “You’ve Got Possibilities” from It’s a Bird … It’s a Plane … It’s Superman and “This Is the Life” from Golden Boy.

Asked by Playbill in 2009 why he got into the theater, Strouse replied: “You can make a lot of money and you meet beautiful girls.

Watch Tony winner Anika Noni Rose perform "One Hundred Easy Ways" in Wonderful Town at Encores! City Center. Only seven performances remain of the Zhailon Levingston-directed production of the classic Leonard Bernstein musical—get your tickets before it’s too late! Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell takes audiences inside Bernstein’s score that captures the sounds and heart of New York City. Featuring memorable tunes like “Ohio” and “One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man,” Wonderful Town is a celebration of what makes New York the greatest city in the world—welcoming people from all over who come to fulfill their dreams. The cast is led by Aisha Jackson and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose as sisters Eileen and Ruth....

New York City Center Encores! production of Wonderful Town is now playing through May 11. The critics stopped by the production and the reviews are in! Is Wonderful Town wonderful? Find out below! Directed by Zhailon Levingston, Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell takes audiences inside Leonard Bernstein’s score that captures the sounds and heart of New York City. Featuring memorable tunes like “Ohio” and “One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man,” Wonderful Town is a celebration of what makes New York the greatest city in the world—welcoming people from all over who come to fulfill their dreams. The cast is led by Aisha Jackson and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose as sisters Eileen and Ruth. The production also features Jimmy Ray Bennett as Officer Lonigan, Etai Benson as Frank Lippencott, Allison Blackwell as Mrs....

New York City Center Encores! production of Wonderful Town is now playing through May 11. Check out all new footage from the production, including a clip of the song "Ohio" here! Directed by Zhailon Levingston, Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell takes audiences inside Leonard Bernstein’s score that captures the sounds and heart of New York City. Featuring memorable tunes like “Ohio” and “One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man,” Wonderful Town is a celebration of what makes New York the greatest city in the world—welcoming people from all over who come to fulfill their dreams. The cast is led by Aisha Jackson and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose as sisters Eileen and Ruth. The production also features Jimmy Ray Bennett...

On Tuesday April 15 2025, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse Season 39 Episode 2 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Masters” titled “Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse” promises to be a compelling exploration of the life and work of the influential cartoonist Art Spiegelman. This episode will focus on his groundbreaking graphic novel “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale,” which has left a significant mark on literature and art. By telling the story of his parents’ survival during the Holocaust, Spiegelman uses his unique style to address heavy themes of trauma and memory.

Viewers will get a closer look at Spiegelman’s creative process and the challenges he faced while bringing such a personal and painful story to life. The episode will delve into how his experiences and family history shaped his artistic vision. It will also highlight the broader impact of “Maus” on both the comic book...

Matt Bomer is looking back at turning down Barbie.

Back in November 2023, the 47-year-old Mid-Century Modern actor revealed that he auditioned to play one of the Kens in the Greta Gerwig-directed movie, but turned down the role because he didn’t want to “spend extensive time away from his family.”

However, now in a new interview published on April 10, Matt revealed the real reason why he turned down the role.

Keep reading to find out more…While speaking with Business Insider, Matt turned down the Ken role to appear in Bradley Cooper‘s movie Maestro instead.

“Even though my part in Maestro was smaller, Bradley was so collaborative with me from the get-go,” Matt explained. “It was such an immersive experience that to have just flown in from London to film my scenes [in Barbie] really quick and fly back to London—I feel like Maestro wouldn’t have been the same experience for me.

Matt Bomer is glad he turned down a role in the 'Barbie' movie because it gave him more time to focus on 'Maestro'.The 47-year-old actor was in talks to play Ken in Greta Gerwig's big screen film based on the beloved children's toy, but he walked away from the part and it went to Ryan Gosling instead - and Matt has now revealed he made the right choice because it allowed him to focus his energy on performing in Bradley Cooper's Leonard Bernstein biopic 'Maestro'.He told Business Insider: "Even though my part in 'Maestro' was smaller, Bradley was so collaborative with me from the get-go."And it was such an immersive experience that to have just flown in from London to film my scenes [in 'Barbie'] really quick and fly back to London - I feel like 'Maestro' wouldn't...

Matt Bomer could’ve appeared in not just one, but two Oscar best picture nominees in 2023 had he decided he had ken-ough time between “Maestro” and “Barbie.” The “Mid-Century Modern” star previously shared that he had auditioned to play one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster comedy, but eventually exited talks to spend time with his family. Speaking with Business Insider, the actor reveals that he also decided to step away from “Barbie” to have more time to focus on Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic “Maestro.”

“Even though my part in ‘Maestro’ was smaller, Bradley was so collaborative with me from the get-go,” Bomer said. “It was such an immersive experience that to have just flown in from London to film my scenes [in ‘Barbie’] really quick and fly back to London — I feel like ‘Maestro’ wouldn’t have been the same experience for me.”

In “Maestro,” Bomer played David Oppenheim,...

Bradley Cooper wasn’t the first choice for Nightmare Alley?(Photo Credit –Facebook)

Turns out, Bradley Cooper wasn’t Guillermo del Toro’s first pick for the role in Nightmare Alley. That spot originally belonged to Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cooper didn’t take that revelation lightly.

Back in 2019, Deadline reported that DiCaprio had signed on to star in del Toro’s noir psychological thriller. It was supposed to be the follow-up to the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water, and fans were pumped to see DiCaprio and del Toro team up. But for reasons never made public, DiCaprio quietly stepped away from the project later that year.

Enter Cooper. He stepped into the lead role of Stanton “Stan” Carlisle, a slick carny turned cunning con man. But instead of feeling triumphant, Cooper spiraled a bit. In a candid chat with Mahershala Ali for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, he admitted,...

Steven Spielberg is one of the most iconic film directors, entertaining multiple generations through many different types of films. His first big success was the film Jaws, which revolutionized the summer blockbuster era in Hollywood. Spielberg eventually ventured into other genres, creating some of the best adventure, science fiction, and war films.

Spielberg is often recognized for his extravagant films like Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List, which showcase his diverse filmography. However, Spielberg isn't just a director. Known mostly for the films he made throughout his long career, many people do not know that Spielberg was a producer on many iconic films.

Back to the Future Is an Iconic Time Travel Misadventure to the Past IMDb Score: 8.5/10

Back to the Future is a film about a young teen who is accidentally sent back in time to 1955 and must figure out a way to get back to 1985. Marty McFly assists the quirky scientist Dr.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame will recognize Stephen Schwartz — the arranger and composer behind the music from “Wicked,” “Godspell” and “Pippin” — as the recipient of the 2025 Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, slated for June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The Johnny Mercer Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is exclusively reserved for a songwriter or songwriting team who has already been inducted in a prior year and whose body of work is of “such high quality and impact that it upholds the gold standard set by the legendary Johnny Mercer,” per the Shof. Schwartz was first inducted into the Hall in 2009.

“With every lyric and melody, Stephen invites us on an unforgettable journey,” said Shof Chairman Nile Rodgers. “From his iconic list of award-winning musicals, including ‘Godspell’, ‘Wicked’ and ‘Pippin,’ Stephen...

Exclusive: The journey to bring Bob Dylan’s formative story to the screen took more than a decade. The film had a coterie of producers as it wound its way to production. Fred Berger and Alex Heineman got the PGA mark along with writer/director James Mangold. The other producers are Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer, the film’s star Timothee Chalamet, Peter Jaysen, and Jeff Rosen. Here, Berger and Heineman explain the road to bring to screen the evolution of Dylan from the future from folk to rock icon. The Searchlight film tonight competes for eight Oscars including Best Picture.

Deadline: When Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016, he didn’t show up for the ceremony. What was the process in getting him to play ball here?

Fred Berger: Alex and I started talking about this movie in 2017 before either of our seven and a half year old kids were born.

The flashing cameras, the glittering gowns, the emotional speeches thanking managers, spouses, and baristas who always got the coffee order just right, it’s all part of the grand performance that is the Academy Awards.

Every year, the Oscars roll around, and actors pretend to be just so happy for the person who took home the golden statuette instead of them. Cue the tight-lipped smiles and aggressive clapping.

Bradley Cooper in The Hangover | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

But beneath the glitz, there’s an undercurrent of skepticism. Some actors and directors are perhaps tired of the relentless campaigning and the endless interviews. Hence, they have openly dismissed the Oscars as a meaningless affair. And leading this group of disillusioned Hollywood veterans are none other than Bradley Cooper and Woody Allen.

Bradley Cooper’s not-so-starry-eyed view on the Oscars Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro | Credits: Netflix

Bradley Cooper is...

On Friday February 21 2025, PBS broadcasts American Masters!

The Disappearance of Miss Scott Season 38 Episode 7 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “American Masters,” titled “The Disappearance of Miss Scott,” promises to delve into the life of jazz musician Hazel Scott. This episode will explore her journey as a talented artist who used her platform to advocate for racial equality in a challenging time.

Set against the backdrop of the 1950s, the episode highlights the struggles and triumphs of Scott as she navigates the complex social landscape of her era. Known for her exceptional piano skills and powerful voice, Hazel Scott became a prominent figure in jazz. However, her outspoken views on race and equality put her in a precarious position during the Red Scare.

As the episode unfolds, viewers will witness the impact of political tensions on Scott’s career and personal life. The show will shed light on how her activism and artistic expression intersected,...

You’ll find two of the finest films nominated for an Oscar this year in this category. One, “Incident,” which is stitched together from body-cam videos and other footage that captured the 2018 shooting of Harith Augustus in Chicago, is a less esoteric work than you might expect from director Bill Morrison, but it locates political resonances within that footage that make it as powerful as Dawson City: Frozen Time. By the time Morrison juxtaposes the different video feeds on the screen at the same time, he’s already presented a horrifyingly unambiguous picture of the racial bias that informs police shootings of Black suspects.

No less provocative is Smriti Mundhra’s “I’m Ready, Warden,” about the redemption that convicted murderer John Henry Ramirez seeks ahead of his execution by the state of Texas. The film empathizes with the regret felt by Ramirez, but it’s most powerful for the way it sits,...

Looking for something pretty, witty and bright? LA Opera can offer a production of West Side Story when it kicks off its 40th anniversary season in September at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Music director James Conlon begins his 20th and final season in Los Angeles by conducting the company premiere of the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim classic, which will feature iconic Jerome Robbins original choreography and star Gabriella Reyes as Maria and Duke Kim as Tony. The first of eight scheduled performances is Sept. 20.

Also announced Tuesday for the Chandler are Puccini’s La Bohème (starting Nov. 8) in a Herbert Ross production led by Colombian American resident conductor Lina González-Granados; Philip Glass’ ancient Egypt-set Akhnaten (Feb. 28), led by Ukrainian-born Finnish guest conductor Dalia Stasevska and starring countertenor John Holiday; and two other operas conducted by Condon: Verdi’s Falstaff (April 18), starring Craig Colclough, and Mozart’s The Magic Flute...

Reluctant not only to have the spotlight on her but to be heralded as a trailblazing woman, Orin O’Brien is the fabulous prodigious world-renowned double bassist who sits at the heart of Oscar nominated documentary short The Only Girl in the Orchestra from producer turned director Molly O’Brien. Their shared surname is no coincidence with Orin’s niece and filmmaker Molly having to bide her time for over a decade before finally arriving at the right confluence of events to re-introduce the idea of a film about her life to Orin which she accepted…under certain conditions. The Only Girl in the Orchestra, streaming now on Netflix, not only manages to enchantingly portray Orin’s career beginnings as the first female musician in the New York Philharmonic but also captures her true ‘joie de vivre’. Molly, working in essential collaboration not only with her aunt but her entire team, takes...

Bradley Cooper has lost out on Oscars too many times despite his amazing acting abilities. However, fans are amused at the recognition he gets at the Grammys, winning his third award this year. He won in the category of Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for his film Maestro.

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro | Credits: Netflix

Oscars last year was the latest snub for Cooper and he was severely trolled throughout the awards season. Cooper campaigned for his film Maestro, which took six years to film but failed to make a significant impact at the Oscars. Fans even accused him of being jealous of last year’s Best Actor winner Cillian Murphy.

Fans are amused that Bradley Cooper gets Grammy recognition but not the Oscars Bradley Cooper in Maestro | Credits: Netflix

One of the surprises of the Grammys Award 2025 was the win for actor-director Bradley Cooper for his film Maestro.

The 2025 Grammys highlighted some of the young women dominating the pop music world, with a best new artist win for Chappell Roan and three wins, two of which were presented in the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony before the main broadcast awards presentation on CBS, for Sabrina Carpenter, both of whom delivered high-energy performances.

And Beyoncé extended her reign as the queen of the Grammys, winning even more awards to break her own record as the winningest artist, and finally captured the elusive album of the year top prize for her country album, Cowboy Carter. While a number of pundits predicted this would finally be the year that Beyonce scored an album of the year win, the triumph was still a surprise to pessimistic viewers who had gotten used to seeing Beyoncé lose the top award she deserved to win.

But despite those plaudits, two women who have dominated past editions of...

As the famous author Sun Tzu once said, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” But when it comes to Blake Lively’s legal showdown with It Ends with Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, there’s no subduing in sight—this feud has gone from a simmering pot to an all-out legal battle. And while the lawsuits are flying like arrows in battle, it’s becoming crystal clear that Lively has one ace up her sleeve that Baldoni doesn’t: a powerful army of Hollywood heavyweights who may just tip the scales in her favor.

Her husband, Ryan Reynolds—Deadpool himself—is a heavyweight in his own right, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. And then there’s her circle of A-list friends—Salma Hayek, Gigi Hadid, and Taylor Swift, to name just a few.

Blake Lively in It Ends with Us...

The nominations for the most coveted acclaim in the film industry, the Oscars, are known for sparking widespread reactions, with the discussions surrounding the surprising entries and notable snubs. Bradley Cooper’s 2023 film Maestro was no exception, with many labeling it as classic ‘Oscar bait.’

Bradley Coope in Maestro | Credit: Netflix

However, the recently announced 2025 Oscar nominations, which featured several major snubs across multiple categories, have prompted some to reassess the film more favorably. Critics and fans alike are now pointing out that Maestro may not have been as undeserving as initially thought, especially in light of what they perceive as a decline in the quality of this year’s nominations.

2025 Oscar nominations spark debate over snubs and surprises

As the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences revealed its nominations for Oscars 2025, it prompted huge reactions. While many celebrated their favorite stars receiving well-deserved recognition, others expressed disappointment, particularly...

The Jesus Lizard have unleashed a new standalone single called “Westside.” The track is the second non-album song to be unveiled since the September release of the band’s comeback LP, Rack.

“Westside” follows “Cost of Living,” the previous standalone single that was released in November. While neither track made the album, the two songs are connected.

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Guitarist Duane Denison explained, “‘Westside’ goes along with the previous single, ‘Cost of Living,” which was subconsciously influenced by Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story and hence the name. Really.”

Singer David Yow noted a reference to legendary filmmaker David Lynch, who passed away last week. “There is a part in ‘Westside’ where the lyrics say, ‘… give him back his arm,’” stated Yow. “That was inspired by David Lynch’s Lost Highway, when Robert Blake’s character says, ‘Give me back my phone.’”

“Westside” arrives ahead of the...

Robert Picardo is an accomplished singer and actor whose career has lasted 45 years and shows no sign of slowing. He has been performing professionally since he was in college in the mid-1970s, appearing on stage in high-end productions like Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" and singing in his college a cappella choir. After college, he was recognized for his performance in a 1976 production of David Mamet's "Sexual Perversity in Chicago."

His movement to television was natural for a hard-working actor, starting with small roles in notable hit shows. He appeared on two episodes of "Kojak" in 1977 and has never had a "down" period since. He thereafter popped up in "Taxi," "Silver Spoons," "Alice," "Benson," "21 Jump Street," and 15 episodes of "The Wonder Years" as the hard-nosed Coach Cutlip, in addition to dozens of other TV shows that are too plentiful to list here. On the big screen, Picardo became...

What happens when someone’s skill which enables them to excel in their passion is taken away? All kinds of talents in sports, music, and art alike have to face this question in the event of an injury or obstacle that leaves them unable to continue in their work. As did the legendary opera singer Maria Callas whose impeccable skill in singing faltered after a career dedicated entirely to bringing otherworldly beauty in her voice, leading to her final years of internal turmoil and unsuccessful attempt to return. The newest film of Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s, ‘Maria’ (2024) takes an introspective look into Callas’ latter part of her life, particularly with how her temperamental tendencies overshadowed her legacy as what Leonard Bernstein called “the Bible of the Opera”. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood...

When she first joined the New York Philharmonic Orchestra back in 1966, Orin O’Brien had to get changed in the toilets because there was no women’s dressing room.

She might not have made it at all if it were not for the support of Leonard Bernstein. Her attraction to playing in that context stemmed partly from her preference for being in the background, working together with other musicians to create something bigger, so she was not a natural trailblazer. Together with her niece Molly O’Brien, who directed this Oscar-shortlisted short documentary, she looks back through press clippings from the time. Many words are spent describing her clothes, her looks, her imagined love life and domestic ambitions – and, of course, comparing her curves with those of her double bass. There’s barely a word about her musical talent.

The daughter of movie stars, Orin was not entirely unprepared for that kind of.

What do the Golden Globes love more than a juicy dramatic performance? A juicy dramatic performance that sings.

From Austin Butler to Renée Zellweger, the Globes have long rewarded actors not known for their musical abilities who decided to show off their chops on screen in biopics. This year, that historical trend could boost the chances of two nominees: Timothée Chalamet for Best Film Drama Actor in A Complete Unknown and Angelina Jolie for Best Film Drama Actress in Maria.

In A Complete Unknown, Chalamet plays Bob Dylan. The film follows the legendary singer-songwriter from January 1961, when he moves from Minnesota to New York City, to his 1965 concert at the Newport Folk Festival, where he notoriously introduces electric instruments. Chalamet does all of his own singing in the film, refusing to lip-synch along to Dylan’s original recordings. As of today, the actor ranks second with 4/1 odds.

In Maria, Jolie plays Maria Callas.

It wouldn’t be a Leonard Bernstein film without great music. For Bradley Cooper’s new film Maestro(which the nine-time Oscar nominee co-wrote, directed, and starred in), the filmmaker knew he had to do justice to the iconic composer and conductor. “In A Star Is Born, the nuclear weapon was always Lady Gaga’s voice,” Cooper told Netflix of his 2018 directorial debut. “For Maestro, I figured it was mine to mess up because I had a nuclear weapon, and that’s Leonard Bernstein’s music. Just the breadth of it, how diverse it is, and how moving it is.”

Bernstein was famous both as a conductor and public advocate for classical music, and as a multitalented composer who worked across disciplines: symphonies; musicals; and scores for ballets, films, and television. So naturally, Cooper set out to include as many pieces of Bernstein’s music in the film as possible...

In just over two decades, Bradley Cooper has become one of the most acclaimed actors, producers and filmmakers of his peer group. Cooper – who famously studied at the Actors Studio in New York and once even asked two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn a question from the audience on “Inside the Actors Studio” – made his feature acting debut in 2001’s “Wet Hot American Summer,” and later broke out in comedies like “Wedding Crashers” and television hits like “Alias.”

But starting with 2012’s “Silver Linings Playbook,” Cooper reached another level. That film from David O. Russell landed Cooper his first Oscar nomination and put him on the map of serious filmmakers. In the nine years since the success of “Silver Linings,” Cooper has received seven additional Oscar nominations, including as co-writer and producer of “A Star Is Born” and producer of “American Sniper” and “Joker,” and worked with top filmmakers such as Russell,...

For Jennifer Lawrence, 2012 was a great year. That year, she appeared as Katniss Everdeen in the first installment of The Hunger Games film franchise and starred as Tiffany Maxwell in Silver Linings Playbook, a role that won her an Academy Award. Starting on Jan. 1, Silver Linings Playbook will drop on Max.

The logline for Silver Linings Playbook reads: “A man with bipolar disorder who was recently released from a mental institution befriends a mysterious woman and learns to let go of some dreams in order to rebuild his life.”

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The Movie Was Nominated for Eight Oscars

Although Lawrence was the only person to take home an Oscar statue for her work on the film, Silver Linings Playbook...

Spoiler alert: The following article has spoilers from Maria.

Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas, a famous opera singer in the 20th century, in Maria, and the film features something (and someone) named Mandrax, which plays a significant role in the story. The 2024 Netflix biographical psychological drama movie, directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Steven Knight, follows Callas during the final days of her life. While Maria mostly chronicles Callas' time in Paris in the days leading up to her tragic death, it also dives deep into the artist's past and how she got to that point in her life in the City of Lights during the 1970s.

Maria is the final installment in Pablo Larraín's trilogy chronicling influential women of the 20th century, following in the footsteps of Jackie (following former U.S. First Lady Jackie Kennedy) and Spencer (chronicling Princess Diana's existential crisis during the Christmas...

Angelina Jolie's shocking performance in Maria resembles Bradley Cooper's celebrated role in 2023. Pablo Larraín's Maria seems to pull a lot of inspiration from last year's favorite musical biopic — not only by trying to honor the controversial artist at its center but also by displaying beautiful visuals that emulate its eras' aesthetics. Larraín's movie might even repeat last year's numerous nominations, as early reviews for Maria reveal an admiration for its clever cinematographic language which echoes its protagonist’s inner journey.

Jolie leads Maria's cast with the elegance of a true Diva, fitting the role of La Callas as if it was destined for her. Though Maria's ending appropriately leans toward tragedy, a contemporary movie has its fair share of heartbreak, mainly as it portrays Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre's famous marriage and legacy. Despite featuring groundbreaking musicians who had to endure media and public scrutiny through their personal struggles,...

Deadline reports that Warner Bros Pictures Animation is developing a brand-new Tom and Jerry movie, which will be written by Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, and Micahel Govier.

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera created the mischievous cat and mouse at MGM in 1940. Over the next two decades, they produced 114 shorts that won 7 Oscars. Others have revived the duo over the years with more shorts and a variety of TV shows. The characters most recently starred in the 2021 live-action/animated hybrid film Tom & Jerry, which received largely negative reviews and grossed $136 million worldwide.

Related Maestro: Bradley Cooper states his interest in Leonard Bernstein originated with cartoons

This new Tom and Jerry movie will be starting fresh, which, considering the reaction to the last movie, is probably a good thing. Our own Matt Rooney really didn’t care for the 2021 film. “The premise – Tom and Jerry run amok in a hotel – is...