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A new music video blends one of Korea’s biggest musical acts and one of its biggest television stars.
For the release of Chen‘s new EP Last Scene, the EXO boy band member enlisted one of the breakout stars from Squid Games to help tell the story of the final moments and “last scene” of a dying relationship. The EP’s piano-led title track is a moving ballad centered around the 30-year-old’s powerful vocals featuring actor Park Hae-soo telling the story through the accompanying music video.
Park, who gained international fame through his role as Cho Sang-woo (a.k.a. “Player 218”) on Squid Game, channels the same emotive and delicate sentiment he showed on the Netflix hit in “Last Scene,” recalling memories and moments from a relationship through an evening drive. The visual racked up more than half a million views in its first 12 hours.
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Last Scene is Chen’s third solo EP following 2019’s April, And a Flower and Dear My Dear, which both landed in the Top 10 of Billboard’s World Albums chart. Since his solo debut, Chen has released a slew of collaborations, completed his mandatory military service in South Korea, and welcomed two children with his wife following their marriage in 2020. The rich life experiences undoubtedly helped colored Chen’s latest work, revealing fresh musical sides like a wispy delivery through the sparse and snappy guitar track “I Don’t Even Mind” or the light rock-pop standout “Travelers” among the new ballads.
Watch “Last Scene” below:
One of television’s harshest judges has a soft spot for Britney Spears. In an interview with E! News published on Monday (Nov. 14), Simon Cowell gushed about working with the pop star while they were judges on The X Factor USA for its second season, and revealed that she was an incredibly intelligent force to have on the competition show.
Cowell noted that Spears’ decision to join The X Factor did not come lightly. “We spent so long on the phone talking about X Factor before we did it,” he told the outlet. “There’s a side of Britney a lot of people don’t know. I mean, I was on the phone to her two or three hours every time. She was super smart, really lovely ideas about how to launch someone else’s career, which is critical if you’re going to be a judge on one of these shows. So I had a fantastic relationship with her.”
The English reality TV personality also made a plea to Spears directly. “If you’re watching, Britney, and we make a show, please come back and do it with me. It would be amazing. I adore her,” he said. “She really is interesting and she’s so talented.”
Season two of The X Factor USA premiered on Fox on Sept. 12, 2012, and aired through Dec. 20, 2012. Spears and Demi Lovato replaced judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul on the show that season, with Cowell and L.A. Reid rounding out the judging panel. Fifth Harmony finished in third place, while Tate Stevens won first.
Saturday Night Live has reliably tapped Dave Chappelle three times to offer some of his patented unfiltered commentary following recent major national elections. But this weekend the leader of a prominent Jewish civil rights group said the envelope-pushing stand-up went too far in an opening monologue in which he took on the recent rash of antisemitic statements and controversies surrounding rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye) and suspended NBA player Kyrie Irving.
“We shouldn’t expect @DaveChappelle to serve as society’s moral compass, but disturbing to see @nbcsnl not just normalize but popularize #antisemitism,” tweeted ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt of the 15-minute show opener that critics said perpetuated Jewish stereotypes while seemingly attempting to humorously demystify them. “Why are Jewish sensitivities denied or diminished at almost every turn? Why does our trauma trigger applause?”
Chappelle — who has repeatedly courted criticism in a series of stand-up specials in which he engaged in what critics have labeled hurtful transphobic and homophobic stereotypes — opened the bit by unfolding a piece of paper and reading a statement. “I denounce antisemitism in all its forms. And I stand with my friends in the Jewish community,” he said. “And that, Kanye, is how you buy yourself some time.”
Chappelle then reeled off a series of recent incidents in which Ye has been accused of antisemitism and the harsh responses to his actions and words while joking that in his 35-year career in comedy he learned one very important lesson: never say the words “the” and “Jews” in sequence. It was one of several lines that amplified a Jewish stereotypes instead of decrying in a manner that many Jewish leaders and commentators did not find amusing during a time of heightened antisemitic sentiment. The provocative Lenny Bruce-style mono was repeatedly undercut when the bit steered directly into the same dark territory Chappelle thought he was shining a light on according to critics.
“I’ve been to Hollywood and — no one get mad at me — I’m just telling you what I saw… It’s a lot of Jews,” Chappelle whispered. “Like a lot.” Chappelle then doubled and tripled-down on his line of logic, suggesting that the “delusion that Jews run show business” is not a “crazy thing to think,” but that “it’s a crazy thing to say out loud in a climate like this.” The suggestion that the thought is okay, but the action is not got even more muddled when Chappelle pivoted to another recent antisemitic controversy surrounding Nets player Irving.
In the comedian’s telling, despite the persecution of Jews all over the world, “you can’t blame that on Black Americans,” a stunning line that drew silence from the normally raucous studio audience; Irving has been suspended by the Nets after posting a link to an antisemitic, Holocaust-denying film and then refusing to apologize for his actions. The Jerusalem Post succinctly summed up their feelings about the Chappelle monologue in a tweet that read, “Chappelle said during his SNL monologue that he ‘denounces antisemitism in all its forms’… before promptly engaging in antisemitic stereotypes.”
His opening was also denounced by Carly Pildis, a contributor to Jewish magazine The Forward and director of community engagement for the ADL, who said Chappelle’s mono was off-base because it merely further stoked the flames of division. “Here is the thing, Dave Chapelle wants to joke about antisemitism but he isn’t living with the consequences of it,” she wrote. “Antisemitic incidences are at a historic high in America, but that doesn’t get mentioned. Probably cause it’s not actually funny. It’s scary as hell.”
NPR TV critic Eric Deggans said he wasn’t sure what a professional athlete posting a link to an antisemitic film with no context and then taking “several long days” to disavow the film’s anti-Jewish content has to do with whether you can “blame” Black Americans for the plight of Jewish Americans. “What I do know, is that one of comedy’s boldest and most incisive voices had a chance to lend insight to the long struggle Black America has had with antisemitism,” Deggans wrote. “But instead, his monologue seemed filled with justification and minimization – failing to mention, for instance, allegations that Ye has expressed admiration for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.”
In April, the Anti-Defamation League, which tracks anti-Semitic behavior nationwide, reported a 34% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2021 (to 2,717), which averaged out to more than seven such incidents per day. At press time it did not appear that Chapelle had reacted to the criticism of his SNL monologue and a spokesperson for the comedian had not returned a request for comment.
See Greenblatt’s tweet below.
We shouldn’t expect @DaveChappelle to serve as society’s moral compass, but disturbing to see @nbcsnl not just normalize but popularize #antisemitism. Why are Jewish sensitivities denied or diminished at almost every turn? Why does our trauma trigger applause?— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) November 13, 2022
SNL‘s December schedule will kick off with SZA as musical guest and Keke Palmer as host on Dec. 3.
“first december show!” the Saturday Night Live Instagram announced on Sunday (Nov. 13), following this weekend’s episode with Dave Chappelle and Black Star.
“Can’t believe this is happening lmao . I plan on acting a f—ing fool . See you soon New York,” SZA shared on her own account on Sunday.
Palmer wrote on Instagram, “I can’t wait!! The stage awaits @nbcsnl.”
SZA recently shared a teaser trailer for “PSA,” just two weeks after she released her new single “Shirt.” Last month she revealed that her long-awaited sophomore album is coming “any day” now.
See the SNL lineup announcement below.
The 2022 MTV EMAs were held Sunday (Nov. 13) at PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany, and featured performances from several of the night’s nominees.
Performers included David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, who won best collaboration for “I’m Good (Blue)” (and Guetta also won best electronic); Muse, who won best rock; Gorillaz, who performed with Thundercat and won best alternative, and many more hitmakers.
The show also featured performances by Ava Max, Stormzy and Debbie, OneRepublic, GAYLE, Lewis Capaldi, Tate McRae, SPINALL, Ayanna and Nasty C, and Kalush Orchestra. Armani White performed during the red carpet show.
Rita Ora and Taika Waititi co-hosted the EMAs, where Taylor Swift was the top winner of the night, with four awards. Guetta, Nicki Minaj and SEVENTEEN each won two awards. See a full list of winners here.
Videos of the night’s performances will be added here as they become available from MTV’s official YouTube channels.
Tune in below:
Muse – “Will of the People”
Ava Max – “Million Dollar Baby”
Gorillaz feat. Thundercat – “Cracker Island”
OneRepublic – “I Ain’t Worried”
GAYLE – “abcdefu”
Lewis Capaldi – “Forget Me”
Tate McRae – “She’s All I Wanna Be”/”Uh Oh” Medley
SPINALL, Äyanna and Nasty C – “Power”
Armani White – “GOATED./Billie Eilish.” Medley
Taylor Swift, the top winner at the 2022 MTV EMAs, made an unannounced appearance at the awards show to accept her honors in-person.
After taking with selfies with fans and posing for photographers on the red carpet on Sunday (Nov. 13), Swift took home four awards: best artist, best video, best pop and best longform video for “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version).”
One dress wasn’t enough for Swift, who arrived in a dress featuring a low-cut, black bodysuit with a bejeweled, netted skirt, but had changed into a bedazzled minidress with a polo collar by the time of her best artist acceptance speech.
Both dresses are by designer David Koma, as pointed out by fan account Taylor Swift Style.
“Wow,” Swift said upon accepting her award for best artist. “First of all, I just want to say I have so much respect and admiration for my fellow nominees. I wanted to say to the fans I had an album come out recently called ‘Midnights,’ and I’m so blown away. You have no idea how much it means to me to even get to do this as a career. So I just wanted to say, personally, from me to you: The fact that you have done what you’ve done, supporting that album, being excited about that album and loving it … There’s not a single moment I take that for granted. I love you so much. I can’t believe I get to do this as a job. It’s all because of you. Thank you, so, so much.”
See her two 2022 MTV EMAs looks in the photos below. Plus, check out a clip of her walking the red carpet.
Kate Green/Getty Images for MTV
Taylor Swift is seen during the MTV Europe Music Awards, held at PSD Bank Dome in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Nov. 13, 2022.
Taylor Swift was the top winner at the 2022 MTV EMAs, which were held at PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Sunday (Nov. 13). Swift took four awards — best artist, best video, best pop and best longform video for “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version).”
This is Swift’s second win for best video. She won three years ago for her “ME!” collaboration with Brendon Urie.
Nicki Minaj, David Guetta and SEVENTEEN each won two awards. Minaj was awarded best song for “Super Freaky Girl” and best hip hop. Guetta won best collaboration for “I’m Good (Blue),” a collab with Bebe Rexha, and best electronic. SEVENTEEN won best new and best push.
Harry Styles, who was this year’s top nominee with seven nods, won just one award — best live. The category was reintroduced after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Rita Ora and Taika Waititi co-hosted the show, which featured performances by several of the night’s winners — Guetta and Rexha, Muse (best rock) and Gorillaz (best alternative).
OneRepublic performed “I Ain’t Worried,” from the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, following a video introduction from the film’s star, Tom Cruise. The show also featured performances by Ava Max; Stormzy featuring Debbie; GAYLE; Lewis Capaldi; Tate McRae; SPINALL, Ayanna and Nasty C; Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, and Thundercat (who performed with Gorillaz).
Rising West Philadelphia rapper Armani White performed his hit “Billie Eilish.” during the EMA red carpet show.
There were two new categories this year — best longform video (which went to Swift) and best metaverse performance (which went to BLACKPINK).
Co-host Ora received a special award, best look ‘personal style.’
This year’s MTV EMA generation change award went to three Ukrainian women — Lina Deshvar, Anna Kutova and Anfisa Yankovina — for fighting for the care and rights of those impacted by the humanitarian crisis in that country. MTV Entertainment Group selected the honorees in partnership with Choose Love, a humanitarian nonprofit that provides aid to, and advocacy for, refugees around the world. This award was launched in 2018. The recipients were honored during the MTV EMA red carpet show.
The show also featured appearances by Lauren Spencer Smith, David Hasselhoff, Julian Lennon and Sam Ryder, among others.
The MTV EMAs were broadcast on Nov. 13 across MTV’s global network in more than 170 countries and on Pluto TV in select territories across the U.S., Latin America and Europe, and on Comedy Central in Germany. It will be available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV globally, beginning Nov. 14.
This year marked the show’s sixth time in Germany. Bruce Gillmer and Richard Godfrey were executive producers. Debbie Phillips and Chloe Mason were producers.
Here’s a complete list of nominees, with winners checked:
Best song
Bad Bunny, Chencho Corleone – “Me Porto Bonito”Harry Styles – “As It Was”Jack Harlow – “First Class”Lizzo – “About Damn Time”WINNER: Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”Rosalía – “Despechá”
Best video
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom”Doja Cat – “Woman”Harry Styles – “As It Was”Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5”Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”WINNER: Taylor Swift – “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)”
Best artist
AdeleBeyoncéHarry StylesNicki MinajRosalíaWINNER: Taylor Swift
Best new
Baby KeemDove CameronGayleWINNER: SeventeenStephen SanchezTems
Best collaboration
Bad Bunny, Chencho Corleone – “Me Porto Bonito”WINNER: David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)”DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “Staying Alive”Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa – “Sweetest Pie”Post Malone with Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)”Shakira, Rauw Alejandro – “Te Felicito”Tiësto & Ava Max – “The Motto”
Best live
ColdplayEd SheeranWINNER: Harry StylesKendrick LamarLady GagaThe Weeknd
Best pop
Billie EilishDoja CatEd SheeranHarry StylesLizzoWINNER: Taylor Swift
Best K-pop
BLACKPINKBTSItzyWINNER: LisaSeventeenTwice
Best Latin
WINNER: AnittaBad BunnyBecky GJ BalvinRosalíaShakira
Best electronic
Calvin HarrisWINNER: David GuettaDJ SnakeMarshmelloSwedish House MafiaTiësto
Best hip hop
DrakeFutureJack HarlowKendrick LamarLil BabyMegan Thee StallionWINNER: Nicki Minaj
Best rock
Foo FightersLiam GallagherMåneskinWINNER: MuseRed Hot Chili PeppersThe Killers
Best alternative
WINNER: GorillazImagine DragonsPanic! At The DiscoTame ImpalaTwenty One PilotsYungblud
Best R&B
WINNER: ChlöeGivēonH.E.R.KhalidSummer WalkerSZA
Best longform video
Foo Fighters – “Studio 666”Rosalía – “Motomami” (Rosalía TikTok live performance)Stormzy – “Mel Made Me Do It”Taylor Hawkins tribute concert, Wembley Stadium, LondonWINNER: Taylor Swift – “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)”
Video for good
Ed Sheeran – “2step” (feat. Lil Baby)Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5”Latto – “P*ssy”Lizzo – “About Damn Time”WINNER: Sam Smith – “Unholy” (feat. Kim Petras)Stromae – “Fils de joie”
Biggest fans
BLACKPINKWINNER: BTSHarry StylesLady GagaNicki MinajTaylor Swift
Best push
Nessa BarrettWINNER: SeventeenMae MullerGayleShenseeaOmar ApolloWet LegMuni LongDoechiiSaucy SantanaStephen SanchezJVKE
Best Metaverse performance
WINNER: BLACKPINK The Virtual | PUBGBTS | MinecraftCharli XCX | RobloxJustin Bieber – An Interactive Virtual Experience | WaveTwenty One Pilots Concert Experience | Roblox
Dave Chappelle brought back some of his most memorable Chappelle’s Show characters for a hilarious House of the Dragon spoof on Saturday Night Live.
The 49-year-old comedian, who served as SNL‘s host on Nov. 12, introduced the sketch by noting that he’s a big fan of the new Game of Thrones spin-off on HBO, and commenting on the fantasy drama’s inclusion of Black characters.
“I love that they’re including Black characters, but to be honest, the Black characters take me out of it a little bit with the blonde hair and the old timey accents — it’s a little jarring,” Chappelle said. “Where are these people from?”
He then gave SNL viewers a comical sneak-peek of season two of House of the Dragon by bringing several Chappelle’s Show regulars into the mix, including Silky Johnson, Tyrone Biggums and Rick James.
The four-and-a-half-minute skit also included a cameo by rapper and actor Ice-T, who played Silky Johnson’s cousin, “light-skinned Larry Targaryen.” In true player hater fashion, Ice-T’s character threw a jab at Silky, saying that his “h–s is so old, they t—–s give powdered milk,” to which Silky harshly commented on Larry’s flamboyant attire. “You look like E.T. when they dressed him up for Halloween.”
Later in the spoof, Chappelle’s popular Rick James made his triumphant return as another dragon-riding Targaryen family member, dressed in an open-chested silky red robe and sporting platinum blonde braids.
“I’m one of the baddest motherf—ers Westeros has ever seen,” James boasts at Dragonstone. “I heard you like to ride lizards; want to ride my, your freakin’ majesty?”
The spoof ends with Chappelle’s James flying off on a gigantic dragon, stomping his dirty shoes all over the saddle. “F— your dragon! F— your dragon,” he yells, referencing his popular catchphrase, as Silky and Tyrone soar alongside him.
Watch SNL’s “House of the Dragon” sketch below, and see the full episode on Hulu here. The streaming service is currently offering a 30-day free trial, which you can sign up for here. The show is also live streamed on Peacock.
Dave Chappelle’s opening monologue on Saturday Night Live tackled Kanye “Ye” West’s antisemitic comments, as well as Donald Trump and the midterm elections.
The comedian began by reading a statement he said he prepared. “I denounce antisemitism in all its forms. And I stand with my friends in the Jewish community,” he said, before adding, “And that, Kanye, is how you buy yourself some time.”
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Chappelle spent much of his set taking aim at West and how the rapper and fashion mogul thought he was untouchable until Adidas, among other business partners, dropped him after a series of antisemitic comments posted to social media. “Ironically, Addias was founded by Nazis and even they were offended,” he said.
Chappelle also discussed the controversy around Kyrie Irving, who recently was suspended from the Brooklyn Nets for at least five games after he shared a link to the documentary Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America — a film that contains antisemitic sentiments.
“He was slow to apologize,” the SNL host said of the NBA star. “The demands to get back in their good graces got longer and longer, and this is where I draw the line: I know the Jewish people have been through terrible things all over the world, but you can’t blame that on black Americans. You just can’t.”
SNL‘s decision to have Chappelle host spurred criticism after his controversial jokes about the transgender community in his Netflix special The Closer.
In teasers leading up to the episode, Chappelle and castmember Ego Nwodim seemingly addressed the controversy. After the comedian announced that he was hosting with musical guest Black Star, Nwodim asked him, confused, if they were doing the show live, Chappelle confirmed. “With you?” she continued, “In this news cycle?” But Chappelle didn’t address the backlash in his monologue.
When discussing the midterms, the comedian primarily focused on Herschel Walker and how some news organizations feel like the Trump era is over, but he claims that’s not the case. He went on to explain that living in Ohio, he gets a firsthand look at Trump’s fanbase, saying “he’s very loved. And the reason he’s loved is because people in Ohio have never seen somebody like him.”
Ahead of the opening monologue, the cold open featured a segment from Fox & Friends, starring Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner and Bowen Yang as Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade, with special appearances from Cecily Strong’s Kari Lake and James Austin Johnson’s Trump.
Chappelle hosted the comedy sketch series for the third time on Nov. 12. The last time the comedian hosted, it was the episode following the 2020 election in which Joe Biden defeated Trump, who was vying for a second term as president. Before that, he hosted the show after Trump won the 2016 presidential election.
Watch Chappelle’s SNL monologue below.
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
Kevin Conroy, the prolific voice actor who defined Batman for generations of audiences, died Thursday (Nov. 10) in New York after a short battle with cancer, Warner Bros. announced. He was 66.
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Conroy voice-starred in the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series from 1992-96 and continued with the role through nearly 60 different productions, spanning 15 films and 400 episodes of television as well as video games. In recent years, he was a fixture on the comic convention circuit.
“Kevin was far more than an actor whom I had the pleasure of casting and directing — he was a dear friend for 30-plus years whose kindness and generous spirit knew no boundaries,” said casting and dialogue director Andrea Romano. “Kevin’s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever.”
Mark Hamill, who played Conroy’s onscreen foil the Joker, mourned his collaborator in a statement.
“Kevin was perfection,” he said. “He was one of my favorite people on the planet, and I loved him like a brother. He truly cared for the people around him — his decency shone through everything he did. Every time I saw him or spoke with him, my spirits were elevated.”
Conroy was born on Nov. 30, 1955, in Westbury, New York, and grew up in Westport, Connecticut. He studied acting at Juilliard alongside noteworthy actors such as Christopher Reeve and was roommates with Robin Williams. He went on to pursue work onstage before landing roles in the 1980s on TV series including Dynasty, Tour of Duty and Ohara. He also appeared on the soaps Search for Tomorrow and Another World and had guest spots on Cheers, Murphy Brown, Spenser: For Hire and Matlock.
The trajectory of his life and career changed forever when Batman: The Animated Series debuted on Sept. 5, 1992.
“I remember Mark and I were at the WB sound studio to do ADR work and we got to watch the opening credits,” Conroy told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017. “We hear the opening theme with the strings and the lush colors. It was incredibly dramatic. And I looked at Mark and said, ‘Did you have a clue this is what we were doing?’ He said, ‘No, I’m blown away!’ We both felt we were a part of something really special.”
The series still resonated 30 years later, with J.J. Abrams and The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves teaming with Batman: The Animated Series’ Bruce Timm for a new take called The Caped Crusader, though it is unknown if Conroy was to be involved.
Though Conroy worked often in animation, he stepped into the live-action DC universe in 2019 to play Bruce Wayne on The CW’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover story. He most recently voiced Batman in the video game MultiVersus.
Over the decades, multiple actors have put their stamps on Batman’s voice, with Michael Keaton, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck in particular getting both praise and parody for their live-action takes. For Conroy, finding the voice was both a challenge and a choice that defined his legacy.
“Early on, I said, ‘This is the most famous and powerful guy in Gotham. Are you telling me he just puts on a mask and no one knows it’s him? Seriously? There’s got to be more to the disguise,’ ” Conroy told THR in 2017. “My template for the two voices was the 1930s film The Scarlet Pimpernel. I played Bruce Wayne as sort of a humorous playboy to counteract the brooding nature of Batman.”
Among the crowning moments of his career as Batman was the 1993 animated feature Mask of the Phantasm, which he counted as his favorite. It dealt with Wayne’s unresolved feelings toward his late parents, something Conroy would later say he could relate to given his own tumultuous relationship with his father.
“Andrea came in after the recording and grabbed me in a hug,” Conroy told THR in 2018 of voicing a particularly wrenching scene. “Andrea said, ‘I don’t know where you went [emotionally], but it was a beautiful performance.’ She knew I was drawing on something.”
Conroy is survived by his husband, Vaughn C. Williams, sister Trisha Conroy and brother Tom Conroy.
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
