Tony Awards laud android rom-com 'Maybe Happy Ending' and history-making 'Purpose'

NEW YORK (AP) — “Maybe Happy Ending” had a definite happy ending at the Tony Awards. The android rom-com won the best new musical crown Sunday on a night when Kara Young made history as the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively. Young starred in best play winner “Purpose.” Sarah Snook won leading actress in a play for her tireless work in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and Cole Escola won leading actor in a play for “Oh, Mary!” “Sunset Blvd.,” with Nicole Scherzinger, won best musical revival and she beat Audra McDonald for best actress in a musical.

BET Awards to celebrate 25th anniversary with major star power from Kendrick Lamar to Mariah Carey

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The BET Awards is bringing major star power — including Kendrick Lamar, Mariah Carey, and Jamie Foxx — to celebrate its 25th anniversary on Monday. Lamar leads the pack with 10 nominations, including album of the year for his critically acclaimed project “GNX.”  His ubiquitous diss track “Not Like Us,” emanating from the Drake feud, received nominations for video of the year and viewer’s choice award. The awards will air live on June 9 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. EDT.

Select list of winners at the 2025 Tony Awards

NEW YORK (AP) — For one musical, there was no “maybe” about its happy ending at the Tony Awards. “Maybe Happy Ending” won the best new musical award Sunday and “Purpose” took home best new play. The leading actors in a play trophies went to Sarah Snook for “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and Cole Escola for “Oh, Mary!” Darren Criss for “Maybe Happy Ending” and Nicole Scherzinger for “Sunset Blvd.” won the leading awards for musicals. Kara Young notched her second consecutive Tony for “Purpose.” “Eureka Day” won best revival of a play and “Sunset Blvd.” won for best revival of a musical.

What to Stream: Dierks Bentley, Sydney Sweeney, Alex Cooper and 'Deep Cover'

NEW YORK (AP) — Country superstar Dierks Bentley returning with the album “Broken Branches” and Sydney Sweeney in the dark, dramatic thriller “Echo Valley” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time for the week of June 9 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: “Call Your Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper is the subject of a new docuseries called “Call Her Alex,” Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Miami” returns for its seventh season and Netflix’s documentary, “Titan: The OceanGate Disaster” looks into the implosion of the submersible that killed five people in 2023.

‘Lilo & Stitch’ cruises to No. 1 again; John Wick spinoff ‘Ballerina’ dances to 2nd place

“Lilo & Stich” has topped the domestic box office charts for a third weekend. Studio estimates on Sunday say that the film added $32.5 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. Second place went to the John Wick spinoff “Ballerina,” which came in slightly under expectations with $25 million despite good reviews and exit polls. “Mission: Impossible —The Final Reckoning” slid to third place with $15 million. “Karate Kid: Legends” took fourth place with $8.7 million in its second weekend. And “Final Destination: Bloodlines” rounded out the top five with $6.5 million.

Cloudy skies can’t dim joy as thousands fill nation's capital for World Pride parade

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation’s capital hosted the World Pride parade. Tens of thousands of people participated Saturday in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights many have fought for over the years. World Pride culminates on Sunday with a rally, street protest and concert.

A Sikh Captain America? Why religious diversity matters in the comics universe

Representation of many of the world's faiths and spiritual traditions has been minimal to nonexistent in the mainstream comics universe. And experts say that even when they are portrayed, their presentation is often inauthentic and sometimes negative. But comic book writers and academics who study the intersection of religion and comics are observing a renaissance of sorts. They say this is because those who are close to these faith traditions have begun to tell these stories with a reverence and an authenticity that is resonating with a wider global audience.

Brothers bring boxing back to Fenway after 70 years and hope to revitalize the sport in Boston

Boxing is returning to Boston’s Fenway Park for the first time in nearly 70 years. “Fight Night at Fenway” is scheduled for Saturday. The 11-fight card is the culmination of years of effort by twin brothers and longtime public schoolteachers who grew up in Watertown. Matt and Mark Nolan want to revitalize boxing in the city that was home to some of the greatest athletes in the sport’s history. It’s also symbolic of a shift back to the roots of the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. In the past, Fenway has held political events and sports like football, soccer, hockey and basketball, not just Red Sox games.

A quirky vegetable sculpture contest features a squash Donald Trump and a papal 'Cornclave'

LONDON (AP) — Vegetable likenesses of U.S. President Donald Trump and singer Dolly Parton and a papal “Cornclave” are on display at the Lambeth Country Show. The annual event is  an urban take on a country fair held in London’s Brockwell Park. The vegetable sculpture contest has attracted national renown for its quirky creativity. This year, several sculptures referenced the recent papal election or movie on the subject. One featured cardinals made of maize and was titled “Cornclave.” Other entries included Irish rap trio Kneecap in potato form, “Cauli Parton,” a vegetable “Mo Salad” likeness of Liverpool soccer star Mohamed Salah and animated icons Wallace and Gromit made from butternut squash. Trump also got the butternut squash treatment.