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| 'X-Men' icon Ian McKellen to play artist L.S. Lowry in BBC doc | Ian McKellen has signed on to portray English artist L.S. Lowry in the BBC documentary, L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes. The X-Men and Lord of the Rings icon will lip-sync recordings of Lowry speaking about his life and career in his own living room. Lowry, who was known for his drawings and paintings of Pendlebury and Salford in northwest England, died in 1976 at the age of 88. "To give play to Lowry through his own voice has been a unique privilege," McKellen said in a press release on Thursday. "These tapes reveal an intimate insight into the artist's thoughts -- his ambitions, regrets and his humor. |
| Finn Wolfhard preps for 'Saturday Night Live' hosting gig | NBC released a promo video of Stranger Things alum Finn Wolfhard preparing to host this weekend's edition of Saturday Night Live. Wolfhard is seen walking the halls of the New York studio where the sketch-comedy show is taped when the lights start to flicker and smoke comes out of a door. "It's Vecna! He's back!" Wolfhard declares, grabbing a broom and breaking it over his knee. "Get behind me. I'll handle this," he tells Kam Patterson, who is holding a spray bottle of window cleaner as a weapon. Entering the mysterious room, the sights and sounds are revealed to be connected to a sick-looking Sarah Sherman sitting next to a scent diffuser, who grimaces, "I had greasy beef cubes again -- extra spicy. |
| 'Wicked' stars Grande, Bailey reuniting for 'Sunday in the Park' | Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey are reuniting to star in the revival of the stage musical, Sunday in the Park with George. The show features a book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Marianne Elliott is directing the production, which is expected to open at London's Barbican Center in 2027. Grande posted on her Instagram Story a photo of her and Bailey sitting in front of a painting by French pointillist George Seurat, the subject of the musical, at a museum. Grande and Bailey played Glinda and Fiyero in the 2024 adaptation of Wicked and its 2025 sequel, Wicked: For Good. Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters starred in the original Broadway production of Sunday in the Park with George in 1983. |
| Croissants, Le Who Who identities revealed on 'Masked Singer' | The identities of contestants, The Croissants and Le Who Who, were revealed on Wednesday's edition of The Masked Singer. Spoilers ahead. Reality TV personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley were dressed as The Croissants to sing "Jailhouse Rock," while comedian Tiffany Haddish donned the Le Who Who costume to perform "One Way or Another." Previously outed on Season 14 of the Fox competition show was retired baseball player and sportscaster David "Big Papi" Ortiz. Nick Cannon is the host and the judges are Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Rita Ora and Robin Thicke. |
| Todd Bridges, wife Bettijo B. Hirschi divorcing | Diff'rent Strokes and Everybody Hates Chris alum Todd Bridges has announced that he and his wife, Bettijo B. Hirschi, are divorcing after three years. "After much prayer and reflection, my spouse and I have made the difficult decision to separate," Bridges, 60, said in a statement to People.com Wednesday. "This was not an easy choice, and it comes with a heavy heart, but also with love and gratitude for the life we shared." TMZ said Bridges and Hirschi tied the knot in Beverly Hills about nine months after they met on a dating app. Bridges is step-father to Hirschi's four children. He also has two of his own. He was previously married to Dori Bridges from 1998 to 2012. |