TV/Film
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Almost two months on from the death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has revealed the cause of her passing.
According to People, a spokesperson from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on Wednesday (April 16) that the actress’s passing was ruled as natural, resulting from complications of diabetes mellitus.
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“The amended determination was made following review of toxicology testing results,” the spokesperson said, noting that a “toxicology testing can be done without autopsy.”
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Trachtenberg died on Feb. 26 at the age of 39, with New York City emergency services responding to an emergency call where they discovered the actress “unconscious and unresponsive.”
Though her death was not treated as suspicious, Trachtenberg’s family declined an autopsy on grounds related to their Jewish faith, with her death therefore expected to be officially ruled as “undetermined.” However, the review of the toxicology results has ultimately provided a form of closure for those close to the actress.
A New York native, Trachtenberg began acting as a child, receiving her breakthrough role by starring 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.
In 2001, the series’ sixth season featured one of its most innovative and revered episodes, the musical Once More, with Feeling. While most of the show’s stars had their singing talents showcased prominently, Trachtenberg – a trained ballet dancer – requested her dancing skills be the main focus for her appearance. Her vocal talents weren’t entirely absent, however, opening 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 more than 23 million streams in the U.S., according to Luminate.
Trachtenberg’s presence in the world of music also extended beyond the world of Buffy, with the actress also appearing in music videos for acts such as Trapt and Ringside, and Fall Out Boy’s “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
Miley Cyrus‘ anticipated visual album, Something Beautiful, will get its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The wide-ranging event that will take place in New York from June 4-15 will feature the first look at the film co-directed and co-written by Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, Brendan Walter and produced by Tribeca alum Panos Cosmatos (Beyond the Black Rainbow).
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The “one-of-a-kind pop opera” features 13 original songs from Cyrus’ upcoming album of the same name.
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In addition to the premiere, Cyrus will sit down afterwards for a conversation at the event, which will kick off with the previously announced world premiere of the doc Billy Joel: So It Goes, directed by Emmy Award winners Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin. The doc is described as a “sweeping portrait of a true New York icon, this definitive documentary captures the grit, genius, and soul of William Martin Joel — from his Long Island roots to sold-out stadiums. With rare archival footage and revealing new interviews, the film charts the rise of one of America’s greatest singer-songwriters, whose music became the heartbeat of a city and the soundtrack of a generation.”
This year’s stacked music doc lineup will also spotlight films about the Counting Crows (Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?) and Culture Club (Culture Club), as well as exclusive performances from Billy Idol (Billy Idol Should Be Dead), Becky G (Rebecca (AKA Becky G) and Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder (Matter of Time) following the world premieres of their films.
In addition, members of Metallica (Metallica Saved My Life), Depeche Mode (Depeche Mode: M) and rappers WizKid (Wizkid: Long Live Lagos) and Ty Dolla $ign (Still Free TC) will sit for post-premiere conversations. Among the other musicians slated to appear in the Tribeca lineup are Demi Lovato, who co-stars alongside Rose Byrne and Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer in the movie Tow and the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, who wrote, produced and directed the drama One Spoon of Chocolate, starring Shameik Moore, Paris Jackson, Jason Isbell, Blair Underwood and RJ Cyler.
The queer roots of house music will also be chronicled in the doc Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, which will be followed by a house music dance party with Celeste Alexander, Lori Branch and Lady D. Other standouts include The Rose: Come Back to Me, a documentary about the bond between the members of South Korean indie band The Rose and The Sixth Borough, which charts Long Island’s impact on the evolution of hip-hop, with a special after-screening performance by De La Soul and Rakim.
“Tribeca has always been more than a festival—it’s a home for artists navigating an ever-changing industry and an ever-changing world,” said Tribeca Festival co-founder and Tribeca Enterprises CEO Jane Rosenthal in a statement. “For over two decades, we’ve championed emerging voices, celebrated established storytellers, and built a creative community where artists can grow, connect, and thrive. We’re proud of the ecosystem we’ve cultivated and can’t wait to share it with the world this June.”
Attendees can also check out the world premiere of I Was Born This Way, which tells the story of Archbishop Carl Bean’s 1977 disco hit “I Was Born This Way,” the world’s first gay anthem, featuring interviews with Lady Gaga, Billy Porter, Questlove and Dionne Warwick.
The festival will also feature the U.S. premiere of K-Pops!, a musical comedy directed by and starring Anderson .Paak as a “down-on-his-luck journeyman musician who takes a gig in Seoul with the house band of a K-pop competition show only to discover one of the show’s aspiring superstars is his long-lost son.” Rapper Logic will also premiere his film Paradise Records — which he wrote, directed and produced — which follows the crew of rag-tag employees at the record store of the same name.
Luke Bryan says he didn’t plan to spend his morning watching Katy Perry’s space flight — but like many, he got caught up in the moment.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week, the American Idol judge recounted how he found himself unexpectedly tuning into Blue Origin’s historic NS-31 launch, which saw Perry take flight alongside an all-female crew that included Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King and Kerianne Flynn.
“I was doing my morning walk around the farm, which turns into checking Instagram and stuff,” Bryan explained. “I saw where she was posting on her Instagram that it was happening at 8:30 Central and totally got roped into the moment.”
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The country star said he ended up watching the full livestream. “They’re in the Rivian, they’re heading to the capsule, and I’m sitting there walking and it roped me in,” he said. “Because when you have a friend — I mean, let’s face it — it could blow up. So I wanted it to not do that.”
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Bryan previously sent Perry a supportive text when she announced her participation, writing, “Good luck, wow, that’s crazy you’re getting to do that.”
While Perry has now officially been declared an astronaut after the successful launch, Bryan isn’t sure he’d follow in her footsteps just yet. When Kimmel asked if he’d want to go to space, Bryan laughed, “I probably would do it just because — I mean, you gotta take that chance.”
Kimmel pushed back: “No, you don’t. You don’t have to take that chance.”
Bryan agreed the decision would take “a delicate negotiation” with his family, adding, “I think I would get a resounding no.”
The two joked about potential country-themed space tracks, including “Chicken Jockey” and “Bass Fisherman in Space.”
Later in the interview, Bryan also discussed season 23 of American Idol, praising Jelly Roll’s role as artist-in-residence. “When you hear Jelly Roll’s story — the fact that he was 35 before he ever really started singing — what he’s been able to do since then is amazing,” he said. “He really develops a great connection [with contestants].”
Carrie Underwood has also joined the panel this season. “What she’s added to the show has been really, really special,” Bryan added.
Meanwhile, Bryan is preparing for two tours this year: his annual Farm Tour, which will head to California for the first time, and the Country Song Came On Tour. “When you pull out there and see 15,000 to 20,000 people come to a real working farm, it’s pretty magical,” he said. “It’s become something really important to me and my family.”
And yes — he confirmed he does own a helicopter, on Blake Shelton’s advice.
Did ya miss me? For those of us old enough to remember Martin (or caught up through reruns), that phrase is etched into our pop culture vocabulary. During a memorable two-episode run called “Hollywood Swingin’,” in the popular Fox show’s second season, In Living Color alum Tommy Davidson starred as talk-show host Varnell Hill who […]
Olivier Bergeron brought the judges — and much of America — to the brink of tears on American Idol Monday night (April 14), performing Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” with vulnerability and raw conviction. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The 22-year-old Canadian contestant, who grew […]
DJ Khaled, Cardi B and DESI TRILL are bringing the party to Smurf Village, with the gang dropping a high-energy music video for “Higher Love” — their soundtrack contribution to the upcoming Smurfs movie starring Rihanna — Monday (April 14).
In the video, the Miami hitmaker sets the scene by vibing to the upbeat track while standing next to a Smurf friend perched on a mushroom. While the “WAP” rapper does not appear in the visual, her opening verse is paired with flamboyant shots of dancers dressed in furry white costumes performing group choreography while towering over the Smurf Village residents, who hang out on stones, grassy areas and more mushroom tops in the colorful landscape.
The song features Indian singers Natania and Subhi on vocals, and in the video, they dance together while performing the track’s hook, which interpolates a line from Belinda Carlisle’s 1987 hit “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” When a snippet of the song first arrived in a February trailer for Smurfs, many fans thought it was Rih’s voice singing the sample before realizing that it was actually the DESI TRILL artists.
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The Fenty mogul is, however, involved in the movie as both a producer and as Smurfette, whom she voices in a cast that also features James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell and John Goodman. “When Papa Smurf is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him,” reads a description of the film. “With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.”
Smurfs hits theaters July 18. Watch the music video for “Higher Love” from the soundtrack above.
It’s not easy to perform a Jelly Roll song in front of the artist himself, but Jamal Roberts proved he was up for the challenge. The 27-year-old American Idol contestant performed the country superstar’s “Liar” during Sunday night’s (April 13) episode at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina Hawaii. Roberts commanded the […]
If you watched music on TV at any point in the last 50+ years, you most likely experienced the work of Don Mischer, who directed and/or produced hundreds of hours of programming, including six Super Bowl halftime shows and variety specials headlined by such icons as Barbra Streisand and Willie Nelson. Mischer, who amassed 15 Primetime Emmys for his work, died on Friday (April 11) in Los Angeles. He was 85.
Mischer produced and directed Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, the star-studded 1983 special on which Michael Jackson introduced his Moonwalk. Mischer also produced and directed a 1985 sequel, Motown Returns to the Apollo. In 1993, he reunited with Jackson when the superstar headlined the Super Bowl halftime show. That performance is credited with elevating the halftime show to its current status as the world’s top platform for a music performer.
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Mischer worked on five more Super Bowl halftime shows, headlined by Paul McCartney (2005), The Rolling Stones (2006), Prince (2007), Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (2008) and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (2009). The most memorable of these was the show which Prince headlined amid a downpour. It regularly tops lists of the greatest halftime performances of all time.
Mischer directed The Kennedy Center Honors across four decades (1978-86 and 1992-2005). He also produced and/or directed three of the four EGOT-level awards shows — working on three Tonys telecasts, three Oscars telecasts and nine Primetime Emmys telecasts. He never worked on the Grammys, but he served as executive producer of the Billboard Music Awards three times (2011-13).
He produced and directed the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and served as executive producer of the 2002 Winter Olympics ceremony.
He worked on many superstar specials, including Goldie & Liza Together (1981), where Oscar winners Goldie Hawn and Liza Minnelli memorably teamed up. Others included Willie Nelson: Texas Style (1989), Sonny & Cher: Cher Remembers (1999), Barbra Streisand: Timeless (2000) and James Taylor: One Man Band (2007). He also worked on dance specials headlined by Twyla Tharp, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines, and comedy specials starring Eddie Murphy and Don Rickles.
Mischer worked on many “event” TV specials, keyed to anniversaries or re-openings. Among them: Irving Berlin’s 100th Birthday at Carnegie Hall (1988), Carnegie Hall: Live at 100 (1991), Bob Hope: The First 90 Years (1992), To Life: Israel’s 50th Anniversary Celebration (1998) and National September 11 Memorial & Museum Dedication (2014).
Mischer’s first major credit in TV was directing Great American Dream Machine on PBS (1970-71). That led to directing In Concert, a late-night music series on ABC (1973-75).
Mischer produced the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which led to a rare, if understandable, slip on his part. After John Kerry’s speech accepting the nomination for president, balloons were supposed to drop from the ceiling onto the delegates below. However, the balloons got stuck and did not fall. Mischer lost his temper and let out a string of expletives — which went out live on CNN.
In January 2009, Mischer had a happier experience when he produced and directed We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, which featured performances by Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen.
Mischer received 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, a record 10 Directors Guild of America Awards for outstanding directorial achievement, two NAACP Image Awards, and a Peabody Award (for Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever). In 2012, he received the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild of America. In 2014, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2019, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America (DGA).
In November 2023, Mischer published his memoir :10 Seconds to Air: My Life in the Director’s Chair. Kirkus Reviews called it “a frank, insightful recollection of an accomplished career.”
“Don was simply iconic,” Lesli Linka Glatter, president of the DGA, said in a statement. “His mastery of directing live events was a fast-paced symphony of meticulous planning combined with on-the-spot decision-making that elevated our nation’s greatest cultural events, always capturing the human spirit behind them. … Don’s skill as a director elevated the emotions, excitement and importance of these live worldwide moments, creating lifelong memories for audiences around the world.”
After directing and producing hundreds of hours of live television, Mischer knew what he was doing and felt at peace when a show went live.
“There’s nothing like that feeling that the clock is ticking down and you’re sitting in the truck, and then suddenly it’s time, and everybody gets quiet,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 2010. “That’s when I get calm.”
Mischer is survived by his wife, Suzan; four children, Heather, Jennifer, Charlie and Lily; and two grandchildren, Everly and Tallulah.
Benson Boone is making the leap from Coachella to the SNL stage in just a couple weeks, when he’ll perform live as musical guest on the May 3 episode. It will mark Boone’s first appearance on Saturday Night Live. His SNL debut will be alongside Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson, who’ll serve as host for […]
Cynthia Erivo‘s “Worst of Me” tops this week’s new music poll.
Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (April 11) on Billboard, choosing the Wicked actress’ dramatic new ballad as their favorite new music release of the past week.
“Worst of Me” captured 73% of the vote, surpassing recent releases from artists like Lana Del Rey (“Henry, Come On”), Jessie Murph (“Blue Strips”), Bon Iver (SABLE fABLE), Rauw Alejandro (“Carita Linda”), and others.
“Worst of Me” is the second single from Erivo’s sophomore album, I Forgive You, which is set for release on June 6 through Verve Records/Republic Records. In addition to showcasing her powerhouse vocals, the project marks a new chapter for Erivo as a songwriter, as she has co-writing credits on every track.
The new single sees Erivo soaring vocally as she closes the door on a toxic relationship. Lush string arrangements and intricate harmonies elevate the emotional ballad, as she declares: “I came here for love, oh, no I don’t want it anymore. I gave you my home, but you took the worst of me.”
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It’s is shaping up to be a banner year for Erivo. Following the blockbuster success of Wicked in 2024, she received a best actress nomination at the 2025 Oscars, where she also delivered a show-stopping performance of “Defying Gravity” alongside co-star Ariana Grande. Still ahead, she’s set to host the 2025 Tony Awards, take on the role of Jesus Christ in the Hollywood Bowl’s Jesus Christ Superstar, and headline WorldPride’s post-parade stage in Washington, D.C. All this leads up to the release of Wicked: For Good, the final installment of the franchise, premiering Nov. 21.
Del Rey’s “Henry, Come On” landed in second place in the poll with 12% of the vote. The gentle track serves as the first single from her long-awaited country album, The Right Person Will Stay.
Check out the full results of this week’s poll below and visit Billboard’s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.