Chris Cooper, gay victim in Central Park racist confrontation, endorses Ritchie Torres for Bronx congressional race

The Academy Awards are doing things differently this year, and TV’s late-night hosts are sounding off.

Dave Grohl wasn’t impressed with James Corden’s “Late Late Show” game Wednesday.

Piers Morgan has invited Meghan Markle onto his new Australian breakfast show to "settle unfinished business".With the controversial TV presenter set to host a new breakfast programme named TalkTV, he has now made a jibe at Meghan Markle – whom he has had a long-running feud with.While making a subtle dig about their "unfinished business" he also took the opportunity to ask her onto his upcoming programme in a bid to clear things up between the feuding duo.Speaking on Sky News Austrailia while doing the rounds to promote his new show, he said: "Fundamentally, what I want the show to do is be a platform for free speech and democratic debate."And the right for people to come on and have their own opinion without being shamed and cancelled – because that’s the way back for society."He then added: "If Meghan Markle’s watching – I’m sure she is – if you want to be my first guest, we have a bit of unfinished business. I’m available."The former GMB anchor also took to Instagram today (Thursday, February 24) to post a snap of himself in front of a huge billboard which promoted his new TV programme.He wrote alongside it: "My kinda promo.

Strictly Come Dancing star John Whaite says his relationship with his fiancé Paul Atkins is stronger after "growing apart" from each other.The 32-year-old Great British Bake Off winner appeared on the latest episode of Steph's Packed Lunch when he was asked his opinion about financial autonomy in relationships. In response, John revealed on the Channel 4 talk show that he and Paul had "grown apart" since the more intertwined beginning of their romance.He also shared his belief that their independence had "strengthened their relationship".John said: "I think independence - financial independence, social independence, independence in every way shape and form - in a relationship is key.

Ellen Pompeo has starred in “Grey’s Anatomy” since 2005, so it’s not surprising she doesn’t remember every single episode.

Backstreet Boys are hitting Las Vegas once again to kick off their new tour, and the guys are opening up about what it means to return to Sin City, and who might drop in during their big shows.Nick Carter and Howie Dorough recently joined ET's Lauren Zima to talk about the upcoming DNA World Tour 2022, which kicks off in April with four shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

K.J. Yossman Britain’s monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has postponed further engagements following her COVID-19 diagnosis, according to reports.On Thursday, Feb.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterDiscovery, Inc. hit 22 million paid streaming subscribers worldwide by the end of 2021, with the vast majority being Discovery Plus customers, the company revealed Thursday.The company reported last November that it grew to 20 million paid direct-to-consumer subscribers by the end of Q3.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe shares of Alibaba crashed by nearly 7% on Thursday to an all-time low in Hong Kong ahead of publication of the company’s October-December third quarter results. The company is one of a small handful of entrepreneurial tech giants that have remade everyday life for a billion Chinese consumers and facilitated tens of millions of small businesses. But it remains in the crosshairs of the Chinese government’s regulatory quest to remake things again in a more controlled and top-down socialist manner.

Naman Ramachandran The European Film Academy has pledged support to its members in Ukraine and is looking for practical ways to help them. “We need to immediately move beyond ‘thoughts and prayers’ and start to concentrate on what practical help can be given to our membership and community,” European Film Academy chair and board member of the International Coalition for Film makers at Risk, Mike Downey, told Variety.

Jamie Lang Bollywood actress and fitness buff Shilpa Shetty is lined up to host a new wellness-themed chat show, produced by Mirchi, an Entertainment Network India Limited company, and presented by Pintola Peanut Butter with Sofit. Focusing on physical and mental wellness, “Shape of You” will invite a wide range of India’s most popular celebrities to share their best tips for caring for their physical and mental wellbeing.

K.J. Yossman Thieves have stolen over $200,000 worth of props from the set of Netflix series “The Crown” while the production was shooting nearby.Over 350 items were taken during the heist, including a replica Fabergé egg, a grandfather clock clockface, a dressing table, crystal glassware and silver and gold candelabras.South Yorkshire police are investigating the theft, which took place in a lorry park in Mexborough in Yorkshire while a unit were shooting nearby.Although the incident will not affect production, Netflix have issued a plea to help recover the items.“We can confirm the antiques have been stolen and we hope that they are found and returned safely,” a spokesperson for Netflix told Variety.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorDiscovery said profit tumbled in the fourth quarter as the owner of Food Network, Discovery Channel and Eurosport contended with expenses related to the Discovery Plus streaming hub and a group of one-time items related to expenses. Even so, the company saw revenue increase as its streaming efforts helped boost advertising and distribution revenue.Discovery said fourth quarter net income fell to $38 million, or 8 cents a share, compared with $271 million, or 42 cents a share, in the year-earlier period.The company released details of its performance as it prepares to acquire WarnerMedia, a move that will elevate its standing in the media sector.

Jamie Lang Netflix has shared details on its next Brazilian original series, “O Cangaceiro do Futuro,” a comedy caper starring Edmilson Filho (“O Shaolin do Sertão,” “Cine Holliúdy”) and Chandelly Braz (“Now Generation,” “Sparkling Girls “) which will hit the platform later this year.Glaz, which previously collaborated with Netflix on “Get the Goat,” produces the series, which was created by Halder Gomes (“O Shaolin do Sertão,” “Cine Holliúdy”), a writer-director-producer who has worked many times with “O Cangaceiro do Futuro” lead Filho, achieving popular success in both theatrical features and TV.Filming has already wrapped on the series, which shot in the rural town of Quixadá, in Ceará, Northeast Brazil, before wrapping in São Paulo. The show’s shoot and incorporation of talent such as Gomes, from Caerá capital Fortaleza, are examples of Netflix’s “goal to expand to all regions of Brazil,” as Elisabetta Zenatti, VP, Brazilian Content, announced last November.  The series turns on Virguley (Filho), a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none who is struggling to make ends meet in the big city, every day farther away from his dream of becoming rich and returning to his home in the Northeast.While between jobs, Virguley gets by thanks to a striking resemblance to Lampião, likely the twentieth century’s most successful bandit leader and the face of the Cangaço era.

Netflix has confirmed that the second batch of episodes in Ozark‘s fourth season will be released on April 29 – you can watch a trailer below.The concluding seven episodes of the show’s final season will arrive almost three months after the first part released in January, picking up as Ruth (Julia Garner) seeks vengeance following the murder of her cousin Wyatt.The ominous trailer, which primarily centres on Ruth, teases: “The end arrives sooner than you think.”Speaking to TVLine, showrunner Chris Mundy said the second part of season four will pick up directly after the prior episode’s events. “We pick up right away,” Mundy said.

Dave has rescheduled a number of his upcoming UK tour dates after damage caused to London’s The O2 by last week’s Storm Eunice forced cancellations.The London musician was due to perform at the arena venue on Monday and Tuesday this week (February 21-22) as part of his ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’ UK and Ireland tour.However, the damage caused to the roof of The O2 by Storm Eunice on Friday (February 18) forced the closure of the 20,000-capacity venue and postponement of all planned shows there up until today (February 24). The O2 will now reopen tomorrow (February 25).As a result, Dave has had to reschedule four dates on his ongoing UK and Ireland tour.

BBC comedy series The Witchfinder has been released – you can check it out below.Set in 1645, the series stars Tim Key (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa) as a failing witchfinder who transports a suspected witch, played by Daisy May Cooper (This Country), across England to a trial which could turn around his fortunes.The six-part series also features a huge ensemble cast, including Jessica Hynes (Spaced), Daniel Rigby (Landscapers), Tuwaine Barrett (Blue Story), Reece Shearsmith (Inside No.9), Julian Barrett (The Mighty Boosh), Ricky Tomlinson (The Royle Family) and Rosie Cavaliero (Peep Show).Others on the cast include Cariad Lloyd (Murder In Successville), Ellie White (Stath Lets Flats), Vincent Franklin (The Thick Of It), Joplin Sibtain (White Gold), Allan Mustafa (People Just Do Nothing), Seb Cardinal (Cardinal Burns) and Dan Skinner (Shooting Stars).A synopsis reads: “It’s the 12 months of our Lord 1645 and concern of witchcraft is rife. Puritanical Christianity, deep-seated superstition and a willingness to scapegoat outsiders have created a tinderbox of suspicion by which few are secure.

Orbital and Happy Mondays are among the leading names on the line-up for Kaleidoscope Festival 2022.The one-day event, which takes place in the grounds of Alexandra Palace in north London, is set to return on July 23 following its sold-out festival in 2021.As well as Orbital and Happy Mondays, the likes of Charlotte Church’s ‘Late Night Pop Dungeon’, The Magic Numbers, House Gospel Choir, Crazy P, Craig Charles‘ ‘Funk & Soul Show’, DJ Yoda, The Cuban Brothers, Zero 7 (DJ set) and PBR Streetgang will all perform at Kaleidoscope Festival 2022.More acts are set to be announced by the event in the coming weeks and months, but you can see the line-up so far below.Tickets for Kaleidoscope Festival 2022 are on sale now from here.In a statement, Simon Fell, Kaleidoscope Director, said: “Kaleidoscope truly is a labour of love for us here at Ally Pally and we can’t wait to welcome everyone up to the Palace for this year’s festival.“The festival site is arguably one of the most beautiful anywhere, offering a chance to roam around our beautiful park and iconic Palace, with stunning views across the whole of London spreading out like a blanket behind the main stage. With an epic line-up, there can’t be many better places to dance away a hot, balmy, Saturday in July.“As an independent festival, run by a charity, the last few years have been a huge challenge.

André 3000, Mitski, David Byrne, Moses Sumney and more acts feature on the soundtrack for the new A24 film Everything Everywhere All At Once.Son Lux have scored the sci-fi action film by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The film is released in the US on March 25 (UK date TBA), while the soundtrack lands on April 8.Mitski and Byrne duet on a song called ‘This Is A Life’, while André 3000 plays flute across the record. Other contributions come from Randy Newman, Moses Sumney, Nina Moffitt, Chris Pattishall, Rob Moose, yMusic, Surrija, and actor Stephanie Hsu.Son Lux shared a statement about their work on the project: “Even though we knew from the moment Daniels asked us to score this film that it would push us in new and unexpected directions, we couldn’t have predicted how much we’d learn from the project.“What emerged was our most ambitious undertaking to date, over two years in the making, resulting in two hours of new music.

Martin Lewis has divided his fans with a plea to read up on the "huge changes" happening around student finance, claiming it is "getting little airtime" due to the news about Russia invading Ukraine this morning.Taking to Twitter, the This Morning star, 49, responded after social media users branded the student loan changes as "not the most important thing today" in light of the war update.In view of his 1.3 million followers, the Good Morning Britain star asked his fans to spread the news of the proposed changes around student loans.Martin wrote: "Please help."The news on Ukraine today, understandably means this student finance news is getting little airtime."Yet it is crucial young people and their parents understand these huge changes," he ended his post, before urging his followers to share the link.He also shared a tweet from the early hours of this morning.It read: "NEWS: The govt has announced huge changes to student finance for new 2023 starters in England including extending the repayment to 40yrs which will mean most still repaying into their 60s."My full analysis (Inc for those with existing loans)..." he finished, alongside a link.The government's proposal will increase the cost of education for those attending university by lowering the repayment threshold and increasing the length of time a graduate can repay the loan.However, the timing of his post proved to be contentious amongst his social media followingTwitter user @craftyexpat wrote: "With all due respect Martin, there’s a war in Europe."While student finance is of course important, it might not be the most important thing today."Martin responded: "I'm pretty sure I acknowledged that in the post."Yet not being the most important doesn't mean it

Related: Openly gay Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres to run for CongressThe problem, though, is that while Lopez, Torres, and the others compete for the same pool of voters, they risk fracturing the field and allowing the anti-LGBTQ Diaz — a longtime politico who not only benefits from name recognition in his own right, but his son’s status as Bronx Borough president (and the party apparatus behind him) — to romp to victory by consolidating more socially conservative Democratic voters.Diaz — who, notably, says he hasn’t decided between voting for Joe Biden or Donald Trump in November — opposes the Equality Act and has been involved in efforts to block marriage equality or LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws, both in the State Senate and as a New