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While known mostly for her numerous and diverse acting roles, Michelle Trachtenberg also made a notable impact on Billboard’s music charts.
As reported Wednesday (Feb. 26), Trachtenberg passed away at age 39.
The New York native broke through with, among other early roles, her starring turn in the film Harriet the Spy in 1996, released when she was just 10. By then, she had also made multiple appearances on ABC’s All My Children — working with Sarah Michelle Gellar. That connection led to Trachtenberg joining Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000 through its 2003 finale. (A reboot is currently in the works.)
When the series shifted from the WB to UPN for its sixth season, fans were treated to one of its most innovative episodes: the musical Once More With Feeling. Most prominently for Trachtenberg, whose ballet talents were showcased that week, she opens the episode’s coda, “Where Do We Go From Here?,” singing the opening title line a cappella.
The 23-song Once More With Feeling soundtrack was subsequently released (on Mutant Enemy/Twentieth Century Fox/Rounder Records). Mirroring the show’s trademark witty dialog (one lyric features singing-averse Alyson Hannigan admitting, “I think this line’s mostly filler”), the set slayed Billboard’s charts, most notably debuting at its No. 3 best on the Soundtracks chart — a year after the episode aired. It also hit the Billboard 200 and Independent Albums charts.
To date, the album has drawn 23.6 million streams in the U.S., according to Luminate.
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In 2016, upon the 15th anniversary of Once More With Feeling’s premiere, the series’ Anthony Head — aka Buffy’s slayer sage, Giles — mused about the idea to give the cast something to sing about. “I’d done Chess, Godspell and Rocky Horror before I joined Buffy, and, on the pilot, [creator Joss Whedon], Sarah Michelle and I were waiting in the back of the library set and [Whedon] said he had a huge fondness for musicals,” Head recalled to Billboard at the time. “We said then, ‘If the show ever gets picked up, wouldn’t it be fun to do a musical episode?’ Pretty much every season, for three or four seasons, I said, ‘Are we going to do the musical episode this year?!’”
Head said that Whedon wanted to wait until it felt “organic,” and by the sixth season, after the cast’s vocal chops had been discovered and honed through singalongs at Whedon’s house, and the show’s storylines had been furthered, the timing seemed right. Before the season, Head received a demo of songs from Whedon, who realized at last, per Head, “’We’ve got a musical!’
“It was just remarkable,” Head marveled. “Even in that home-demo stage … the melodies were so strong. It was a great, eclectic compilation of songs. From that moment on, I was like, ‘What can I do? What can I do?!’”
All that glitters is gold when it comes to Dreamworks’ new film announcement, with the animation studio revealing Thursday (Feb. 27) that a fifth Shrek movie is in the works featuring Zendaya as the beloved ogre’s daughter. In a teaser clip shared on YouTube, the Spiderman star (who has landed six songs on the Billboard […]
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Countdown to the 2025 Oscars begins! The 97th Academy Awards is the biggest night in movies, but with performances from Wicked co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, LISA of BLACKPINK, Doja Cat and others, this will be a must-see event for music fans as well. It will also be a big night for musicals, as Wicked and Emilia Pérez are both nominated for best picture. It marks the first time two musicals have been up for the coveted award in the same year since 1968 with Oliver! and Funny Girl.
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The show airs on ABC and is streaming live for the first time on Fubo TV and Hulu this Sunday, March 2. Here’s our guide to watching the 2025 Oscars online.
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When Are the 2025 Oscars?
The 97th annual Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 2 starting at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on ABC. The ceremony will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.
Who’s Performing at the 2025 Oscars?
In a break from tradition, the ceremony will not include live performances of the best original song nominees, and instead, will spotlight songwriters through personal reflections. However, there will still be many must-see musical performances throughout Oscar night, starting with Wicked co-darlings Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande gracing the stage to open up the award show. The two are both 2025 Oscar nominees, with Erivo up for best actress and Grande for best supporting actress.
LISA of BLACKPINK, who just had her acting debut in the recent season of White Lotus, is expecting to perform alongside Oscar nominated Queen Latifah, Doja Cat and Raye for a “performance celebrating the filmmaking community and some of its legends.”
Who’s Hosting the 2025 Oscars?
Conan O’Brien is set to host the 97th Academy Awards for the first time. The Emmy-winning comedian known for Late Night With Conan O’Brien and Conan O’Brien Must Go is no stranger to hosting big awards shows, having done so for the Primetime Emmys in 2002 and 2006, as well as the MTV Movie Awards in 2014.
How Can You Watch and Stream the 2025 Oscars Online?
The Oscars will air live on ABC, and for the first time ever, the award ceremony will be available to watch live on select streaming services, including Fubo TV and Hulu.
With Fubo, subscribers can stream hundreds of cable, network and sports channels with Fubo’s Pro package which is $84.99 a month for 145 channels such as CBS, ABC, Fox, NBC, FX, TLC, AMC, MSNBC, ESPN, FS1 and Nickelodeon. Try it out with a week-long free trial with no commitment.
For the first time, fans can stream the 2025 Oscars live on Hulu without the addition of the live service bundle. For new subscribers, try out the 30-day free trial to browse hit series and movies including the Oscar nominated A Real Pain, alongside binge-worthy TV shows such as Shogun and Paradise for free.
If you have Hulu + Live TV, you’ll also have access to stream the 97th Academy Awards live in addition to more than 90 live channels, including ABC, Max and loads of on-demand content that you can stream at home or on the go for $82 a month. With the subscription, you’ll also gain access to Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.
DirectTV Stream is a great option to stream the Oscars this Sunday. It’s not very expensive and you can enjoy perks such as free Max, Starz and other premium channels with select plans and a free trial for five days. Streaming plans start at $86.99/month after your free trial is up.
Who’s Presenting at the 2025 Oscars?
The Academy has announced that Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Stiller, Sterling K. Brown, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Goldie Hawn, Connie Nielsen, Joe Alwyn, Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb, Bowen Yang, Dave Bautista, Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Zoe Saldaña, Rachel Zegler and last year’s winners Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Emma Stone will take part in presenting this year.
Who’s Nominated for Oscars This Year?
Films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar include Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, Sean Baker’s Anora, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, Edward Berger’s Conclave, James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here and RaMell Ross’ Nickel Boys.
Emilia Pérez leads the pack with the most nominations of the night with 13, setting a record for a non-English movie. Tied for second, is A24’s The Brutalist and Wicked with 11 nods; A Complete Unknown and Conclave came in third with eight mentions each.
How to Watch Every 2025 Oscar Best Picture Nominated Film
If you’re looking to beef up your Letterboxd reviews, check out our guide on how you can watch and stream every best picture nominated film online right now, including A Complete Unknown, Wicked, The Brutalist, Anora and others.
When the Oscars announced that this year’s nominees for best original song would not be performed on the telecast, but that there would instead be a single spot focused on the songwriters of those songs, some feared that music would get short shrift on the annual awards show, which airs Sunday, March 2, from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Subsequent announcements have proved that this is not the case.
Six powerhouse women – Doja Cat, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, LISA of BLACKPINK, Queen Latifah and RAYE – will perform on the telecast. The show also will feature a special appearance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Erivo and Grande, who are both nominated for their roles in Wicked, are expected to open the telecast with one or more songs from that blockbuster musical. Queen Latifah is set to take part in a tribute to Quincy Jones, who died in November at age 91. Latifah, a longtime friend of the music and film titan, performed on two tracks on his 1995 album Q’s Jook Joint.
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The other women are expected to participate in “performances celebrating the filmmaking community and some of its legends.”
“There are special moments that are planned and it’s about music, it’s about celebration, it’s about celebrating some really amazing pieces of film and even a Governor’s Award with Quincy Jones,” the show’s executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor said in a Zoom press conference with the creative team on Wednesday (Feb. 26). “The music performances are just really special and curated this year. And I think they speak to this year in film, and they also speak to icons and legends.”
But Kapoor didn’t want to divulge too much about the show. “I mean we absolutely love the element of surprise. What I can say is [that even with] every presenter and every performer that’s already been announced, there’s still more to come. There are people that are not going to be announced,” he teased. “You will have to keep a sharp eye out for a few different cameos that happen throughout the evening.”
Kapoor said the show will have a couple of themes. “One is that we are honoring the city of Los Angeles. … We really wanted to create some really beautiful moments on stage that celebrate this amazing city that we live in, all the amazing films that have been filmed here, and just have a really uplifting and beautiful message that we hope really touches everybody who watches the show.
Supervising choreographer Mandy Moore said they will aim to recapture some of the excitement of last year’s show-stopping Ryan Gosling performance of “I’m Just Ken.” “I can definitely say if you liked Kenergy, you’re going to love everything we’re doing this year because it’s in the same vein of joy and celebration.”
RAYE performed her song “Oscar Winning Tears,” from her album My 21st Century Blues, on the Grammy telecast on Feb. 2, where she was a best new artist nominee. Kapoor was an executive producer of that show as well.
Last year’s Oscar winners in the four acting categories – Cillian Murphy, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph – were the first presenters announced for this year’s show.
Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña, two of the stars of Emilia Pérez; Ben Stiller; and Joe Alwyn, one of the stars of The Brutalist (though probably still best known as Taylor Swift’s ex) have since been added to the list of presenters. This will be Gomez’s first appearance on the Oscars stage. Other presenters range from 25-year-old starlet Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis) to 95-year old character actress June Squibb.
Conan O’Brien will host the telecast for the first time. Nick Offerman will serve as announcer.
The 2025 Oscars will air live on ABC and stream live on Hulu on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the official live red carpet show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
Here are the performers and presenters for the 2025 Oscars.
Performers
Doja Cat
Cynthia Erivo
Ariana Grande
LISA of Blackpink
Queen Latifah (Quincy Jones tribute)
RAYE
Presenters
Joe Alwyn
Dave Bautista
Halle Berry
Sterling K. Brown
Penélope Cruz
Willem Dafoe
Ana de Armas
Lily-Rose Depp
Robert Downey Jr.
Elle Fanning
Harrison Ford
Gal Gadot
Andrew Garfield
Whoopi Goldberg
Selena Gomez
Goldie Hawn
Samuel L. Jackson
Scarlett Johansson
John Lithgow
Cillian Murphy
Connie Nielsen
Amy Poehler
Margaret Qualley
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Alba Rohrwacher
Zoe Saldaña
June Squibb
Ben Stiller
Emma Stone
Oprah Winfrey
Bowen Yang
Rachel Zegler
Nipsey Hussle fans might be getting new material from the late rapper soon. While sitting down with Power 106 L.A.’s Brown Bag Mornings, his older brother Blacc Sam spoke on the upcoming documentary that was teased a couple years ago and revealed that a Nipsey and Bino Rideaux collab album should be coming out this […]
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Ever since the Clippers moved to Los Angeles from San Diego in 1984, there has been a bitter rivalry between the Clips and Lakers, an NBA team that has called L.A. home since 1960. Although the Lakers have historically been the better team, the Clippers are making smarter and more aggressive moves to claim the crown in “The City of Angels.”
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And on Friday, Feb. 28, the No. 6-seed Clippers take on the No. 4-seed Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California in an NBA rivalry game. If you’re looking to catch all of the hoops action — with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard on the Clippers, and LeBron James and Luka Doncic on the Lakers — Sling TV is the best place to stream the game online.
When Does Clippers vs. Lakers Game Start?
The Clippers vs. Lakers game broadcasts live, with tip-off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The NBA game broadcasts on ESPN, which is available on Sling TV.
Where to Watch Clippers vs. Lakers Online
Since the L.A. Clippers vs. L.A. Lakers game broadcasts on ESPN, it also livestreams on Sling Orange. Keep reading for more details on how cord-cutters can watch the Clippers-Lakers game online with Sling.
How to Watch Clippers vs. Lakers with Sling TV
A subscription to Sling Orange — which comes with ESPN — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $23 for the first month of service and $45.99 per month afterwards.
You can watch cable networks, including Disney Channel, ESPN2, Lifetime, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, Cartoon Network, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, IFC, TNT, TBS, Travel Channel, Vice and many others.
Please note: Prices and channel availability depends on your local TV market. You can learn more about Sling TV here.
Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During Clippers vs. Lakers?
Since the game is at Crypto.com Arena, the home of the L.A. Lakers, it’s likely there would be a number of celebrities and recording artists — such as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Adele, Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Quavo and others — in attendance during a Friday night game. Tune in to Sling TV to find out who’s sitting courtside on celebrity row.
Starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, the L.A. Clippers vs. L.A. Lakers game airs on ESPN, while it’s also available to livestream on Sling TV on Friday, Feb. 28.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Shane Gillis is pumped to host Saturday Night Live for the second time this weekend, but the cast members are still in recovery. In a new promo for the upcoming episode, Gillis walks backstage at Studio 8H with cast member Ashley Padilla, who asks how the comedian is feeling about his upcoming hosting gig. “I’m […]
The 2025 Oscars are just around the corner, and Live With Kelly and Mark is celebrating Wicked‘s big award year. In a two-minute clip shared by the morning show on Tuesday (Feb. 25), Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa take turns reciting the opening line: “The Land of Oz-cars, where envy is green and faces defy […]
Vince Staples and his manager Corey Smyth made an appearance on After Hours podcast and talked about how they were able to get Netflix to understand the concept behind The Vince Staples Show.
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“A lot of the times people undermine the intelligence of the audience, and then that becomes learned behavior,” he explained. “And I feel like a lot of the time we just have to have conversation like, ‘OK, we’re making a dark comedy in the streaming era … some are on television and have commercial breaks. We ended up putting title cards in the show because it was important to have tonal breaks in this dry, slow show or else we end up boring. There’s a big difference between boring and interesting, but there’s also a fine line between the two.”
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Staples then brought up some executives and fans having trouble disassociating Vince the rapper and the person with Vince the character. “The way the show was written — and this was always the intention — The Vince Stapes Show is not about Vince Staples as a character,” the Long Beach rapper and actor said. “It’s about a perspective. It’s The Vince Staples Show because I made it not because it’s about me. I think that was a hard thing for a lot of people to grasp. Going from writing for me and then writing for the characters it became kind of a disconnect because they’re expecting me to come in and write a show about myself, but I’m writing a show about other people and how they view me in the world.”
He then got into being underestimated when it came to tone, execution and directorial style while also dealing with a big company such as Netflix. “I just don’t think people think I know as much as I do about certain things,” he suggested. “So, if I’m making a show, they’re expecting me to have seen certain shows. They always say, ‘This is like Curb [Your Enthusiasm], have you ever seen Curb?’ And I say I haven’t seen it, but I know who Larry David is, I’m familiar with his work and I like it.”
Staples continued, “That would kind of throw people for a loop, so then it would get shaky. Especially when you’re dealing with a big company with a lot of finances and a lot of things on their slate it’s not wrong to answer those questions for them. I think that’s the place a lot of creative people have to get to.”
He added, “Of course, I’m going to ask what you’re doing if I don’t know what you’re doing. But sometimes that hurts people, so we just wanted to make sure that we were communicating and letting people know the real influences, the real identity of the show, and the way I wanted it to be.”
Last May, Netflix picked up The Vince Staples Show for its second season. Still no word on a release date yet, though.
You can watch the conversation below.
Tate McRae is having a moment. With her latest album, So Close To What, surging toward the top of the Billboard 200, the singer-songwriter stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday (Feb. 25) to reflect on her whirlwind year.
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During her chat with Fallon, McRae reflected on her first time performing with boyfriend and fellow singer, The Kid Laroi, who appears on her new album, as well as the shock of discovering her entire project had leaked weeks before release.
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McRae and Laroi’s collaboration, “I Know Love,” marks their first official duet, but the singer admitted to Fallon that singing together didn’t come as naturally as some might expect.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” she told Fallon. “I mean, the first time we ever sang in front of each other was actually at my MSG show last year.”
She described the awkwardness of rehearsing for that moment. “You just, like, fake sing in front of each other all the time,” she said. “So, like, even when we were at our show last year, we were sitting in soundcheck like, ‘Are you going to sing first?’”
McRae laughed as she recalled their time in the studio together. “It was the same kind of situation in the studio. I was just like, ‘Can you, like, not listen?’”
Beyond the excitement of her new album and collaboration, McRae also opened up about a nightmare scenario for any artist—her album leaking weeks before its official release. “I was sitting in the bathtub, and I get a DM from one of my fans, and they were just like, ‘Here’s the link to the whole album,’” she revealed. “And it was like five weeks till the album was gonna drop.”
“I call my mom, call my therapist,” she admitted. “I mean, it’s just hard because I feel like it takes away all your control as an artist. You want to deliver your art exactly how you want it to come out.”
Despite the setback, McRae took the situation in stride. “I feel like we turned it around and added some more songs,” she said. “I think that’s the only thing you can really do in a situation like this, is just take advantage of it.”
Fallon then shifted gears, bringing up an unexpected feature on the album—Sydney Sweeney’s surprise cameo on So Close To What track “Miss Possessive.” “I was in Pilates and ran into Glen Powell,” McRae explained. “He was like, ‘Oh my God, I was just talking about you with Sydney Sweeney!’”
To her shock, Powell pulled out his phone to reveal that Sweeney had sent him a voice memo about McRae. “Sydney was like, ‘I’m obsessed with Tate McRae!’”
That moment led to McRae recruiting the Euphoria star for a voice cameo. “So, I got her to be on the song!” she said.