Culture

28 Nov 2023

3 Last-Minute Cyber Monday Deals on Jeans for Women That Are Trendy & Affordable

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Holiday savings are still going on and from now until midnight, which means there’s still time to score the best Cyber Monday deals and refresh your wardrobe with some winter essentials — including jeans for women. Or, if you’re in the holiday mindset, you can stock up on gifts for everyone on your list especially for the fashion lovers in your life.

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Jeans for women have become one of the most versatile basics to own, as you can dress them up or down depending on the wash and style. Cyber Monday fashion deals aren’t reserved for just one cut of denim, either. You can find everything from mom jeans, wide-leg jeans, straight leg jeans and even the highly popular ’90s style to go with your platform boots and band T-shirts.

Brands including Madewell, Levi’s and Amazon are hosting a slew of last-minute promos and deals with savings as much as 50% on their sites and in-stores. If you’ve been looking for a sign to replace those worn out and faded jeans you’ve owned for five years, now is the time to get a fresh style that’s trendy and won’t break the bank.

Rather than hunt for the best women’s jeans deals on your own, Billboard scoured some of the most popular denim brands out there and rounded up our favorite final Cyber Monday deals to shop now below.

Best Jeans for Women

Gap

Gap Extra High-Waisted Trouser Wide-Leg Jeans

$26.99

$54.99

51% off

Gap’s wide-leg jeans are 50% off and feature an elevated twist. The legs are looser and relaxed with a flowy wide-leg cut, while the pockets have been constructed similarly to those of trousers to give a more put-together feel you can sport to coffee or work (if your office is business casual, that is).

Madewell

Madewell Kick Out Crop Jeans

$69

$138

50% off

Madewell is treating you to 50% off practically everything with the promo code CYBER — including these bestselling Kick Out Crop Jeans. The style is perfect for showing off booties, ballet flats and more, as the cropped leg won’t have you worrying about whether or not to tuck or roll your pants up. It’s also available in five washes for you to stock up on and wear year-round.

Amazon

Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans

$41.99

$79.50

47% off

Fans of ripped jeans need to add these Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans to your cart ASAP. The material is a dark wash you can pair with everything from a white T-shirt to a statement graphic tee. The 99% cotton material will add a softness that’ll only get softer the more you wash them.

For more product recommendations, check our roundup of the best oversized leather jackets, denim dresses and shackets for women.

28 Nov 2023

‘This Is Spinal Tap’ Mockumentary Sequel to Feature Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks

Rob Reiner is ready to turn it up to 11 again. The writer/director revealed on the RHLSTP with Richard Herring podcast this week that he will revisit one of his most iconic projects when he gets the band back together next year for a sequel to his legendary rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap.

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The beloved 1984 film that skewered all things rock is slated to begin filming in February with original stars/writers Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins) and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) repriseing their roles as the hapless metal band who once lost a drummer in a “bizarre gardening accident.”

Reiner said he will revisit his role as documentarian Martin “Marty” Di Bergi, telling Herring, “We’re making a sequel… everybody’s back.” Like the original — which featured cameos from Ed Begley Jr., Fran Drescher, Dana Carvey, Billy Crystal, Angelica Huston and Fred Willard — the reboot will feature some even heavier hitters making cameos, including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Garth Brooks, plus a “few other surprises.”

The original found Reiner filming a documentary on one of “England’s loudest bands,” in a film in which most of the dialogue was improvised, with some of the iconic catchphrases — including “turn it up to 11” — becoming part of modern rock parlance; not for nothing, radios in Teslas go to 11.

It follows the self-important rockers on a 1982 U.S. tour to promote their Smell the Glove album, which some retailers refuse to stock because of its sexist cover image. Along the way there is a scheming astrology-obsessed girlfriend, a ill-fated, accidentally, hilariously tiny Stonehenge stage prop and a classic scene where the band loses their way to stage that was inspired by a real-life video of Tom Petty getting mixed up backstage at a show in Germany.

The accompanying soundtrack album featured such ridiculously over-the-top metal anthems as “Hell Hole,” “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight,” “Big Bottom” and early hit “Gimme Some Money,” all performed by the movie’s stars.

Though the film did modest box office at the time, it has since blossomed into a midnight movie must-see, even making it onto the Library of Congress’ list of culturally significant artifacts. “No, we never did,” Reiner said of whether he thought the comedy would have such long legs and garner such accolades as the Library honor and making the list of movies worth preserving from the National Film Registry.

In essentially creating the rock mockumentary genre, Reiner recalled screening the film in Dallas and having confused theatergoers coming up to him after and asking, “I don’t understand, why would you make a movie about a band that nobody’s ever heard of? And they’re so bad!”

In an interview with Deadline last year, Reiner hinted at the direction of the sequel. “I can tell you hardly a day goes by without someone saying, ‘why don’t you do another one?,’” Reiner said of the idea to revisit the film for its 40th anniversary. “For so many years, we said, ‘nah.’ It wasn’t until we came up with the right idea how to do this. You don’t want to just do it, to do it. You want to honor the first one and push it a little further with the story.”

At the time, Reiner said the second Tap would follow the band after a long break. “They’ve played Albert Hall, played Wembley Stadium, all over the country and in Europe,” Reiner said. “They haven’t spent any time together recently, and that became the premise. The idea was that Ian Faith, who was their manager, he passed away. In reality, [actor] Tony Hendra passed away. Ian’s widow inherited a contract that said Spinal Tap owed them one more concert. She was basically going to sue them if they didn’t. All these years and a lot of bad blood we’ll get into and they’re thrown back together and forced to deal with each other and play this concert.”

Listen to Reiner talk Spinal Tap sequel here (movie talk begins around 2:00 mark).

28 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Concert Movie Passes $250 Million in Worldwide Grosses

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert movie has crossed the $250 million mark in worldwide ticket sales according to distributor AMC Theatres. The Hollywood Reporter said those impressive numbers mean the three-hour-plus musical extravaganza that has found Swifties singing and dancing in the aisles across the planet ranks among the top 20 biggest films of the year.

And, as previously reported, it cements Swift’s film as the highest-grossing concert movie of all time.

The Eras Tour movie wrapped up the Thanksgiving weekend with a total of $178.2 million in grosses in North America to date, as well as $71.8 million overseas. The concert film is currently at No. 19 on the global chart of top-grossing films of 2023, just behind The Nun II ($268 million), and at No. 11 domestically, behind the controversial anti-human trafficking film Sound of Freedom ($184.2 million) and John Wick: Chapter Four ($187.1 million).

The Eras Tour movie will be back in theaters this Thursday (Nov. 30). On Monday (Nov. 27), the singer announced that she will celebrate her upcoming 34th birthday by bringing the film to at-home on-demand. Swifties will also get some bonus content for their home viewing, as the epic chronicle of the singer’s career-retrospective tour will hit home screens in an expanded version featuring three songs not featured in theaters: “Wildest Dreams,” “The Archer” and “Long Live.”

The movie will be available to rent on-demand in the U.S., Canada and additional countries that will be announced soon on Dec. 13. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour opened in October with more than $92.8 million in grosses, instantly becoming the top-grossing concert film in history after just one weekend.

Swift just wrapped a South American run of Eras shows and will take some time off from the road before returning on Feb. 7 for a run of four shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan before moving on to Australia.

28 Nov 2023

‘The Voice’: Ruby Leigh Delivers ‘Beautiful’ Linda Ronstadt Cover For Playoffs

She’s not old enough to vote, or drink booze, though Ruby Leigh can sing like a seasoned pro.

The 16-year-old closed out the Playoffs Monday night (Nov. 27) on The Voice with a performance that was mature beyond her years.

Leigh, a native of Foley, Missouri, was recruited to Team Reba following an impressive Blind Audition, when she covered Patsy Montana’s 1935 “I Want To Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.”

The youngster has mastered the art of yodeling, a talent that earned her a four-chair turn.

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Then, in the knockout rounds, Leigh punched her ticket with her own take on LeAnn Rimes’s 1996 breakthrough cover of Bill Mack’s “Blue.”

On the latest episode of this current, 24th season, Leigh shone with a version of Linda Ronstadt’s 1970 classic “Long Long Time.”

Dressed in an all-black ensemble, complete with white tassels, Leigh looks the part. And she sure sounds it. The yodel was a part of the mix, but never overused.

“I think that if there was just a young girl that’s 16 years old that can sing like you and could make a record like that, the world would be saved,” Gwen Stefani later enthused.

John Legend, like his fellow judges, has been a fan since day nought. “It’s quite stunning that, at your age, you can sound like you’ve been through so much. I know you haven’t been through that much,” Legend explained. “The power of your voice is really stunning.”

Niall Horan chimed in, “that was so beautiful. I’m really, really emotional.”

Coach Reba McEntire was proud as punch. “I would watch mama when I would be on stage, and she would be drawn up in a knot watching me,” she remarked. “Nobody wanted to sit by mama because she was squeezing their hand so tight. I know how she feels now. You just got it all together. I’m just so proud of you, and your performance today was stellar.”

With that performance, Leigh progresses into the Live round, alongside Team Reba’s Jordan Rainer and Jacquie Roar.

The Voice’s Live shows kick off next Monday, Dec. 4 on NBC.

Watch below.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nY5-rVl1slg&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

27 Nov 2023

Last-Minute Deal! This Fitbit Is Just $69.99 for Cyber Monday

Amazon has the Fitbit Inspire 3 on sale as part of a Cyber Monday deal. Regularly $99.95, the Fitbit sale brings the price down to just $69.95 for a limited time.

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This is the cheapest price we’ve spotted online for this Fitbit and its lowest price in 30 days at Amazon. Released last year, the stylish fitness tracker that combines the look of a modern bracelet with the functionality of a smart watch.

Fitbit Inspire 3 Health &-Fitness-Tracker with Stress Management, Workout Intensity, Sleep Tracking, 24/7 Heart Rate & More

$69.95

$99.95

30% off

The Cyber Monday deal gets you the Fitbit Inspire 3 for $69.99 or Fitbit Inspire 6 for $99.95. Both are available in your choice of three colors including black, lilac and morning glow for Fitbit 3 and black, gold and silver for Fitbit 6.

The slim, jewelry-like band keeps track of your steps, heart rate, breathing rate and other exercise metrics, and can even help you estimate your calorie burn, depending on the workout you’re doing. Going on a run? Pair the Fitbit to your phone’s GPS to track your pacing and route.

We also like all the health and wellness features of the Fitbit 3 and Fitbit 6, including the ability to track your sleep and give you a “Sleep Score” in the accompanying Fitbit app. You can also track your daily “Stress Management” levels, and use your watch for guided breathing and mindfulness exercises through the Fitbit app.

Program the fitness tracker’s settings and alerts to set goals for yourself, whether you’re going on a run or hitting the gym. You can also send the Fitbit to push a gentle buzz when you reach your target heart rate zones.

A single charge gets you up to 10 days of battery life. The slim and sleek design, meantime, is a welcome change from all the bulky and chunky smartwatch models on the market.

Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker with Google apps, Heart Rate on Exercise Equipment, 6-Months Premium Membership Included, GPS & More

$99.95

$159.95

38% off

This is one of the best Fitbit deals online, and the price includes the chic activity tracker, a lithium-ion battery and a six-month free trial to Fitbit Premium, which gets you everything from detailed monitoring metrics to health tips and guided, on-demand workouts.

Regularly $159.95+, this Amazon deal gets you the Fitbit 6 for just $99.95. See full details here.

Want something cheaper? The cheapest Fitbit Cyber Monday deal is at Walmart, where you can get the Fitbit Inspire 2 for $65.12. That’s a nearly $20 discount from its regular price of $83.42. This is a more basic fitness tracker compared to the newer Fitbit but if you just need regular exercise and sleep tracking (along with built-in GPS), this is a great deal to pick up.

For more sales, check out our list of Cyber Monday deals under $20 and a list of retailers and sites to shop for Cyber week.

27 Nov 2023

5 Best Gift Card Deals for Cyber Monday You Can Snag for the Holidays

The holiday season is officially here, and with it comes hunting for special gifts for everyone on your list. Cyber Monday deals are still going on, which means you have a chance to score gifts for everyone on your list. Have someone hard to shop for? Gift card deals are going on through retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and Target and minimize the hassle of finding the perfect gift.

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No single present is one-size-fits-all, and for the pickier people in your life, it can make finding a specific item all the more challenging. Gift cards offer a way to still personalize a present to your loved one while giving them the opportunity to pick out exactly what they want. Whether you need gifts for music lovers, a gift for musicians or even gifts for coffee lovers, there are gift card deals that will leave them happy and you with some extra pocket change.

Rather than pay full price, Cyber Monday is discounting gift cards on everything from food, tech, fashion and more, so you can get everyone on your list covered. They won’t be going on forever though and will most likely end at midnight on Nov. 27. To help save time and get you saving, we scrolled through and discovered the best gift card deals to take advantage of.

Keep reading to shop the deals.

Best Gift Card Deals

Amazon

best tech gift card deal

Apple Gift Card

Apple is giving $15 in promotional credit when you spend $100+ on select Apple gift cards. To redeem the deal just add input how much you want to add onto the gift card, add it to your cart and type in the code APPLET5USA at checkout. You should receive your $15 in credit within 24 hours.

Amazon

best movie gift card

Fandango Gift Card

$39.50

$50

21% off

Movie lovers will appreciate a Fandango gift card and for those who spend $50 on one, you’ll save $10.50 — just make sure to enter the code T5FAN at checkout to receive the discount.

Best Buy

best clothing gift card deal

Gap Options Gift Card

$85

$100

15% off

Best Buy is treating you to 15% off a Gap Options $100 gift card. You don’t need to enter a promo code either, just add the gift card to your cart and the discount will automatically apply.

Target

best sports gift card

GolfNow Gift Card

$42.50

$50

15% off

If you join Target’s rewards program, Target Circle, you’ll be able to get 15% off GolfNow gift cards to treat the sport lover in your life to. Then, they’ll be able to use the gift card on the online store and stock up on essentials.

Amazon

best home gift card deal

Yankee Candle Gift Card

$39.50

$50

21% off

If you know someone who’s always shopping at Yankee Candle, then treat them to a Yankee Candle gift card and save $10.50. The offer works on $50+ gift cards and you’ll need to enter the code T5YAN at checkout to receive it.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best gender-neutral gifts, gifts for dog lovers and gifts for Harry Styles fans.

27 Nov 2023

12 Best Cyber Monday Deals Under $20: Beauty, Tech, Fashion & More

Cyber Monday marks one of the last days ahead of the holiday season when you can take advantage of major savings on gifts for everyone on your list. With so many discounts, it can be overwhelming trying to find some of the cheapest yet most quality items to save on. Thankfully, brands like Amazon, Walmart, Sephora, Madewell and more are putting on huge savings events — including sales offering up to 60% off.

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If you don’t want to spend a lot this shopping season, there are plenty of opportunities to save your money, only spend $20 and under and still cross all your most-wanted or needed items off your list. No matter if you’re hunting for celebrity fragrances, band T-shirts or Bluetooth earbuds to upgrade your listening experience, there are plenty of Cyber Monday deals under $20 ripe for the taking.

Rather than aimlessly wander the Internet finding these sales your self, Billboard Shopping did the work for you and put together our list of the best Cyber Monday deals under $20, with products ranging from tech, to beauty, to fashion and more. You won’t want to sleep on it — all of these sales will be ending at midnight tonight.

Keep reading to shop our favorites.

Best Cyber Monday Tech Deals Under $20

Walmart

Hoey Portable Party Bluetooth 5.0 Speaker

$18.99

$39.99

53% off

Hoey’s Bluetooth speaker takes relying on your phone or smart device’s built-in speaker to blast your tunes. Instead, you’ll get clear audio in a sleek and compact device that’s both water- and dust-proof.

Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

$15.99

$29.99

47% off

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite is not only 47% off, but brings all your streaming to one spot. The slim adapter simply plugs into your TV, then you can customize your home with apps from the Amazon store. Play music, watch TV and movies on streamers like Hulu, Paramount+, Prime Video and more.

Amazon

TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Earbuds

$18.99

$39.99

53% off

Rather than drop hundreds of dollars on designer wireless earbuds, these Bluetooth earbuds give you high-quality performance and at 53% off. A single charge will provide you with up to 10 hours of nonstop listening without the case and up to 45 hours when you take the fully charged case with you.

Best Cyber Monday Fashion Deals Under $20

Madewell

Madewell Cropped Turtleneck

$16.80

$42

60% off

Madewell’s Cyber Monday deals are giving you 60% off styles including this cropped turtleneck. The versatile design makes it easy to pair with skirts, jeans, trousers and more — and you can also wear it alone or layer it with a vest or jacket.

Urban Outfitters

BDG Serena Mini Tote Bag

$11.40

$29

61% off

Bags are an essential accessory to pair with almost every outfits. BDG’s Serena Mini Tote combines style with functionality using a denim material with two handles and a crossbody strap to personalize to fit your needs. The main interior pocket is large enough to fit your phone, wallet, concealer and more.

Gap

Gap High-Rise Boyfriend Joggers

$19

$49.95

62% off

For the days you just want to dress comfy, Gap’s high-rise joggers can bring coziness without sacrificing trendiness. The fabric is made from a cotton and polyester mix for extra softness while the elastic waist aims to stretch and rest on your hips — so you can avoid constantly stopping to pull your pants up.

Best Cyber Monday Beauty Deals Under $20

Sephora

Saie Lip Blur Soft-Matte Hydrating Lipstick

$12

$24

50% off

Saie infused the nourishment of chapstick with the tint of a lipstick in this Lip Blur Soft-Matte Hydrating Lipstick. Each tube is compact enough to take with you on the go and is formulated with hyaluronic acid that’s buildable and aims to leave behind a matte finish.

Saks Fifth Ave

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara

$12.75

$15

15% off

Billboard has tested out this Benefit mascara and loves its lifting abilities and long-lasting formula. The bristles are small enough to separate each lash to avoid a clumpy appearance and you most likely won’t have to reach for an eyelash curler as it does the heavy lifting for you.

Nordstrom

Tangle Teezer Thick & Curly Detangling Hair Brush

$11.89

$13.99

15% off

Anyone with thick and/or curly hair will be praising this Tangle Teezer brush‘s ability to help detangle and smooth strands. It’s designed with FirmFlex technology to help reduce frizz right from the root and down to the ends — and without brushing out any curl.

Best Cyber Monday Home Deals Under $20

Amazon

BELADOR Silky Sheet Set

$16.14

$59.99

73% off

Refresh your bedding with a six-piece set of sheets for 73% off. Each set comes with up to four pillowcases, a fitted sheet and a flat sheet made from a soft double-brushed microfiber. The 16-inch deep pockets will also help prevent your fitted sheet from coming undone.

Anthropologie

Capri Blue Volcano Capiz Jar Candle

$11.20

$16

30% off

Add some coziness to your home with a Capri Blue candle from Anthropologie. It’s not only display-worthy thanks to the smooth white scallop design, but has become a cult favorite for its notes of sugared oranges, lemons and limes mixed with light mountain greens.

Target

Threshold Quick Dry Ribbed Bath Towel Set

$8.20

$12

32% off

Complete your bathroom with a fresh set of towels for less than $10. Threshold’s four-pack towel set comes in a variety of shades from neutral to statement colors as well as two hand towels and two wash cloths made from 100% terry cotton.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best TV deals, Everlane sales and Ulta Beauty sales.

27 Nov 2023

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2023: How to Watch Online for Free

As Taylor Swift would say, “‘Tis the damn season,” and for some of us, the holiday season officially begins once the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit.

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Rockefeller Center will be hosting its 91st annual lighting ceremony is on Wednesday (Nov. 29) at 8 p.m. ET. Whether you’ve snagged travel deals to see it in person or plan to watch it from the comfort of your couch, the 2023 Christmas tree lighting ceremony is bound to get you in the holiday spirit with the help of a slew of guests and musical performances.

This year, popstar and talk show host Kelly Clarkson will be hosting the tree lighting ceremony with appearances from Today‘s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin. You can also expect musical performances from Clarkson as well as Chloe Bailey, Adam Blackstone, Cher, David Foster, Liz Gillies, Darlene Love, Seth MacFarlane, Barry Manilow, Katharine McPhee, Keke Palmer, Carly Pearce, Manuel Turizo, Radio City Rockettes and more.

If you want to join in on the festive fun (from the comfort of your own home, not the Big Apple), we’ve compiled everything you need to know to watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony online and on TV for free.

Check below for the streaming options available.

How to Watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2023 on NBC & Peacock

The ceremony will air on Wednesday (Nov. 29) at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. If you have cable, you can watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony on TV through your local NBC affiliate — just check your cable provider’s channel guide to find your local NBC channel. Don’t have cable? You may be able to watch the tree lighting ceremony for free with an HD antenna like this one here from Amazon.

Cable cutters can also use NBC’s official streaming platform, Peacock, which will be live streaming the ceremony. Already have Peacock? You can watch the ceremony for no additional cost by logging into your account and going to live TV.

Don’t have a subscription? Peacock is currently slashing its monthly and annual plans to $1.99/month (reg. $5.99/month) or $19.99 for the year (reg. $59.99/year) for 12 months. To redeem the offers use the promo code BIGDEAL for the monthly plan or YEARLONG for the annual plan. The offer ends at midnight Monday (Nov. 27), so don’t wait too long! Click here or the button below to sign up for Peacock.

Besides the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, a Peacock subscription will give you access to the entire Peacock library including exclusive and original TV series, movies, sports and more such as Bupkis, Mrs. Davis, Poker Face, Bel-Air, Poker Face, Yellowstone and Based on a True Story. You’ll also be able to watch NBC and Bravo programs like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Saturday Night Live, Parks & Recreation, The Office, Vanderpump Rules and more.

Additional Ways to Watch Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2023 for Free

Looking for more money-saving options? Live TV streamers are offering free trials and promos that can save you even more without having to pay hundreds of dollars on cable each month.

FuboTV offers a seven day free trial, which means you can watch the tree lighting ceremony and more for free. You can also take advantage of $20 off each plan for the first two months. Plans start as low as $55/month and include over 100 channels, DVR storage and more. Once your free trial and promo are over, you’ll pay the regular subscription price based on the plan you choose. Click here or below to launch your free trial.

Hulu + Live TV comes with a 30-day free trial and gives you the most content options as you’ll not only have access to the NBC channel as well as many more live TV channels, but also the entire Hulu library. You can also bundle it with Disney+ and ESPN+ for even more programs to watch. Once your free trial is over, you’ll be charged the normal subscription fee of $77/month. Click here or below to launch your free trial.

SlingTV is also offering 50% off its plans for the first month and a free Amazon Fire TV Sick Lite when you sign up. The Blue plan includes NBC and its affiliated channels for $20 for the first two months (reg. $40) and will give you access to DVR storage, the ability to stream on up to three devices at once and more. You can expand your channel offerings by combining the Blue and Orange plans for even more content for only $27.50 (reg. $55). Click here or the button below to sign up.

27 Nov 2023

Howard Stern Talks Major Part He Almost Had in Bradley Cooper’s ‘A Star Is Born’ Reboot: ‘I’m Gonna Change My Whole Look!’

Howard Stern revealed on Monday morning (Nov. 27) that he almost had a role in Bradley Cooper‘s hit A Star Is Born remake. The old friends got together to discuss Cooper’s new Leonard Bernstein biopic, Maestro, but talk soon turned to Stern’s fascination with Cooper’s singing in the 2018 Oscar-winning film in which the actor co-starred with Lady Gaga.

Cooper has become a regular on Stern’s SiriusXM show — with both now saying that they are also friends off the air as well — which might explain why Howard spent several minutes berating Cooper for not going out on the road for a proper tour in support of Star while further heaping praise on his friend’s singing ability.

“It’s really good,” Stern said of the Star film’s music, which included the hit “Shallow.”

The notoriously picky Stern — whose first, and so far only, starring role in film is as himself in the beloved 1997 biopic Private Parts — said that he’s only told a handful of people in his private life about the Star offer from Cooper. “And they look at me like, ‘what the f–k?! You didn’t do it?’,” Stern said of the role that Cooper clarified was eventually written specifically for the person who ended up playing the part.

“This was early-early things swimming in my head when I offered it to you,” Cooper said of his initial thought of including Stern in the mix on the film that also featured Sam Elliott, Anthony Ramos and Andrew “Dice” Clay. Stern said the initial offer was for him to play the brother of Cooper’s troubled singer, Jackson Maine.

“And I went, ‘whoa! You must think I’m a lot better looking than’… they’re gonna be like… what is this movie gonna be like Twins?’ I’m Danny DeVito and he’s Arnold Schwarzenegger?,” Stern joked. The plan was for Stern to play Maine’s older brother/manager, a role Stern said he found intriguing. “I said I’m going to go full-on into it. I’m gonna shave my head, I’m gonna change my whole look,” Stern recalled thinking of what would have been the unthinkable method actor act of buzzing off his signature flowing curly hair.

Cooper said the radio veteran –who often spends large segments of his SiriusXM show lamenting anything and everything he has to do that does not concern the broadcast — did not, as longtime fans might expect, immediately turn down the offer. “You really contemplated this,” Cooper said of the three weeks he waited around for Stern’s answer.

“Man, I would have won him an Oscar too!” Stern joked about the awards that would have surely rolled in thanks to his participation; the film scored eight Oscar nominations and won best original song for “Shallow.”

“But when we started talking about you shaving your head that was very exciting,” Cooper said of the role that was then reworked to fit veteran actor Sam Elliott, who played Cooper’s cantankerous older half-brother/manager Bobby Maine. “Oh it would have been amazing.” And though it did not end up coming together, Cooper said he’s confident he will eventually find the right project to lure Stern back to the big screen.

Cooper is currently out promoting Maestro, a six-years-in-the-making biopic depicting the relationship between American composer Leonard Bernstein and wife Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan).

26 Nov 2023

Marty Krofft, Producer That Put ‘Donny & Marie’ and ‘H.R. Pufnstuf’ on TV, Dies at 86

Marty Krofft, the TV producer known for imaginative children’s shows such as H.R. Pufnstuf and primetime hits including Donny & Marie in the 1970s, has died in Los Angeles, his publicist said. Krofft was 86.

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He died Saturday (Nov. 25) of kidney failure, publicist Harlan Boll said.

Krofft and his brother Sid were puppeteers who broke into television and ended up getting stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Along the way, they brought a trippy sensibility to children’s TV and brought singing siblings Donny and Marie Osmond and Barbara Mandrell and her sisters to primetime.

The Osmonds’ clean-cut variety show, featuring television’s youngest-ever hosts at the time, became a lasting piece of ‘70s cultural memorabilia, rebooted as a daytime talk show in the 1990s and a Broadway Christmas show in 2010. The Kroffts followed up with Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters, centered on the country music star; it ran from 1980-82.

“I am so saddened by the passing of my dear friend, Marty Krofft,” Donny Osmond wrote Sunday in a statement posted on social media. “He and his brother, Sid, created the whole format of The Donny and Marie show. Together, they put my sister and me on the map and both of us will be forever grateful for their vision and creativity. Marty Krofft’s television legacy is incredible. His fingerprint is on generations of entertainment and the impact he’s had in connecting people around the world is an astonishing legacy he leaves behind. Our best wishes and love go out to his family and loved ones. As Marie and I sang at the end of every show, ‘May God keep you in His tender care, ’till He brings us together again.’”

Like the Osmonds, H.R. Pufnstuf proved to have pop culture staying power. Despite totaling just 17 episodes, the surreal show, featuring an island, a witch, a talking flute, a shipwrecked boy and a redheaded, cowboy boot-wearing dragon, came in 27th in a 2007 TV Guide poll ranking of all-time cult favorites.

More than 45 years after the show’s 1969 debut, the title character graced an episode of another Krofft brothers success, Mutt & Stuff, which ran for multiple seasons on Nickelodeon.

“To make another hit at this time in our lives, I’ve got to give ourselves a pat on the back,” Marty Krofft told The Associated Press ahead of the episode’s taping in 2015.

Even then, he was still contending with another of the enduring features of H.R. Pufnstuf — speculation that it, well, betokened a certain ‘60s commitment to altering consciousness. Krofft rebuffed that notion: “If we did the drugs everybody thought we did, we’d be dead today,” he said, adding, “You cannot work stoned.”

Born in Montreal on April 9, 1937, Krofft got into entertainment via puppetry. He and his brother Sid put together a risqué, cabaret-inspired puppet show called Les Poupées de Paris in 1960, and its traveling success led to jobs creating puppet shows for amusement parks. The Kroffts eventually opened their own, the short-lived World of Sid & Marty Krofft, in Atlanta in the 1970s.

They first made their mark in television with H.R. Pufnstuf, which spawned the 1970 feature film Pufnstuf. Many more shows for various audiences followed, including Land of the Lost; Electra Woman and Dyna Girl; Pryor’s Place, with comedian Richard Pryor; and D.C. Follies, in which puppets gave a satirical take on politics and the news.

The pair were honored with a Daytime Emmy for lifetime achievement in 2018. They got their Walk of Fame star two years later.

Sid Krofft said on Instagram that he was heartbroken by his younger brother’s death, telling fans, “All of you meant the world to him.”

While other producers might have contented themselves with their achievements far earlier, Marty Krofft indicated to The AP in 2015 that he no had interest in stepping back from show business.

“What am I gonna do — retire and watch daytime television and be dead in a month?” he asked.

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