CNN – Entertainment

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN Despite its Broadway credentials, “Dear Evan Hansen” hits screens faced with an inherent tension: Can its songs and cast, led by Ben Platt reprising his Tony-winning role, overcome the uncomfortable premise and problematic protagonist? The answer is not completely, despite tweaks seemingly made specifically to try softening those edges. Although

By Marianne Garvey, CNN Matthew McConaughey is still considering a run for political office. The “Dallas Buyers Club” actor, a native of Texas, said in a recent episode of the “Set‌ ‌it‌ ‌Straight:‌ ‌Myths‌ ‌and‌ ‌Legends” podcast that he’s “measuring” the idea after members of the country band Midland said he should run for office

By Lisa Respers France, CNN Sarah Jessica Parker acknowledged “Sex and the City” costar Chris Noth’s tribute to Willie Garson, but she’s not there yet. Garson, who played Parker’s character’s gay best friend Stanford Blatch in the “Sex and the City” series, died this week. He was 57. On his Instagram account, Noth, who played

By Megan Thomas, CNN Melvin Van Peebles, a trailblazing African-American director who helped champion a new wave of modern Black cinema in the 1970s, has died, his son announced Wednesday. He was 89. Van Peebles, father of actor and director Mario Van Peebles, died at his home on Tuesday night, according to a statement shared

By Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Kim Kardashian West is set to make her “SNL” hosting debut. The TV personality and business mogul was one of four guest hosts announced Wednesday by NBC. The others include fellow first-time hosts Owen Wilson, Rami Malek and Jason Sudeikis, who was a writer and cast member on the show between

By Marianne Garvey, CNN “The Wire” creator David Simon won’t be filming an upcoming HBO series in Texas due to a controversial abortion law passed in the state, he announced on Twitter. “As an employer, this is beyond politics,” Simon wrote. “I’m turning in scripts next month on an HBO non-fiction miniseries based on events

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN Early ’90s TV is hitting the refresh button this fall, in the case of “The Wonder Years,” delivering an impressive and ambitious ABC dramedy. Coming on the heels of Disney+’s “Doogie Howser, M.D.” reboot, the two shows join the earlier “One Day at a Time” in proving it’s possible to

By Chloe Melas, CNN Happy Birthday … yikes! Nicole Richie was celebrating her 40th birthday and has now shared a video of her hair catching fire right as she blew out her birthday candles. She captioned the video, “Well… so far 40 is” then the fire emoji. Since Richie posted the video to her Instagram,

By Marianne Garvey, CNN Britney Spears posted a birthday tribute to her “very private” sons — with their permission. The singer, who shares teens Sean Preston and Jayden James with with ex-husband Kevin Federline, wrote, “There is nothing stronger than the love between a mother and son.” She continued: “My boys’ birthdays were last week

By Lisa Respers France, CNN Elvira, the famed “Mistress of the Dark,” has shared she identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The actress, who was born Cassandra Peterson, shared her love story in her new autobiography, “Yours Cruelly, Elvira.” Peterson writes that she was a new mom decades ago trying to get back

By Lisa Respers France, CNN Ooh la la la, The Fugees are getting back together. The famed hip-hop trio made up of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel will go on a world tour in honor of the 25th anniversary of their acclaimed album “The Score.” “As I celebrate 25 years with the

By Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Actor Willie Garson, known for his role on the “Sex and the City” series and films, has died, according to his son, Nathen Garson. He was 57. “I love you so much papa. Rest In Peace and I’m so glad you got to share all your adventures with me and were

By Chloe Melas, CNN “The Voice” returned for a new season on Monday with Ariana Grande and the show’s newest coach. “I’ve been watching ‘The Voice’ for years and I wanted to be a coach. This is my first season and I’d like to think I’m here to win,” Grande said. She is coaching with

By Marianne Garvey, CNN “The View” returned for its 25th season this month, with the co-hosts returning to the studio with a live audience for the first time since March 2020 due to the pandemic. Within a week of the new season’s debut, “The View” had its most-watched telecast in five months and drew its

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN George Lucas freely discussed how director Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 samurai classic “The Hidden Fortress” served as inspiration for “Star Wars,” so seeing Japanese anime turned loose on the franchise nicely brings the relationship full circle. “Star Wars: Visions” consists of nine stand-alone shorts, with the best providing a fascinating wedding

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN Fourteen years after “The Sopranos” ended in much-debated fashion, “The Many Saints of Newark” reopens that universe, wisely going back decades before those events. Yet what sounds like a Tony Soprano origin story really focuses on other characters, in a richly detailed movie filled with enough new material and callbacks