TV/Film

20 Dec 2023

‘The Voice’ Crowns Its Season 24 Winner

Another cycle of The Voice has wrapped! The season 24 finale aired live on Tuesday night (Dec. 19) and saw the competition come to a close after weeks of blind auditions, battle rounds and last-chance performances, culminating in the reveal of the show’s latest champion.

Jacquie Roar, Ruby Leigh, Mara Justine, Huntley and Lila Forde were the final five contestants left in the competition, after having one last chance to prove themselves solo with two performances on Monday’s episode, which served as the first part of the finale.

The Tuesday installment of the finale saw the hopefuls performing covers alongside their coaches — Huntley and Niall Horan teamed up for a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” Horan pulled double duty as Mara Justine was also in the running to win the competition, and sang the Eagles’ “Wasted Time.” Reba McEntire also had two chances to win, and performed Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and Wynonna’s “No One Else on Earth” with Ruby Leigh and Jacquie Roar, respectively. John Legend also sang a Christmas hit with Lila Forde, putting their spin on Ella Fitzgerald’s “Sleigh Ride”

After a series of all star performances from Earth, Wind & Fire, AJR, Tyla, Teddy Swims, season 22 winner Bryce Leatherwood, season 25 coaches Dan + Shay and more, the season 24 champion was crowed. Huntley took home the title, providing Horan with his second consecutive coach win. Ruby Leigh finished in second place during the finale, though 32 percent Billboard readers — the majority — voted her their pick to win the competition.

Following his big win, Huntley revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that he “was so surprised” with his victory. “Ruby [Leigh] is so talented and I think that she is a force to reckon with, so the fact that it was us two standing up there, it was right. … She’s super talented, and when my name got called, I genuinely couldn’t believe it.”

The winner continued, “This has all been so worthwhile … I just want my career. I’m so hungry for this. John [Legend] said he can see me singing in arenas around the world, and that’s something I’m very hungry for. Y’all are not getting rid of me!”

The Voice will return for season 25 in February.

Revisit the finale performances with the coaches below, and watch Huntley get crowned the winner above.


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20 Dec 2023

Merry Christmas, Barbie! Ryan Gosling Drops Holiday Version of ‘I’m Just Ken’ & Music Video

Billboard Hot 100-charting musician and occasional actor Ryan Gosling hasn’t tied a bow on his time as Ken just yet.

To celebrate the holidays, the star temporarily stepped back into his role for a festive performance and music video of his hit Barbie ballad “I’m Just Ken” alongside Mark Ronson, with whom he also released a four-track project titled Ken the EP Wednesday (Dec. 20). In the video, Gosling sports a dark green suit while drinking from a Santa Claus mug in a studio decked out with Christmas lights, while Ronson — who oversaw the Greta Gerwig film’s soundtrack — directs the show with a large candy cane in hand.

Putting on his sunglasses just before diving into the song, Gosling jokes, “The world can have Ken’s voice, but only Barbie can have his eyes.”

One of four versions of “I’m Just Ken” on Ken the EP, the Christmas remix incorporates a symphonic arrangement of festive-sounding instruments including “Carol of the Bells”-esque chimes. “Merry Christmas, Barbie,” Gosling says at the end.

The 43-year-old actor’s portrayal as the under-appreciated sidekick of Margot Robbie’s Barbie, as well as his performance of “I’m Just Ken” in the Barbie movie, were a cultural phenomenon upon hitting theaters in July. Soon after the film’s release, “I’m Just Ken” debuted at No. 87 on the Hot 100.

The ballad is also one of three Barbie soundtrack pieces nominated for best original song at the 2024 Golden Globes, with Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” also in the running. All three songs are also being considered for the best song written for visual media category at next year’s Grammys, as is Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s “Barbie World [From Barbie The Album].”

Watch the “I’m Just Ken – Merry Kristmas Barbie” music video above, and stream Ken the EP below:

19 Dec 2023

iHeartMedia to Radio Simulcast ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ to Ring in 2024

Dick Clark Productions and iHeartMedia are teaming up this New Year’s Eve for the first ever live broadcast radio simulcast of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve to welcome 2024, it was announced on Tuesday (Dec. 19).

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The show will air beginning at 8 p.m. ET on the iHeartRadio app, as well as across 150 iHeartRadio stations nationwide including Z100 New York, KIIS-FM Los Angeles, KISS FM Chicago, Q102 Philly, 102.9 Dallas and more.

“New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is always a special night for me, and I’m thrilled to have iHeart join in on the fun this year with a simulcast for all to enjoy for the first time,” said the show’s host and executive producer, Ryan Seacrest, in a press statement. “It’s a night full of surprises and I’m looking forward to listeners across the country tuning in to celebrate with us.” 

Aqua, Doechii, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, Loud Luxury x Two Friends with Bebe Rexha, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Russell, Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones and Thirty Seconds to Mars are all set to perform at the festivities, which will also broadcast on TV on ABC.

In his 19th year as host, Seacrest will lead the traditional countdown to midnight alongside global superstar Rita Ora live from Times Square in New York City. Also joining this year’s broadcast is Emmy-winning TV personality Jeannie Mai, who will co-host the Hollywood portion of the broadcast in the Pacific time zone; Ora and Mai will take over from Liza Koshy and Ciara, who’ve co-hosted for the past few years. In addition, singer/TV presenter Dayanara Torres will return as a co-host to ring in the new year in the Atlantic time zone from Puerto Rico in a Spanish language countdown.

DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldrige. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.

19 Dec 2023

‘BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star’: How to Watch the Docuseries Online

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BTS is treating the ARMY to an epic delve into their 10-year journey as a K-pop group with an eight part docuseries titled BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star. The new limited-series will premiere the first two episodes on Wednesday (Dec. 20) exclusively on Disney+.

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In case the BTS biography and Funko Pops! weren’t enough, each part of the docuseries will focus on defining moments in the group’s career including from before their start, how BTS was formed, their solo projects and moments ahead to their anticipated reunion in 2025. ARMY can also get excited for never-before-seen interviews, performances and behind-the-scenes moments with RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook.

Other pivotal points that will be highlighted include their preparation for their debut, their struggles during the “Danger” period, discussing their first concerts, their debut at the American Music Awards and the Billboard Music Awards, what it was like becoming stars in America, speaking at the UN as well as personal moments like what it was like for them to meet each other for the first time, J-Hope’s surprise birthday party, Jung Kook’s high school graduation ceremony and more, according to Disney+.

You can expect two episodes to drop every Wednesday starting Dec. 20 until Jan. 10 for a total of episodes.

Keep reading to learn your streaming options.

How to Watch BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star

Starting Wednesday (Dec. 20), you can indulge in the first two episodes of BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star with two episodes dropping every following Wednesday. The docuseries will be airing exclusively on Disney+, which means you’ll need a subscription in order to watch the limited-series. If you have a subscription to Disney+ already, then you’ll be able to watch every episode for no additional cost. All you need to do is log into your account on Wednesday and it’ll be under new releases.

Don’t have a Disney+ account? The streaming platform doesn’t offer a free trial, but it is one of the most affordable streaming options out there with plans starting at $7.99/month. Click here or the button below to start your membership.

There are various plans you can choose from depending on what your budget is. The most basic plan is ad-supported and is just $7.99/month (or $79.99/year) with ads. You can also save additional money with Disney+ bundle, which includes ESPN+ and Hulu from $13/month. You’ll gain access to the entire Disney+ library including original series, movies and content from affiliates like National Geographic, Marvel and more.

For even more content offerings, you can also add Hulu + Live TV that’ll offer you the entire Hulu library including hundreds of live TV channels.

Another money-saving option is to join Disney+ through Verizon. Right now, Verizon customers can get the Disney+ Bundle for $10/month with Verizon’s MyPlan, which can help save up to $4.99/month. It’s also customizable, which means you can toggle off the perks that you don’t want.

Content you can look forward to watching includes Peter Pan & Wendy, Muppets Mayhem, Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All, J-Hope in the Box, SUGA Road to D-Day, The Prouder Family: Louder & Prouder, WandaVision, The Mandalorian, Loki, The Book of Boba Fett, The Beatles Get Back, The Simpsons, Welcome to Earth and Called to the Wild and more.

Check out the trailer for BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star below.

19 Dec 2023

Which ‘The Voice’ Finalist Should Win Season 24? Watch the Finale Performances & Vote

Season 24 of The Voice is officially down to its final hours, as the live finale airs on Tuesday (Dec. 19). The first part of the finale aired on NBC on Monday, and features the remaining five contestants battling it out for the title of this season’s champion.

Coach Gwen Stefani is out of the running for winning the crown this season, as Lila Forde (Team Legend), Huntley (Team Niall), Ruby Leigh (Team Reba), Mara Justine (Team Niall) and
Jacquie Roar (Team Reba) have made it all the way to the final episode of the competition, leaving the No Doubt frontwoman without a singer in the finals. The final group gives former One Direction member not one, but two chances at taking home the win.

The remaining five each sang two songs on Monday night to try to turn the odds in their favor: Forde gave her take on bands of yesteryear with renditions on The Band’s “The Weight and The Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” while Mara Justine gave her all in powerhouse covers of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” and Adele’s heartbreaking “Turning Tables.”

Roar also delivered solid rendition of throwback tracks “More Than a Feeling” by Boston and “Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues, while Huntley went the rock and indie route with renditions of Creed’s “Higher” and Tom Odell’s “Another Love.” Leigh used her final chance to breathe new life into Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” and the Eagles’ “Desperado.”

The Voice season 24 finale airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, with coaches Niall Horan, John Legend, Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani will perform “Let It Snow” ahead of the holidays. Jelly Roll, Tyla, Earth, Wind & Fire, AJR, Keith Urban and season 25 coaches Dan + Shay will also perform during the finale event.

Who do you think should win season 24 of The Voice? Watch last night’s performances and cast your vote in the poll below.


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18 Dec 2023

‘Wonka’ Has Sweet $39 Million U.S. Opening Weekend

Timothée Chalamet charmed audiences into theaters over the weekend with his Willy Wonka origin story Wonka to the tune of $39 million in U.s. box office receipts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pre-Christmas weekend haul for the film beat expectations and was a good sign for the film’s prospects over the holiday.

The movie also brought in $53.6 million in 77 overseas markets and including early opening screenings in Australia, England and a few other markets the movies total global take of $92.6 million added up to combined receipts of $151.4 million to date for the updated musical take on the beloved 1964 Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The film directed by Paddington‘s Paul King stars Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka, with a supporting cast including Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Calah Lane, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson and Natasha Rothwell, among others.

Leaning into the lyrical aspect of the story, director King said in September that he was determined not to make the movie a “musical where people are singing dialogue to each other for no discernible reason. I felt like it was more like a movie with songs than a musical.” He also said at the time that Chalamet has a “beautiful singing voice” and that the 27-year-old actor’s vocal skills reminded him of beloved singer Bing Crosby. “There’s quite a range, because it does go from a couple of bigger, showstopper-y sort of things, to moments of real, pure emotion and he can do it all… I’m going to sound like a crazed fan,” King promised.

17 Dec 2023

‘SNL’: Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph & Bowen Yang Star in ‘ABBA Christmas’ Commercial

SNL vets Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph returned to the show this weekend with Kate McKinnon, who was there to host. Together — and with current cast member Bowen Yang — they hilariously transformed into ABBA and promoted an unearthed Christmas album from the Swedish supergroup.

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“They’re the Fleetwood Mac of cold weather, and they’re the No. 1 band alphabetically of all time,” SNL‘s James Austin Johnson said to introduce the group in a commercial parody for ABBA Christmas.

“You can’t get enough of their music. You loved Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and the prequel, Mama,” he joked.

“And you love how their hits like ‘Dancing Queen’ make you feel young, sweet and 17. And now, being released for the first time, it’s their 1978 Christmas album, ABBA Christmas, with songs like ‘Santa Queen,’” he said, leading into the group’s festive remake of “Dancing Queen.”

Unforgettable album highlights include “Frostitita” and their “‘Fa La La’ number, sung with their signature ‘standing close facing different directions.’”

The ad points out that the holiday album would be a gift “perfect for everyone, from mothers to their gay sons.”

Watch the ad for ABBA Christmas below.

17 Dec 2023

Billie Eilish Joins Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig & Maya Rudolph in ‘Tampon Farm’ Sketch on ‘SNL’

A Barbie song, a Christmas classic, a scene co-starring cats and a dreamy ode to a tampon farm: This was Biliie Eilish‘s Saturday night.

This weekend’s Saturday Night Live musical guest performed “What Was I Made For?” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and lent her comedic side to former and current cast members, joining them for two sketches on the Saturday (Dec. 16) episode.

One was the “Whiskers R We” bit, in which Eilish and host Kate McKinnon ran a “Holiday Cat-tacular” adoption campaign with a twist.

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The other was the night’s “Tampon Farm” sketch. As SNL describes it: “A group of crunchy women (Kate McKinnon, Billie Eilish, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Paula Pell) sing a song about working on a tampon farm.”

“Tampon farm,” sings a guitar-playing, Americana McKinnon. “The women making cotton, cotton for the tampons, tampons for the blood/ Tampon farm, women with guitars are singing to the tampons/ Tampon farm.”

Wearing a bandana, plaid shirt and overalls, Eilish makes an appearance, smiling as she holds a barrel of the beloved tampons and shakes more tampons out of a tree. “The hands load the fibers,” she sings.

Watch “Tampon Farm” below.

17 Dec 2023

Billie Eilish & Kate McKinnon Team Up for Hilarious Cat Adoption Sketch on ‘SNL’: Watch

Billie Eilish and Kate McKinnon are looking to find their cats the purr-fect home this holiday season.

In the Christmas-themed episode of Saturday Night Live on Dec. 16, the pop star and comedian teamed up for the “Whiskers R We” sketch about a pet store’s “Holiday Cat-tacular” adoption campaign.

Former SNL cast member McKinnon returned to the iconic sketch comedy show as this week’s host, portraying animal lover Barbara DeDrew with musical guest Eilish joining as her trusty intern Paw-bree Hep-Purrn. During the pun-filled skit, the pair (who later realize they’re mother and daughter) try to find new owners for cleverly named felines such as Cindy Claw-ford, Cat Sajak and Furr-ell Williams.

Elsewhere in the episode, Eilish made a cameo in a musical sketch about a group of women working on a tampon farm.

Eilish also appeared as the episode’s musical guest, delivering the television debut of her Barbie movie song “What Was I Made For?” and bringing some holiday cheer with a rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” featuring her brother and collaborator Finneas on piano and Grammy-winner Christian McBride on bass.

Watch the “Whiskers R We” SNL sketch below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.

17 Dec 2023

Billie Eilish Gives Emotional Performance of ‘Barbie’ Song ‘What What I Made For?’ on ‘SNL’: Watch

Billie Eilish recreated an emotional Barbie moment while appearing as musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

The 21-year-old pop star returned to the iconic sketch comedy show for the third time on Dec. 16 to deliver the television debut of “What Was I Made For?,” which was featured in the Greta Gerwig-directed blockbuster from earlier this summer.

Prior to the emotional performance, Eilish received a surprise introduction from Gerwig and the evening’s host Kate McKinnon, who also co-starred in Barbie.

Eilish was joined by her brother and collaborator Finneas on piano as she sang the heartfelt ballad. The subtle performance also featured a touching backdrop paying tribute to Barbie‘s powerful and montage scene, this time featuring childhood movie clips from past and present SNL cast members, including McKinnon, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig.

“What Was I Made For?” peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart earlier this year. The song is also up for five awards at the 2024 Grammys, including record and song of the year.

“[Gerwig] was like, ‘I really want Barbie’s heart song,’” Eilish recently recalled to Jimmy Fallon of making the ballad with Finneas. “And that, like, stuck with us. That stayed with us.” 

“I feel like [the song] brought women together in this way that I feel like I haven’t felt part of like that,” she continued. “It made me feel really good.” 

For her second SNL performance, Eilish brought some holiday cheer with a heartfelt rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” She was joined once again by Finneas on piano, as well as Grammy-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride.

Eilish is currently putting the finishing touches on her third album, the follow-up to 2021’s Happier Than Ever, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Watch Eilish’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.


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