AP Entertainment Digest for Thursday, April 2
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THURSDAY, April 2
ADDS FILM-TOP GUN MAVERICK, BOOKS-PATERSON-INDIE STORIES, VIRUS OUTBREAK-ENTERTAINMENT-WHAT'S HAPPENING, FILM-SXSW-MOVES ONLINE:
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CUOMOS: The two Cuomo brothers — Andrew during the daytime and Chris at night — have become key figures for Americans following the coronavirus epidemic on television. By AP Media Writer David Bauder. UPCOMING by 5 p.m. About 800 words, with photos.
MUSIC-Q&A-SAM HUNT: Sam Hunt’s sophomore album opens and closes with two of the most personal songs he’s ever written, drawing from his own personal life to paint candid pictures for listeners. But the country star admits he wavers when it comes to spilling his own tea in song form. By Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu. SENT: About 800 words, with photos.
MUSIC-ASHLEY MCBRYDE: Country singer Ashley McBryde is dishing on the sordid details of small town life on her new record “Never Will,” out Friday. By Entertainment Writer Kristin M. Hall. UPCOMING by 3 p.m. About 600 words, with photos.
FILM-TOP GUN MAVERICK: “Top Gun Maverick” is the latest would-be blockbuster to be rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Paramount Pictures on Thursday announced that “Top Gun Maverick" will now open Dec. 23 instead of June 24. By AP Film Writer Jake Coyle. SENT: 297 words, photos.
FILM-SXSW-MOVES ONLINE: It'll be bring-your-own popcorn and the barbecue won’t be as good, but Austin's SXSW Film Festival is moving online after having its 27th edition canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. The Texas festival says that it’s partnering with Amazon Prime Video to stream for free as much of its movie line-up as possible for a 10-day period in the U.S. By AP Film Writer Jake Coyle. SENT: 307 words, photo planned.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-DICAPRIO: Leonardo DiCaprio will help launch the America’s Food Fund, which has raised $12 million for communities impacted by the coronavirus. The organization said Thursday that the funds will be aimed to help low-income families, the elderly, individuals facing job disruptions and children who rely on school lunch programs. By Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. SENT. 260 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ENTERTAINMENT-WHAT'S HAPPENING: Iconic composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is making some of his filmed musicals available for free on YouTube. The 2000 West End adaption of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” starring Donny Osmond will be streamable Friday, followed a week later by the rock classic “Jesus Christ Superstar” from the 2012 arena show starring Tim Minchin. In other entertainment news Thursday, Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has tested positive for COVID-19. SENT: 537 words, updates on merits.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-FRANCE BOLERO: Even with its members scattered far and wide by the coronavirus, an orchestra in France has managed to make sweet music in lockdown. Musicians with the National Orchestra of France filmed themselves playing "Bolero" alone at home. Like building a musical jigsaw puzzle, a sound engineer then stitched together the musicians' individual footage into a seamless and rousing whole. By John Leicester. SENT. 565 words, photos.
BOOKS-PATERSON-INDIE STORIES: Best-selling novelist James Patterson has a new initiative, #SaveIndieBookstores, a partnership with the American Booksellers Association and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. By AP National Writer Hillel Italie. SENT 352 words, photo.
BOOKS-VALERIA LUISELLI: Cooped up at her home in the Bronx with her daughter and niece because of the coronavirus, Mexican author Valeria Luiselli has lowered the “volume and speed” of her life while her novel “Lost Children Archive” keeps receiving awards and accolades. By Claudia Torrens. SENT: 537 words, photos.
OBIT-ELLIS MARSALIS: Ellis Marsalis Jr., the jazz pianist, teacher and patriarch of a New Orleans musical clan, has died after battling pneumonia brought on by the new coronavirus, one of his six sons said late Wednesday. He was 85. By Janet McConnaughey and Rebecca Santana. SENT. 1000 words, photos.
OBIT-ADAM SCHLESINGER: Emmy and Grammy winning musician and songwriter Adam Schlesinger, known for his band Fountains of Wayne and his songwriting on the TV show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” has died from coronavirus at age 52. By Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton. SENT. 690 words, photos.
BOOKS-DAV PILKEY: Dav Pilkey is going to the cats. The million-selling author of the “Captain Underpants” and “Dog Man” series is starting the “Cat Kid Comic Club.” SENT. 140 words.
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REVIEWS
FILM REVIEW-SLAY THE DRAGON — By AP Film Writer Jake Coyle. SENT Tuesday, 540 words. Film stills.
FILM REVIEW-COFFEE & KAREEM. By AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. UPCOMING: 700 words by Friday at 11 a.m. Film stills.
MUSIC REVIEW-NATION OF LANGUAGE. By AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy. UPCOMING Wednesday: 320 words, photo.
MUSIC REVIEW-JAMES ELKINGTON. By Steven Wine. SENT Wednesday. 192 words, photo
MUSIC REVIEW-NINA SIMONE. By Pablo Gorondi. SENT Thursday.
MUSIC REVIEW-M WARD. By Pablo Gorondi. UPCOMING: Thursday
MUSIC REVIEW-JIMMY GREENE. By Steven Wine. SENT Wednesday, 193 words. photo.
BOOK REVIEW-WOW, NO THANK YOU ESSAYS BY SAMANTHA IRBY. Reviewed by Molly Sprayregen. SENT Tuesday, 240 words, with book cover image.
BOOK REVIEW-THE FAMILIAR DARK BY AMY ENGEL. Reviewed by Oline H. Cogdill. SENT Tuesday, 380 words, with book cover image.
BOOK REVIEW-PROVIDENCE BY MAX BARRY. Reviewed by Jeff Ayers. SENT Tuesday, 279 words, with book cover image.
BOOK REVIEW-IT’S NOT ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE BY TERRY McMILLAN. Reviewed by Lincee Ray. SENT Tuesday, 269 words, with book cover image.
BOOK REVIEW-DEVOTED BY DEAN KOONTZ. Reviewed by Waka Tsunoda. SENT Tuesday, 337 words, with book cover image.