'The Pitt' looks to repeat and 'Widow's Bay' could bring an epic wave as Emmy Awards arrive

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 78th Emmy Awards are happening Monday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. “The Pitt” and “Widow's Bay” are generating buzz as they compete for top prizes. Mariska Hargitay will host the show. NBC is rolling out a special blue carpet for the event as the network celebrates its 100th anniversary. The ceremony will also honor the anniversaries of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Charlie's Angels.” “The Pitt” is expected to repeat its wins from last year, while “Widow's Bay” could break records. Rhea Seehorn, Zendaya and Harrison Ford are among the notable nominees. The event airs live on NBC.

'Practical Magic 2' conjures a No. 1 box office debut with $30 million

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Practical Magic 2” conjures a box-office victory this weekend, topping the North American charts nearly three decades after its predecessor. The Warner Bros. sequel, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, earns an estimated $30 million from 4,146 theaters. The film knocks “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” out of the top spot after six consecutive weekends. The sequel reunites Bullock and Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, members of a family of witches. The film introduces a younger generation of the Owens family, played by Joey King and Maisie Williams, and is adapted from the work of author Alice Hoffman.

Celine Dion thrills fans with emotional comeback concert after overcoming rare illness

NANTERRE, France (AP) — Celine Dion has returned to the stage, performing her first full concert in over six years. She sang “All By Myself” as an encore, a song she's been known for since 1996. Dion was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in 2022, a rare disease affecting her throat. Her comeback concert in Nanterre, France, included 25 songs over 2 hours and 15 minutes. The show is part of a punishing schedule of 16 shows in five weeks. Despite the challenges, Dion delivered powerful performances of hits like “My Heart Will Go On.” Fans were emotional, celebrating her triumphant return.

'60 Minutes' opens 59th season on CBS with no direct mention of show's off-season turmoil

NEW YORK (AP) — The venerable newsmagazine “60 Minutes” opened its 59th season on CBS-TV on Sunday night. It made no direct mention of the turmoil and departures that have unfolded behind the scenes in recent months and waited until the show’s end to acknowledge that anything different was going on. An announcer noted the following: “For almost 60 years it has meant the same thing — journalism you can trust. Where we’re headed we’re going to need it." CBS News leader Bari Weiss has said that the news show would take  “new approach.” That included firing the top producer and two correspondents and installing a new chief with no TV broadcast experience. One of the show’s most famous faces, Scott Pelley, was fired after a tense confrontation with bosses earlier this year.

What's happening at TIFF: Musical comedy 'The Debut' dazzles and 'I Play Rocky' scores a knockout

TORONTO (AP) — It takes a certain amount of gumption to declare an arch comedy about a housewife turned community musical theater actor “autobiographical,” but that’s exactly what writer-director Jesse Eisenberg said Sunday about his festival smash hit “The Debut.” Eisenberg premiered “The Debut,” starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, at the Toronto International Film Festival, shortly after it first screened at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado. But the movie’s first showing before a big, packed theater could hardly have gone better, confirming “The Debut” as a major awards contender.

'Woman Unknown' wins Golden Lion, Malkovich 'humbled' by best actor award at Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy (AP) — “Woman Unknown,” directed by May el-Toukhy, wins the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. The drama is about a woman in Denmark after the Nazi occupation. The Maggie Gyllenhaal-led jury announced winners Saturday, including John Malkovich, who wins best actor for “Wild Horse Nine.” Malkovich, filming in Montreal, sent a video message expressing gratitude. Mathilde Arcel wins best actress for her role in “Woman Unknown.” Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love” wins the Silver Lion grand jury prize. The documentary “NAZA” receives a special jury prize. Ilya Krzhanovsky wins the Silver Lion for directing “Dau.”

Movie Review: The Korean thriller ‘Hope’ is a creature feature to the tilt

South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin makes chase movies and it can be incredible where they go. His latest, “Hope,” is his biggest and wildest movie yet. But despite its heft in scale and run time, it rarely pauses to take a breath, writes Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review. The CGI in “Hope” won’t win any awards. And the movie is overlong, sapping some of its momentum. But it is often thrillingly shape-shifting: a gloriously unwieldy spectacle that fuses monster movie and science fiction into a blistering and bonkers saga of otherness — human and otherwise.

Trump wants the Smithsonian Institution to install George Washington statues and exhibit

President Donald Trump wants the Smithsonian Institution to install a colossal statue of George Washington outside the National Museum of American History. In late night social media posts Friday, he also asked for a special exhibit honoring Washington to run through Feb. 22, 2032, marking the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. He suggested replacing the current “Infinity” sculpture in front of the museum with a 30-foot statue of Washington. It’s unclear if Trump has the power to enforce these changes, as the Smithsonian operates outside the executive branch.

‘CODA’ didn’t change Hollywood's attitude about disability. Siân Heder hopes ‘Being Heumann’ can

TORONTO (AP) — “CODA,” the first film featuring a largely deaf cast to triumph at the Oscars, marked a watershed moment for the film industry. But five years later, its director Siân Heder has seen any momentary embrace by Hollywood of the those with disabilities come and go. In “Being Heumann,” the opening night film of TIFF, Heder again strove for authenticity in a cast peopled with disabled actors. The film is about disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann and the 28-day sit-in she led with more than 100 other demonstrators in 1977. It's Heder’s attempt to not only pay tribute to the relentless, hardscrabble protest movement, but to challenge the way movies are made.

Rapper Lil Durk acquitted of murder-for-hire at Los Angeles trial

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal jury has found rapper Lil Durk not guilty of attempted murder for hire of rival rapper Quando Rondo. The shooting at a Los Angeles gas station resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin. The jury deliberated for three days before acquitting Lil Durk of conspiracy and murder for hire. Supporters including Machine Gun Kelly and Ye attended the trial. Durk remains in custody pending a racketeering trial. Prosecutors alleged Durk paid to have Rondo killed after a member of Rondo’s entourage fatally shot rapper King Von in 2020. Durk's legal name is Durk Banks.