'SNL50' anniversary special will have alums join Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and more
NEW YORK (AP) -- The "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special will include guest appearances by Tom Hanks, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, John Mulaney, Dave Chappelle, Scarlett Johansson and numerous other stars who've been associated with the show over the years. They'll be joined by a host of former cast members, too, including from the show's very first season. They will appear on the "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" that will air Sunday. It's a three-hour live telecast honoring the show's 50th anniversary. The special will air two days after a concert, "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert," livestreams on Peacock.
Jon Batiste's reimagined Super Bowl anthem highlighted wife's painting and set stage for new music
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Jon Batiste turned his Super Bowl opportunity into a symphony of artistry, the debut of new music and a tribute to his hometown roots. As Batiste delivered a stirring rendition of the national anthem, the multi-talented musician played a piano adorned with a butterfly painting by his wife, Suleika Jaouad, who is battling cancer and came up with the idea during the making of their Grammy-winning documentary "American Symphony." His wife's vibrant painting, the city's resilience after the New Year's attack and the memory of his late veteran grandfather all fueled his performance from within. The seven-time Grammy winner released two songs Sunday and is looking ahead to a tour that will mix his recent projects.
Prosecutor says Salman Rushdie was too stunned to react when a man started to stab him
MAYVILLE, N.Y. (AP) -- A prosecutor says Salman Rushdie was so stunned when a masked man started to stab him on a stage in western New York that the acclaimed author didn't even try to fight back. Rushdie is expected to testify during the trial of Hadi Matar, who is charged with attempted murder and assault in the August 2022 attack. During his opening statement Monday, District Attorney Jason Schmidt described the swift and sudden attack by Matar, who stabbed Rushdie in the head, throat, abdomen, thigh and hand. Rushdie was left blind in one eye. Matar's lawyer was set to address jurors later in the morning.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA are expanding their tour to Europe
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Fresh off their Super Bowl halftime spectacle, Kendrick Lamar and SZA are expanding their upcoming tour to make stops in Europe. The additional stops announced Monday include a July 4 show in Frankfurt, Germany. Lamar and SZA are set to kick off their Grand National Tour in Minneapolis on April 19 and wrap the North American leg in Washington on June 18. They'll start a 13-stop European tour on July 2 in Cologne, Germany, and conclude it on Aug. 9 in Stockholm. Other European cities that Lamar and SZA plan to visit include Amsterdam, Paris, London, Rome and Barcelona.
Review: Kendrick Lamar brings America and 'Not Like Us' into history-making Super Bowl halftime show
"Salutations!," the actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam introduced Kendrick Lamar at New Orleans' Caesars Superdome for the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. It was a powerful, commanding creative choice by the first solo hip-hop artist to ever headline the coveted slot. As if there were any doubts of the Pulitzer Prize winning rapper's ability to put on a show. In a review, The Associated Press' Maria Sherman describes Lamar's performance as a continued victory lap. SZA was a previously announced guest performer and frequent Lamar collaborator. Lamar performed his Drake diss track "Not Like Us."
Memoir by former prime minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, to come out in November
NEW YORK (AP) -- Former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin will have a memoir out this fall, looking back on a momentous four years in office when she presided over her country's joining NATO, its response to the pandemic and the enactment of legislation on climate change and social justice. Marin was just 34 when elected in 2019, as part of a five-member, center-left coalition. She became known internationally for her opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and for Finland's rapid entry into NATO, ending a policy of neutrality that had been in place since the end of World War II.
Member of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show won't face charges for flag protest
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- New Orleans Police say they won't file charges against the cast member who displayed the Palestinian flag with the word "GAZA" in protest during Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show. But the NFL says the protester will be banned for life from league stadiums and events. The NFL says the flag display was not planned and that the show's producer, Roc Nation, was unaware of the cast member's intentions. The banner combined the black stripes of the flags honored by the Sudanese and Palestinian peoples. One of the performers held it high while standing on the roof of the car that was a centerpiece of Kendrick Lamar's performance.
What's happening in the Gaza Strip and Sudan that sparked a protest at the Super Bowl halftime show?
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- A brief protest by a performer at Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show unfurled a flag emblazoned with the words Sudan and Gaza, two wars in the Middle East that have killed tens of thousands of people. The New Orleans police said Monday the performer would face no charges. In the Gaza Strip, much of the territory has been obliterated in an Israeli offensive triggered by a Hamas-led attack in 2023 that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to local authorities. In Sudan, a civil war since April 2023 has killed more than 28,000 people. Other estimates suggest a far higher death toll.
Celebrity birthdays for the week of Feb. 16-22
Celebrities having birthdays during the week of Feb. 16-22 include comedian Trevor Noah, singer James Blunt and actor Drew Barrymore. Comedian Rachel Dratch from ''Saturday Night Live" turns 59, actor-singer Lea Salonga hits 54 and rapper-actor Ice-T celebrates 67. Other musicians with big days include guitarist and drummer Danielle Haim of Haim, singer Rihanna and singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. Actor Mahershala Ali turns 51, actor Miles Teller of "Top Gun: Maverick" reaches 38 and actor Jerry O'Connell celebrates 51. More celebs with reason to party include actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, TV personality Paris Hilton and actor John Travolta.
What to stream: Bridget Jones returns, 'Yellowjackets' reappears and Alessia Cara sings about love
Renée Zellweger returning to one of her most indelible roles in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" and Questlove offering the definitive documentary on funk crossover star Sly Stone are some of this week's new streaming entertainment releases. The husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty offer their new album, "Plus One," and Sid Meier's Civilization VII adds some intriguing new twists to Firaxis Games' long-running Civilization game series. Plus, there's "Muslim Matchmaker," a new Hulu docuseries that follows two matchmakers dedicated to helping Muslim American singles find love while also keeping in line with their religious values.