Devo's misunderstood art-rock legacy explored in new documentary

NEW YORK (AP) — The new Netflix documentary “Devo” explores the Ohio-born art-rock band known for their quirky style and misunderstood message. The film debuts on Tuesday and features archival footage and interviews, including appearances by fans like David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Devo's music, including hits like “Whip It,” was infused with powerful art and literary ideas, critiquing societal “devolution.” Co-founder Gerald Casale explains that the band was often trivialized, but their work was a multimedia approach to protest and commentary. Despite challenges, Devo's influence endures, with a new tour planned alongside the B-52s.

Busta Rhymes and Ricky Martin will make history at 2025 MTV VMAs. Here's who is taking the stage

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rapper Busta Rhymes will receive the first ever MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award and Ricky Martin will be honored with the inaugural Latin Icon Award. The MTV Video Music Awards announced the additions Monday. The two artists have a long history with the VMAs, each having performed for the first time in the late 1990s. This year’s VMAs will air on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern and will run live from the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island. The show will be broadcast by CBS for the first time, and also simulcast on MTV and available for streaming on Paramount+.

Cable's MSNBC will change its name later this year as part of corporate divorce from NBC

The television network MSNBC will change its name later this year as part of its corporate divorce from NBC. The new name will by My Source News Opinion World, or MS NOW for short. MSNBC, which will also removed NBC’s peacock corporate logo from its insignia, has been building a separate news division from NBC News by hiring new reporters and executives in recent months. It has been known as MSNBC since its formation in 1996, as a partnership then between Microsoft and NBC. It runs second in cable news ratings to Fox News Channel with personalities like Rachel Maddow, Nicole Wallace and Ari Melber.

'Weapons' maintains top spot in second weekend, scaring off newcomer 'Nobody 2'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Weapons” scared its way to the top during its debut last weekend and stayed there, beating out “Freakier Friday” for a second time and the newcomer action movie “Nobody 2.” Zach Cregger's horror earned $25 million in 3,450 North American theaters, a 43% drop from its first weekend. The film benefited from strong audience reviews and social media trends to attract large crowds. Paul Dergarabedian is senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore. He says this summer is unlikely to hit the $4 billion benchmark but has provided moviegoers a dynamic and diverse slate of movies.

Book Review: Writers craft stories set in the world created by Stephen King’s 'The Stand'

You can’t help but hum the R.E.M. song when you pick up a copy of “The End of the World As We Know It,” but you might not exactly feel fine when you’re done reading it. These 34 short stories are set in the world created by Stephen King’s 1978 novel “The Stand,” writes AP reviewer Rob Merrill, and the one thing they have in common is a “true affection” for King’s opus about the gathering forces of good vs. evil after a superflu kills most of the world’s population. “The End of the World As We Know It” goes on sale Tuesday.

Terence Stamp, British actor who portrayed General Zod in early Superman films, dies at 87

LONDON (AP) — Terence Stamp, the British actor who often played the role of a complex villain, including that of General Zod in the early Superman films, has died. He was 87. His death on Sunday was disclosed in a death notice published online. The London-born Stamp started his film career with 1962’s seafaring “Billy Budd,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination. Stamp’s six decades in the business were peppered with highlights, including his touching portrayal of the transsexual Bernadette in 1994’s “The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” Stamp also was widely praised for his lead in director Steven Soderbergh’s 1999 crime drama “The Limey.”

Book Review: A gang of hatchet-wielding women try to take over the meth business in rural Texas

In “The Hatchet Girls,” Joel R. Lansdale’s 14th darkly comic novel featuring Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, the two private eyes are hired to subdue a rampaging hog. It does not go well. After they manage to subdue the beast, they discover someone had been cooking meth and that the hog had sampled the merchandise. Eventually, they stumble on a gang of hatchet-wielding women bent on taking over the local meth business. Associated Press reviewer Bruce DeSilva says the novel is a bit of a letdown after last summer’s hilarious “Sugar on the Bones,” but that fans of the series may find it entertaining.

What to Stream: Offset, John Cena, John Grisham and legal fights by Jussie Smollett and Amanda Knox

Migos rapper Offset releasing his third solo album “Kiari” and Samara Weaving playing a reformed getaway driver in the heist thriller “Eenie Meanie” 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 Aug. 18 as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are An adaptation of John Grisham’s “The Rainmaker” hits Peacock , John Cena stars as a flawed superhero in Season 2 of “The Peacemaker” and the Amanda Knox trial in Italy gets dramatized in a Hulu series.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Aug. 24-30

Celebrities having birthdays during the week of Aug. 24-30 include actor Keke Palmer of “Nope” fame, actor Rupert Grint from “Harry Potter” and keyboardist Megan Garrett of Casting Crowns. Actor Blake Lively turns 38, actor Marlee Matlin reaches 60 and director Ava DuVernay celebrates 53. Other celebrities with big days include actor-comedian Dave Chappelle, actor Macaulay Culkin and actor Chris Pine from the new “Star Trek” movies. Actor-comedian John Mulaney hits 43, singer Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line reaches 40, actor-singer Jack Black of Tenacious D welcomes 56 and actor Jennifer Coolidge is fabulous at 64.

With the Bayeux Tapestry that tells of their long rivalry, France and Britain are making nice

BAYEUX, France (AP) — The Bayeux Tapestry, a medieval masterpiece depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, is set for a new chapter. Next year, it will be transported from Bayeux, Normandy, to the British Museum in London for an exhibition from September 2026 to July 2027. This will be its first U.K. appearance in nearly 1,000 years. The tapestry's journey symbolizes warming relations between the U.K. and France after Brexit. Moving the fragile, 70-meter-long artwork poses risks, but both countries are working to ensure its safe transport. During its absence, the Bayeux Museum will undergo major renovations.